Though followers have held the teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld since the 16th century, the Schwenkfelder Church did not come into existence until the 20th century. Much of this is due to Schwenkfeld's emphasis on inner spirituality as opposed to outward form. He also labored for a fellowship of all believers and one church. By the middle of the 16th century, there were thousands of followers of his "Reformation by the Middle Way". His ideas appear to be a middle ground between the ways of the Reformation of Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, and the "Radical" Reformation of the Anabaptists.
Originally calling themselves Confessors of the Glory of Christ¹, Schwenkfeld's followers later became known as Schwenkfelders. These Christians often suffered persecution (slavery, prison, fines) at the hands of the governments and state churches in Europe. Most of them lived in southern Germany and lower Silesia. By the beginning of the 18th century, the Schwenkfelders that remained were living around Harpersdorf. As the persecution intensified around 1719-1725, they were given refuge in 1726 by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Saxony. When the ruler of Saxony died in 1733, Jesuits sought the new ruler to return the Schwenkfelders to Harpersdorf. With their freedom in jeopardy, they decided to look to the "new" world. A group came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1731, and several migrations continued until 1737. The largest group, 180 Schwenkfelders, arrived in 1734. In 1782, the Society of Schwenkfelders was formed, and in 1909 the Schwenkfelder Church was organized.
The theology of the church follows the teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld. They teach that the Bible is the source of Christian theology, but also believe it is dead without the inner work of the Holy Spirit. They also continue his belief that Jesus Christ's divinity was progressive, and that the Lord's supper is a mystical spiritual partaking of the body of Christ in open communion. Adult baptism and dedication of children is practiced. Their ecclesiastical tradition is congregational and ecumenical. The Schwenkfelder churches recognize the right of the individual in decisions such as public service, armed combat, etc.
The Schwenkfelder Church has remained small, and currently (2003) there are six congregations² with about 3000 members in southeastern Pennsylvania. All of these bodies are within a fifty-mile radius of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The General Conference of the Schwenkfelder Church meets annually.
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