Christadelphians, which means Brethren in Christ, reject the Trinity doctrine and believe that Jesus Christ was a man. Though few in number, these followers are scattered throughout the world.
Number of Worldwide Members:
Estimates put the total number of Christadelphians at about 50,000.
Founding of the Christadelphians:
The denomination was founded in 1848 by Dr. John Thomas (1805-1871), who broke from the Disciples of Christ. A British physician, Thomas became a full-time evangelist after a hazardous ocean voyage. He desired to pattern the church after the practices of early Christians. In 1864 the group took the name Christadelphians during the American Civil War. Thomas' two major books, Elpis Israel and Eureka, were instrumental in establishing Christadelphian ecclesias, or churches, in England. Following the death of Dr. Thomas, Robert Roberts (1839-1898), a Scottish newspaper reporter, assumed a leadership position among the Christadelphians.
Prominent Founders:
Dr. John Thomas, Robert Roberts
Geography:
Christadelphian ecclesias can be found in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia, Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Christadelphians Governing Body:
Christadelphians take pride in the fact that they have no central governing body. Each ecclesia is autonomous, overseen by the more mature members.
Sacred or Distinguishing Text:
The Bible.
Notable Christadelphians:
Dr. John Thomas, Robert Roberts.
Beliefs and Practices of Christadelphians:
Christadelphians meet on Sunday, usually in each others' homes or a rented building. A few ecclesias own their own halls. Elected male volunteer leaders are called lecturing brethren, managing brethren, and presiding brethren. There are no paid clergy. Members of this religion do not vote, do not run for political office or engage in war.
Jesus Christ did not exist prior to his earthly incarnation, Christadelphians say, although they believe that salvation comes from accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. They reject the Trinity doctrine. Brethren of Christ hold that the soul is unconscious after death and that only the saved will be resurrected to eternal life on a restored earth, with Jerusalem as the capital. The unsaved will be annihilated.
To learn more about what Christadelphians believe, visit Christadelphian Beliefs and Practices.
(Sources: Christadelphians.org, Christadelphians.com, and ReligiousTolerance.org)