The Moravian Church traces its beginnings to the ministry of John Hus, a
Roman Catholic Priest and chancellor of the University of Prague. Hus's
preaching might seem rather tame today, but in the early 1400's his
insistence on salvation through the merits of Christ alone, on preaching in
the vernacular (Czech) rather than in Latin, and on sola scriptura brought
condemnation from the Council of Constance, and Hus was burned at the stake
in 1415.  His Czech followers maintained his ideals, though remaining
linked to the Roman church. In 1457, however, several Hussites meeting in
Kunwald in southern Germany proclaimed the existence of the Unitas Fratrum
(Unity of the Brethren) as a Christian church separate from Rome; they
sought and received ordination from the Waldensians, and like them
maintained that they possessed Petrine descent.

The first 250 years of Moravian history were rather uncomfortable: constant
war and persecution kept the church underground, in spite of the successful
Protestant reformation to the north.  Luther admitted his indebtedness to
"My Hus" and on several occasions met with Moravian representatives from
Czechoslovakia.  During this period, however, there were some shining
lights: John Amos Comenius, known as the "Father of Modern Education" in
secular history, became a Moravian Bishop and authored the Ratio
Disciplinae, now the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living (a thin booklet
representing the core of a Moravian catechism).

During all this period, of course, the "Moravians" were known simply as
Hussites or Brethren, Moravian being a term denoting region rather than
religion.  In the 1720's however, Czech Moravians found a promise of
religious freedom on the estates of a German Lutheran nobleman, Nicholas
Ludwig von Zinzendorf.  Here, where regional characterization meant
something, the term "Moravian" stuck and is our official name today,
although Unitas Fratrum remains our "official official" name (figure that
one out!)  It was under Zinzendorf's leadership that the the church was
renewed and given missionary impetus. The first protestant missionaries to
the new world were Moravians, landing in St. Thomas in 1732.  Cities such
as Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Lititz, Pennsylvania; and Winston-Salem, North
Carolina were originally established by the Moravians as mission outposts
to the Indians and slaves of North America. Those cities today represent
the historic centers of the Moravian Church in the United States and it is
there that you'll find our colleges and seminaries.

Throughout the last 250 years or so, Moravians have remained intensely
mission oriented, but not domestically. Strangely, Zinzendorf's pietism led
him to believe for a long time that the Moravian Church should not be a
separate denomination at all, but "leaven within the body".  So, although
enormous efforts were made to evangelize the country, few Moravian churches
were established: converts would be won, then Lutheran or Anglican or
Methodist pastors would be called to shepherd the new flocks.
Consequently, for much of the last several hundred years, few people have
heard of the Moravians.  John Wesley encountered them on his first journey
to Georgia, and studied with them in London, finding his conversion
experience due to the preaching of the Moravian bishop Peter Boehler at
Aldersgate.  If he hadn't been so disgusted by Moravian pietistic excesses
at their Herrnhut (Germany) commune, maybe all you Methodists might be
Moravians today!!

The contemporary Moravian Church is "headquartered" in 29 different
provinces around the world, two in the US (Bethlehem, PA; and
Winston-Salem, NC), each governed by a quadrennial Synod. A Unity Synod
meets every seven years in various locations.  The Moravian Church has
always been very ecumenical and is a founding body in both the WCC and the
NCCC. Local churches are governed by Boards of Elders and Trustees who are
accountable to annual church councils comprised of all communicant members
of the congregation. Each local church also elects its own delegates to the
synods, at which denominational leadership is elected.

There are currently about half a million Moravians worldwide, with
approximately 56,000 in the United States. A new church growth mentality
has fostered several homeland missions, new church developments, one of
which the writer is founding pastor (Toms River, New Jersey).

In worship and practice, there is a diversity in the Moravian Church.
Strong Lutheran roots can be discerned in the liturgical emphasis of many
congregations while other congregations, such as our own, reflect a more
evangelical-charismatic nature. Hymnody has always been important to the
Moravians and strains of their musical contributions can be found in the
hymnbooks of nearly all denominations.  What encourages the diversity is
adherence to the motto: "In essentials, Unity; in nonessentials, Liberty;
and in all things, Love."