Districts of the Church of the Brethren explained

The districts of the Church of the Brethren are twenty-four regional divisions that serve to administer approximately one thousand congregations^[1] of the Church of the Brethren in the United States and Puerto Rico. Districts are divided along state and county lines with membership and geographic scope varying widely.

The Church of the Brethren is present in thirty-four U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. in addition to its overseas missions.

History and purpose

The district system has existed among Schwarzenau Brethren since 1856—prior to the 1881–1883 split—and served the administrative purpose of determining delegates to the Annual Conference who could represent the interests of various communities and report the proceedings back to church leaders.^[2]

Delegates from districts serve the purpose of raising issues at annual conferences (called "queries"), which affect members of the Church of the Brethren at large or which have a scope greater than that of a single congregation or locality, e.g. the ordination of women or how to regulate funds for missions activities. Due to the increase in queries presented to the Annual Conference, in 1856, the Brethren approved the establishment of districts of no less than five churches that would answer queries that had a local scope.^[3]

List of districts

Name	Territory(ies)	Congregations
Atlantic Northeast^[4]	Delaware (1), Maine (3), New Jersey (1), New York (3), Pennsylvania (71)	79
Atlantic Southeast^[5]	Florida (19), Puerto Rico (9)^[6]	28
Idaho^[7]	Idaho	6
Illinois and Wisconsin^[8]	Illinois (38), Wisconsin (1)	39
Michigan^[9]	Michigan	20
Mid-Atlantic^[10]	Delaware (1), Maryland (46), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (8), Washington, D. C. (1), West Virginia (4)	62
Middle Pennsylvania^[11]	Maryland (1), Pennsylvania (54)	55
Missouri and Arkansas^[12]	Arkansas (2), Missouri (13)	15
Northern Indiana^[13]	Indiana (39), Michigan (1)	40
Northern Ohio^[14]	Michigan (1), Ohio (50)	51
Northern Plains^[15]	Iowa (26), Minnesota (6), Montana (1)	33
Oregon and Washington^[16]	Oregon (4), Washington (12)	16
Pacific Southwest^[17]	Arizona (3), California (25)	28
Shenandoah^[18]	Virginia (87), West Virginia (10)	97
South/Central Indiana^[19]	Indiana	48
Southeastern^[20]	Alabama (3), North Carolina (13), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (17), Virginia (8)	42
Southern Ohio^[21]	Indiana (1), Kentucky (4), Ohio (49)	54
Southern Pennsylvania^[22]	Pennsylvania	44
Southern Plains^[23]	New Mexico (1), Oklahoma (4), Texas (3)	8
Virlina^[24]	North Carolina (6), Virginia (79), West Virginia (5)	90
Western Plains^[25]	Colorado (9), Kansas (27), Nebraska (4), New Mexico (1)	41
West Marva^[26]	Maryland (15), Pennsylvania (1), West Virginia (47)	64
Western Pennsylvania^[27]	Pennsylvania	70

Churches by territory

Territory	District(s)	Number
Alabama^[28]	Southeastern	3
Arizona^[29]	Pacific Southwest	3
Arkansas^[30]	Missouri and Arkansas	2
California^[31]	Pacific Southwest	25
Colorado^[32]	Western Plains	9
Delaware^[33]	Atlantic Northeast (1), Mid-Atlantic (1)	2
Florida^[34]	Atlantic Southeast	19
Idaho^[35]	Idaho	6
Illinois^[36]	Illinois and Wisconsin	38
Indiana^[37]	Northern Indiana (45), South/Central Indiana (48), Southern Ohio (2)	95
Iowa^[38]	Northern Plains	26
Kansas^[39]	Western Plains	27
Kentucky^[40]	Southern Ohio	4
Maine^[41]	Atlantic Northeast	3
Maryland^[42]	Mid-Atlantic (43), Middle Pennsylvania (1), West Marva (19)	63
Michigan^[43]	Michigan (19), Northern Indiana (1), Northern Ohio (1)	21
Minnesota^[44]	Northern Plains	6
Missouri^[45]	Missouri and Arkansas	13
Montana^[46]	Northern Plains	1
Nebraska^[47]	Western Plains	4
New Jersey^[48]	Atlantic Northeast	1
New Mexico^[49]	Western Plains (1), Southern Plains (1)	2
New York^[50]	Atlantic Northeast	3
North Carolina^[51]	Southeastern (14), Virlina (6)	20
Ohio^[52]	Northern Ohio (51), Southern Ohio (47)	98
Oklahoma^[53]	Southern Plains	4
Oregon^[54]	Oregon and Washington	4
Pennsylvania^[55]	Atlantic Northeast (71), Mid-Atlantic (2), Middle Pennsylvania (54), Southern Pennsylvania (44), West Marva (1), Western Pennsylvania (70)	242
Puerto Rico^[56]	Atlantic Southeast	9
South Carolina^[57]	Southeastern	1
Tennessee^[58]	Southeastern	17
Texas^[59]	Southern Plains	3
Virginia^[60]	Mid-Atlantic (8), Shenandoah (87), Southeastern (7), Virlina (79)	181
Washington^[61]	Oregon and Washington	12
Washington, D. C.^[62]	Mid-Atlantic	1
West Virginia^[63]	Mid-Atlantic (4), Shenandoah (10), Virlina (5), West Marva (47)	66
Wisconsin^[64]	Illinois and Wisconsin	1

Churches outside the United States

The Church of the Brethren began missionary activities in the late 19th century, which included the establishment of churches in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Although most foreign missions closed by the middle of the 20th century, several remain worldwide.

The most successful such mission has been Hausa: [[Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria]] (EYN) (Hausa for "Church of the Children of the Same Mother"), the Nigerian church which was granted autonomy in 1975.

Former foreign missions

Canada

Alberta

• Arrowwood, Bow Valley (1917–68)

• Irricana (1910–68)

• Mountain View (1907–22)

• Pleasant Ridge (1908–17)

• Pleasant Valley (1909–20)

• Redcliffe Mission (1917–?)

• Second Irricana (1924–64)

• Sharon (1906–17)

Saskatchewan

• Fairview (1903–33)

• Merrington (1920–49)

• Vidora: Battle Creek (1910–56)

Mainland China

Guangdong

• On Fun, San Tai (1918–48)

Shanxi

• Tsin (Chin) Chou

• Liao Chou (1912–50)

• Ping Ting Choll (1912–50)

• Shou Yang Hsien (Show Yang) (1919–50)

• T'ai Yuan Fu (1923–50)

Cuba

• Omaja (1908?–19)

Further reading

• Book: Durnbaugh . Donald F. . Donald F. Durnbaugh . The Brethren Encyclopedia . Hardback . 1 . December 1983 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . . 0-936693-03-7.
• Book: Durnbaugh . Donald F. . Donald F. Durnbaugh . The Brethren Encyclopedia . Hardback . 2 . December 1983 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . . 0-936693-03-7.
• Book: Durnbaugh . Donald F. . Donald F. Durnbaugh . The Brethren Encyclopedia . Hardback . 3 . December 1983 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . . 0-936693-03-7.
• Book: Durnbaugh . Donald F. . Donald F. Durnbaugh . Ulrich . Dale V. . Bowman . Carl F. (contributing editor) . Carl Bowman . The Brethren Encyclopedia . Hardback . 4 . 2006 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . .
• Book: Stoffer, Dale R. . William R. Eberly . Background and Development of Brethren Doctrines 1650–1987 . Hardback . 1st . Brethren Encyclopedia Monograph Series . 2 . 1989 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . . 0-936693-22-3.

External links

• Church directory from the Church of the Brethren

Notes and References

1. Web site: Church directory . https://archive.today/20110811151912/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch&searchChurch=&searchDistrict=&searchCity=&searchState=PR&searchZip=&dir_search=Search . dead . 2011-08-11 . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-21 .
2. Book: Durnbaugh, Donald F. . Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren 1708–1995 . Hardback . 1997 . . . 0-87178-003-8 . 219 . registration .
3. Book: Stoffer, Dale R. . William R. Eberly . Background and Development of Brethren Doctrines 1650–1987 . Hardback . 1st . Brethren Encyclopedia Monograph Series . 2 . 1989 . Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc. . . 0-936693-22-3 . 103.
4. Web site: Atlantic Northeast District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
5. Web site: Atlantic Southeast District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
6. Note that one Puerto Rican church—located at Cipres Street 738 Highland Park in Rio Piedras, 00924-5139—is not listed in this database, but can be found searching for Puerto Rican churches.
7. Web site: Idaho District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
8. Web site: Illinois and Wisconsin District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
9. Web site: Michigan District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
10. Web site: Mid-Atlantic District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
11. Web site: Middle Pennsylvania District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
12. Web site: Missouri and Arkansas District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
13. Web site: Northern Indiana District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
14. Web site: Northern Ohio District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
15. Web site: Northern Plains District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
16. Web site: Oregon and Washington District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
17. Web site: Pacific Southwest District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
18. Web site: Shenandoah District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
19. Web site: South/Central Indiana District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
20. Web site: Southeastern District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
21. Web site: Southern Ohio District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
22. Web site: Southern Pennsylvania District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
23. Web site: Southern Plains District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
24. Web site: Virlina District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
25. Web site: Western Plains District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
26. Web site: West Marva District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
27. Web site: Western Pennsylvania District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
28. Web site: Alabama churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
29. Web site: Arizona churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
30. Web site: Arizona churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
31. Web site: California churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
32. Web site: Colorado churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
33. Web site: Delaware churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
34. Web site: Florida churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
35. Web site: Idaho churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
36. Web site: Illinois churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
37. Web site: Indiana churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
38. Web site: Iowa churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
39. Web site: Kansas churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
40. Web site: Kentucky churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
41. Web site: Maine churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
42. Web site: Maryland churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
43. Web site: Michigan churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
44. Web site: Minnesota churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
45. Web site: Southern Pennsylvania District churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
46. Web site: Montana churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
47. Web site: Nebraska churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
48. Web site: New Jersey churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
49. Web site: New Mexico churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
50. Web site: New York churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
51. Web site: North Carolina churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
52. Web site: Ohio churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
53. Web site: Oklahoma churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
54. Web site: Oregon churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
55. Web site: Pennsylvania churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
56. Web site: Puerto Rico churches . https://archive.today/20110811151912/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch&searchChurch=&searchDistrict=&searchCity=&searchState=PR&searchZip=&dir_search=Search . dead . 2011-08-11 . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 .
57. Web site: South Carolina churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
58. Web site: Tennessee churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
59. Web site: Texas churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
60. Web site: Virginia churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
61. Web site: Washington churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
62. Web site: Washington, D.C. churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
63. Web site: West Virginia churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .
64. Web site: Wisconsin churches . Church of the Brethren . 2010-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100407163314/http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_dirSearch . 2010-04-07 . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Districts of the Church of the Brethren".

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