Mennonite

The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons. They are one of the peace churches, which hold to a doctrine of non-violence, non-resistance and pacifism.

Fragmentation and variation

During the sixteenth century, the Mennonites and other Anabaptists were relentlessly persecuted. By the seventeenth century, some of them joined the state church in Switzerland, and persuaded the authorities to relent in their attacks. The Mennonites outside the state church were divided on whether to remain in communion with their brothers within the state church, and this led to a split. Those against remaining in communion with them became known as the Amish, after their founder Jacob Amman. Those who remained in communion with them retained the name Mennonite. This period of persecution has had a significant impact on Mennonite identity. Martyrs Mirror, published in 1660, documents much of the persecution of Anabaptists and their predecessors. Today, the book is still the most important book besides the Bible for many Mennonites and Amish, in particular for the Swiss-South German branch of Mennonitism.

Related Topics:
Persecuted - Switzerland - State church - Amish - Jacob Amman - Martyrs Mirror - 1660

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Other disagreements over the years have led to other splits; sometimes the reasons were theological, sometimes practical, sometimes geographical. For instance, near the beginning of the twentieth century, there were some in the Amish church that wanted to begin having Sunday Schools and evangelize. Unable to persuade the rest of the Amish, they separated and formed the Conservative Mennonite Conference. Mennonites in Canada and other countries typically have independent denominations due to the practical considerations of distance and, in some cases, language.

Related Topics:
Sunday School - Conservative Mennonite Conference

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Sociologists who have studied Mennonites have discovered one important factor in church splits. Almost all splits happen for the sake of maintaining the community. Leadership makes a decision based on what it feels is best to keep the community together and reduce friction; others who disagree leave. In this way, we get some Old Order Mennonites who have wooden wheels, and some with rubber, some with electricity in the barn, and some with none, some with black cars and some with black cars but chrome bumpers. Although the reasons for the splits may seem harsh and simplistic to outsiders, church leaders in general are attempting to maintain their group, their churches, within a society they often see as corrupting.

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Mennonites are prominent among denominations in disaster relief, often being the first to arrive with aid after hurricanes, floods and other disasters. In the last few decades they have also become more actively involved with peace and social justice issues, helping to found Christian Peacemaker Teams, Mennonite Conciliation Service, and the Mennonite Central Committee.

Related Topics:
Disaster relief - Peace - Social justice - Christian Peacemaker Teams - Mennonite Conciliation Service - Mennonite Central Committee

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