Abstract:
The twentieth-century merger of the Hutterites, an old order Anabaptist group established in the 1520s, and the Bruderhof communities, founded by Eberhard Arnold in Germany in 1920, was unexpected, complicated and singular. On two occasions, from 1930 to 1955 and from 1974 to 1995, the groups joined together as a single Christian communal body. During these years there was an active attempt to bring forth spiritual and institutional unity. Cultural, ideological and organizational differences, however, caused significant conflict between the two groups. These differences included theological emphases, styles of worship and decision-making as well as varying perspectives on evangelism, social action, education and church discipline. The relationship formally ended in 1995 but both groups have been changed as a result of the association.
