Thousands of German Baptists to meet in Modesto for annual conference
Members of the Old German Baptist Brethren churches are easy to spot -- men in simple, dark suits with broad-brimmed hats and beards, but no mustaches, women with white hair coverings and long dresses with matching capes and aprons.
There are about 500 German Baptists in Modesto and Twain Harte. You'll see them throughout the community -- working as dentists, hygienists, farmers, cabinet makers, etc., and shopping at Costco, talking on cell phones or going to restaurants like anyone else.
But they have no TVs or radios in their homes, and going to movies is discouraged.
They know people often focus on their "peculiarities," but they would rather have folks focus on their Christian faith -- deep, simple and peace-loving.
Each year, they have a nationwide conference where about 2,500 attend for worship services, meals and a business meeting to take care of any issues that have arisen. In years past, those issues included whether radios and automobiles should be used (they eventually decided no on the former and yes on the latter).
The conferences rotate throughout the country; this year's event will be held on a ranch near Waterford, the first time it's been in the area since 2002.
Several events are open to the public. The denomination doesn't seek publicity but does allow outsiders to sit in on worship services and meals, in part to show that they are not a secret sect or cult.
"My greatest desire is that through our relationships with other people, they would know Jesus Christ," said David Rumble, one of three men authorized to speak for the denomination and an organizer of the conference. "Often, folks
will look at the way we dress and not see that we do worship the Lord Jesus -- that's the center of our faith."
"We're not here to portray our own selves," added Curtis Selby from the Twain Harte congregation.
Preparations for the conference began about two years ago. Modesto dentist Galen Filbrun offered his land for the four-day event. About 20 acres, formerly a rice field, were planted in sod last fall.
The grassy area soon will be filled with two huge tents -- a dining tent to seat 832 people and a council tent that will seat 3,000 for the worship and business meetings. A kitchen building, concession tent and bathroom facility, as well as parking spots for 1,225 vehicles, also will be part of the complex.
On the Saturday following the conference, an auction will be held for the lumber, electrical, plumbing and other building materials used for the project. The money will help offset the cost of the event, which is paid for by the churches in the western region.
History of the faith
German Baptists, often called Dunkards, trace their history to 1708 when eight people near Schwarzenau, Germany, decided to strictly follow the Bible, rejecting all creeds. They practiced -- and still do -- triune baptism, where they immerse people three times forward into the water, symbolic of the trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Persecution forced the group out of Germany. William Penn offered the group a place of religious freedom in the New World. The group today is found only in the United States, with congregations ranging between 30 and 300 people. Each congregation selects its own ministers, who are not seminary-trained but instead study the Bible on their own. Some churches have two or three ministers, and some have six or seven. They serve for life.
Similar to the Amish, German Baptists are called "plain" people, but unlike the Amish, German Baptists have telephones and electricity in their homes and drive automobiles.
Worship services last about two hours; men sit in one section and women in another. Children attend the services, too. There are no instruments, but the congregation sings several hymns a cappella. Scriptures are read and then one or more ministers will give a lesson.
"We take the Bible literally," Rumble said. He, Selby and Norman Layman of Modesto, the third German Baptist spokesman, said that means there's no debate on issues such as abortion, divorce, homosexuality and female ministers -- they're all wrong in God's eyes.
Violence and politics are also eschewed. German Baptists don't join the military, serve on juries, march in protests or vote in civil elections.
"We have three main principles," said Rumble. They are nonconformity, or living according to Scripture rather than worldly standards; nonresistance, which means not striking back or taking up arms; and nonswearing, not using profane words and letting "your yes be yes and your no be no."
Holy kisses and unity
German Baptists share meals frequently in their homes and churches and respond quickly to each other in times of need. Integrity in the workplace, strong families, self-denial and humility are major facets of their Christian life.
They greet each other -- males to males and females to females -- with a warm handclasp and a kiss on the lips, reflective of a directive from the apostle Paul in the book of Romans: "Greet one another with a holy kiss."
A communion service, called the Love Feast, is held just once a year, at the annual conference. It includes feet washing and a simple meal, followed by the service of unleavened bread and wine.
Like-mindedness is very important in the faith, which is the reason for the annual business meeting. Before the meeting begins, the members vote for 12 men to represent them. Those 12 men put forth the issues to be discussed, listen to men in the audience state their views or questions, then come up with a unified decision. If a consensus isn't reached, the question can be put off for another year.
Some decisions, Rumble said, take several years to resolve. The unity of thought, he added, is just as important as the issue. That comes from another passage in Romans: "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Old German Baptist Conference
WHERE: 17013 Claribel Road, Waterford
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Thursday: 7 a.m., tent raising (dining and council tents) and completion of other construction on site; noon, meal in dining tent
Saturday: 10 a.m., opening worship service; noon, lunch; 2 p.m., worship
Sunday, May 31: 7 a.m., morning worship; 7:30 a.m., breakfast; 10 a.m., worship; noon, dining; 2 p.m. worship; 5 p.m. communion service in dining tent (members only; outsiders welcome to observe)
Monday, June 1: 7 a.m., morning worship; 7:30 a.m., breakfast; 10 a.m., worship service; 2 p.m., worship service; 4 p.m., supper; 7 p.m., worship
Tuesday, June 2: 7 a.m., morning worship; 7:30 a.m., breakfast; 9:30 a.m., business meeting (for members, but outsiders may observe); noon, dinner served Saturday, June 6: 9 a.m., public auction of items used (mostly building supplies)
Note: All visitors are asked to dress modestly; modest dresses for women and loose-fitting slacks with sleeves for men are recommended.
Bee staff writer Sue Nowicki can be reached at 578-2012 or snowicki@modbee.com.
This story was originally published May 24, 2009 at 6:32 AM with the headline "Thousands of German Baptists to meet in Modesto for annual conference."