Brethrenism

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Kalistani Brethrenists Depart for Telamon
Aim to restore ancient Brethrenist Community in the far north
Kaliburg, Ananto
August 7, 4760


Leaders of 5 new founded Monthly Meetings of the New Branch Brethrenists prepare to emigrate to Telamon

In an important agreement concluded between the All-Terra Conference of Brethrenism, also known as the New Branch, which is centered in Kalistan, and the Government of Telamon, a sizeable group of Kalistani Brethren have agreed to emigrate from Kalistan/Enskal Estatua to Telamon. The organization to which these Brethren belong is known as the Brethrenist Emigration Society. In order to be eligible for membership in the Society, Brethren must be able to support themselves without any assistence from any Government anywhere, may be either birthrite or convinced Brethren, but must go through a clearance with their meeting, and must be officially sent by their respective meetings. Of those who expressed interest, more than 3,000 Kalistanis from all vocational backgrounds met the criteria.

The BES began meeting together in all five districts under a parallel Quarterly Meeting system officially sanctioned by a minute from the Annual Meeting. A requirement was imposed which required the Brethren who hoped to take part in the expedition to live together in community for a year. Any Brother or Sister was free to leave and return to their own monthly meetings. The aim was to ensure that participants understood that when they arrive to Telamon, they will be complete foreigners, and while they will be expected to integrate as much as possible into Telamon society and put aside their Kalistani identity, they will still need to be able to rely upon each other solely during the initial time directly after their arrival.

After a year, the more than 3000 applicants were whittled down to just under 1500. All Brethren were cleared to depart by their Meetings, each of whom offered them traveling letters to any Brethren meetings they would find in Telamon, just in case. The Brethren emigres then said farewell to the members of their family who were remaining in Kalistan, and boarded several chartered aircraft bound for Telamon. Their personal belongings would follow in a Cargo ship dispatched from Port Davon several days prior and would be there waiting for them when they arrived.

The Brethren made it safely to Telamon, where they were greeted warmly by Telamonese representatives who delivered statements welcoming the Kalistanis, and thanking Kalistan for allowing the departure of these Brethren, who will add to the diversity of the Telamonese population.

All reports demonstrate that the Brethren who arrived in Telamon have been settled for more than a month now, and are beginning to adapt their daily routines to the new reality they have chosen to accept. There is no official word on nationalization, and as each Brethren has surrendered their Kalistani passports, they are listed officially as stateless.

But Brethren being Brethren, the monthly meetings developed two general Quarterly Meeting, and one Annual meeting called the "Telamonese Yearly Meeting for Worship and the Consideration of the Business of the Brethren in Telamon", or more simply the Telamon Yearly Meeting. Monthly meetings have begun attracting new members as well: It is reported that the Brethren in Telamon now just about 1600.

Telamon was chosen specifically because it was the site of a Brethrenist Republic for a few years in the 42nd Century. The Brethrenist Republic aimed at orienting National Policy toward the tenets of Brethrenism. While the goal of this emigration is not to advance political Brethrenism, but to instead to seed Brethrenism in Terra, it is hoped that Telamon will embrace Brethrenism, and permit it to become a more widely practiced faith.

The Government of Kalistan has agreed to keep diplomatic tabs on the emigres, and the Brethren will continue to receive institutional and religious support from the ATC.