When the Pittsburgh ecclesia moved into a new neighborhood, they circulated the following in leaflet form to introduce themselves to the local area. Other ecclesias may find some of the ideas contained herein useful for their own purposes.
The Christadelphians
The Christadelphians have begun holding worship services at the former Christian and Missionary Alliance Church at First Avenue and Spruce Street in Verona.
We want to greet you as your new neighbors in the area and tell you something about ourselves. First, a word about our name, Christadelphian Ecclesia. Just as Philadelphia comes from two Greek words meaning “brotherly love,” Christadelphian is derived from two Greek words meaning “brethren in Christ.”
The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language, and so Bible students tend to make use of it. Thus, we also use the word “ecclesia” (very similar to a Greek word) to refer to our congregations instead of the word “church.” Church has generally come to mean a building, and so we use ecclesia to emphasize that the name speaks about the people that make up the congregation. God is seeking out faithful people to be His ecclesia (church).
Christadelphians are Bible students
The Christadelpians are Bible students and followers of Christ. We are joined together as an ecclesia by agreement on Bible teaching and the hope which it gives. All the activities and work of the congregation are carried out by the members. All ecclesias, even those numbering a thousand members, function without any paid ministers, teachers or officers. Each ecclesia is an independent body though bound together in fellowship with other ecclesias around the world by a common faith. There is no central governing body or hierarchy, and no officers are appointed except those which each ecclesia selects for itself for its own self-government.
The ecclesial officers are appointed yearly by vote of the members; the principle officer is the recording brother. At this time, Mr. Robert Pommer of Penn Hills holds this office for the Pittsburgh ecclesia.
Some historical facts
The Christadelphians are not a new body of believers. The first ecclesias were organized around 1850, one in particular being formed in New York City in 1852. This beginning was a result of the preaching of John Thomas, an English doctor who had immigrated to America in 1832. The Christadelphians regard Dr. Thomas as having been an outstanding Bible scholar and preacher but do NOT believe that he received any special revelation.
Now, with God’s blessing over the years, there are over 500 Christadelphian ecclesias in 28 countries around the world. Of these, more than 300 are in Great Britain, and more than 100 are in North America. The Pittsburgh ecclesia (which is now meeting in Verona) is a continuation of the ecclesias which met in the Lawrenceville area of Pittsburgh and in New Kensington in the past. Today, many of the Pittsburgh ecclesial members are third, fourth and fifth generation Christadelphians and some have moved to Pittsburgh from ecclesias elsewhere.
Our manner of service
The Sunday worship service is simple and consists of prayer, Bible reading, an exhortation, the memorial service (communion) and hymns. While anyone is welcome to attend Christadelphian worship services, communion is for baptized members only.
Bible-based beliefs
The Christadelphians believe that it is important to have a clear understanding of Bible teaching. They reject any doctrine which is contradicted by the Scriptures, but believe it is up to Christ to judge who are his followers.
Christadelphians believe in one God, the Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God gave His only son to be a savior for sinful mankind.
Christ willingly submitted himself to his Father’s will and died upon the cross to show that only God is righteous and that all men deserve to die because they have sinned. However, because Christ had not sinned, his Father could righteously raise him from the dead; and He has exalted him and given him a name that is above every name.
To receive salvation, we must have faith in God and in Christ; by that faith we acknowledge God’s righteousness, and our sinfulness. That acknowledgement makes it possible for God to give eternal life to a faithful person, and the faithful will enter into God’s kingdom on the earth when Christ returns. The unfaithful will be punished by being cast out, and finally by the second death.
We hope to meet you
There is much more about our understanding of the bible that we would like to share with you. We have only touched on some of the things that give vitality to our faith and our hope. As time and opportunity permit, we hope that you will become better acquainted with us.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One