24 February 1527 · event
The Schleitheim Articles
The Schleitheim Articles set out seven points of agreement for a gathered Anabaptist community, including baptism, communion, church discipline, and refusal of the sword.
The brethren who met at Schleitheim in 1527 sought agreement about the life of the gathered church. The document associated with Michael Sattler was a brotherly union, written to strengthen believers and give practical expression to their common commitment to Christ.
Its seven articles connect baptism upon repentance and faith with discipline, communion, separation from evil, and the care of the congregation by its shepherds. They also reject the use of the sword by Christ’s followers and the swearing of oaths. The articles repeatedly appeal to Scripture and treat belief and conduct as inseparable.
Martyrs’ Mirror’s account of Sattler shows how these convictions came under examination. The charges against him included his teaching on baptism, the Lord’s Supper, oaths, and resistance by force. His prison letter to the church at Horb carries the same concern for a faithful, orderly, loving fellowship through a time of danger.
Sources for this history: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
