A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

ening of their fellowship with other believers. In 1905 those Menno- nite Brethren who felt strongly about an open communion, ac- cessible to all true born-again believers, formed a new fellow- ship called "The Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church," also known as the "Alliance" movement. They retained the 1902 Confession of Faith and practiced immersion baptism them- selves but were willing to receive other believers who, upon confession of faith, had been baptized by other modes. The Alliance polity of appointing a council of elders also signalled the beginning of a gradual change in the Mennonite Brethren Church from that of one elder to a plurality of elders.38 The greater theological openness of the Alliance move- ment gave rise to other issues. Removal of the requirement of immersion baptism opened the door to a freer movement of teachers from other faith fellowships. Newcomers with a more liberal interpretation of ethics challenged some Menno- nite Brethren standards of lifestyle. The subsequent legalistic development in Mennonite Brethren ethics was to some de- gree a reaction to the greater ethical freedom advocated by members of the Alliance movement. Other conflicts emerged- Benjamin B. Janz described them in this way: In conclusion we cast an overview on the character of the position of faith of the M.B. Church in the latter years under the leading influence of the "Free Brethren" (freien Binder) when the formerly much rebuked conservative narrowness iEngherzigkeii) had been stripped. Normally there should have been basic growth according to the word of 2 Thess. 1:3: "We ought always to give thanks to God for you brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged and the love of each one of you all to- wards one another grows ever greater." Through the deeper exposition of Scripture, literature for devotional nurture and theology, ministers from abroad, professors, 50 MB UNDERSTANDING OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH doctors, theologians from the Baltic provinces, Germany, England who served with sermons and frequently with Bible courses of a week duration to larger groups of teachers and ministers with free provisions of lodging and meals supplied by the wealthy brethren in Steinbach and Apanlee, there came much light from above. . . . The pul- pit ministry had become more effective. The inner warmth, however, with the concern for the lost was wan- ing. There was much criticism. Life and walk had weak- ened. The struggles within the Conference had affected the unity which hovered like a mildew over the brother- hood, e