Mennonite Church?

[Impish]

Area we're moving to has 2 churches. One I'm familiar w/, having attended previously, (it's not for us) the other is Mennonite.

 

What can you tell me about the Mennonite church?

 

The area is a hamlet, not even big enough to be considered a 'town', so chances are, the best way to get to know ppl is by attending a church in town.

 

We do know there's another church in a nearby bigger town that we've attended before and will return to, if the Mennonite church doesn't fit w/what we're looking for...But being completely clueless about the Mennonite church, I've no idea what it entails.

 

So, if someone could educate me, I'd appreciate it, thanks!

[MedicMom]

It really depends on what kind of Mennonite it is. They run the gamut from horse and buggy to indistinguishable from any other evangelical protestant denomination. My sister is marrying the horse and buggy kind, my best friend is liberal Mennonite, and there is everything in between.

[Mama Geek]

The only thing that I know is that they are hard workers. I have worked on some disaster relief service projects with them. I am pretty sure they do alot of outreach projects.

[Whereneverever]

They practice adult baptism, if that matters to you.

[Zoo Keeper]

It really depends on what kind of Mennonite it is. They run the gamut from horse and buggy to indistinguishable from any other evangelical protestant denomination. My sister is marrying the horse and buggy kind, my best friend is liberal Mennonite, and there is everything in between.

 

This is true; not every Mennonite looks like the pictures in the R&S grammar books. :)

 

If you are looking for info on the doctrine part try this site.

[Meriwether]

There is a wide range of Mennonite churches. Some basic things they would, or should, have in common are being anabaptists and practicing nonresistance.

[Meriwether]

The only thing that I know is that they are hard workers. I have worked on some disaster relief service projects with them. I am pretty sure they do alot of outreach projects.

 

This is very true. They grow up with a certain mentality. Dh is good man, but it wouldn't occur to him to take his vacation time, money, and tools and go work somewhere. It helps to have support from a community, too. In a heavily Mennonite area, your Mennonite boss is going to look favorably on your request for time off to help a disaster area. It is also easy to get a crew together to go.

[Excelsior! Academy]

I believe they only sing acapella.

[*********]

If I were to choose a denomination to identify with, it very likely would be Mennonite. (However I am not in favor of denominations, so I wouldn't. :D Ha! That makes almost no sense, LOL.)

 

For example, I believe most Mennonites practice headcovering. Now while I agree with that, I do NOT agree with making a rule or law that *requires* it, nor do I feel it beneficial to have all ladies wear the exact same style of covering, cover ALL the time, etc. I believe the women also exclusively wear dresses, and very frequently they all wear the same style of dress. Again, while I believe dressing modestly is a good thing, I don't favor making a rule out of it.

 

I believe as a denomination, they are all pacifists and non-resistant. I *think* they also do not participate in governmnent (beyond keeping the laws, so long as that would not require them to sin). This is VERY rare to find in a denomination in North America, I believe. (I quite like this part of their beliefs. :001_smile:)

 

Like many others, I get the sense that they are very hard working people.

 

I also understand there is a WIDE range of 'ways' that Mennonites practice their faith, like others have said. Everything from very simple farm living, to being indistiguishable from their urban neighbors. I've looked up their church locations in my area (I live in metro Detroit), and they have a church in downtown Detroit. With a female pastor. I was like :001_huh:. I had no idea, LOL. (Mennonites are VERY traditional usually, in that they preach and practice biblical headship/submission.)

 

Prayers on finding a new church home. Remember, you can always start a home fellowship! :D

[Dmmetler]

I grew up in a strongly Mennonite area (CLE is published in my home town), and I agree with the above-we had everything from Horse and buggy, Hairnet, usually finished with formal education by grade 8 to move into apprenticeship to pretty typical Protestants, Jean wearing, social-action liberals, all under the Mennonite denomination.

 

My experience with Mennonites are that

 

1) They're really nice people, who believe strongly in service to the community, and while they're Evangelical, tend to show their beliefs by their work and how they live, and wait for you to ask questions. That is, you know in every day and every way that they're Christians, but they're not going to come to you and ask you if you know where you're going to spend eternity. Rather, they'll simply come, work beside you, and talk, and eventually, the discussion will tend that way. And when it does, they'll help you reflect on your beliefs, without necessarily pressuring you to join their church or believe the way they do.

 

2) The denomination produces WONDERFUL musicians, music, and singers. There is a tradition in the Mennonite church (although one of my friends, who works for the Mennonite global missions board, says that there's pressure to move away from it in some circles) of four part, acapella vocal singing, and even in churches that now use some instrumental music some of the time, usually everyone sings. Some of the most glorious musical experiences of my life have come from Mennonite churches and Mennonite events, with everyone singing and singing in harmony. I learned a lot about music simply from spending time with Mennonite friends and their families, and singing with them. Many Mennonites have a strong respect for classical music, and often you'll find very, very good singing groups in Mennonite area for this reason that are open to the community and spend a lot of time singing in Latin and German.

 

3) The denomination supports education, and is about as supportive of homeschooling you can get (CLE and Rod and Staff are both Mennonite). Having said that, the view of education isn't necessarily the same as mainstream society. Mennonites want their children to have the skills they need for later life-but recognize that not all children have the same skillset. So you'll see a big focus on foundational education. Mennonites generally are not opposed to public education, but if the public schools are not doing what they want them to do and not teaching solidly, they'll pull their children as a bloc and homeschool or set up a community school. There is a strong focus on recognizing individual gifts and abilities and gifts outside the academic realm are strongly recognized and encouraged. One of my friends growing up was the 2nd of three sisters. The oldest sister was very academically oriented, went to the Mennonite high school and college, and eventually became a teacher (and mother). The 2nd sister was very musically talented, went to the Mennonite high school and Seminary, and currently teaches piano and writes curriculum for CLE. The third sister struggled in school and probably has some learning disabilities, but is wonderful with children. She was allowed to leave school at 10th grade, and moved in with the family of the man she eventually married, where she essentially did a long apprenticeship on child development and household management. She currently is a minister's wife, has 8 children, and is very active in social programs for mothers and children in the impoverished area she and her husband live in. All three women are extremely happy with where they are in life and feel that they are doing what God intended them to do. Of the three local colleges/Universities in my area, the Mennonite college was by far the most receptive to dual enrollment and Early Entry for academically gifted students, because they believed that it was a sin to deny gifts given, and that if a 12 yr old was ready for calculus, it was their responsibility to help that 12 yr old use the gifts God gave them. Even if that 12 yr old happened to be Jewish, which was the case for one of my classmates.

 

4) There is a strong focus on community, with the church and the Mennonite community in the area serving very much as an extended family. Mentoring and apprenticeships are common, especially for teens. The village very much raises the children.

 

5)The food is great :).

 

 

I can't address the doctrinal side, since I'm not Mennonite-but I have to say that my experience growing up with Mennonites would make me VERY comfortable with choosing a Mennonite church community as an environment for my family, and it's something I really miss.

Edited March 11, 2012 by dmmetler

[Impish]

Thanks for the link, Zoo.

 

Feet. I can't stand feet. *shudder*

[Impish]

I grew up in a strongly Mennonite area (CLE is published in my home town), and I agree with the above-we had everything from Horse and buggy, Hairnet, usually finished with formal education by grade 8 to move into apprenticeship to pretty typical Protestants, Jean wearing, social-action liberals, all under the Mennonite denomination.

 

My experience with Mennonites are that

 

1) They're really nice people, who believe strongly in service to the community, and while they're Evangelical, tend to show their beliefs by their work and how they live, and wait for you to ask questions. That is, you know in every day and every way that they're Christians, but they're not going to come to you and ask you if you know where you're going to spend eternity. Rather, they'll simply come, work beside you, and talk, and eventually, the discussion will tend that way. And when it does, they'll help you reflect on your beliefs, without necessarily pressuring you to join their church or believe the way they do.

 

2) The denomination produces WONDERFUL musicians, music, and singers. There is a tradition in the Mennonite church (although one of my friends, who works for the Mennonite global missions board, says that there's pressure to move away from it in some circles) of four part, acapella vocal singing, and even in churches that now use some instrumental music some of the time, usually everyone sings. Some of the most glorious musical experiences of my life have come from Mennonite churches and Mennonite events, with everyone singing and singing in harmony. I learned a lot about music simply from spending time with Mennonite friends and their families, and singing with them. Many Mennonites have a strong respect for classical music, and often you'll find very, very good singing groups in Mennonite area for this reason that are open to the community and spend a lot of time singing in Latin and German.

 

3) The denomination supports education, and is about as supportive of homeschooling you can get (CLE and Rod and Staff are both Mennonite). Having said that, the view of education isn't necessarily the same as mainstream society. Mennonites want their children to have the skills they need for later life-but recognize that not all children have the same skillset. So you'll see a big focus on foundational education. Mennonites generally are not opposed to public education, but if the public schools are not doing what they want them to do and not teaching solidly, they'll pull their children as a bloc and homeschool or set up a community school. There is a strong focus on recognizing individual gifts and abilities and gifts outside the academic realm are strongly recognized and encouraged. One of my friends growing up was the 2nd of three sisters. The oldest sister was very academically oriented, went to the Mennonite high school and college, and eventually became a teacher (and mother). The 2nd sister was very musically talented, went to the Mennonite high school and Seminary, and currently teaches piano and writes curriculum for CLE. The third sister struggled in school and probably has some learning disabilities, but is wonderful with children. She was allowed to leave school at 10th grade, and moved in with the family of the man she eventually married, where she essentially did a long apprenticeship on child development and household management. She currently is a minister's wife, has 8 children, and is very active in social programs for mothers and children in the impoverished area she and her husband live in. All three women are extremely happy with where they are in life and feel that they are doing what God intended them to do. Of the three local colleges/Universities in my area, the Mennonite college was by far the most receptive to dual enrollment and Early Entry for academically gifted students, because they believed that it was a sin to deny gifts given, and that if a 12 yr old was ready for calculus, it was their responsibility to help that 12 yr old use the gifts God gave them. Even if that 12 yr old happened to be Jewish, which was the case for one of my classmates.

 

4) There is a strong focus on community, with the church and the Mennonite community in the area serving very much as an extended family. Mentoring and apprenticeships are common, especially for teens. The village very much raises the children.

 

5)The food is great :).

 

 

I can't address the doctrinal side, since I'm not Mennonite-but I have to say that my experience growing up with Mennonites would make me VERY comfortable with choosing a Mennonite church community as an environment for my family, and it's something I really miss.

That sounds awesome :001_smile:

 

I know when Wolf mentioned we homeschool to our new landlord, she didn't even bat an eye.

[KrissiK]

As has been said before... Depends on what kind Mennonite. You've got your Old Order Mennonite which is similar to Amish. There's the General Conference Mennonite and they live pretty mainstream, though theologically they are quite liberal, are pacifist and embrace social justice issues quite passionately. Then, yu've got the Mennonite Brethren which is the denomination I grew up in. They are not dissimilar to most protestant denominations, like the Baptists. Although the denomination is also starting to embrace Emergent Theology.

[swellmomma]

Area we're moving to has 2 churches. One I'm familiar w/, having attended previously, (it's not for us) the other is Mennonite.

 

What can you tell me about the Mennonite church?

 

The area is a hamlet, not even big enough to be considered a 'town', so chances are, the best way to get to know ppl is by attending a church in town.

 

We do know there's another church in a nearby bigger town that we've attended before and will return to, if the Mennonite church doesn't fit w/what we're looking for...But being completely clueless about the Mennonite church, I've no idea what it entails.

 

So, if someone could educate me, I'd appreciate it, thanks!

 

 

 

No idea about mennonite churches but had to jump in. If you are moving to a hamlet that means it is even smaller than my village :D What's the population?

[Impish]

No idea about mennonite churches but had to jump in. If you are moving to a hamlet that means it is even smaller than my village :D What's the population?

No clue. I haven't been there myself.

 

Wolf's guessing 600-1,000.

[swellmomma]

No clue. I haven't been there myself.

 

Wolf's guessing 600-1,000.

 

 

Ohh about the same as my village, we have 750ish and I am the only homeschooling family here. I only know because I wiki'd the town before we moved here lol

 

As for churches we found none of the ones in this village are the right fit. I never consistently have enough money for gas to go to the next town over for church but they do have more selection. If there is a bigger town near you (the next town over that we do everything in has 4000 people so still small) you may find better luck finding a church that works for you. Though we are pentacostal and do attend thursday night youth group when I can drive there we will not do sunday services there, the pastor skeeves me out. Once I can make it work we will be attending the alliance church in the next town. THough who knows when that will be, we have been here almost 2 years and have not been attending church more than a handful of times.

[Impish]

Ohh about the same as my village, we have 750ish and I am the only homeschooling family here. I only know because I wiki'd the town before we moved here lol

 

As for churches we found none of the ones in this village are the right fit. I never consistently have enough money for gas to go to the next town over for church but they do have more selection. If there is a bigger town near you (the next town over that we do everything in has 4000 people so still small) you may find better luck finding a church that works for you. Though we are pentacostal and do attend thursday night youth group when I can drive there we will not do sunday services there, the pastor skeeves me out. Once I can make it work we will be attending the alliance church in the next town. THough who knows when that will be, we have been here almost 2 years and have not been attending church more than a handful of times.

If we end up going to the large town nearby, we already know which church we'd attend, having attended the same denom before here in our current city.

 

It's just if the local church would work for us, it would be a way to meet our actual neighbours, kwim?

[amyrjoy]

I believe they only sing acapella.

 

That depends I think. My BFF growing up- her dad was a Mennonite preacher and they usually, most of the time, did. Another local church used piano. There's a wide range, most certainly!

[amyrjoy]

If we end up going to the large town nearby, we already know which church we'd attend, having attended the same denom before here in our current city.

 

It's just if the local church would work for us, it would be a way to meet our actual neighbours, kwim?

 

 

I read your first sentence and switched the "n" and "m" in denom. LOL :tongue_smilie: I think I need to go to bed for some sleep.

[mudboots]

I have some experience with Mennonite Brethren. They would be indistinguishable from any other denomination. No head coverings, lots of musicians, very little acapella, commitment to education.

 

The things that did distinguish the most adherent ones were: a commitment to adult baptism, but mostly to pacifism. The pacifism encourages a lot of social activism, locally and around the world. There were a surprising number of Democrats, usually motivated by the commitment to social justice. There's also quite an emphasis on stewardship of resources. The Mennonites I know don't approve of wastefulness, so they are careful about the types of foods they eat, grow a lot of their own foods, and recycle. They seem to always be thinking about other countries. In our small college town, there was an MCC store where we could buy crafts made by people in developing countries.

 

I envied their sense of belonging. They all seemed to know each other (or each other's grandmother's aunt's cousin). And there was a plenty of verenika to eat.

Edited March 13, 2012 by mudboots

[Audrey]

I live in an area with a lot of Mennonites and I work with many. Churches vary widely. Some are very conservative and not interested in auchlanders (sp?) joining. Some are very open to newcomers. In my area, most Mennonites have German roots and speak Low German amongst themselves. Some wear headcoverings and a specific style of dress and lack of adornment, but those are the most conservative ones. Most look just like everyone else, with the women even wearing make-up, form-fitting clothes and jewellery.

 

As someone else mentioned, they aren't evangelistic in the usual way. If they invite you to their church, it isn't because they are trying to convert you, it's just because they like you. They are work horses of the most admirable kind, in that they will work to help anyone in need regardless of their race, creed or anything else. That said, they have their own issues within their churches just like any other church. It's hard to paint a picture of what a Mennonite church would be like because just like any church, the individual personalities that make it up are simply human and have their own foibles.

 

If you want to join a Mennonite church, that's great. Just be sure to carefully explore to make sure they are open to newcomers first. However, you don't have to join a Mennonite church to socialize with Mennonites and make friends. They're a friendlier than average people and not a judgmental lot in general.

 

If you want to pm me, I'm happy to chat. I like Mennonites and count several amongst my friends (Hutterites as well, but that's a little different). You know... if they'll tolerate me, Imp, you'll be just fine. No worries. :D