Editing Christadelphians (section)

== Organisation ==

=== General organisation ===
In the absence of centralised organisation, some differences exist amongst Christadelphians on matters of belief and practice. This is because each congregation (commonly styled 'ecclesias') is organised [[wiktionary:autonomous|autonomously]], typically following common practices which have altered little since the 19th century. Many avoid the word "church" due to its association with mainstream Christianity, and its focus on the building as opposed to the congregation. Most ecclesias have a constitution,<ref>Example: [http://www.god-so-loved-the-world.org/english/constitution.htm Constitution of the Birmingham Christadelphian Ecclesia, Midland Institute] c.1932-onwards</ref> which includes a 'Statement of Faith', a list of 'Doctrines to be Rejected' and a formalised list of 'The Commandments of Christ'.<ref>This list as published by [[The Christadelphian Magazine]] contains 53 paraphrases of Bible verses which were originally read weekly as part of the service at Temperance Hall ecclesia. Other versions, of unconfirmed origin, exist with the list expanded to 100 including some verses justifying division.</ref> With no central authority, individual congregations are responsible for maintaining orthodoxy in belief and practice, and the statement of faith is seen by many as useful to this end. The statement of faith acts as the official standard of most ecclesias to determine fellowship within and between ecclesias, and as the basis for co-operation between ecclesias. Congregational discipline and conflict resolution are applied using various forms of consultation, mediation, and discussion, with disfellowship (similar to [[excommunication]]) being the final response to those with unorthodox practices or beliefs.<ref>Robert Roberts, ''A Guide to the Formation and Conduct of Christadelphian Ecclesias'' (Birmingham: 1883), Sections 32, 35–36</ref>

The relative uniformity of organisation and practice is undoubtedly due to the influence of a booklet, written early in Christadelphian history by Robert Roberts, called ''A Guide to the Formation and Conduct of Christadelphian Ecclesias''.<ref name="online">Robert Roberts, ''A Guide to the Formation and Conduct of Christadelphian Ecclesias'' (Birmingham: 1883). Available [https://www.antipas.org/books/ecclesial_guide/1883guide_toc.html online]</ref> It recommends a basically democratic arrangement by which congregational members elect 'brothers' to do arranging and serving duties,<ref>Robert Roberts, ''A Guide to the Formation and Conduct of Christadelphian Ecclesias'' (Birmingham: 1883), Sections 17–27</ref> and includes guidelines for the organisation of committees, as well as conflict resolution between congregational members and between congregations.<ref>Robert Roberts, ''A Guide to the Formation and Conduct of Christadelphian Ecclesias'' (Birmingham: 1883), Sections 35–38, 41–42</ref> Christadelphians do not have paid [[minister of religion|ministers]]. Male members (and increasingly female in some places) are assessed by the congregation for their eligibility to teach and perform other duties, which are usually assigned on a rotation basis, as opposed to having a permanently appointed preacher. Congregational polity typically follows a [[democracy|democratic]] model, with an elected arranging committee for each individual ecclesia. This unpaid committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of the ecclesia and is answerable to the rest of the ecclesia's members.

Inter-ecclesial organisations co-ordinate the running of, among other things, Christadelphian schools<ref>For example: Christadelphian [[Heritage Colleges (Australia)|Heritage Colleges Australia]].</ref> and elderly care homes, the [[Christadelphian Isolation League]] (which cares for those prevented by distance or infirmity from attending an ecclesia regularly) and the publication of [[:Category:Christadelphian magazines|Christadelphian magazines]].

=== Adherents ===
No official membership figures are published, but the ''[[Columbia Encyclopedia|Columbia Encyclopaedia]]'' gives an estimated figure of 50,000 Christadelphians, spread across approximately 120 countries.<ref name="exrydu">[http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Christad 'Christadelphians'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728003246/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Christad |date=July 28, 2011 }}, ''The Columbia Encyclopedia''</ref> Estimates for the main centers of Christadelphian population are as follows: Mozambique (17,800),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbm.org.uk/mozambique/|title=Mozambique |publisher=Christadelphian Bible Mission UK |access-date=2024-01-18}}</ref> Australia (9,734),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing: Census article - Religious affiliation in Australia, 2021 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021/Census%20article%20-%20Religious%20affiliation%20in%20Australia.xlsx |website=www.abs.gov.au}}</ref> the United Kingdom (8,200),<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Christadelphian Tidings, October 2019 |url=https://tidings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tidings-2019-10-Oct-647973.pdf |website=tidings.org}}</ref> Malawi (7,000),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbm.org.uk/malawi/|title=Malawi |publisher=Christadelphian Bible Mission UK |access-date=2020-01-21}}</ref> United States (6,500),<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Christadelphians |encyclopedia=The Columbia Encyclopedia |url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Christad |publisher=Education.yahoo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728003246/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Christad |archive-date=2011-07-28 }}</ref> Canada (3,000),<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 National Household Survey - Data Tables| date=8 May 2013 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=105399&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=|publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> Kenya (2,700),<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbm.org.uk/kenya/ |title=Kenya |publisher=Christadelphian Bible Mission UK |access-date=2020-01-21}}</ref> India (2,300)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://acbm.org.au/mission-area/india/ | title=India – ACBM }}</ref> and New Zealand (1,785),.<ref>2006 Census figures from [http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2006CensusHomePage/classification-counts-tables/about-people/~/media/Statistics/Census/2006-reports/Classification-Count-Tables/People/religious-affiliation.xls Statistics New Zealand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115113848/http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2006CensusHomePage/classification-counts-tables/about-people/~/media/Statistics/Census/2006-reports/Classification-Count-Tables/People/religious-affiliation.xls |date=2013-11-15 }} (link opens [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]] file)</ref> Figures from Christadelphian mission organisations are as follows: Africa (32,500),<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cbm.org.uk/africa/| title = Christadelphian Bible Mission UK}}</ref> Asia (4,000),<ref name="acbm.org.au">{{Cite web |url=https://acbm.org.au/mission-area/india/ |title=India |access-date=2024-01-18}}</ref> the Caribbean (400),<ref name="cbma.net">{{cite web| url = https://cbma.net/the-mission-field/caribbean/| title = Christadelphian Bible Mission of the Americas}}</ref> Europe (including Russia) (700),<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbm.org.uk/europe/| title = Christadelphian Bible Mission UK - Europe}}</ref> Latin America (275),<ref name="cbma.net"/> and the Pacific (200).<ref name="acbm.org.au"/>

=== Fellowships ===
The Christadelphian body consists of a number of ''fellowships'' – groups of ecclesias which associate with one another, often to the exclusion of ecclesias outside their group. They are to some degree localised. The Unamended Fellowship, for example, exists only in North America. Christadelphian fellowships have often been named after ecclesias or magazines who took a lead in developing a particular stance.

The majority of Christadelphians today belong to what is commonly known as the ''Central Fellowship''.<ref name="Birmingham 1933, p. 376">The first use of the term "Birmingham (Central) fellowship" in ''The Christadelphian'' magazine was in volume 70, 1933, p. 376.</ref> The term "Central" came into use around 1933 to identify ecclesias worldwide who were in fellowship with the Birmingham (Central) Ecclesia. These were previously known as the "Temperance Hall Fellowship". The "Suffolk Street Fellowship" arose in 1885 over disagreements surrounding the inspiration of the Bible. Meanwhile, in Australia, division concerning the nature of Jesus Christ resulted in the formation of the "Shield Fellowship". Discussions in 1957&ndash;1958 resulted in a worldwide reunion between the Central, Suffolk Street and Shield Fellowships.

The ''[[Unamended Christadelphians|Unamended Fellowship]]'', consisting of around 1,850 members, is found in the East Coast and Midwest USA and Ontario, Canada.<ref>Verified figure, Ecclesial Directory 2006. Parts of grouping currently involved in unity talks with Central.</ref> This group separated in 1898 as a result of differing views on who would be raised to judgement at the return of Christ. The majority of Christadelphians believe that the judgement will include anyone who had sufficient knowledge of the gospel message, and is not limited to baptised believers.<ref>The Sydney Ecclesia, Australia had already "disfellowshipped" 10 members for denying this in 1883. The Christadelphian Magazine 1884, ecclesial news p.90 and editorial comment p.382</ref> The majority in England, Australia and North America amended their statement of faith accordingly. Those who opposed the amendment became known as the "Unamended Fellowship" and allowed the teaching that God either could not or would not raise those who had no covenant relationship with him. Opinions vary as to what the established position was on this subject prior to the controversy.<ref>For example: [https://archive.today/20130102170350/http://www.genusa.com/Truth/UnamendedErrors.html Website] claiming views held by Amended community were original Christadelphian beliefs Versus [http://www.republic-christadelphians.org/Unamended.html Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515083019/http://www.republic-christadelphians.org/Unamended.html |date=2008-05-15 }} claiming views held by Unamended community were original Christadelphian beliefs.</ref> Prominent in the formation of the Unamended Fellowship was [[Thomas Williams (Christadelphian)|Thomas Williams]], editor of the Christadelphian Advocate magazine. The majority of the Unamended Fellowship outside North America joined the Suffolk Street Fellowship before its eventual incorporation into Central Fellowship. There is also some co-operation between the Central (Amended) and Unamended Fellowships in North America – most recently in the Great Lakes region, where numerous Amended and Unamended ecclesias are working together to unify their ecclesias. The Central Fellowship in North America is still often referred to today as the ''[[Amended Christadelphians|Amended Fellowship]]''.

The ''[[Berean Christadelphians|Berean Fellowship]]'' was formed in 1923 as a result of varying views on military service in England, and on the atonement in North America. The majority of the North American Bereans re-joined the main body of Christadelphians in 1952. A number continue as a separate community, numbering around 200 in Texas, 100 in Kenya and 30 in Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bereanecclesialnews.com/|title=The Berean Ecclesial News|access-date=22 January 2017|archive-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610085120/http://bereanecclesialnews.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most of the divisions still in existence within the Christadelphian community today stem from further divisions of the ''Berean'' ''Fellowship''.<ref>Phillips, Jim, ''The Berean Christadelphians: Why the Bereans?'' [https://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp3.html From the Formation of the Bereans to the Restatement (1923–1960)], [https://www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/wbp4.html Our last 30 Years]</ref>
[[Image:Gate of Christadephian Cemetery near Hye, Texas (2018).jpg|right|thumb|150px|Gate of the Christadelphian Cemetery near [[Hye, Texas]]]]

The ''Dawn Fellowship''<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Longman |url=http://www.dawnchristadelphian.co.uk/ |title=The Dawn Christadelphian Homepage |publisher=Dawnchristadelphian.co.uk |date=2007-01-05 |access-date=2010-03-15 }}<br />{{*}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawnchristadelphians.org |title=A Dawn Christadelphian's Website |publisher=Dawnchristadelphians.org |access-date=2010-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918203722/http://dawnchristadelphians.org/ |archive-date=2010-09-18 }}</ref> are the result of an issue which arose in 1942 among the Berean Fellowship regarding divorce and remarriage. The stricter party formed the Dawn Fellowship who, following re-union on the basis of unity of belief with the Lightstand Fellowship in Australia in 2007 increased in number.<ref>The Dawn Christadelphian Magazine, January 2008</ref> There are now thought to be around 800 members in England, Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Poland, the Philippines, Russia and Kenya.<ref>Estimate undergoing review. Please see Talk pages – on the Discussion tab at page head</ref>

The ''Old Paths Fellowship''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gospeltruth.info |title=Old Paths Fellowship (Australia) |publisher=Gospeltruth.info |access-date=2010-03-15}}<br />{{*}}{{cite web|url=http://www.christadelphians.co.uk |title=Old Paths Fellowship (UK) |publisher=Christadelphians.co.uk |access-date=2010-03-15}}</ref> was formed in 1957 in response to the reunion of the Central and Suffolk Street Fellowships. A minority from the Central Fellowship held that the reasons for separation remained and that full unity of belief on all fundamental principles of Bible teaching was necessary; thus reunion was only possible with the full agreement and understanding of all members rather than a decision by majority vote. Ecclesias forming the Old Paths Fellowship arose in England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada numbering around 500 members in total. They now number around 250 members in total, with members in Australia, England, Mexico and New Zealand. They maintain that they hold to the original Central Fellowship position held prior to the 1957 Reunion.

Other fellowships (ranging in numbers from as few as 10 to over 200 members) include the ''Watchman Fellowship'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christadelphian-watchman-fellowship.org |title=Christadelphian Watchman Fellowship |publisher=Christadelphian-watchman-fellowship.org}}</ref> the ''Companion Fellowship''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://companionchristadelphians.com/ |title=Companion Christadelphians |publisher=Companion Christadelphians |access-date=2010-03-15}}</ref> and the ''Pioneer Fellowship''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pioneerchristadelphians.org |title=Pioneer Christadelphians | publisher=Pioneer Christadelphians |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>

According to [[Bryan R. Wilson|Bryan Wilson]], functionally the definition of a "fellowship" within Christadelphian history has been mutual or unilateral exclusion of groupings of ecclesias from the breaking of bread.<ref>Bryan R. Wilson, Sects and Society (London: William Heinemann, 1961)</ref> This functional definition still holds true in North America, where the Unamended Fellowship and the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith are not received by most North American [[Amended Christadelphians|Amended]] ecclesias. But outside North America this functional definition no longer holds. Many articles and books on the doctrine and practice of fellowship now reject the notion itself of separate "fellowships" among those who recognise the same baptism, viewing such separations as schismatic.<ref>[http://www.god-so-loved-the-world.org/english/oates-pearce-1957-booklet-fellowship-and-withdrawal.doc Oates & Pearce ''Fellowship and Withdrawal'' (doc)] 1957<br />{{*}}[http://www.god-so-loved-the-world.org/english/whittaker_fellowship_1973.doc H.A. Whittaker ''Block Disfellowship?'' (doc)] articles from [[Testimony Magazine]] 1973<br />{{*}}{{cite web |url=http://www.christadelphianbooks.org/booker/bible_fellowship/ch01.html |title=Biblical Fellowship |publisher=Christadelphianbooks.org |access-date=2010-03-15 |archive-date=2010-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919044155/http://christadelphianbooks.org/booker/bible_fellowship/ch01.html |url-status=dead }}<br />{{*}}Perry, Andrew. ''Fellowship Matters'', Willow publications, 2nd edition, 1996</ref> Many ecclesias in the Central fellowship would not refuse a baptised Christadelphian from a minority fellowship from breaking bread; the exclusion is more usually the other way.

They tend to operate organisationally fairly similarly, although there are different emphases. Despite their differences, the Central, Old Paths, Dawn<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawnchristadelphians.org |title=Dawn Christadelphians |publisher=Dawn Christadelphians |access-date=2010-03-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918203722/http://dawnchristadelphians.org/ |archive-date=2010-09-18 }}</ref> and Berean<ref>[http://www.bereans.org/basf.html Bereans.org BASF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619152908/http://www.bereans.org/basf.html |date=2013-06-19 }} With some exceptions including the Lampasas Texas Berean Ecclesia. Some have an amendment in the Doctrines to be Rejected which prohibits a person being a police constable.</ref> fellowships generally subscribe to the ''Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith'' (BASF), though the latter two have additional clauses or supporting documents to explain their position. Most Unamended ecclesias use the ''Birmingham Unamended Statement of Faith'' (BUSF)<ref>''Birmingham Unamended Statement of Faith''. Available [http://www.monroechristadelphians.com/browser/unamendedsof.html online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219110110/http://www.monroechristadelphians.com/browser/unamendedsof.html |date=2013-12-19 }}</ref> with one clause being different. Within the Central fellowship individual ecclesias also may have their own statement of faith, whilst still accepting the statement of faith of the larger community. Some ecclesias have statements around their positions, especially on divorce and re-marriage, making clear that offence would be caused by anyone in that position seeking to join them at the 'Breaking of Bread' service. Others tolerate a degree of divergence from commonly held Christadelphian views. While some communities of Christadelphian origin have viewed previous statements of faith as set in stone, others have felt it necessary to revise them in order to meet contemporary issues, update language or add supporting Biblical quotations.

For each fellowship, anyone who publicly assents to the doctrines described in the statement and is in good standing in their "home ecclesia" is generally welcome to participate in the activities of any other ecclesia.

===Related groups===
There are a number of groups who, while sharing a common heritage and many Christadelphian teachings, have adopted alternative names in order to dissociate themselves from what they believe to be false teachings and/or practice within the main Christadelphian body. Ranging in size from two or three members in size to around 50, each group restricts fellowship to its own members. These include the Nazarene Fellowship,<ref>[http://www.thenazarenefellowship.co.uk/ The Nazarene Fellowship]</ref> the Ecclesia of Christ, the Remnant of Christ's Ecclesia,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.remnantofchristsecclesia.com/ |title=The Remnant of Christ's Ecclesia |access-date=2021-12-29 |archive-date=2020-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127083006/http://www.remnantofchristsecclesia.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Apostolic Fellowship of Christ <ref>{{cite web| url = https://theapostolicfellowshipofchrist.com/| title = The Apostolic Fellowship of Christ}}</ref> and the Apostolic Ecclesia.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bible-truth.co.uk/| title = The Apostolic Ecclesia}}</ref>

The [[Church of the Blessed Hope|Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (CGAF)]] also has common origins with Christadelphians and shares Christadelphian beliefs.<ref>[https://cotbh.org/Our-Belief/our-belief.html Our Belief – Church of the Blessed Hope]</ref> Numbering around 400 (primarily Ohio and Florida, USA),<ref>From CGAF directory.</ref> they are welcomed into fellowship by some "Central" Christadelphians and are currently involved in unity talks.