About The New Conference Fellowship

HISTORY

On the heels of the Reformation, in 1708, a handful of believers embarked upon a journey of faith that sought a deeper reformation of doctrine and practice. Seeking a life that followed the Scriptures more literally, eight souls were re-baptized in the Eder River in Schwarzenau, Germany. This was a radical departure from the state church's practice of infant baptism. With a genuine desire to live the New Testament, these brethren were led to practices such as love-feasts, feet-washing, and the practice of the holy kiss. As the group began to grow, a congregation was established in America near Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1719. As it spread across the nation, it grew to a fellowship of approximately 100,000 members. In 1881, a small portion of these members, calling themselves Old German Baptists, separated from the larger group in a quest for a more Godly and simple life. From this body of believers, the New Conference emerged in 2009. 

DOCTRINE

• We hold the sixty-six books of Scripture as the Word of God and as our only creed and final authority.
• We believe that Jesus Christ is preeminent in all things, that God is to be worshipped through Him, that He is the supreme authority over His church, and that we are added to His church only by coming to God through Him.
• We believe the Holy Spirit resides within and works primarily through individual believers.
• We believe that justification is by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
• We believe that sanctification is the ongoing work of the Spirit conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ as we yield our lives to His guidance.

PRACTICE

• Believers are baptized upon repentance toward God and confession of their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.
• We practice a triple immersion forward, in the likeness of Christ’s death.
• We do not take part in warfare or violence.
• We aim to speak the truth in love, swearing not at all.
• Sisters cover their heads, and brethren uncover, when praying or prophesying.
• The New Testament greeting of a holy kiss of love and peace is practiced between brother and brother, sister and sister.
• Differences and offences are to be handled according to Matthew 18.
• Remarriage after divorce is not permitted, according to our understanding of our Lord’s instruction in the gospels.