As part of the BIC denomination we affirm the teachings and doctrine of the BIC. The roots of the BIC Church go back to the Protestant Reformation in Europe where a small segment of reformers believed that obedience to Christ through his teaching in the New Testament should be the standard for all Christian faith and practice. The Brethren in Christ Church was founded in the late 1700s as a result of a revival among Mennonite and Brethren believers.

Through the years the BIC grew in its understanding and assimilated Wesleyanism, Pietism, and Evangelicalism into its Anabaptist beginnings. Today, the Brethren in Christ still emphasize new birth conversion, obedience to Christ, and the importance of the Bible for faith and practice. The denomination has congregations throughout the United States, Canada, and some fourteen other countries around the world.

Brethren in Christ Core Values

As the BIC church, we have agreed that ten core values are at the heart of our life and work together. In setting forth our core values, we declare our ties with true Christians of all times and every place. We confess with them the faith as embodied in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. We recognize that these values are rooted in our history and doctrine. In broad strokes they convey the essential beliefs of our denomination as stated in our Articles of Faith and Doctrine. We present these ten core values to help you to better understand the Brethren in Christ. In ten concise statements, these are the values which touch our hearts, stir our emotions, and move us to action!

  • We value the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

  • We value the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, study it together, and build our lives on its truth.

  • We value heartfelt worship that is God-honoring, Spirit-directed, and life-changing.

  • We value wholehearted obedience to Christ Jesus through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

  • We value integrity in relationships and mutual accountability in an atmosphere of grace, love, and acceptance.

  • We value an active and loving witness for Christ to all people.

  • We value serving others at their point of need, following the example of our Lord Jesus.

  • We value all human life and promote forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, and non-violent resolution of conflict.

  • We value uncluttered lives, which free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.

  • We confess our dependence on God for everything, and seek to deepen our intimacy with Him by living prayerfully.