Exploring the Depths of the Brethren Chart

Save the date for Saturday March 14th, 2026 from 9:30am to 12:30pm (doors open by 9:00am)

Location will be at Happy Corner Church of the Brethren, 7037 Union Rd, Clayton, OH 45315.

All Brethren groups that trace their history to Schwarzenau, Germany, 1708, have or are experiencing divisions. Division has been happening for many years. When was the first division? How many have been recorded? What are some of the recent divisions?

In 1983 The Brethren Encyclopedia included a timeline chart showing when various Brethren groups divided and organized. A Fourth Edition of the Brethren Chart, titled The Chart of Brethren Bodies, was recently published. What do the three previous charts look like? What precipitated each edition of the chart? What guidelines were used when deciding who to include on the chart? We hope to display all four versions of the chart.

When one looks at the chart one notices what appears to be clusters of divisions at various points along the timeline. What was happening that led to those divisions? What kept the Brethren groups together during the years when lines have few or no divisions?

Dale Savage from the Old Brethren and Dale Stoffer from the Brethren Church will present prepared remarks to explanation of the creation of the charts and will provide answers to our many questions. Time will be allotted for questions and comments that you bring to the discussion.

We plan to have available Brethren Charts that you can purchase. You are also invited to stop by the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, OH in the afternoon to purchase books or to simply look around and/or visit.

Save the date for Saturday March 14th, 2026 from 9:30am to 12:30pm (doors open by 9:00am)

Location will be at Happy Corner Church of the Brethren, 7037 Union Rd, Clayton, OH 45315.