The Christian Community - Movement for Religious Renewal

The Christian Community is part of an international movement for the renewal of religion, founded in Switzerland in 1922 by the eminent Lutheran theologian and Minister Friedrich Rittlemeyer. In this he was aided by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian thinker and mystic. The Christian Community is a church centred around the seven sacraments in their renewed form. There are approximately 350 independent Christian Community Congregations worldwide.

Members of the Christian Community are not required to sign articles of faith, and are encouraged to form independent judgments in religious matters. Nor do we have any formal written dogma. Each priest has the freedom to teach anything which does not contradict the content of the sacraments whose texts form the "bedrock" of The Christian Community . As a result, the teachings are rich, varied and evolving. They are inspired by traditional Christian theology, the original work of Rudolf Steiner, and by independent research and insights of priests and members. There is room in this modern Christian theology to incorporate such ideas as reincarnation and karma, a truly cosmic conception of Christ, and the role of spiritual beings at all levels of existence.

In every annual camp of the International Youth Camp there is a priest of the Christian Community. We celebrate the Act of Consecration of Man on the camp in our big white tent on our two Sunday mornings. The priest usually also offers a service on Thursdaymorning, depending on the camp programme.

At the end of the day we close our day with a special "Closing of the Day" which is also done by the priest.

When participating in the IYCamp it is not necessary to be a member of, or to have a relation with the Christian Community or Christianity in general. Although, the service and Closing of the Day are parts of our camp programme and therefore take place with everyones presence.