Minor Party (Unity of the Brethren)

The Minor Party, or Amosites,[1]:54 was a Christian group in Bohemia which split from the Unity of the Brethren during the late 1490s. Its members saw themselves as adhering to the original beliefs of the Unity. The Minor Party was persecuted and ceased to exist in the mid-16th century.

Unity of the Brethren

The Unity of the Brethren today has beliefs far from what they originally believed. Their original doctrines can be found in the early accounts of the book compilation Net of Faith. This book records all the important doctrinal advancements the Unity of the Brethren had during its formative years.

In 1490, the Edict of Brandýs allowed community members to hold public office and opened the door to further reforms of the social policy of the Unity of the Brethren. Furthermore, many of them made alliances with the Hussites and in the long run resulted in the formation of what is now known as the Moravians. They changed a lot of their doctrines to lessen the persecution they were experiencing from both the Catholic and Protestant churches.

Minor and Major Parties

However, a few of them believed that these reforms were invalid.[1]:45– They stood up for the original doctrines and later they became known as the Minor Party separating themselves from the Major Party, those who accepted the reforms. The Minor Party believed that they were the only ones who followed the Net of Faith.

Beliefs of the Minor Party

1 They believe that the term minister must not be limited to those who finished a course on theology or ministry or to those ordained by the clergy. They believe that all Christians must be considered ministers.

2 They avoid holding any public offices. They don’t participate in politics and the military.

3 They preach God’s word from house to house, though this was severely observed during their times because of persecution.

4 They believe that images should not be used in worship.

5 They believe that Purgatory is a wrong teaching.

6 They consider Bible as the only basis of faith.

Although the Minor Party has similar beliefs with the Jehovah's Witnesses, it is the Major Party who used the Tetragrammaton, the Hebrew name of God, usually translated as Jehovah in English, in their publications.

The Minor Party, oppressed by the persecution from other churches and the Major Party, eventually came to dissolution after their last leaders were executed by their persecutors. Some of them were absorbed into the rising Anabaptist movement.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Peter Brock (8 March 2015). Pacifism in Europe to 1914. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-6749-3.
  2. ↑ Craig D. Atwood (2009). The Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius. Penn State Press. p. 191. ISBN 0-271-03532-3.
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