THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

'The Christian Community' (German: ) is a Christian denomination. It was founded in 1922 in Switzerland by a group of mainly Lutheran theologians and ministers led by Friedrich Rittelmeyer,^[1]Johannes Hemleben, ''Rudolf Steiner: A documentary biography'', Henry Goulden Ltd, 1975, ISBN 090482202-8, pp. 134-138 (German edition: Rowohlt Verlag, 1990, ISBN 349950079-5) inspired by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher and founder of anthroposophy.^[2] Christian Community congregations exist as financially independent groups with regional and international administrative bodies overseeing their work. There are approximately 350 worldwide. The international headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.
The Christian Community is led by the "circle of priests," with leaders known as coordinators appointed within the circle. A first coordinator (Erzoberlenker) is consulted by two second coordinators (Oberlenkers). There are also third coordinators (Lenkers) on the regional level and a synod of priests. There is no additional ordination for the leadership. The priesthood of the Christian Community has always been open to women.

Contents

Beliefs

See also

References

External links

Beliefs

The Christian Community does not require its members to conform to any specific teaching or behaviour. The main practices and beliefs are:

★ The Christian Community celebrates the Eucharist, which it calls the "Act of Consecration of Man."

★ There are six other sacraments; Baptism , Confirmation , Marriage , The Last Anointing , Sacramental Consultation and the Sacrament of Ordination.

★ It takes the whole of the New Testament and especially the four gospels as its inspiration.

★ The reincarnation of the soul in both past and future lifetimes is a fundamental belief, arising from the church's origins in anthroposophy. ^[3]

See also

★ Anthroposophy

★ Rudolf Steiner

★ Berthold Wulf

References

1. Claudia Becker, ''Attempts of religious renewal in the modern trend by the example of the evangelic theologian Friedrich Rittelmeyer (1872-1938)'', Ph.D. dissertation, Freie Universität Berlin, 2000. Abstract (English) and text (German)
2. Friedrich Rittelmeyer, ''Rudolf Steiner Enters My Life'', ISBN 076613654X
3. Extracted from The Christian Community Journal, Review of Growing Point, Alfred Heidenreich, Floris Books. "The understanding of the Cosmic Christ and the concept of reincarnation are clearly vital for the renewed Christianity in this age."

External links

★ The Christian Community in North America with extensive introductory articles

★ The Christian Community in the UK and Ireland also with introductory articles

★ Die Christengemeinschaft German site of The Christian Community

★ priest seminaries of the Christian Community in Chicago, Stuttgart (Germany) and Hamburg (Germany)

★ The Christian Community - An Introduction by Michael Tapp, retired priest in The Christian Community, former national coordinator for the UK and then Australia/New Zealand

★ The Journal for the renewal of religion and theology An online peer-reviewed open access journal inspired by the theology of The Christian Community