The Christian Community

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The Christian Community (German: Die Christengemeinschaft) is a worldwide Movement for Religious Renewal. It was founded in 1922 in Switzerland by a group of mainly Lutheran theologians and ministers led by Friedrich Rittelmeyer, inspired by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher and founder of Anthroposophy. Christian Community Congregations exist as financially independent groups with regional and international administrative bodies overseeing their work. There are approximately 350 worldwide. The international headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.

The Christian Community is led by the 'circle of priests', with leaders appointed within the circle: a first coordinator (the Erzoberlenker). The Erzoberlenker is consulted by two second coordinators (the Oberlenkers). There are also third coordinators on the regional level (Lenkers) and a Synod of priests. There is no additional ordination for the leadership. The priesthood of the Christian Community has always been open to women.

[edit] Beliefs

Above all, The Christian Community respects human freedom: members are not required to conform to any specific teaching or behaviour. It is understood that each individual will express through their own biography and activities, a kind of truth. What can be said:

• The Christian Community celebrates the Eucharist, which it calls 'The Act of Consecration of Man'.

• There are six other sacraments; Baptism , Confirmation , Marriage , The Last Anointing , Sacramental Consultation and the Sacrament of Ordination.

• It takes the whole of the New Testament and especially the four gospels as its inspiration. There is an extensive literature within the Community which supports these.

• The Christian Community is more sympathetic to reincarnation of the soul in both past and future lifetimes than other Christian groups. ^[1]

[edit] See also

• Anthroposophy
• Rudolf Steiner
• Berthold Wulf

[edit] References

• The Christian Community in North America with extensive introductory articles
• The Christian Community in the UK and Ireland also with introductory articles
• Jampl - Christian community with youth in mind.
• Die Christengemeinschaft German site of The Christian Community
• priest seminaries of the Christian Community in Chicago, Stuttgart (Germany) and Hamburg (Germany)
• The Christian Community - An Introduction by Michael Tapp, retired priest in The Christian Community, former national coordinator for the UK and then Australia/New Zealand

1. ^ Extracted from The Christian Community Journal, Review of Growing Point, Alfred Heidenreich, Floris Books. "The understanding of the Cosmic Christ and the concept of reincarnation are clearly vital for the renewed Christianity in this age."

• The Journal for the renewal of religion and theology An online peer-reviewed open access journal inspired by the theology of The Christian Community