|| Mennonite Beliefs and Practices ||

                       A group of Anabaptists broke from the Protestant and Catholic ranks in 1525 in Switzerland. In 1536, Menno Simons, a former Dutch Catholic priest, joined their ranks, rising to a leadership position. To avoid persecution, Swiss German Mennonites migrated to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. They first settled in Pennsylvania, then spread to the Midwest states. The Amish split from the Mennonites in the 1600s in Europe because they felt the Mennonites had become too liberal. 
Geography || The largest concentration of Mennonites is in the United States and Canada, but great numbers are also found throughout Africa, India, Indonesia, Central and South America, Germany, the Netherlands, and the rest of Europe.  
Mennonite Governing Body || The largest assembly is the Mennonite Church USA Assembly, which meets on odd years. As a rule, Mennonites are not governed by a hierarchical structure, but there is a give-and-take among local churches and the 22 regional conferences. Each church has a minister; some have deacons who supervise finances and the well-being of church members. An overseer guides and advises local pastors. 
Sacred or Distinguishing Text ---|| The Bible is the Mennonites' guiding book. Notable Mennonite Ministers and Members Menno Simons, Rembrandt, Milton Hershey, J.L. Kraft, Matt Groening, Floyd Landis, Graham Kerr, Jeff Hostetler, Larry Sheets.

 Mennonite Beliefs ||

• Baptism: Water baptism is a sign of cleansing from sin and a pledge to follow Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a public act "because baptism means a commitment to membership and service in a particular congregation." 

• Bible: "Mennonites believe that all Scripture is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit for instruction in salvation and training in righteousness. We accept the Scriptures as the Word of God and as the fully reliable and trustworthy standard for Christian faith and life..." 

• Communion: The Lord's Supper is a sign to remember 

the new covenant Jesus established with his death on the cross. 

• Eternal Security: Mennonites do not believe in eternal security. 

Everyone has free will and can choose to live a sinful life, forfeiting their salvation. 

• Government: Voting varies greatly among Mennonites. Conservative groups often do not; modern Mennonites frequently do. The same holds true of jury duty. Scripture warns against taking oaths and judging others,

 but some Mennonites do welcome jury duty. As a rule, Mennonites try to avoid lawsuits, seeking negotiation or another form of reconciliation. 

Some Mennonites seek public office or government employment, always asking whether the position will let them further Christ's work in the world. 

• Heaven, Hell: Mennonite beliefs say those who have received 

Christ into their life as Lord and Savior will go to heaven. 

The church has no detailed position on hell except that it 

consists of eternal separation from God. 

• Holy Spirit: Mennonites believe the Holy Spirit is the eternal 

Spirit of God, who dwelt in Jesus Christ, empowers the church, 

and is the source of the believer's life in Christ. 

• Jesus Christ: Mennonite beliefs hold that Christ is the Son of God, 

Savior of the world, fully human and fully God. He reconciled 

humanity to God through his sacrificial death on the cross. 

• Ordinances: Mennonites refer to their practices as ordinances or acts, instead of the word sacrament. They recognize seven "biblical ordinances": 

baptism on confession of faith; the Lord's Supper; washing of the 

saints' feet; the holy kiss; marriage; ordination of elders/

bishops, ministers/preachers of the Word, deacons; 

and anointing with oil for healing. 

• Peace / Pacifism: Because Jesus taught his followers to love 

everyone, killing, even in war, is not a Christian response. 

Most young Mennonites do not serve in the military, although 

they are encouraged to spend a year in service in missions 

or in the local community.

 • Sabbath: Mennonites meet for worship services on Sunday, 

following the tradition of the early church. They base that on 

the fact that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. 

• Salvation: The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation, who moves

 people to accept this gift from God. The believer accepts

 God's grace, trusts in God alone, repents, join a church, 

and lives a life of obedience. Trinity: Mennonites believe in

 the Trinity as "three aspects of the Divine, all in one": 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

( by Jack Zavada)