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Home Moravian Church at the top of Academy Street, Salem, NC |
Putting out, or dismissing, a member of a contemporary Christian congregation is in our culture unthinkable. But should it be?
The 18th century Moravians understood the value of boundaries of conduct. History reveals that expulsions from the various Moravian communities were relatively few - and the last resort. That said, dismissal proved necessary in difficult cases. Such is the story of Emmanuel Dresen.
"The single (brother) Emmanuel Dresen was informed ... that he could no longer stay here (Salem). His conduct has not at all agreed with the declarations he made a year ago when he received permission to become a resident."
-- January 22, 1785, The Diary of Salem Congregation.
When was the last time you heard of a person being asked to leave a Christian congregation?
Do you believe the early Moravians have something to teach the contemporary church with respect to moral borders?
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