Bible Student movement: Encyclopedia II - Bible Student movement - The Associated Bible Students

Bible Student movement - The Associated Bible Students

Many of the Bible Student congregations which hold to the writings and views of Pastor Russell refer to themselves under the generic title "Associated Bible Students". All congregations are autonomous, and despite use of this title, may not necessarily have contact with others. Those using this name are the largest segment of the massive exodus from the Watchtower Society in the decade following Russell's death in 1916. This occurred after Joseph Franklin Rutherford was elected the new president, and began changing the doctrinal platform Russell had supported.

In 1918, four former members of the Board of Directors for the Watchtower Society that had been expelled by Rutherford held a Bible Student Convention independently of the Watchtower Society. At the second convention a few months later, the informal Pastoral Bible Institute was founded. They began publishing The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, edited by R. E. Streeter. The magazine continues to be published today [1], but the Pastoral Bible Institute is essentially defunct, with only an editorial committee publishing the magazine.

The Australian Berean Bible Institute also formally separated from the Watchtower Society in 1918. They published The Voice and the People's Paper magazine. Offshoot congregations of the BBI still exist, but the full number of Bible Students in Australia is estimated at less than 100.

In December 1918, Charles E. Heard and some others, considered Rutherford's recommendation to buy war bonds to be a perversion of Russell's pacifist teachings. As a result, they founded the StandFast Bible Students Association in Portland Oregon. The name originates from their decision to “stand fast" on war principles that Pastor Russell had espoused. Opposed to public witnessing, they eventually dwindled in numbers, and then completely dissolved, but not without giving birth to a splinter group known as the Elijah Voice Society, founded by John A. Herdersen and C. D. McCray in 1923. They were especially noted for their witnessing and pacifist activity.

In 1928, Norman Woodworth, cousin of C.J. Woodworth, left the Watchtower Society after having been involved with their radio ministry, to create the independent Bible Student radio program Frank and Earnest. Funding was provided with the help of the Brooklyn congregation of Bible Students. In 1931, the Dawn Bible Students Association was founded (by Norman Woodworth among others) for the sole purpose of once again publishing the "Studies in the Scriptures" series which the Watchtower Society had officially ceased publication of in 1927. The Dawn began publication of a leaflet called The Bible Students Radio Echo as a method of following up interest in the radio program. This publication was soon made into a magazine and renamed "The Dawn and Herald of Christ’s Presence". It was initially a bi-monthly, and then later a monthly journal. Today, they carry on with publishing work, as well as radio and television programs. In recent years, controversy has surrounded the Dawn as they began to espouse more liberal points of view, pulling away from Charles Russell's viewpoints, and alienating many Bible Students as a result. In 1974 a group of Bible Students as a Convention in Fort Collins, Colorado formally decided to break fellowship with the Dawn Bible Students Association for this very reason. Although not an offshoot group per se, they refer to themselves as “Independent Bible Students”. A committee that had been formed at this Convention decided to begin publishing a monthly non-doctrinal Bible Student news and information magazine, called “The Bible Students Newsletter”. It has grown to be what is now the most widely distributed publication amongst Bible Students worldwide.

Although nearly all congregations, known as “Ecclesias” (based upon the Greek word for “called out ones”) are under no central leadership, most of the well established Bible Student congregations and members remain firmly united and strongly linked. Many Ecclesias sponsor yearly or bi-yearly conventions, usually held from April through October. Attendance comes from Bible Students both from surrounding areas, and abroad. The yearly Dawn General Convention (held in late Summer/early Fall), Chicago Bible Student's New-Years-Eve Convention (held on December 31st), and the Indiana-Ohio Convention (held in June or July) see the largest overall attendance.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Associated Bible Students", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki