wfn.org | Lower Miami Church of the Brethren bicentennial

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Sept. 29, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V:  847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
Sept. 29, 2005
 
Lower Miami Church of the Brethren celebrates a bicentennial
 
Sept. 29, 2005 (Elgin, IL) --  Lower Miami Church of the Brethren,  pastored 
by Edward Pugh and associate Nan Erbaugh, is celebrating its  bicentennial. 
Founded in Oct. 1805 by elder Jacob Miller, Lower Miami is the	oldest Church
of 
the Brethren west of the Great Miami River and the second  oldest in Ohio.

Lower Miami is known in the Southern Ohio District  as the "Cradle of 
Religion," the "Mother Church," and the "Parent Church"  because 11
congregations can 
trace their roots back to her, reported Diana R.  Wheaton. The churches 
rooted in Lower Miami are Beaver Creek, Happy Corner,  Salem, Good Shepherd, 
Trotwood, West Milton, Potsdam, Eversole, Brookville, Mack  Memorial, and
Prince of 
Peace. Some Old German Baptist Brethren, Brethren  Church, Dunkard Brethren, 
and Grace Brethren congregations also may trace their  historic roots to
Lower 
Miami, according to the compiler of the list, Elizabeth  Miller Lane. She is 
editing a new comprehensive History of the Church of the  Brethren in
Southern 
Ohio.

Five celebratory services were held in	June to mark the centennial. Sisters 
and brothers from across the country  returned to Lower Miami for the 
momentous occasion and to renew old friendships.  They were treated to
uplifting 
messages delivered by the keynote speakers  including Stan Noffsinger,
general 
secretary of the Church of the Brethren  General Board; Stephen B. Reid,
Bethany 
Seminary academic dean, who grew up at	Lower Miami; Mark Flory Steury, 
executive minister of the Church of the Brethren  Southern Ohio District; and
former 
pastors Kreston Lipscomb and Ron  McAdams.
 
"Lower Miami's faith journey is portrayed by its mission and witness,"	
Wheaton wrote. "Over the years, our small interracial congregation
(integration  
began in the mid-1950s) has reached out
to people near and far." The church's  ministry in the community, district, 
and denomination includes commitments to  the Brethren Retirement Community
in 
Greenville, Ohio; the County Home; the	Interfaith Hospitality Network
serving 
the homeless; sanctuary for a variety of  refugee families; peace-related 
causes; mission trips; and projects such as CROP  Walk, Heifer International,
and 
the Church of the Brethren Cross-Cultural  Consultation and Celebration.
"Since 1989, we have served as a teaching  church for Bethany Seminary 
students," Wheaton added, to date serving as a	placement for four students.
 
In 2004, two members of Lower Miami, Ralph and Christine Dull, founded the  
Dayton (Ohio) International Peace Museum: A Space to Make Peace. Lower Miami 

supports the museum's vision to inspire a culture of peace and an educational
 
opportunity for adults and children to learn how to make peace through 
outreach  and volunteers, Wheaton noted.
 
"Over the centuries, the distinctive lifestyle of Lower Miami has evolved  
into a faith community composed of like souls from different walks of life,  
races, and religious backgrounds," Wheaton
said. "Elder Jacob Miller,  undoubtedly, would be greatly surprised at this 
modern-day Church of the  Brethren; but he would be pleased with the
flowering 
of the seed that he planted  200 years ago."
 
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to  
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith  in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith  
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its
 300th 
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United	
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the  
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
 
# # #
 
For more information contact:
 
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_ 
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org) 
 
*****************************************************************
The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,

 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. 
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