The BIC was founded by my 6th great uncle, the Reverend Martin Beam back in Pennsylvania in the 1770s. The Reverend Otterbein heard him speak and rushed forward to clasp him in greeting, saying “We are Brethern,……. Brethern in Christ!”. Their church continues to this day.
BRETHREN IN CHRIST CEMETERY, RIDGEVILLE, ONTARIO
Their abhorrence towards oaths other than to God and their refusal to bear arms, led to a flood of BIC members to Upper Canada during the American revolution. The Reverend Martin Beam’s brother, Jacob, my 8th great grandfather, became a good friend of Governor Simcoe and the first alderman for the village of Chippawa, Ontario. The connection of the church with its antecedent in Pennsylvania continues to this day.
LAKE ERIE BIC BAPTISM, LOWBANKS, ONTARIO
Like much in the Anabaptist tradition, the BIC believes in full body baptism. Adults only. Here members of the Wainfleet, Ontario BIC patiently await their turn for spiritual confirmation.
Despite their conviction to traditional values, the Canadian branch was not immune to the modern precepts of wokeism which came about the day before yesterday. It is now known as “Be in Christ”. Too much toxic masculinity or something.