“The Other Stream: Alternative Forms of Radical Pietism” is a continuing education opportunity for clergy, ministry students, and others interested in the history and theology of the Church of the Brethren. The seminar on July 5-6 in Amana, Iowa, following the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Des Moines, is offered by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.
Participants will study the influence of radical pietism on the Church of the Brethren through a study of the Amana Colonies, home of the “Community of True Inspiration.” The community is a German radical pietist fellowship which co-existed and interacted with the early Brethren in Europe. The community came to North America much later than the Brethren and eventually settled in Iowa, where it developed several villages that were operated as a communal society until the mid-twentieth century. The seminar will allow participants to gain a better understanding of the radical pietist stream in Brethren life and thought by encountering and having conversations with the people and history of the Amana Colonies.
The seminar will begin at 3 p.m. on July 5 with a tour of the Amana Heritage Museum, followed by a bus tour. On July 6 participants will meet from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Amana Church. Leaders will include David Eller, Wally Landes, Jim Benedict, and Jeff Bach from the Church of the Brethren, and Lanny Haldy and Peter Hoehnle from the Amana Church Society.
Cost is $80, and covers entrance into the Amana Heritage Museum, a bus tour of the Amana Colonies, “Amana People: History of a Religious Community” by Peter Hoehnle, dinner at the Ox Yoke Inn, break refreshments, lunch at the Ronneburg Restaurant, all presentations and discussions, and CEU credit.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging and breakfast on July 6. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Guest House Motel, call 319-622-3599. Lodging is also available in several bed and breakfast inns (search for them at http://www.amanacolonies.com/).
To register or for more information, including a schedule, contact The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, One Alpha Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022; 717-361-1470; youngctr@etown.edu. Training in Ministry students who wish to create a course for credit around this experience should contact their advisors. Registration deadline is May 15.
The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Jim Benedict contributed to this report. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail write to cobnews@aol.com or call 800-323-8039 ext. 260. Submit news to cobnews@aol.com. For more news and features, subscribe to Messenger magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.