Eighteenth-century Europe was a time of strong governmental control of the church and low tolerance for religious diversity.
Because of growing persecution and economic hardship, Brethren began emigrating to Pennsylvania under the leadership of Peter Becker.
By 1908 they were most numerous in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and North Dakota.
In total, in the 21st-century United States, 14 Anabaptist or evangelical Protestant groups survive who descended from the 18th-century Schwarzenau Brethren of Germany.
The Progressive Christian was renamed The Brethren Evangelist and was published quarterly by the church until the end of 2019 when it ceased publication.
The early years after the division were difficult for the new body, yet they quickly went about emphasizing and developing positions that had estranged them from the more conservative Brethren: education, theological training for ministers, the ordination of women, and home and foreign missions.
In non-resistance, Brethren have renounced the Christian's use of violence in combating evil, striving, as far as possible, to be reconciled to all persons.
Twentieth-century Brethren continue to uphold the ideal of peace, but the church embraces persons of opposing convictions concerning the role and means of "peacemaking".
[citation needed] According to their website, On the one hand, some Brethren understand peacemaking as a practice of nonresistance or nonviolence, following Jesus in loving our enemies.
These Brethren affirm the role of the state to maintain peace and deter aggression through force and a strong national defense by sanctioning chaplains in all branches of military service and providing counsel and support for those who, as a matter of personal conscience, hold to the conviction of strong military defense or "resistance."
Their materials specifically call for political action, working within the system to vote against candidates or policies which support oppression.
In addition to calling Brethren to prayer for peace, they advocate for non-violent resistance in exposing oppression and injustice by raising questions and drawing attention to such evils.
Brethren stand to encourage the US government to reduce the threat of all war and to pursue peace through all possible diplomatic means.
Brethren encourage the government to pursue peace through summits, diplomatic talks, and negotiations to decrease the use of weapons and warfare.