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Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage TELESCOPE - MESSENGER United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio Vol. 7 no. 1 Winter 1997 50TH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCES EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH UNION DAYTON, OHIO JOHNSTOWN,PENNSYLVAN[A By Edwin H. Maynard by Patricia L. Knudson It was a celebration-part family reunion and Johnstown, Pennsylvania was once again in part camp meeting-when some 250 gathered at the spotlight of the religious community when it United Theological hosted the 50th Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, Anniversary Celebration of November 16-18, 1996, to the formation of the former observe the fiftieth Evangelical United anniversary of the forming Brethren Church. The of the Evangelical United theme of the four-day event Brethren Church. on November 14-17 was The days were marked "Come Home to Your with renewed friendships, Roots." In 1946 the enthusiastic singing, prayer United Brethren in Christ and worship. Ofthose held their final General attending, 19 proudly wore Conference at the First buttons proclaiming "I was Church in this city while there," meaning they were the Evangelicals met in at the service in their final session at Beulah Johnstown, P A, November Church. The two groups 16, 1946, that combined then climaxed a week of the Evangelical Church and historic meetings with a the Church of the United union service held on Brethren in Christ. Bishops Clymer and Milhouse November 16, 1946 in First Greetings were United Brethren Church exchanged between Dayton and a similar with Bishops John Stamm and Arthur Clippinger celebration at Johnstown. Other greetings were presiding. After years of negotiation and talk, a received from persons in the EUB tradition and simple handshake between these two men from civic leaders, including President Bill produced the tenth largest Protestant Clinton. denomination in the United States. Then in 1968 In 1946 the union was symbolized by a this church joined with the Methodists to form handclasp between Bishop JohnS. Stamm, the United Methodist Church that we know Evangelical, and Bishop Arthur R. Clippinger, today. United Brethren. In Dayton that handshake was Preparations for the recent November events re-enacted by two retired United Methodist began almost two years ago when a local (continued on page 4) (continued on page 2) Johnstown (cont.) the evangelical movement. Original film of the 1946 union service was included as were committee was formed with Reverend Robert interviews with some of those who had helped Callihan as chairman. Reverend Callihan, organize and conduct the conference. Featured formerly a United Brethren, had received his call in the video were Bishop Bashore and District to the ministry while attending the 1946 service Superintendent, Reverend Jaime Potter-Miller and went on to serve First Church (now United speaking about the mission and future of the Methodist) as his last full-time pastorate. He Church. currently serves Beulah as associate. On Saturday morning youth groups from the The first event of the week was an Johnstown District were treated to a pizza party appearance by the Western Pennsylvania and concert at Beulah. "Voix" (Voices) with Ministers Male Chorus in concert at Beulah Rachael and Ann sang at the hour-long Church on Thursday night. The Chorus is performance. At noon a parade left Beulah for comprised of approximately sixty clergy who First Church in downtown Johnstown. The travel throughout the parade route traced that of Conference to present the fifty years ago when the message of Christ through Evangelical Conference music. It had its Delegates walked to First beginnings in the Church to participate in the Evangelical Church in 1945 union service. The parade under the direction of featured antique cars, Reverend Paul Halstead, floats, a local clown group, who still sings with the motorcycles, Reverend Chorus. An audience that Dick Bums as a circuit filled the sanctuary was rider on horseback, and a treated to a varied program large group of both youth including songs of praise, and adults walking the spirituals, and songs of the more than one-mile route. season. The Chorus is A highlight of the event directed by Reverend was the appearance of a William Schmeling, band of Beulah members Superintendent ofthe riding tandem bicycles. Greensburg District and Their T -shirts read, former pastor at Beulah. First Church, Johnstown, Pennsylvania "Who's Steering Your Festivities continued on Life," "Christians are All Friday night when a banquet was held at Beulah. Riding in Tandem." Each of the crowd of 220 was presented with a A pre-service rally with Gospel and camp delegate's ribbon exactly like those worn by the songs was led by Reverend Kenneth Rippin on representatives in 1946. Those present heard Saturday afternoon at First Church. Worship remarks by Bishop George Bashore ofthe began with a simulated radio broadcast of the Pittsburgh area and Bishop Hermann Sticher, original broadcast of the union proclamation Retired from the German Conference. First exactly fifty years ago to the day. Incorporated person portrayals highlighted the evening with in the traditional service were parts of the 1946 Reverend Don Joiner as Bishop Stamm and liturgy including the hymn, "The Church's One Reverend Dan Shearer as Bishop Clippinger. An Foundation," and a reenactment of the historic original anniversary video, "In the Fullness of handshake between Bishops Stamm and Time" was introduced. It traced the movement Clippinger. A plaque was unveiled during the of immigrants into the Johnstown area with their service designating First Church as an historic diversity of religious beliefs and the growth of landmark of the United Methodist Church. 2 Keynote messages were delivered by Bishops rich power. Bashore and Stieber. Bishop Bashore, formerly First United Methodist Church hosted the ofthe United Brethren in Christ, told the final event of the Anniversary weekend with a listeners that there is a need for a warm heart worship service on Sunday. The theme ofthe relationship with God; salvation is more than a afternoon was that of new beginnings through baptism or creed. It is the beginning of a Jesus Christ. The Sacrament ofHoly process ofbecoming disciples of Christ. As Communion was served using the EUB Liturgy. Christians our only comfort is in Jesus Christ and Bishop Stieber spoke briefly on the future of the there is an urgency to proclaim Him as Savior. church, and the keynote speaker was Reverend Bishop Stieber recalled that the United Brethren Jaime Potter-Miller. "We assume that the in Germany had joined with the Methodists at congregation that is doing the most is the the tum of the century so that at the time of congregation that is doing the best," she said. union the German Church belonged to the Do not allow minutes ofbusyness to crowd out Evangelical branch. He spoke of the emergence the moments of highest value. The service and of the Church in Germany after the paganism of weekend activities concluded with the lighting of World War II. Today's church needs to capture candles. A representative from each of the a sense of the spirit of her mothers and fathers. district churches came forward to receive light We need a sense of mission, a sense of<Jirection, from the Christ candle. The congregation was and a sense of responsibility, he stressed. The challenged to take the light back to their own two bishops were renewing a long-standing churches and work so that the light will reach a friendship begun in the 1950s when a seminary needy world and transform it. choir, of which Bishop Bashore was a member, The Evangelical United Brethren Church traveled to Germany for a series of concerts. existed for only 22 years before giving her life to Bishop Stieber had served as translator for the become part of the United Methodist Church. group. She brought a sense of mission and evangelical The activities of the day ended with a fervor to the new union and a strong banquet at Arbutus Park Manor. The Park had commitment to changing lives through the its beginning in 1904 as a campground and is Gospel. Christ's challenge to us has not now a retirement center serving the regional changed. As we move forward toward the 21st United Methodist community. Harry Blanset, a century, we need the enthusiasm and ardor of resident of Arbutus and a delegate to the 1946 the past to reach out to hungry people Conference, served as toastmaster. Reverend everywhere. Gene Seese, a native of the local area and former president of Indianapolis University was the featured speaker. He spoke of the need to throw out trash and keep treasures, to get rid of ABoUT TillS IssUE outmoded creeds, traditions, and practices and Patricia L. Knudson is historian of Beulah United Methodist Church, to focus on the things which keep the church in Johnstown, P A, site in 1946 of the final General Conference of the the center of God's will. Evangelical Church. On Sunday morning, Bishop Hermann Edwin H. Mavnard. long-time journalist for United Methodist Stieber was the speaker at Beulah Church. His Communications, now is a retired resident at Otterbein-Lebanon Home and guided the publicity for the Dayton celebration. sermon was "God's Amazing Ways of Doing Things," using as his text the scripture in Mark Photos for the Dayton observance are by Robert Callender, Director of Development, and Tvron Inbody, Professor of Theology, United about the feeding of the multitude. He spoke of Theological Seminary. four ways that God works; He cannot be Millard 1. Miller, long-time member of the Advisory Board, resides at the controlled by man-made social or national Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community, Lebanon, Ohio. boundaries, His basic motivation is compassion, Donald K. Gorrell, editor of the Telescope-Messenger, taught United His work must be carried out through people, Methodist history for over twenty years at the seminary. and prayer ties with the Father give the Church 3 Dayton (cont.) EUB qualities that emerged were: a legacy ofEuropean pietism blended with a Wesleyan bishops who began their ministries in those awareness of God's grace; strong lay churches: Bishop Wayne K. Clymer, participation; democratic governance ofthe Evangelical, and Bishop Paul W. Milhouse, church; close fellowship at local, annual United Brethren. conference and denominational levels; and an The opening worship service was modeled ecumenical spirit. on the 1946 Johnstown service, including the The Reverend John R. Knecht, president opening hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," emeritus ofthe host seminary, suggested reasons and other elements of the liturgy. A sermon by for the EUB emphasis on ecumenism. He noted the Reverend Elmer J. O'Brien, founding that the antecedent denominations were born director of the host Center for the Evangelical around 1800 in a revival among German United Brethren Heritage, emphasized the speaking Americans centered on personal vibrant ecumenical spirit that was a hallmark of salvation. Those with that experience wanted to the tradition from its reach out to others who origins in early 19th reported a similar century America. experience, regardless of At a banquet Bishop denomination. In recent Milhouse gave appreciative times, he said, ElJB and often humorous members realized that, reminiscences of EUB being small, "we knew that bishops. In a Sunday by ourselves we could not sermon Bishop Clymer save the world." The EUB noted that anniversaries are Church contributed many observed so we will leaders to the National remember, but he also put Council of Churches in the in a word for forgetting: United States and to the "What we choose to World Council of remember and what we Churches. Its mission choose to forget largely policy favored formation of determines the kind of united churches in persons we become." countries where it worked. There was a tour of The event concluded as historic sites in Dayton, United Chapel, Dayton, Ohio the Reverend James D. which included the Nelson read a paper on headquarters buildings of the EUB Church and EUB piety and hymnody, illustrated by the before that of the United Brethren. The last singing ofhymns, some in German. Dr. Nelson, headquarters building now is occupied by the who was general chairman of the observance, is United Methodist General Council on Ministries, professor of church history at United. He also is which provided lunch and guided tours of the director of the Center for the Evangelical United facility for celebration participants. Brethren Heritage, co-sponsor of the event with The substance of the observance came in the Historical Society of the United Methodist eight scholarly papers on aspects of the EUB Church. heritage, planned to be published as a book. A The Historical Society held its annual brief summary of each appears below. meeting at the conclusion of the celebration Collectively they identified distinctive EUB under leadership ofMs. C. Faith Richardson, its contributions to the United Methodist Church president. and to the wider Christian community. 4 SUMMARIES OF DAYTON PRESENTATIONS By Edwin H. Maynard The Celebration honored the EUB heritage through scholarly papers, sermons and reminiscence. The purpose was defined by the Reverend Michael Nickerson, president ofUnit~d Theological Seminary, in his welcome at the opening worship service. "We are here," Dr. Nickerson said, "to preserve the best of our rich heritage and build toward the future." The heritage was defined in presentations over three days. Each presentation took approximately forty minutes, and the brief summaries record some of the major points made by the speakers. (The summaries are not direct quotations except where indicated by quotation marks.) "The Road to Johnstown was the beginning, not the end, Johnstown" and the EUB Church early moved toward union by K. James Stein, with the Methodists. Professor of Church History, Garrett "The EUB Evangelical Understanding Theological Seminary of Ministry" Union in byDonaldK. Gorrell, Professor Johnstown Emeritus of Church came after more History, United than a century Theological of fraternal Seminary relations and occasional talks of union. The Prior to founders of the Evangelical and United Brethren 1946 the two denominations had moved in the same circles churches had and talks of union occurred as early as 1813. similar views of The modem stage was set in 1924 with the nature of conversations during a meeting of the Federal the church and its mission, but there were Council of Churches in Atlanta. In 1933 a differing practices. committee of three bishops from each church Both elected bishops for four-year terms and discussed union and reported that "the Spirit of both elected superintendents. However God was present." Evangelicals ordained deacons and elders, while Development of a plan of union was United Brethren ordained elders only. After authorized by general conferences in 193 7 and 1839 Evangelicals allowed only ordained clergy 1938 and the resulting plan was approved in to vote in the annual conference, while United 1942 and 1945, then submitted to annual Brethren allowed the local quarterly conference conferences. to license lay preachers and those lay preachers Problems had to be worked out concerning could vote in the annual conference and serve baptism, ordination, polity and the doctrine of appointments except for administering the entire sanctification. United Brethren had a sacraments. One party gave up the order of Reformed, Mennonite and Anabaptist heritage, deacon and the other gave up local licensing of while Evangelicals were more like the preachers. Methodists. It was decided not to write a new Women had been licensed and ordained by confession of faith, but to affirm both. the United Brethren since 1889,·but the The name was a delicate matter, happily Evangelicals ordained only men. In 1946 the resolved. Practical problems concerned latter thought their pattern was adopted, but no structure, institutions and pensions. clear policy was stated in the EUB Discipline, 5 which made no reference to gender for Wesley to 24; the Evangelical Church's ordination. Consequently, each annual confession of faith reduced them further to 21. conference decided ordinations for itself, and The first draft of the 1962 statement contained some former United Brethren conferences 18 articles and the final version 16. continued to ordain women. This maintained Issues most debated during the process were that tradition during the EUB years and into justification, free will and sanctification. Many United Methodist union. changes accepted the Wesleyan view over the In the 1946 union compromises could be Reformed. The concept of"total depravity" was made quid pro quo because of similar size and removed. The final statement affirms baptism of doctrine of the church. But in the 1968 union of children and asks for their nurture in the faith. 750,000 EUBs with 10 million Methodists, the It is important to make new statements from difference in size made for less give and take. It time to time, but let the old ones stand, so we was impossible to negotiate EUB term know what we have said at each point in our episcopacy with Methodist practice and the history. United Methodist Church continues to elect bishops for life. Also the quadrennial election of "EUB Women conference superintendents by EUBs yielded to and Missions" bishops appointing superintendents annually. byMaryLue Despite these concessions, EUB clergy suffered Warner, Missionary and National Staff, no disadvantages in the united church and have Board of Missions served at every level of the denomination, of the EUB and the including superintendency and episcopacy. United Methodist Church Women "The 1962 have heard and EUB accepted the Confession of challenge ofthe Faith" by James E. Will, Great Commission. Otterbein, Boehm and Professor of Albright were missionaries. Unnamed women of Systematic their time and the years since have been Theology, Garrett caregivers. Organized missions are quite recent. Evangelical In the Evangelical Association, the Eastern Theological Seminary Conference formed a missionary society in 1838 At union in and the next year the General Conference 1946 the established one. A mission to Germany began in doctrinal statements of the two previous 1860, to Japan in 1876, and to China in 1900 churches were kept as equally valid. The 1958 and 1903. General Conference instructed the bishops to Four United Brethren conferences formed draft a single creedal statement for the church. missionary societies in 183 8-40, designating all Dr. Will was a consultant to the bishops during members of their churches as members of the the two years they worked on the statement that society. In 1853 there was a church-wide was adopted by the 1962 General Conference missionary society, reaching to Oregon in that without change. year, Canada in 1854, Sierra Leone in 1855 and The 1962 confession "paid its respects to Germany in 1869. Wesley, anticipating union with the Methodists." The first woman was appointed to the It acknowledged Wesley's position on freedom Evangelical Association Board of Missions in of will and paid less attention to the Mennonite 1898 and the first woman home missionary was and Reformed traditions. named in 1905. In the United Evangelical The Anglican "39 Articles" were reduced by Church there was a Women's Board in 1897 and 6 the first women were appointed to overseas preaching was forbidden, hence one preacher service in 1900. These were combined in 1922. "outlined in detail what he would have preached Among United Brethren the first conference had he been allowed to preach." Government women's missionary society was formed in 1869 recognition came in 1920. and a church-wide Women's Missionary By 1930 European Evangelicals were paying Association in 1876. Fields included Sierra 85 percent oftheir own expenses. There was Leone and Germany. The Woman's Evangel immense loss of life and property during World was started in 1882. By 1909 women were War II, but the European church survived to responsible for half of the UB mission work. become part of the EUB Church in 1946. In 1946 the Women's Society ofWorld Service was formed, related to the Board of "From Union Missions and 65 percent ofwomen in the EUB to Union: The Church were subscribers to what was now the Eyangelische World Evangel. Nearly half of missionary Gemeinschaft support came from women. EUB women (1946-1968) in continued to work in the existing fields and Europe" added Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia and by Michel Weyer, Professor of Church Sarawak, as well as new dimensions in national History and missions in the USA. Historical Theology, "The Theological Evangelical Seminary of the United Methodist Church, Reutlingen, Germany United The Evangelical fraternity was stronger than Brethren in nationalism, but 1946 saw daunting post-war Europe" problems: reconstruction, the division of by J. Steven O'Malley, Germany between east and west. East Germany Professor of had 69 percent of the Evangelical churches. Holiness History, By 194 7, with the first session of a European Asbury Theological Central Conference, relationships with the Seminary mother church in the US returned. Numbers In the 1840s were reduced; in 193 7 there had been a nuss10naries constituency of 63,000 but in 194 7 it was from the Evangelical Association returned to the 43,000. There was contact with the Methodist "fatherland," working in and around Stuttgart. Church in Germany and an agreement to work Despite a law against unauthorized preaching, together. Also, new relationships were the work spread and in 1865 a Germany Annual established with the various state churches in Conference was organized. Work was extended Germany and other free churches. into Switzerland and a Swiss conference was By 1955 the Evangelicals felt conscious of organized. Later there was a second conference having become a church and the new mentality in Germany and work extended into Poland and was reflected in a new order of worship and the Baltic states. A seminary opened in 1877. changes in terms, such as "pastor" instead of Evangelicals in Europe used class meetings "preacher." In 1963 a new German Book of and lay preachers. They were careful to call Worship reflected the new situation as union themselves an association, not a church. with the Methodists drew near. The United Brethren began a mission to Germany in 1869 but it was not strong and in 1905 was merged into Methodist work. In the present century restrictions continued to hamper work in Germany. In Bavaria 7 "Ecumenism "We want our EUB heritage to be known, and the EUB but we are part of a wider fellowship." Church" by John R. Knecht, "EUB Piety President Emeritus, and United Theological Hymnody" by Seminary and James D. Nelson, former Secretary of Professor of Church the EUB Board of History, United Evangelism Theological TheEUB Seminary and commitment to Director of the ecumenism Center for the EUB sprung from our forebears' conviction that the Heritage Christian faith is for all humankind and our Piety and realization that alone we cannot save the world. hymnody The Evangelical Church and the Church of belong together because, since we are a non the United Brethren in Christ already had many confessional church the hymnal provided in fact ecumenical connections and these were our catechism. The hymn texts provided our continued by the new church. For the years theology and the role of hymnody was profound 1946-68 Dr. Knecht has a list of more than 100 and diverse. BUB persons who served in various ways with The early Evangelicals and United Brethren the World Council of Churches, National were Saxons and Anglo-Saxons-and the Council of Churches, and similar ecumenical poorest of those. In adversity they often were units. In addition were many more who worked "proud they had nothing." Even when they were no longer poor, they thought they were poor. with state and local councils. Bishop JohnS. Stamm had been president of Theirs was an intense personal faith with a firm the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and vice hold on the promise ofvictory. president of the Federal Council of Churches, Camp meeting songs reinforced that personal then 1948-50 he was last president of the faith, but our history also includes a witness in Federal Council and a leader in organizing the society. Otterbein College was a center for the National Council of Churches. Bishop Reuben Underground Railroad and Ben Hanby H. Mueller was the first recording secretary of contributed to the abolition movement with his the National Council, then vice-president and song, "Darling Nellie Gray." Another generation president 1962-65. took up the fight against alcohol and our BUB On the staff of the National Council at heritage includes many social dimensions of the various times were, among others, Harry Kalas, Gospel. Donald Landwher, Ralph M. Holdeman, J. ..AJa~ Singing by a small choir and the Ranck and Bruce Hilton. congregation illustrated the EUB heritage of In missions, during the 1920s and '30s the German chorales, camp meeting songs, folk mission boards had encouraged union churches. music and Wesley hymns, among others. That policy was continued by the BUB Board of Missions, which also encouraged churches overseas to become self-governing, self Telescope-Messenger is published twice yearly by the Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage, United Theologi propagating, and ultimately self-supporting. The cal Seminary, 1810 Harvard Blvd., Dayton, OH 45406-4599. aim was a united Christian witness. Correspondence should be sent to the editor at 1318 Daventry When the Consultation on Church Union Ct., Centerville, OH 45459. Editor: Donald K. Gorrell; Managing Editor: Martha M. An (COCU) was formed in 1961, the BUB Church derson; Editorial Committee: Donald K. Gorrell, James D. was one of the nine to join. Among early leaders Nelson ofCOCU were Paul Washburn and Arthur Core. 8 SCENES FROM THEDA YTON CELEBRATION 1~ ~e 1957, p. ~ ~ WtU eledd ~ iJf tie SUB~ 4-4 .att ~attt,e tcJ /"t tie~ Me4td 4 tie ~ iJf ~ 'Aud Sh,,.., ~ ~WtU 444~tcJtie "'~~~. . Area,,~~~ ~,tuaHta, Sue, ~ ~~. ~. 1tut 11~ euut ~· tie lattM leuuf ""f ~ ~- 7. ~~~.A. ~. 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" United Theological Seminary Non-Profit Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage Organization 1810 Harvard Boulevard U.S. Postage Dayton, OH 45406 PAID Dayton, OH Pennit No.579 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED