Kirche Jesu Christian (Birdentente) – Wikipedia Wikipedia

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The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) is a Mormonian faith community based in Monongahela in the US state of Pennsylvania. [first] Sometimes she became a “Bickertonite Church (Bickertonite Church) “Or” Rigdonite organization (Rigdonite Organization) ” called. These names that the church itself do not use refer to the two founders of the church, William Bickerton and Sidney Rigdon.

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) emerged from the movement around the Church of Jesus Christ of the saints of the past few days after 1844 and is now not associated with any other church, organization or religious association. It has a total of 12,136 members in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. [2] It is therefore considered the fourth largest of the Mormonian denominations, but the Church of Christ with the Elias embassy, ​​with 12,500, specifies a slightly larger number of members. [3]

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) sees itself as the successor to the church founded on April 6, 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr. In doing so, she claims that Sidney Rigdon was the legal successor to Joseph Smith Jr. after his death because he was the first guide to the first presidency. [4]

Historical church building of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) in Monongahela, Pennsylvania

The historical development of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is identical to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the last days and the community of Christ until 1844.

After Joseph Smith Jr. 1844 had been killed, the question of who was to be his successor when headed by the church came about. At the time of his death, many of the Church executives were not in Nauvoo, but on mission or goods on trips to support Joseph Smith in the election campaign for the United States President. Sidney Rigdon, who from Joseph Smith to “prophet, seer and obvious” (Prophet, Seer and Revelator) had been ordained, [4] Hanged up in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) when he learned about Smith’s death and hurried to Nauvoo. There he arrived as one of the church’s first managers and immediately announced that he was a “guard” (Guardian) – But not the Council of the twelve – has the right to lead the church to the next president of the church. [4]

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) asserts that almost all important decisions had been made before Smith’s death, and that Rigdon, as its first guide, must of course have been the head of the church after Smith’s death. [5]

Rigdon’s supporters separated from the church members who followed Brigham Young and settled in Pittsburgh. On April 6, 1845, Rigdon headed a conference of the Church of Christ, which he declared the lawful successor to the church founded by Joseph Smith. [6] William Bickerton, who was christened in Pittsburgh in 1845, was among the converted at the basis of Rigdon’s sermons and was ordered to the oldest in the same year, shortly afterwards he became the evangelist of the church. [7] A little later, the organization founded by Rigdon dissolved.

Bickerton continued to preached, and in May 1851 a municipality was founded under Bickerton’s direction in West Elizabeth in Pennsylvania. It is reported that at a conference on July 9, 1861, twelve of the members of the Holy Spirit were chosen and appointed to Apostles. The church in Pittsburgh was registered in June 1865 under the name “Church of Jesus Christ of Green Oak, Pennsylvania”. [8] On April 5, 1941, the church in Pennsylvania took the name “The Church of Jesus Christ”. [8] Under this name, the church is now registered as a corporation in the state of Pennsylvania.

According to the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), the office of prophecy is not limited to a “prophet” or the “president” of a church, but rather refers to the council of the twelve apostles (Quorum of Twelve Apostles) . In addition, every single member of the church could receive a revelation. The President of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) and his two consultants are selected by the priesthood at a conference from the Council of the twelve apostles. The president of the church, an ordained apostle, leads the church and monitors all of its activities. The Council of the twelve apostles has its own ladder and managers who are chosen from their own ranks regardless of the general priesthood. The council of the twelve apostles is mainly responsible for the management of intellectual growth and the development of the church in general. He acts as a consultant for the decisive committees. One of the other leadership levels of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is the Council of Seventy Evangelists (Quorum of Seventy Evangelists) .

The church records revelations that are considered valid by the apostles and publishes it wherever you think it is appropriate. However, the revelations are not summarized in a single band. These revelations can come from a single apostle or from all members of the twelve apostles. However, they can also come from individual members of the church, but are only published if the Council of the twelve apostles has approved them.

Today the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) has 12,136 members (as of 2007) worldwide, of which around 3,000 live in the USA. In Europe it is mainly active in Italy, where she has three communities. Compared to other smaller churches of Mormonian denomination, the number of members continues to increase. [2] In the past decade, the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) built new church buildings within the USA into Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, California and Arizona, as well as in other countries.

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is independent of the other Mormonian denominations. From the beginning she leaned u. the polygamy, as well as the seal of heavenly marriages, the establishment of two different types of priesthood as well as numerous other teachings and customs of the organizations emerging from the Church of Jesus Christ of the last days. The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) teaches that many of the teachings and revelations announced by Joseph Smith did not come from God and contradicts the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and many of the Mormonian organizations were mistaken when they followed them. The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is convinced that the nature of God is explained in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible, and represents this image of God, which contradicts the image announced by the Utah Church. [9]

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) believes that the writings of the New Testament contain a truthful description of the church, as was built by Jesus. She believes that the church erected in this way keeps early Christianity and is intended for life and salvation of all of humanity.

Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon are viewed as the inspired Word of God. All teachings and faith are documented by these two books. The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) believes that the other books that are associated with the Mormon denomination – such as: B. Teaching and alliances and The delicious pearl – Many false revelations contain and do not accept them. It believes in the ongoing revelation of God, but only if the revelation is confirmed by the Bible and the Book of Mormon. [ten]

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) teaches that the structures of the early church and the council of twelve apostles, evangelists, elders, teachers, and deacons should still lead the church today. The most important appeal within the church is membership. The leadership is not considered a hierarchy – the higher the appointment, the higher the office.

In the services, the members of the priesthood do not hold any previously prepared sermons. Instead, they strive to speak through the inspiration of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit steer their words.

Since its foundation in 1862, the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) has campaigned for the complete integration of all breeds into all areas of the church. While in the United States Civil Rights through the Movement of American Civil Rights Movement (1896–1954) were fought for, she already taught that her message was for all races. [11] In 1905, a oldest was suspended in the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) because he had opposed the complete integration of all breeds. [5]

The historian Dale Morgan (1914–1971) wrote in 1949: “An interesting detail in the teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is the fact that they […] members of other breeds are in no way discriminated against, all of them are the rights of priesthood completely open. The church took a clear position regarding human rights and was uncompromising, for example, towards the Ku Klux Klan when it experienced a strong upswing after the First World War. ” [twelfth]

At the time when everywhere in the United States -including in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the last few days -racial segregation and discrimination were common in most facilities, two of the most outstanding executives of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) were African American: Apostle John Penn , 1910-1955 member of the Council of the twelve apostles, was missionary with many Italo -Americans, and often he was called “Doctor of the Italians” (The Italians’ Doctor) . [5] Matthew Miller, an ordained evangelist in 1937, traveled through Canada and built mission stations among the American indigenous people. [5]

Famous members of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

  • The rock star Alice Cooper grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite). [13]

The members of the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) call each other “brother” and “sister”. They are advised by the church to practice in all moderation, also with regard to clothing and the appearance.

In the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites), one believes that hymns are often revealed by divine inspiration so that the church is built. Different singing books are used, but mainly The Saints Hymnal and The Songs of Zion .

The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) operates a publisher in Bridgewater, Michigan and prints its own edition of the book Mormon. The magazine is monthly The Gospel News published.

  • Gary R. Entz: The Bickertonites: Schism and Reunion in a Restoration Church, 1880–1905. In: Journal of Mormon History 32 (autumn 2006), pp. 1–44.
  1. ↑ JERRY VALENTTI: Welcome to The Church of Jesus Christ. In: Gospel News 56. Bridgewater (Michichigan), 1986 S. 9.
  2. ↑ a b The Church of Jesus Christ General Business and Organization Conference Minutes. The Church of Jesus Christ, Bridgewater (Michichigan), 2007. S. 4399.
  3. ↑ John Hammer: New President for Church of Jesus Christ (Bickerton). (pdf; 1,4 MB) In: JWHA Newsletter. The John Whitmer Historical Association, 2005, S. 13 , archived from Original am 23. September 2010 ; accessed on June 2, 2022 (English).
  4. ↑ a b c M. F. McKiernan: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: Sidney Rigdon, Religious Reformer. Coronado Press, 1979, S. 9.
  5. ↑ a b c d The Church of Jesus Christ (Hrsg.): A History of The Church of Jesus Christ , 2. The Church of Jesus Christ, Monongahela (Pennsylvania), 2002.
  6. ↑ Donald E. Pitzer: America’s Communal Utopas. University of North Carolina Richard Press, Chapel Hill, 1977, S. 484.
    Howard: William E. McLellin: ‘Mormonism’s Stormy Petrel’. In: Roger D. Launius, Linda Thatcher (ed.): Dissenters in Mormon History. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1998, S. 76–101.
  7. ↑ William Bickerton: William Bickerton’s Testimony. The Church of Jesus Christ, Monongahela (Pennsylvania), 1975.
  8. ↑ a b William H. Cadman: A History of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ, Monongahela (Pennsylvania), 1945.
  9. ↑ Apostle Calabrese
  10. ↑ V. James Lovalvo: Dissertation on the Faith and Doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ. (pdf, 26,6 MB) The Church of Jesus Christ, Monongahela (Pennsylvania), 1986, S. 115–116 , archived from Original am 9. November 2005 ; accessed on March 4, 2023 (English).
  11. ↑ Idris Martin: Annotated History of The Church of Jesus Christ. Official minutes of meetings of The Church, 1858, S. 157, 180, 375.
  12. ↑ Dale L. Morgan: The Western Humanities. Band 4/1. University of Utah, Winter 1949–1950, S. 4.
  13. ↑ Kaimi week: Famous Mormons. In: Timesandseasons.org. December 30, 2003, accessed on June 2, 2022 (English).
    Answer: Justin: Justin says. In: Timesandseasons.org. 7. June 2005, accessed on June 2, 2022 (English, number 34).
    Pete Thunell: Column: Here’s the skinny on LDS celebrity urban legends. In: Brigham Young University NewsNet. November 28, 2000, archived from Original am 17. May 2007 ; accessed on June 2, 2022 (English).