Difference between revisions of "Burr Oak Community Church (Rensselaer, Indiana, USA)"

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The Burr Oak Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) is located in Rensselaer, [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]]. In May 1918 [[Bixler, Jacob K. (1877-1939)|J. K. Bixler]] of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]] first visited this field and met with the six members that were here at that time. For the first five years, ministers were sent to hold services about once a month. During this time the services were held in a schoolhouse, a vacant dwelling, and in a Baptist church. In 1925 with the help of the mission board a church, 24 x 38, was built. It was dedicated on 4 October of the same year, at which time Floyd Weaver of the [[Yellow Creek Mennonite Church (Harrison Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, USA)|Yellow Creek ]]congregation (Indiana) was ordained. At this time there were 16 members. In 1945 Weaver resigned as pastor on account of his health; Henry J. Stoll was asked to take charge of the work, and was ordained in 1951. The membership in 1953 was 57, and the congregation was now fully organized under the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. It was largely Amish in background.
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__TOC__
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In spring 1919, [[Bixler, Jacob K. (1877-1939)|Bishop Jacob K. Bixler]] of [[Elkhart (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], learned of Mennonite families in Jasper and Newton counties, in the northwest part of Indiana. He visited them several times and held services in a schoolhouse. Communion services were held in December 1919 in a vacant dwelling house. A congregation of eight members formed, with [[Miller, Daniel D. (1864-1955)|D. D. Miller]] appointed as non-resident bishop.
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In 1925, James Love donated land to the Mennonites, on which they built a 24' x 38' meetinghouse. Floyd Weaver of the Yellow Creek congregation was invited to become the minister. The building was dedicated, and Weaver was ordained on 4 October 1925.
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There have been additions to the original building in 1952, 1966 and 1987.
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In 2016 the Burr Oak congregation left the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]]. This move was part of a larger realignment of Mennonite congregations in the 2010s that were formerly part of [[Mennonite Church USA]]. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. Burr Oak was an early supporter and became a member of the Evana Network in 2016.
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The church changed its name to Burr Oak Community Church in about 2016.
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= Bibliography =
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Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 167, 245, 308.
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Wenger, John Christian. ''The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 210-212.
  
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There have been additions to the original building in 1952, 1966 and 1987. In 2009 there were 71 members; the pastors were Philip D. and Virginia Leichty.
 
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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<strong>Address</strong>: 11506 West 200 S, Rensselaer, Indiana
 
  
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'''Phone''': 219-394-2339
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'''Address:''' 11506 W 200 S, Rensselaer, Indiana 47978
  
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<strong>Denominational Affiliations</strong>:
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'''Phone:''' 219-394-2339
  
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[http://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]
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'''Website''': https://www.burroakchurch.com/
  
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[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
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= Maps =
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[https://evananetwork.org/ Evana Network]
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[[Map:Burr Oak Mennonite Church (Rensselaer, Indiana)|Map:Burr Oak Mennonite Church (Rensselaer, Indiana)]]
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== Pastoral Leaders at Burr Oak Community Church ==
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, p. 479|date=1953|a1_last=Stoll|a1_first=Henry J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Visiting ministers || 1919-1925
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|-
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| Floyd W. Weaver (1896-1977) || 1925-1945
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|-
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| Henry J. Stoll (1899-1988)(Deacon)<br />(Minister) || 1932-1951<br />1951-1965?
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|-
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| Harvey L. Chupp (1937-2015) || 1963-1966?
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|-
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| Theodore M. "Ted" Eash (1936-2009) || 1966-1970
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|-
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| Lay &<br />Retired Leadership || 1970-1974
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|-
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| Edwin M. Bontreger || 1974-1985?
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|-
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| Philip D. Leichty || 1986-2015
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|-
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| Virginia M. Leichty (Associate) || 2008-2015
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|-
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| Debra K. Voss (Youth)<br />(Lead) || 2008-2015<br />2015?-
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|-
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| James C. Marchand || 2008-2010s?
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|-
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| Kent Towler (Assistant) || 2016?-
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|-
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| Caleb Voss (Youth) || 2019-
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|-
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| Kim Voss (Assistant) || 2019?-
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|}
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== Burr Oak Community Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1930 || 39
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|-
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| 1940 || 67
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|-
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| 1950 || 48
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|-
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| 1960 || 52
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|-
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| 1970 || 41
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|-
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| 1980 || 51
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|-
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| 1990 || 70
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|-
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| 2000 || 64
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|-
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| 2009 || 71
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By Henry J. Stoll. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 1, p. 479. All rights reserved.
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The Burr Oak Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) is located in Rensselaer, [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]]. In May 1918 [[Bixler, Jacob K. (1877-1939)|J. K. Bixler]] of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]] first visited this field and met with the six members that were here at that time. For the first five years, ministers were sent to hold services about once a month. During this time the services were held in a schoolhouse, a vacant dwelling, and in a Baptist church. In 1925 with the help of the mission board a church, 24 x 38, was built. It was dedicated on 4 October of the same year, at which time Floyd Weaver of the [[Yellow Creek Mennonite Church (Harrison Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, USA)|Yellow Creek ]]congregation (Indiana) was ordained. At this time there were 16 members. In 1945 Weaver resigned as pastor on account of his health; Henry J. Stoll was asked to take charge of the work, and was ordained in 1951. The membership in 1953 was 57, and the congregation was now fully organized under the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. It was largely Amish in background.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Evana Network Congregations]]
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[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 14:55, 23 April 2024

In spring 1919, Bishop Jacob K. Bixler of Elkhart, Indiana, learned of Mennonite families in Jasper and Newton counties, in the northwest part of Indiana. He visited them several times and held services in a schoolhouse. Communion services were held in December 1919 in a vacant dwelling house. A congregation of eight members formed, with D. D. Miller appointed as non-resident bishop.

In 1925, James Love donated land to the Mennonites, on which they built a 24' x 38' meetinghouse. Floyd Weaver of the Yellow Creek congregation was invited to become the minister. The building was dedicated, and Weaver was ordained on 4 October 1925.

There have been additions to the original building in 1952, 1966 and 1987.

In 2016 the Burr Oak congregation left the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. This move was part of a larger realignment of Mennonite congregations in the 2010s that were formerly part of Mennonite Church USA. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. Burr Oak was an early supporter and became a member of the Evana Network in 2016.

The church changed its name to Burr Oak Community Church in about 2016.

Bibliography

Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 167, 245, 308.

Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 210-212.

Additional Information

Address: 11506 W 200 S, Rensselaer, Indiana 47978

Phone: 219-394-2339

Website: https://www.burroakchurch.com/

Denominational Affiliations:

Evana Network

Pastoral Leaders at Burr Oak Community Church

Name Years
of Service
Visiting ministers 1919-1925
Floyd W. Weaver (1896-1977) 1925-1945
Henry J. Stoll (1899-1988)(Deacon)
(Minister)		 1932-1951
1951-1965?
Harvey L. Chupp (1937-2015) 1963-1966?
Theodore M. "Ted" Eash (1936-2009) 1966-1970
Lay &
Retired Leadership		 1970-1974
Edwin M. Bontreger 1974-1985?
Philip D. Leichty 1986-2015
Virginia M. Leichty (Associate) 2008-2015
Debra K. Voss (Youth)
(Lead)		 2008-2015
2015?-
James C. Marchand 2008-2010s?
Kent Towler (Assistant) 2016?-
Caleb Voss (Youth) 2019-
Kim Voss (Assistant) 2019?-

Burr Oak Community Church Membership

Year Members
1930 39
1940 67
1950 48
1960 52
1970 41
1980 51
1990 70
2000 64
2009 71

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Henry J. Stoll. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 479. All rights reserved.

The Burr Oak Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) is located in Rensselaer, Indiana. In May 1918 J. K. Bixler of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board first visited this field and met with the six members that were here at that time. For the first five years, ministers were sent to hold services about once a month. During this time the services were held in a schoolhouse, a vacant dwelling, and in a Baptist church. In 1925 with the help of the mission board a church, 24 x 38, was built. It was dedicated on 4 October of the same year, at which time Floyd Weaver of the Yellow Creek congregation (Indiana) was ordained. At this time there were 16 members. In 1945 Weaver resigned as pastor on account of his health; Henry J. Stoll was asked to take charge of the work, and was ordained in 1951. The membership in 1953 was 57, and the congregation was now fully organized under the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. It was largely Amish in background.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published April 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Burr Oak Community Church (Rensselaer, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2024. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Burr_Oak_Community_Church_(Rensselaer,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178702.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (April 2024). Burr Oak Community Church (Rensselaer, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Burr_Oak_Community_Church_(Rensselaer,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178702.



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