A long-standing spiritual gathering dedicated to extending an enduring message of healing, reconciliation, and peace will return to the grounds of Antietam National Battlefield later this month. The 56th Annual Dunker Church Service is officially scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, bringing participants together inside the iconic and historic Dunker Church located in Sharpsburg.
Situated on the very terrain forever associated with the bloodshed of the Civil War's Battle of Antietam, the event offers a quiet and contemplative counterpoint to the site's violent history. According to organizers, the service provides an intentional space for reflection on themes of peace, spiritual restoration, and the Hebrew concept of shalom.
The gathering draws its inspiration and religious heritage directly from the traditions of the German Baptist Brethren. Members of this historic community originally became recognized by the popular moniker "Dunkers" because of their theological commitment to full-immersion baptism, a distinctive religious practice that set them apart from other contemporary groups.
The religious movement initially began in Schwarzenau, Germany, in 1708, when a small group of believers sought a deeper, more personal expression of Christian faith and community life. Over the succeeding centuries, this movement expanded westward to North America and eventually evolved into several distinct denominations, including the modern Church of the Brethren.
Today, the tradition remains widely recognized as one of the three historic peace churches, sharing a foundational philosophy of nonviolence alongside the Quaker and Mennonite communities. This long-standing peace witness provides the philosophical and theological cornerstone for the annual gathering at the Sharpsburg battlefield.
Those attending the September service can look forward to a full, traditional order of worship. The program is set to include an opening welcome, a communal call to worship, traditional congregational hymn singing, scripture readings, dedicated prayers, and special musical offerings designed to foster a spirit of unity.
A key highlight of the afternoon will be an address presented by guest speaker Denise Kettering-Lane. Kettering-Lane is a distinguished scholar who currently serves as an associate professor of Brethren studies and directs the Master of Arts academic program at Bethany Theological Seminary.
Her academic research has centered heavily on the history of German Pietism as well as gender studies within church history. Her scholarly accomplishments include notable research fellowships completed at both the University of Iowa and the prestigious Institute for European History situated in Mainz, Germany.
Beyond her teaching and research duties, Kettering-Lane contributes significantly to Brethren intellectual life through her role as editor of the publication "Brethren Life and Thought." She currently resides in Dayton, Ohio, balancing her editorial leadership and theological scholarship while living with her family.
The annual service represents more than half a century of ongoing public witness at the historic site. Paul Mundey, who chairs the Dunker Church Service Planning Committee, highlighted the significance of the continuing tradition in an official community announcement previewing the event.
Mundey observed that for more than fifty years, individuals have consistently made an annual pilgrimage to the Dunker Church on the Sunday falling closest to the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. This deliberate timing underscores a conscious choice to remember the past through a perspective of nonviolence and mutual understanding.
Mundey remarked that within this sacred space, visitors are given the opportunity to encounter a compelling and constructive alternative to the patterns of violence that have repeatedly defined human history. In place of conflict, the gathering invites attendees to embrace a vision of reconciliation, healing, and peace for all people.
The annual commemorative event is sponsored and organized by the Mid-Atlantic District of the Church of the Brethren. The district's continued stewardship ensures that the historic house of worship remains actively linked to its founding values of peacebuilding and spiritual communion.
The worship service is entirely free of charge and open to members of the general public. Organizers note, however, that indoor seating capacity inside the historic meetinghouse is limited, and they strongly encourage prospective attendees to arrive early to ensure a seat.
To accommodate those who are unable to travel in person or enter the building due to space constraints, the entire service will be broadcast online. A live internet stream will be made accessible through the official Annual Dunker Church Service Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/dunkerchurchservice.
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