The Schleitheim Confession

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The Schleitheim Confession

• Pacifism in the Anabaptist Movement
• Peter Lamey
• Oct. 19 2007

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(No Transcript)
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Michael Sattler

• 1495 1527
• Former Benedictine Monk
• Chaired the Meeting at which the Confession was
  adopted

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The Brotherly Agreement of Some Children of God
Concerning Seven Articles

• A confession of faith for the Anabaptists in
  Switzerland
• Expressing a differing ideology than the one
  which would lead to the Munster fiasco

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The Articles

• Article One Expresses the belief that baptism
  should be given only to those who have made a
  commitment to the faith
• Article Two Describes the necessity of
  excommunicating anyone who falls into sin from
  the body of believers

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The Articles

• Article Three Lays out Anabaptist beliefs about
  the Lord's Supper.
• Article Four Describes the necessity of living
  apart from all non-believers
• Article Five Describes the office of the pastor
  as envisioned by the Anabaptists

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The Articles

• Article Six Repudiates the use of violence by
  any Christian
• Article Seven Prohibits the swearing of oaths

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Reaction to Anabaptism

• Even though the Schleitheim Confessions are
  explicitly pacifistic, they were regarded as
  threatening to the established authorities
• Firstly, because there was suspicion that they
  were merely wolves in sheep's clothing
• Also, because they were perceived as disloyal due
  to their refusal of military service

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So About that Sattler Guy...

• Executed by the Austrian Catholic Church in 1527
  for Heresy
• All of the Male members of the church were then
  beheaded
• The women were drowned

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Questions?

• Why do you believe pacifism has failed to make a
  significant impact in the wider Christian church?