FAQ 22
What's the Difference Between
B'rit Chadashah, BCEA and NCCG?
NCW 38
Q. What is the difference between "B'rit Chadashah", the "New Covenant", the "New Covenant Church of God", the "Holy Order" (Chavurat Bekorot) and the "B'rit Chadashah Evangelical Association" (BCEA)?
A. B'rit Chadashah is the Hebrew for the 'New Covenan't and has wide scriptural application that includes all who have experienced the New Birth and are walking faithfully in the commandments of the Master Yah'shua the Messiah (Lord Jesus Christ). There used to be organisation called B'rit Chadashah (The New Covenant) which included (a) the New Covenant Church of God, and (b) B'rit Chadashah Evangelical Association (BCEA). BCEA has now been replaced by the New Covenant House Church Fellowship (NCHCF) and the New Covenant is now known as New Covenant Ministries - see the article here and view the diagram below:
The New Covenant Church of God includes (i) the Holy Order, also known as the Church or Assembly of the Firstborn, which is a special type of semi-isolated congregation or community living the fullness of the Gospel, and (ii) the Local Colonies, also known collectively as the Church of Christ or Assemblies of Yahweh, which are located in the world.
The B'rit Chadashah Evangelical Association was a trans-denominational evangelical association that came under the umbrella of B'rit Chadashah. Membership in BCEA was separate from membership in the New Covenant Church of God and members could belong to other denominations.
BCEA used to be an association of independent Christian congregations having affiliation and co-operative ministry with the New Covenant Church of God. Sometimes independent congregations who wished to join the New Covenant Church of God first joined BCEA whilst making the adjustment to New Covenant theology and practice. This responsibility has now been taken over by the NCHCF. However, not all independent congregations who were a part of BCEA joined the New Covenant Church. It was a matter for the congregations themselves to decide whether or not they wish to make that step. BCEA did not invite personal (single) members as it did previously.
B'rit Chadashah was not an organisation per se. The New Covenant Church of God is goverened by an Apostolate, consisting of 12 Apostles (who are also Patriarchs or "Church Fathers"), and a Matriarchal Council, consisting of 12 Matriarchs (or "Church Mothers").
Each Holy Order Colony is governed by one Apostle-Patriarch and one Matriarch together with 11 other patriarchs and 11 matriarchs from that colony. There are a maximum of 12 Patriarchs and 144 Matriarchs at any one time.
Each Local Colony is governed by a Pastorate consisting of a Pastor and a Pastress, with two Elders and two Eldresses as assistants. The local Elders' & Eldresses' Councils, consisting of all the Elders and Eldresses in the local Colony, respectively, act as an advisory body to the local Pastorate.
The B'rit Chadashah Evangelical Association (BCEA) was goverened by an Executive Board consisting of the Patriarchate of the New Covenant Church of God (the three Presiding Apostle-Patriarchs and the three Presiding Matriarchs, or their delegated representatives), who preside, together with the Pastors (and up to two other officers) of all associate congregations. Together they planned joint evangelistic and other projects, supporting one another's congregations and supplying visiting preachers to other (non-BCEA) groups, congregations and churches as they may have need.
In September 1996 BCEA received its first application for membership from a newly established Moldovan church called, The Christian Mission of the International Centre of Spiritual Development in Jesus Christ. Formal membership was granted in December of that year. BCEA was dissolved when NCCG became Torah-observant in 1999 and replaced by NCHCF.
On 14 September 2005 NCCG was renamed Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) and the One House Josephite Messianic Israel Association (1MIA) consisting of independent congregations who share the same vision, doctrines and goals as MLT, organised.
This page was created on 16 October 1997
Last updated on 17 December 2007
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