The following terms reflect the culture of the Church of the Brethren, a denomination grounded on the principles of Anabaptism and founded through the Pietist efforts of Alexander Mack, in the summer of 1708 near the small German village of Schwarzenau. This resource is not an exhaustive compilation of all denominational terminology, for space precludes the incorporation of vast amounts of information, which might also be garnered from other Brethren works, such as the Brethren Encyclopedia, Brethren Bibliography, European Origin, Brethren in America, Ephrata Cloister, 19th Century Acculturation, Brethren Timeline, Brethren Groups, and Brethren Genealogy. We have also included a few Internet related terms because this technology is fast becoming a part of our denominational culture. You are encouraged to share your comments, suggestions, or corrections with the Web Administrator.

---

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

E-Mail Addresses

    Jim Miner's Brethren Internet Directory is the place to find e-mail addresses for individuals, congregations, districts, agencies, institutions, and General Board staff. Jim was formerly the head of computer operations at the general offices in Elgin, Illinois. Please send all additions, corrections, or deletions to cob_list@yahoo.com

Education for a Shared Ministry (EFSM)

    A three year ministry training program intended for smaller congregations. EFSM began in 1977 with a proposal for strengthening eligible congregations (worship attendance less than 100, annual budget less than $50,000) who may not be able to sustain a full-time salaried pastor. Five lay persons, one ministry in training, and the entire congregation become the structure for ministry. Over the three year period, trainees receive guidance, attend workshops, identify skills through goal-setting, and prepare for the special ministry needs of small congregations. EFSM differs from TRIM in that it focuses on the pastoral needs of the entire congregation, rather than the educational needs for ministry of a single individual.

See also Reading Program, TRIM

Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria

    Nigerian counterpart of the Church of the Brethren. On March 17, 1923, near the village of Garkida, the first Brethren worship service in Nigeria took place when Stover Kulp, Albert Helser, and thirty-three Nigerians conducted an open air service under the spreading canopy of a tamarind tree.

Elgin

See Brethren Press / General Offices / Elgin

Elizabethtown College

See Brethren Affiliated Colleges: Elizabethtown

Emergency Response/Service Ministries

    A disaster response unit based in New Windsor, and administered through the General Board department of Global Mission Partnerships. ERSM responds to disasters throughout the United States, and around the world by coordinating volunteer workers, acquiring material resources, and temporary establishing child-care supervision in the affected area.

Continue ToNext Section