Conrad Grebel

Conrad Grebel was a co-founder of the Swiss Brethren movement and is often called the "Father of Anabaptists". He began as a supporter of the reforms of Zwingli. When Zwingli compromised on abolishing the Mass due to pressure from the Canton of Zürich city council Grebel broke away, maintaining that he was obeying God rather than men. Grebel met with others labelled as young radicals for prayer, fellowship and Bible study. Grebel wrote to both Andreas Karlstadt and Martin Luther in Germany in 1524 hoping to build connections with the other reformers, which did not eventuate.

Grebel and the radicals came into harsh conflict with Zwingli over the issue of infant baptism. A public debate was held on 17 January 1525 when Zwingli argued against Grebel, Felix Manz and George Blaurock. The city council who sided with Zwingli and infant baptism ordered the Grebel group to cease their activities and for any unbaptized infants to be submitted for baptism within 8 days. Failure to comply with the order would result in exile from the canton. Grebel refused to baptize his daughter Issabella. A few days later Grebel's group met for counsel in the home of Felix Manz in a meeting considered illegal by the council. George Blaurock asked Grebel to baptize him upon a confession of faith. Afterward, Blaurock baptized the others who were present. As a group they pledged to hold the faith of the New Testament and live as fellow disciples together. They left the little gathering full of zeal to encourage others to follow their example.

Grebel left the work to others and set out on an evangelistic mission to the surrounding cities. In October of 1525 he was arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, Grebel was able to prepare a defense of the Anabaptist position on a baptism by choice. Through the help of some friends, he escaped in March of 1526. He continued his ministry and was at some point able to get his pamphlet printed. Grebel moved to the Maienfeld area in the Canton of Grisons where he died.

Though his entire life was less than 30 years, Grebel's Christian ministry was compressed into less than four years, and his time as an Anabaptist was only about a year and a half. Grebel performed the first known adult baptism associated with the Reformation, and was referred to as the "ringleader" of the Anabaptists in Zürich. Grebel's differences with the establishment reveal a deep division of thought on the nature of the church and its relationship to the state authority. The beliefs of Conrad Grebel and the Swiss Brethren have left an impression on the life and thought of Amish, Baptist, Brethren, and Mennonite churches, as well as numerous free church movements. Freedom of conscience and separation of church and state are two great legacies of the Anabaptist movement. With Petr Chelčický (1390-1460) of Bohemia, Conrad Grebel is considered among the earliest Christian pacifists in modern times.