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 What is the Brotherhood?
What is a Chapter?
What does a new Chapter do?
How did the Brotherhood begin?
Is the Brotherhood international?
Why is the Brotherhood needed?
Who may be a member of the Brotherhood?
Can an individual man become a member?
How old must a member be?
What about members among the clergy?
May women join the Brotherhood?
What does it cost to be a member?
What has the Brotherhood done over the years?
How is the Brotherhood governed?
What does the Central Office do?
What is the form of communication?
How can a person join or a Chapter be formed?
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew
is an international ministry of men within the Anglican Communion with corporate
offices in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The Brotherhood was incorporated by
an Act of the U. S. Congress signed May 30, 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt.
That Act states, "the sole object of said corporation shall be the spread of Christ's
Kingdom among men."
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The primary method by which the Brotherhood implements its ministry to men and
boys is through the establishing of a Chapter within individual Anglican and Episcopal
churches. Upon application to the Central Office and with the approval of the
parish Rector, Vicar, or in the case of a prison or Armed Forces installation,
the Bishop of the diocese, a charter may be issued to the applicants. The Chapter
needs to have at least six (6) men to begin an effective ministry, although in
small parishes as few as three men can be granted a charter with the approval
by the Brotherhood's President. Chapter members are called Brothers Andrew and
are required to accept and observe the Brotherhood Disciplines of: PRAYER, STUDY
AND SERVICE.
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Each new Chapter is assigned a Chapter Sponsor
who is generally a long time member of the Brotherhood or a regional or national
officer. The Chapter Sponsor helps in the preparation and installation of the
new members, the officers, and the chapter. He attends the first few meetings
of the chapter training, participates in discussions and answers questions, some
of which may arise from what is heard from training tapes being played. His purpose
is to make certain that members of the new chapter become familiar with the Brotherhood's
ministry and mandate and are able to develop ministries to meet the needs of their
parish.
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A group of twelve
young men met regularly for prayer and Bible study under the direction of Mr.
James L. Houghteling at St. James Church, Chicago, Illinois. Recognizing a need
in their parish and the community, they asked permission of their rector, the
Rev. W. H. Vibbert, to form a Brotherhood of St. Andrew to reach out and minister
to men following the example of Andrew in bringing his brother Peter to meet Jesus
when he learned He was the Christ. The first meeting of this first Brotherhood
of St. Andrew was held on St. Andrew's Day, 1883 They initially adopted just two
rules: Prayer and Service. They came together to pray, study Scripture, and plan
how to reach out to other men with the Good New. They soon became such a spiritual
force in the parish, news of what they were doing spread very quickly so that
by 1886 there were over 100 Brotherhoods of St Andrew across the U.S. and Canada.
There was also interest throughout the Anglican Communion. The first meeting of
chapter representatives was coincidental with the General Convention of the Episcopal
Church in Chicago and it was decided that a Central Office was needed to coordinate
what was becoming an international ministry to men. Each Brotherhood of St. Andrew
then accepted the authority of the Central Office and became known as a Chapter
of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
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By the year 1900,
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew had granted charters to Chapters in the United States,
Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Philippines, China, South
Africa, Panama, Scotland, Brazil and Alaska. Due to the inconvenience of travel
and communication, the Brotherhood encouraged the formation of separate National
Councils in foreign countries to oversee the work being done there by the Brotherhood
Chapters. Some Chapters in Philippines, Canada, and Africa still are associated
with the Brotherhood in the United States. Japan, Philippines, Jamaica, and the
West Indies are among those who maintain separate National Councils.
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It is a continuing phenomenon in the Anglican Communion
and the Episcopal Church in particular, that the vast majority of men on parish
rolls do not attend worship services or participate in the life of the parish
in any way whatsoever. Generally, those attending services are 60% to 70% women,
10% to 20% children and youth with the men comprising about 15% to 25% on the
average. Sometimes the men are seen dropping off the children for Church School
on their way to play golf or to pick up the Sunday paper. Occasionally you will
see several strange men at Christmas or Easter services, or at a baptism, only
to find out late they are members of the parish. In most communities where there
is an Anglican or Episcopal presence, as many as 50% of the men do not attend
any Christian church at all. Why? We do not know all the answers to this phenomenon,
but one thing we do know is that where men are able to come together with other
men to share in discussions of their Christian Faith and study the Holy Bible,
they become more active in and supportive of the parish ministry in that community.
As they begin to accept the Disciplines of PRAYER and STUDY, they grow to accept
the Discipline of SERVICE. No parish needs another men's organization, but every
parish needs a ministry to its men. And the Brotherhood of St Andrew is ministry
to men!
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Any baptized Christian man may be a member of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew,
Inc. However, only men who are confirmed in an Anglican or Episcopal Church or
a church in communion with the Anglican or Episcopal Church may become a Chapter,
regional or national officer in the Brotherhood.
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While
the basic Brotherhood ministry to men is centered in the parish Chapter, it is
recognized that a man may move from his parish which has a Chapter to a parish
which does not. Also, there may be individual men led by the Holy Spirit to become
a member of the Brotherhood while attending a parish without a Chapter. In either
case the man may continue as or become a member of the Brotherhood. It is the
desire of the Brotherhood that each individual member tries to establish a Chapter
in his parish.
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While there is no absolute limit, a member of a Senior chapter should be
at least 18 years old with no upper age limit. A group of young men of 16 years
and younger, may, under the sponsorship of a Senior Chapter in a parish, apply
for a charter to form a Youth chapter of the Brotherhood. The Youth Chapter members
abide by the same Disciplines of Prayer, Study and Service as a Senior Chapter
member. And advisor from the senior Chapter must be present at all meetings of
the Youth Chapter. At one period, most college preparatory schools associated
with the Episcopal Church had a Youth Chapter of the Brotherhood, and many church
associated colleges had a Senior brotherhood Chapter. In addition, a many colleges
served by an Anglican or Episcopal chaplain had a Chapter of The Brotherhood of
St. Andrew. Harvard, M.I.T. and Yale in the U.S. and in England, Oxford and Cambridge
all had Brotherhood Chapters.
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While The Brotherhood of St. Andrew
is a lay ministry of men to men, it is hoped that the rector of a parish will
honor this ministry by attending Chapter meetings on occasion or, if so led, become
a regular member of the Brotherhood. Because The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is
a ministry of men to men and boys, it is necessary that its members be men only.
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A very fine sister organization exists that
limits membership women. The organization is the Daughters of the King. The Daughters
of the King is a ministry to women that was formed shortly after the brotherhood
began. Both ministries are similar and focus on the disciplines of Prayer, Study
and Service. Their ministry to women and disciplines parallel those of the Brotherhood.
The current address of the Daughters of the King can be found in your parish copy
of the Episcopal Church Annual. The Brotherhood has found from over 100 years
of experience that men are generally not able to express themselves about matters
of their Christian Faith, or lack thereof, in front of women, especially those
who have close ties to them. It is most important, therefore, that the Brotherhood's
priority be "the spread of Christ's Kingdom among men" in a manner and format
that has been successful through many years of service in the Episcopal Church.
Many wives, daughters and widows of Brothers Andrew do support the Brotherhood's
ministry to men by becoming Associate Members which entitles them to receive the
St. Andrew's Cross magazine.
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Each Brother Andrew is asked to pay an annual due at the rate set by the
National Council at its last meeting. However, no man is refused membership in
the Brotherhood because he is not able to pay all or any part of the annual dues.
The annual dues are not a tax to become or remain a member of the Brotherhood,
but a contribution to continue and extend the Brotherhood's ministry to men. Generally,
dues account for only about 61percent of the income of the Brotherhood and the
balance through appeals.
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Ministry to men: The Brotherhood's
ministry to men is established around the world. The sole object of The Brotherhood
of St. Andrew's ministry is "the spread of Christ's Kingdom among men and boys."
Lay Reader Program: In 1886 The Brotherhood of St. Andrew
introduced the Lay Reader Program to the Episcopal Church. Lay Readers at that
time reached out to establish new Missions in communities nearby a parish with
a Brotherhood Chapter. They went door to door to generate interest in having an
Episcopal Mission and then met with the people to read Morning and Evening Prayer
on Sundays. They then made arrangements for a priest to celebrate the Eucharist
and perform Holy baptism at the Mission. Hundreds of parishes now exist as a result
of that Brotherhood ministry. Eight parishes in the Bronx of the Diocese of New
York, were begun as Missions by The Brotherhood of St. Andrew and its Lay reader
Program.
Washington's Birthday Corporate Communion: The
Brotherhood of St. Andrew, in its effort to bring men and boys back into the church
to share in the hearing of the gospel and the Holy Eucharist, organized the national
Washington's Birthday Corporate Communion for Men and boys. This was a highly
successful program for many years.
Missionaries sent out:
The Brotherhood sent both lay and clerical missionaries out to help establish
our ministry to men in other countries. Two lay and two clerical missionaries
were sent to the Philippines to work with the U.S. Armed forces in Manila. At
the conclusion of their assignments in 1900, one of the clergy was asked to remain
in Manila as the first Episcopal missionary to the Philippines. As a result of
that action the Episcopal Church was established in the Philippines. Other lay
missionaries also served in china, Japan and Africa.
Youth Camps:
Several Youth Camps were established by The Brotherhood of St. Andrew in various
parts of the country. These were operated by a Brotherhood Diocesan Assembly and
provided the opportunity for young men form choirs, servers guilds and inner city
parishes to enjoy good exercise, good food and good Christian fellowship.
Forward Day by Day: In about 1898 The Brotherhood of St.
Andrew implemented a program of daily devotions and Bible study for Brotherhood
Chapters. This program became so successful it was adopted by many parishes and
people outside the Brotherhood. Today this program is carries on by an independent
corporation known as the Forward Movement Publications in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Army and Navy Department: During World War I, the Brotherhood
established an Army and Navy Department sending Field Secretaries to organize
prayer and Bible study groups among service men in the army and navy installations
throughout the U.S. These Field Secretaries served without pay for a period of
six months and were responsible for establishing a new awareness of the church
in the lives of many of the men they worked with. Following the end of the war,
the Army and Navy Department sent letters to nearby parishes to contact men the
Brotherhood had worked with as they were mustered out of the service. Booklets
and tracts on how to welcome servicemen home after their experiences with death
and killing, were prepared by the Army and Navy Department and sent to parishes
and families of these servicemen. During the war, over 100,000 copies of the ST.
ANDREW'S CROSS Magazine were sent to servicemen. Distribution of thousands of
letters to servicemen was better organized by the armed forces. Consequently,
the sending of Field Secretaries by the Brotherhood to do the work became unnecessary.
However, it was the responsibility of each chapter in close proximity to an Army
or Marine base, to reach out to the Episcopal servicemen by offering to bring
them to their parish for worship services and an occasional home cooked meal.
Also, the Brotherhood central Office organized a program of writing letters to
lonely servicemen, and those with problems, all over the world.
Home
Study Course: For many years the Brotherhood of St Andrew offered a basic
home study course on the Christian Faith from an Anglican or Episcopal perspective.
Due to changes to the Prayer Book this program has been abandoned for now. However,
another home study course designed for the training of Associate Field secretaries
has been revised for use by all National Officers along with Diocesan Coordinators,
Associate Field secretaries, Assembly Presidents, chapter Directors and of course
by any member. The title of this study is "an All Purpose Training Guide." A copy
may be obtained from the Central Office.
KEEP (Kiyosato Educational
Experiment Project): One of the outstanding success stories of the Brotherhood
was its work with Dr. Paul Rusch to establish Keep in Japan. The program was designed
to help the Japanese to become more productive in farming methods due to the limited
land available for farming compared to the population. With the cooperation of
the Japanese government, and experimental farm was established in Kiyosato, Japan
which attracted many farmers to learn the new techniques being taught. The true
ministry of Bro. Paul Rusch was centered in the St. Andrew Chapel where he helped
reestablish the Brotherhood's ministry to men which had initially been established
in 1902. Like the Brotherhood of St Andrew that he loved so much, the sole object
of Bro. Paul Rusch was "the spread of Christ's Kingdom among men."
Baale
Farm Project: The Baale Farm Project was begun in 1983 as an outreach
program to the people in Baale, Uganda, a farm village in the newly formed Mukono
Diocese of the church of Uganda (Anglican). Initially the program involved support
of a teaching farm for local people to become self-reliant as much of their leadership
had been lost under Idi Amin's rule. Funds were given for a chicken farm, building
a home for and support of the layreader/teacher, rebuilding of St. Andrew's Church
and help for the parish school program. Two container shipments of building materials,
bicycles, a tractor, farm implements, seeds and clothing were sent. Later, as
a result of some visits by Brotherhood men, it was decided there was a great need
for a water tanker for which the Brotherhood raised the funds and then purchased
from a firm in India.
This all resulted in establishing the Brotherhood
in Uganda under the local leadership and sponsorship of Bishop Livingstone M.
Nkoyoyo. A local Brotherhood evangelism program has reached out to most of Uganda
as well as the remote islands located in Lake Victoria. Under Bishop Nkoyoyo's
direction, the tanker truck was used to bring fresh water to the refugees from
the Rwandan war, resulting in the saving of thousands of lives.
Faith
Alive: The outstanding program for parish renewal, FAITH ALIVE, was begun
by The Brotherhood of St. Andrew as a result of a recognized need for an Episcopal
and Anglican style program to help awaken parishes to what we sensed as the Lord's
call to Christian ministry in the world. FAITH ALIVE is now a separate corporation
with its own management, distinct from the Brotherhood. To date, over one thousand
parishes have had FAITH ALIVE WEEKENDS.
Pewsaction:
Pewsaction, an umbrella organization covering most of the fellowships in the Episcopal
church committed to Prayer, Evangelism, Worship and Study, has its roots in the
Brotherhood of St Andrew. Brotherhood men conceived the concept and need for this
type of organization and set about the promotion and organizing of it. The conferences
sponsored by Pewsaction on renewal and evangelism have been of tremendous importance
in promoting renewal and evangelism among Episcopal churches in the United States.
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The governing body of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Inc. is the Triennial Convention
to which every chartered Chapter may send an elected representative to vote on
all issues which may come before the Convention. The Triennial Convention elects
the members of the National Council and it alone may vote changes to the corporate
Constitution. Triennial means the Convention meets only every three years. The
National Council meets annually except in the year of a Triennial Convention.
The National Council elects all National Officers, passes a yearly operation budget,
sets the dues rate, makes changes to the Bylaws, sets operating policy and elects
members of the Executive Board. The Executive Board meets as needed between meetings
of the Council and has authority to act in behalf of the Council when called into
session. On years of the Triennial Convention, the Executive board meets to approve
a Budget for that year. The Executive Board also reviews and makes recommendations
on all changes to either the Constitution or Bylaws. The President of the Brotherhood,
or in his absence, or incapacitation, the Senior Vice President, is responsible
for the operation of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Inc. and the Central Office.
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The Central Office of the Brotherhood
is the international headquarters of the corporation. The Office handles between
8,000 and 10,000 pieces of mail each year and about 3,500 telephone calls annually.
It receives and disburses all funds under the direction of the President, Treasurer,
and Finance Committee. It keeps all corporate and Chapter records, issues new
Chapter charters and responds to inquiries. All mailings are handled by the Central
Office and it maintains all mailing lists on its in-house computer. The Central
Office consists of the President, Senior Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary,
all volunteers, and employees consisting of the Office Manager, Editor of the
ST. ANDREW'S CROSS magazine and other clerical and operating personnel.
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The form of
communication within the Brotherhood is the ST. ANDREW'S CROSS magazine which
is issued quarterly. Each issue of the CROSS contains articles designed to be
inspirational to the Brothers Andrew, Associate member or outside subscriber on
the disciplines of Prayer, Study and Service, Additional articles appear on the
Brotherhood's ministry, the church, and reports from The Chapters and individual
Brothers. The CROSS is one of the outstanding magazines in content and appearance
in the church. Every Brother Andrew and Associate member gets a copy of the CROSS.
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You can call or write to the Central Office for
details on joining the Brotherhood or on how to form a parish Chapter. Write:
The Brotherhood of St Andrew, Inc., P.O. Box 632, Ambridge, PA 15003-0632. Or
call (724) 266-5810, Fax 724-266-9577.
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Brotherhood
Phone Number - (724) 266-5810
