Martin Boehm. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Martin Boehm, with Philip William Otterbein (1726-1813) the co-founder of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, was born of Swiss-Palatine Mennonite parentage in what is now Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 30 November 1725. After his marriage to Eve Steiner (1734-1822) in 1753, he was chosen by lot as preacher of the Pequea Mennonite congregation. His worries over his unworthiness as a minister were dispelled by a powerful conversion experience about 1758, when he began to preach "in power" the evangelical message of repentance and salvation by faith. Advanced to the office of bishop in 1759, he continued his preaching, making his famous visit to Virginia in 1761, where he came in contact with the "Great Awakening" evangelism of Whitefield and others. In 1767 he participated in the "great meeting" in Isaac Long's barn in the Conestoga Valley north of Landis Valley, where he met Otterbein, and the seed for the United Brethren movement took root. Ten years after this, due to his association with non-Mennonites in the work of his widening ministry, and his revivalistic practices and beliefs, Martin Boehm was excommunicated by the Mennonite conference of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Into the United Brethren movement Boehm brought a considerable group of Mennonite converts and circuit-riders, while his colleague Otterbein brought groups of "awakened" members of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In addition to his importance for United Brethren history, Martin Boehm's shadow falls across the early history of the Brethren in Christ (River Brethren). Also, he was the greatest single force in spreading Methodism through Lancaster County. His son Henry Boehm (1775-1875) became a prominent Methodist minister and left an invaluable volume of Reminiscences, which shed light on his father's career. Martin Boehm died 23 March 1812, and his funeral sermon was preached by his friend, Bishop Francis Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at "Boehm's Chapel" near Willow Street in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he was buried.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 378. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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