Quick Facts About the Moravian Church

  • Oldest Protestant church
  • One worldwide Moravian Church called the Unitas Fratrum or simply the Unity
  • Three orders of ministry: Bishops, presbyters, deacons
  • Four provinces in North America: Southern, Northern (includes Canada), Alaska, Labrador
  • About 40,000 members in the Northern & Southern Provinces
  • About one million Moravians in the world, mostly Africa
  • Pioneers in Protestant missions; noted for being culturally sensitive
  • Emphasis on using native languages; often produced grammars, dictionaries
  • Focus on Christian life rather than doctrinal disputes
  • Uses Apostles and Nicene Creeds
  • Justification by grace through faith, but faith is completed in love
  • Liturgical, but congregations have freedom to develop own style of worship
  • Two sacraments: baptism (infants) and Holy Communion
  • Conferential government: Synods, Provincial Elders Conference, local boards
  • Ecumenical and irenic (peace-makers, not dividers)
  • First published hymnal 1505
  • Contributed many hymns to Protestantism
  • High musical culture in colonial America: voice, organ, brass, woodwinds, and strings in worship
  • Some of the best composers in early America were Moravian
  • Moravian Music Festivals promote Moravian compositions past and present

 

Taken from the Center for Moravian Studies. Click here to view the original.