Peculiarly, Newcomer was elected Bishop by the Church before he was even ordained to the ministry (though he did hold the status of a full minister). Philip William Otterbein and Martin Boehm, the founders of the U.B. Church, had not established a succession in the U.B. ministry by any rite of ordination. The Miami Annual Conference, therefore, in August 1813 addressed a letter to Otterbein asking him to ordain by the laying on of hands "one or more ministers who afterwards may perform the same for others." The letter reached Otterbein in late September 1813, with Newcomer visiting him soon thereafter. It was decided that Otterbein should ordain Newcomer, Joseph Hoffman and Frederick Shaffer (two other U.B. ministers). Accordingly, on 2 October 1813, after a solemn period of worship and meditation, with the assistance of an elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. William Ryland, Otterbein ordained by the laying on of hands these three men, the first to be ordained in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. This taking place just a few weeks before Otterbein's death.
Christian Newcomer was the son of Wolfgang and Elizabeth (Weller/Weber) Newcomer, the second of three sons born into this family, which included five daughters, as well. Christian's grandfather, Peter Newcomer, brought his family to America from Switzerland some time between 1719 and 1727. They settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They were of distinctly Mennonite heritage. Christian was baptized in and became a member of the Mennonite Church.
On 31 March 1772, he married Elizabeth Baer. He seems to have had little romantic feeling toward her, writing in his Journal "I had to seek a housekeeper, which I found in Miss Elizabeth Baer, and entered with her into a state of matrimony." When she died thirty-nine years later, however, he showed his affection had matured, as he wrote "This evening at 6 o'clock my dear companion departed this life, and resigned her immortal spirit into the arms of Jesus her Savior. Peace be to thy ashes: for many years thou has been a staff and comfort unto me; soon we shall be reunited where parting will be no more." Christian and Elizabeth Newcomer had four children: Andrew, Jacob, David, and Elizabeth. After his wife's death Christian made his home with Andrew.
As a young man, Christian Newcomer learned the carpenter's trade. In time, he inherited the family farm, so took up farming instead. Throughout these early years, his friends continually urged him to preach. This troubled him greatly. In 1775, to escape the issue, he sold his farm in Lancaster County and moved to another he had bought at Beaver Creek, Maryland, seven miles south of Hagerstown in Washington County. Shortly after moving he became seriously ill. He believed he was dying and cried out for divine help. The illness subsided, he was left with a determination no longer to fight the call to preach. Shortly after his recovery he came under the itinerant preaching of Otterbein and Boehm and resolved to throw aside his inhibitions and go forth to preach. Newcomer was also influenced in ministry by a close associate of Otterbein's, George Adam Geeting. Indeed, as Koontz states "Ere long the growing group known as Otterbein's People came to recognize not three great spiritual leaders (i.e., Otterbein, Boehm and Geeting), but four, and Newcomer was the fourth." The probable date for the beginning of Newcomer's itinerant ministry is 1777.
His Journal
More is known of Newcomer's life and ministry than of any of the other United Brethren leaders because of the extensive journal he kept, in which he recorded his own activities, contemporary activities in the U.B. Church, and many public events, as well. Not long before his death, Newcomer and a long-time friend and co-worker, (the Rev.) John Hildt (who was a member of the Baltimore Church) began work on Newcomer's journal in preparation for publishing. Shortly after his death, the U.B. Conference appointed a committee to examine the original manuscripts, also with a view toward publication. Hildt was asked to undertake the task of transcribing, translating into English, and editing the personally written biography and journal of his close friend.
In 1834, four years after Newcomer's death, The Life and Journal of the Rev'd Christian Newcomer, Late Bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ was first published. In covers primarily the period of 27 October 1795 to 4 March 1830. A copy of this Journal resides in the Library of Congress, where it has even served to establish definite dates and events of early U.S. history.
Although there is scant record of Newcomer's first eighteen years of ministry, his name does appear in the lists of the U.B. conferences of 1789 (at Otterbein's parsonage in Baltimore) and 1791 (at John Spangler's in York County, Pennsylvania).
Newcomer Mansion — U.S. National Register of Historic Places … Wikipedia
Newcomer — A newcomer is someone who has recently arrived or recently joined a group. Newcomer may also refer to: Newcomer (Lenape), chief of the western Lenape and founder of Newcomerstown, Ohio Newcomer (Alien Nation), a fictional humanoid species in the… … Wikipedia
Newcomer (disambiguation) — A newcomer is someone who has recently joined a group or organization.Newcomer may also refer to:* Carrie Newcomer (born 1958), American singer and songwriter * Christian Newcomer (1749 1830), American farmer and preacher * Francis K. Newcomer… … Wikipedia
Christian Höck — GitzZz beim UT 2004 Finale des ESWC 2004 Spielerinformationen Voller Name Christian Höck Nickname GitzZz Geburtsdatum 19 März 1984 … Deutsch Wikipedia
Christian McKay — Born 1973 Bury, Lancashire, United Kingdom Christian McKay (born 1973) is an English stage and screen actor. Contents 1 Early life … Wikipedia
Christian Owen — (also Christian Owens) is an actor in gay pornography. He started working in pornography in 2000 and continues working as an interior designer. Now Producer at Hot House Ent.[1] Contents 1 Awards and nominations 2 Selected videography … Wikipedia
Christian Esposito — Personal information Full name Christian Esposito Date of birth 23 July 1990 ( … Wikipedia
Christian Hölbling — (* 21. Juni 1972 in Bruck an der Mur) ist ein österreichischer Künstler, Kabarettist und Komiker. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Kabarettprogramme 3 Diskografie … Deutsch Wikipedia
Christian Baumeister — Christian Baumeister, producer, director and cinematographer Light … Wikipedia
Justin Christian — Infobox MLB player name=Justin Christian width= position= Outfielder team=New York Yankees number=17 bats=Right throws=Right birthdate=birth date and age|1980|4|03 birthplace=city state|Lincoln|Nebraska debutdate=June 24 debutyear=2008… … Wikipedia
