The Bruderhof. . .

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I wanted to plug the Bruderhof communities. If I wasn’t an Anglican I think I’d be strongly tempted to join a community like this. In fact, I could see myself in a community like this as an Anglican–it has a strong draw for me–but perhaps thats just the naivete of youth.

This draw is probably why I like Stanley Hauerwas’ writings so much–he’s a Methodist (as my NT Prof. says, “a sort of Anglican”–and he does attend an Episcopal Church now) who’s drawn much from the mennonites. Maybe my interest in both comes from the same place. I’m just a sectarian at heart. :-p

Check them out, I check in frequently:

The Bruderhof is a network of faith-based communities that began in Europe in the aftermath of World War I and now has branches in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, England, Germany, and Australia.

Update: since this post was written, the Bruderhof have decided to stop updating their web sites etc… as being outside their vision for their community.

  • Pastor Robert S. Turton III

    Greetings: Thusday, 21 August 2008

    I grew up as an active Episcopalian, although I also attended Methodist and Presbyterian Sunday Schools. I became drawn toward intentional Christian community when I was a teenager and became acquainted with some of the religious orders in the ECUSA at that time.
    I met the Pillar of Fire Church (Zarephath, NJ)which was orginally more communal than it is now and became involved with them, as well as with the American Rescue Workers which is an 1884 offshoot from The Salvation Army.

    I have pastored a couple United Methodist Churches and other inter-church ministries. My wife and I had lived in small communal missionary homes and would like to obtain a more suitable facility in central NJ to re-establish something of this nature.

    I am also a chaplain in the Intl. Order of St. Luke the Physician; the concept of “healing homes” is a much-needed phase of ministry. I like to remind people that if they live long enough, undoubtedly they will “live communally” before they die. Often folks will adamantly reject thiidea until I ask them what they think a nursing home really is (a rude awakening in their thoughts).

    There’s a need for more Christ-centered living arrangements for senior citizens, senior saints, whose patrons could well be: Zachariahs and Elisabeth, Simeon, and Anna (my favorites in Luke’s Gospel). Barnabas is most likely my favorite of all NT personalities; he certainly undertood the nature of the early church in the latter part of Acts chapter 2 and 4. This is a sadly neglected emphasis even among most Christians who claim to be so biblical-based and oriented toward otherwise orthodox docctrine and discipleship standards.

    Sincerely in the “blest tie that binds,”
    Pastor Bob Turton
    c/o Gospel Mission Corps
    P O Box 175
    Hightstown, NJ 08520–0175

    e-mail: GospelWorkers@aol.com

  • http://adamantius.net Jody+

    Pastor Turton,

    I believe you’re right, Churches ought to have more discussions about positive and faithful (and affordable) living facilities for seniors. I wonder if sometimes the Churches focus in this area has at best been irregular with a sort of “shot gun” approach of different bodies doing their own thing rather than combining resources, with the result being that many church affiliated retirement communities are being sold off and privatized (sort of like formerly Christian hospitals). This is definitely something I hope to see more emphasis on during my ministry. Thanks for your comments. God bless.