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Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-14T13:17:28Z

SamSteiner:

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[[File:MeadvilleMennoniteChurch1952.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Meadville Mennonite Mission in Meadville, Pennsylvania in May 1952. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.1-24). 
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitechurchusa-archives/5263972102/in/set-72157625460443202/ Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana]''.]]
The Meadville Mennonite Mission was located on the southern plateau of the Welsh Mountain, three miles (5 km) north of White Horse, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. John L. Musser, then superintendent of the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home]], conducted a summer Bible school in the schoolhouse with success. Thereafter, on 28 July 1954, the ministers of the Hershey district opened Sunday school and services in the same building. The schoolhouse was used until the spring of 1951, when a frame structure 32 x 46 ft. was erected a short distance east of the schoolhouse. In 1955 Galen Hostetter served as pastor, with a membership of 41.

In 2006 there were 48 members with John D. Meck and Micah G. Zimmerman as pastors.

The congregation changed its name to Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship in 2025.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 5726 Meadville Road, Gap, Pennsylvania 17527

'''Phone''': 717-768-8555

'''Website''': https://welshmountainchristianfellowship.church/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 3, p. 547|date=1957|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D|a2_last= |a2_first= }}

[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Hershey Mennonite Church (Kinzers, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-14T13:15:57Z

SamSteiner:

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The Hershey Mennonite Church is rooted in three families that settled upstream from the [[Paradise Mennonite Church (Paradise, Pennsylvania, USA)|Paradise Mennonite meetinghouse]]: Joseph and Magdalene Horst, Christian and Anna Hess, and Jacob and Anna Hershey. Before a meetinghouse was erected in the community, the local Mennonites met in the Horst home.

The community purchased land from Martin and Catherine Werntz for a schoolhouse in 1814. The congregation also used it for Sunday worship for 23 years. In 1837, the congregation purchased land adjacent to the schoolhouse and erected a brick meetinghouse "for the use of the Old Menonist Church or Society." It also purchased land for a cemetery. This meetinghouse was initially known as Hess's, but when it was enlarged in 1862, it became known as Hershey's. In 1879, the building was torn down, and a new brick meetinghouse was erected. The building was enlarged in 1947 and again in 1979.

Services continued in the German language until [[Eby, Isaac (1834-1910)|Isaac Eby]] was ordained in the 1870s. He preached only in English, inspiring the language transition in the congregation. Eby also supported [[Sunday School|Sunday schools]], which began in 1887. Services were held every two weeks until the 1950s, when they became weekly.

The Hershey congregation was instrumental in supporting the [[Red Well Mennonite Mission (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Red Well Mennonite Mission]] in Earl Township, about four miles north of the Hershey meetinghouse. The Red Well meetinghouse was built in 1899, but the mission ended in 1929. Hershey also launched the [[Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Meadville Mennonite Church]] in 1950. It was located on the southern slope of the Welsh Mountain in Salisbury Township. Hershey had begun a Sunday school there in 1935 in a local schoolhouse. In 1955, Hershey started a [[Summer Bible School]] in 1955 in a former Presbyterian church. A separate congregation was established in 1967.

The first sewing circle at Hershey began in 1918 with Sara Hershey as president. Summer Bible School began in 1947.
= Bibliography =

Eby, Martin Christian. ''History of the Hershey Mennonite Church of Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.'' Kinzers, Pa.: The Church, 1978, 1990 reprint.

Gehman, Janet and Kate Lab. "Hershey Mennonite Church." Hershey Mennonite Church. 2021. Web. 6 May 2025. https://www.hersheymennonitechurch.org/about.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 361, 414, 657-658, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: 47-59, 73-78, 85-88. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 401 Hershey Church Road, Kinzers, Pennsylvania 17535

'''Telephone''': 717-768-3150

'''Website''': https://www.hersheymennonitechurch.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2017)
== Pastoral Leaders at Hershey Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Christian Hess (1757-1816) || By 1800-1816
|-
| Joseph Horst (1774-1856) || ca. 1795-1856
|-
| [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] (1765-1843) (Bishop) || 1800?-1804? 1804?-1843
|-
| Joseph Hershey (1791-1856) (Bishop) || ca.1815-1850 1850-1856
|-
| Samuel Wenger (1804-1879) || 1838-1879
|-
| Jacob Hershey (1803-1883) || 1843-1881
|-
| Jacob R. Hershey (1817-1910) || 1858-1890s?
|-
| [[Eby, Isaac (1834-1910)|Isaac W. Eby]] (1834-1910) (Bishop) || 1876-1878 1878-1910
|-
| John K. Ranck (1840-1896) || 1878-1896
|-
| David M. Hostetter (1836-1899) || 1886-1899
|-
| Amos H. Hoover (1852-1941) || 1895-1941
|-
| Christian M. Brackbill (1853-1936) (Bishop) || 1896-1910 1910-1936
|-
| John B. Senger (1850-1932) || 1900-1932
|-
| Jacob H. Mellinger (1866-1934) || 1911-1934
|-
| Abram L. Martin (1881-1946) (Bishop) || 1913-1921 1921-1946
|-
| Ira L. Hershey (1868-1940) || 1920-1940
|-
| Charles E. Hershey (1884-1964) || 1926-1934
|-
| Martin R. Hershey (1882-1974) || 1934-1974
|-
| Sanford E. Hershey (1921-2008) || 1949-1980
|-
| Clair J. Hershey (1919-2008) || 1964-1987
|-
| Glenn C. Hershey (1947- ) || 1982-2002?
|-
| Andrew M. Hershey || 1988-1998?
|-
| Ramoktoshi Imchen || 2002-2017
|-
| Matthew Krebs || 2013-?
|-
| Joe Lab || 2018-
|}
== Hershey Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1913 || 260
|-
| 1920 || 382
|-
| 1930 || 1051 In District
|-
| 1940 || 1004 In District
|-
| 1950 || 223
|-
| 1960 || 164
|-
| 1970 || 140
|-
| 1980 || 130
|-
| 1990 || 123
|-
| 2000 || 124
|-
| 2009 || 115
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 2, p. 715. All rights reserved.

Hershey Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)]]), originally known as the Hess Church, located in Salisbury Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], is a member of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. Christian Hess, Jr., and Abraham Hershey were the trustees who purchased the land for the first meetinghouse in 1814, which was used both as a school and as a church.

The second church was built by 1837, and a new brick one on the present site in 1862, which was replaced by the fourth church in 1879, remodeled during the winter of 1947-1948. It was a part of the Pequea ministerial circuit almost to the present. It is now a part of the Old Road-Meadville circuit, but gradually it is becoming a separate congregation. [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] was the first bishop when the congregation still worshiped in homes. In 1953 G. Parke Book was the bishop; Martin R. and Sanford E. Hershey the ministers; and Willis L. Hershey with his father Landis Hershey, deacons; the membership was 196. [[Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) |Meadville]] and the [[Intercourse Mennonite Mission (Intercourse, Pennsylvania, USA)|Intercourse Mission]] Sunday School, begun 50 years earlier, were outgrowths of this congregation.

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=May 2025|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Crawford County (Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-14T13:15:25Z

SamSteiner:

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[[File:PA-Crawford.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Crawford County, Pennsylvania U.S. Census TIGER/Line map'']]
Crawford County, in northwestern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], received its first Mennonites when a family settled near Spartansburg in 1917. Others came in 1931 and later. [[Valley View Mennonite Church (Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Britton Run Church]] ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC]]) was started in 1932, by Mennonite families from [[Nebraska (USA)|Nebraska]] and[[Ohio (USA)| Ohio]]. The Meadville mission (MC) began in 1935. [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, USA)|Sunnyside Church]] (MC), near Conneaut Lake, was built in 1938 to accommodate settlers from [[Iowa (USA)|Iowa]] and other states, while Meadville continued as a mission point. The combined Mennonite membership of approximately 224 (1954) included a few residing in Erie County. A few residents attended [[Crossroads Fellowship (Corry, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaverdam Church]], Erie County, which was started in 1940. In 1949 a colony of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] resided near Atlantic and a few [[Conservative Mennonite Conference|Conservative Amish]] attended church in nearby [[Mercer County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Mercer County]].
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, p. 733|date=1953|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=James A|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Counties/Regional Governments]]
[[Category:Counties/Regional Governments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Counties/Regional Governments in the United States]]

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

2026-04-14T13:14:15Z

SamSteiner:

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= 2013 Article =
Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) is a fellowship of congregations in the Northeast corridor of the United States, and joined [[Mennonite Church USA]] as a full member in 2006 after five years of provisional membership in the new denomination. At that time it was one of five conferences of Mennonite Church USA in Southeast Pennsylvania along with [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Conference]], [[Eastern District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Eastern District Conference]], [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]], and [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Conference]].

Prior to the affiliation with Mennonite Church USA, Lancaster Mennonite Conference affiliated with the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|(Old) Mennonite Church]]. Mennonite Church USA was a merger of the (Old) Mennonite Church and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], which occurred in 2001.

In 2010 Lancaster Mennonite Conference included 170 congregations with about 15,000 members and six agencies. The number of congregations has decreased from a high of 248 with slightly more than 20,000 members in 1998. This decrease resulted in part from the departure of congregations from Lancaster Conference in relation to the decisions to join Mennonite Church USA and to [[Ordination|ordain]] women. The congregations of Lancaster Mennonite Conference encompass six states in the Northeast United States and the state of [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]]. Congregations are scattered across eastern Pennsylvania with a majority located in [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. Many congregations are situated in major urban areas like New York City, [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], Baltimore, and [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington DC]]. In 2013 there were approximately 14 different language groups throughout Lancaster Mennonite Conference. One estimate has suggested that almost two-thirds of the new churches in Lancaster Mennonite Conference are of non-Germanic ethnicity. Hispanic ethnicity is the largest grouping after Caucasian.

The six agencies of Lancaster Mennonite Conference--[[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Missions]], Friendship Community, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster Mennonite Schools, Landis Communities, and Philhaven--provide a host of services to the congregations of Lancaster Conference and considerably beyond. Eleven fraternal agencies also relate to Conference congregations. The official organ for the Conference is ''Shalom News'', which began in 2009 and replaced the prior ''Lancaster Conference News''.

In 2013 Lancaster Mennonite Conference had a Board of Bishops, which provided spiritual guidance, oversight, and nurture, and which made some decisions for the whole. It has also ha\d a smaller executive council, which deals with governance issues. A conference moderator has facilitated both groups. Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are grouped in geographic districts. A [[bishop]], overseer, or supervisor provides oversight of each district. A Constitution and Bylaws have provided formal structural guidance. While there have been several [[Confessions, Doctrinal|confessions of faith]] developed over the centuries, the Conference primarily utilizes the ''Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective'' [1995], a document developed as part of the merger process that culminated in the formation of Mennonite Church USA in 2001. A ''Mennonite Polity for Ministerial Leadership'' guides polity issues, which is also a Mennonite Church USA document.

What in 2013 was Lancaster Mennonite Conference took shape after the arrival of 29 Swiss Anabaptist immigrants in Philadelphia in 1710. The several histories of Lancaster Conference tell this story in some detail. The most recent and most detailed, ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' by John L. Ruth, appeared in 2001. It provided both a sense of the breadth of the 300-year history of Lancaster Conference from its origins among German-speaking Swiss [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] who immigrated to William Penn's "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania to details of the lives of many Conference members over the centuries. ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' largely replaced the two earlier histories, ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background'' by Ira Landis and ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference'' by Martin G. Weaver.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are part of the free-church tradition and [[Believers Church|believers-church tradition]]. They also connect with the historic peace-church tradition. "[[Historic Peace Churches]]" is a label that refers collectively to the Mennonites, the [[Society of Friends]] (Quakers), and the [[Church of the Brethren]].

The first 100 years of Lancaster Conference saw growth and consolidation of the pioneer Mennonite community around the acquisition of land and wealth plus the trials of the Revolutionary War upon a nonresistant faith community. The 19th century [[Revivalism|revivalist movement]] proved divisive to the community as some members sought a more "heart-felt" experience of faith. The 19th century also saw communal wrestling with the emerging American social ethos that was in many ways contradictory to the Lancaster Mennonite faith experience, especially as it related to [[Nonconformity|nonconformity to society]] and [[American Civil War (1861-1865)|Civil War]] issues. The adoption of the English language, the use of pulpits, and the adoption of [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] in the 1890s were schismatic issues. The schism in the Groffdale-Weaverland district led by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Bishop Jonas Martin]] took place in 1893. This division between conservatives and progressives was perhaps the most antagonistic in Lancaster Conference history.

In the 20th century, Lancaster Conference engaged in significant institutional building with most of the current agencies emerging during this period. In 1905, this community included almost 6,800 members overseen by eight bishops. Two world wars generated stress on the pacifist and nonresistant belief and practice. Institutional responses included the creation of government sanctioned alternate service institutions in lieu of military service. Foreign missions, increased educational attainment, and alternate service in the 20th century broadened the horizons of many people, especially young adults from this community. As a result, Lancaster Conference experienced a time of immense change by mid-century in relation to what lived faith might look like. The Healing Revivals and the [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic Renewal]] presented serious theological questions. Modernity pressed on praxis issues like the use of [[technology]] ([[Automobile|cars]], [[Radio|radio]], and television), [[Dress|plain dress]], and the application of the formal Conference ''Rules and Discipline'', a doctrinal and behavioral manual rescinded by Bishops in 1981.

As the 21st century opened, the suspicion of higher education present in the Anabaptist movement had largely reversed itself. At the same time, the movement from the farm into business, trades, and professions was mostly complete. The prior emphasis on a nonconformity that was both visible and doctrinal began to move toward a solely theological nonconformity that, while less obvious, was equally distinct from other Christian traditions and the broader culture. Training of new church leadership received considerable attention during the waning decades of 20th century and into the first decade of the 21st century. Lancaster Conference leadership introduced the missional church movement to the constituency with generally positive and mostly successful results. In many ways, the Anabaptist movement was and is a missional movement.

The experience of these Anabaptists, European and otherwise, that constitute Lancaster Mennonite Conference is a story of vibrant growth, struggle with change from within and without, and painful division. A few families in 1710 grew to encompass a large faith community. Consistent strife over issues of faithfulness and proper praxis regularly generated schism over the centuries. In 2013 this fellowship of congregations contained considerable ethnic variety, great theological diversity, and assorted congregational polities.

= 2018 Update =
In July 2015 the Lancaster Mennonite Conference's Bishop Board and Conference Executive unanimously recommended withdrawing from Mennonite Church USA "to best strengthen LMC's shared future in God's missional calling." A Leadership Assembly was held in September and at that time, a booklet for participants stated that a "cultural and theological divide" existed within MC USA on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ relationships and that there were "deep differences between area conferences" on LGBTQ membership. The July decision was affirmed by the Board of Bishops in October. Credentialed leaders met on 19 November 2015 and the proposal by the Board of Bishops to leave MC USA was ratified by 82.3% of those in attendance. At that time it was stated that the withdrawal will be finalized on or before the end of 2017. Effective immediately, congregations will function as non-participating in MC USA, although congregations had the option of continuing to participate. At that time, the Conference had 13,838 members in 163 congregations.

In January 2016, Mennonite Church USA reported only 1,091 members from Lancaster Mennonite Conference.

In November 2017 it was reported that Lancaster Mennonite Conference would officially leave Mennonite Church USA on 31 December 2017. Of 179 congregations, 17 had chosen to undertake an extended discernment process. Of those, eight decided to remain with Mennonite Church USA and transferred to Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference. Seven chose to remain with Lancaster Mennonite Conference and two would make their decision by 31 December.

Moderator Keith Weaver, during the conference's 2018 annual assembly, said the executive council had approved a "name adaptation" to "LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches." The legal name remained Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The conference welcomed 54 congregations, bringing its total to 218. Among the additions are a cluster of 14 congregations from the Dominican Republic; 13 from the former [[Franklin Mennonite Conference|Franklin Conference]], now the Franklin District of LMC; and several Spanish-speaking congregations from [[Costa Rica]], [[Mexico]], [[Nicaragua]] and the United States. Besides Pennsylvania, U.S. states with Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations include Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii.

= Bibliography =
Cornelius, Earle. "Lancaster Conference undergoes name change." LancasterOnline. 7 April 2018. Web. 21 October 2020. https://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/lancaster-conference-undergoes-name-change/article_a31cc0e6-3902-11e8-b692-cf8dd3b61919.html#:~:text=In%20his%20State%20of%20the,will%20remain%20Lancaster%20Mennonite%20Conference.

Durnbaugh, Donald F. ''The Believers' Church: the History and Character of Radical Protestantism''. New York: Macmillan Co., 1968, 1970, reprinted Scottdale, 1985.

Juhnke, James C. Vision, ''Doctrine, War: Mennonite Identity and Organization in America, 1890-1930'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 3. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1989.

Kanagy, Conrad. ''Road Signs for the Journey''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2006.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference ''Core Values''. Web. http://www.lancasterconference.org/who_we_are/what_we_believe.php.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference. "Come Walk With Us: 300 Years of Lancaster Conference History." Video, 2010. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=yhSVdBEOelc.

Landis, Ira D. ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background''. [Lancaster, Pa.]: Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Littell, Franklin H. ''The Free Church: The Significance of the Left Wing of the Reformation for Modern American Protestantism''. Boston: Starr King Press, 1957.

MacMaster, Richard K. Land, Piety, ''Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America, 1683-1790'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 1. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1985.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a Narrative History of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001.

Santiago, Rolando. "Immigrant Churches from the Global South," ''Shalom News'' (August-September 2013). Web. http://www.shalomnews.net/aug_sept_13/spa.html.

Schlabach, Theron F. ''Peace, Faith, Nation: Mennonites and Amish in Nineteenth-Century America'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 2. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1988.

Toews, Paul. ''Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970: Modernity and the Persistence of Religious Community'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 4. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1996.

Weaver, Martin. G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data''. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
= 2018 Bibliography =
Hubert, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Bishops Recommend Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 October 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/10/26/news/lancaster-conference-bishops-recommend-withdrawal-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Leaders Propose Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 July 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/07/26/news/lancaster-conference-leaders-recommend-withdrawing-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference to Leave Mennonite Church USA." Mennonite World Review. 24 November 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/11/20/news/lancaster-conference-to-leave-mennonite-church-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster's Distancing Shrinks Roll." Mennonite World Review. 26 January 2016. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2016/01/26/news/lancasters-distancing-shrinks-roll/.

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference begins new era." ''Mennonite World Review'' 2 April 2018. Web. 2 April 2018. http://mennoworld.org/2018/04/02/news/lancaster-conference-begins-new-era/

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference returning to independence: Leaders look toward collaborative relationships, revitalizing identity, mission." Mennonite World Review. 6 November 2017. Web. 6 November 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/11/06/news/lancaster-conference-returning-to-independence/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2160 Lincoln Hwy E Ste 5, Lancaster PA 17602-1150

'''Phone''': 717-293-5246 or 800-216-7249

'''Website''': [https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
== LMC Congregations ==
The following 160 congregations were members of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 2017:

<div align="center">
{| class="wikitable"
! Congregation !! City !! State
|-
| Abundant Life Chinese Mennonite Church || Cherry Hill || New Jersey
|-
| [[Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church (Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA)|Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church]] || Williamsport || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alive Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alive Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alleluia Worship Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alleluia Worship Center]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Assured Hope Community Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Aurora Mennonite Church (Aurora, Ohio, USA)|Aurora Mennonite Church]] || Aurora || Ohio
|-
| [[Crossroads Fellowship (Corry, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaverdam Mennonite Church]] || Corry || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Benders Mennonite Church (Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Benders Mennonite Church]] || Pen Argyl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Gate (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bethlehem Community Fellowship]] || Bethlehem || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport Mennonite Church]] || Reinholds || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blough Mennonite Church]] || Hollsopple || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Morris Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Morris Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cambridge Mennonite Church (Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cambridge Mennonite Church]] || Honey Brook || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Capital Christian Fellowship (Lanham, Maryland, USA)|Capital Christian Fellowship]] || Lanham || Maryland
|-
| [[Carpenter Community Church (Talmage, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Community Church]] || Talmage || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Carpenter Park Mennonite Church (Davidsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Park Mennonite Church]] || Davidsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cedar Lane Chapel (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cedar Lane Chapel]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church]] || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Church for the Needy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Church for the Needy]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Church of the Overcomer || Trainer || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown Mennonite Church]] || Narvon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Coatesville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Coatesville Mennonite Church]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Community Mennonite Fellowship (Milton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Community Mennonite Fellowship]] || Milton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción (Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción]] || Sunbury || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Shalom (New Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Shalom]] || New Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| CONNECT || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Community Fellowship (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Community Fellowship]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Mennonite]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware County Fellowship (Folcroft, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware County Fellowship]] || Folcroft || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware Mennonite Church (Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware Mennonite Church]] || Thompsontown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Diller Mennonite Church (Newville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diller Mennonite Church]] || Newville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg Mennonite Church]] || East Petersburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Emmanuel Community Fellowship (Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA)|Emmanuel Community Fellowship]] || Jersey Shore || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erb Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erb Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erisman Mennonite Church (Rapho Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erisman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster (Landisville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster]] || Landisville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore]] || Windsor Mill || Maryland
|-
| Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Philadelphia || Lansdowne || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Middletown]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Hatfield]] || Hatfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church (Bronx, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan (Manhattan, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[First Deaf Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|First Deaf Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[First Mennonite Church (Berne, Indiana, USA)|First Mennonite Church Berne]] || Berne|| Indiana
|-
| [[Freedom in Christ Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Freedom in Christ Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gehman Mennonite Church (Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gehman Mennonite Church]] || Adamstown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gingrichs Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gingrichs Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Glade Mennonite Church (Accident, Maryland, USA)|Glade Mennonite Church]] || Accident || Maryland
|-
| [[Good's Mennonite Church (Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goods Mennonite Church]] || Bainbridge || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville Mennonite Church]] || Goodville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Grace Community Fellowship (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Grace Community Fellowship]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Greater Works Deliverance Church || Brookhaven || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Green Terrace Mennonite Church (Wernersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Green Terrace Mennonite Church]] || Wernersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hammer Creek Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA) |Hammer Creek Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hampden Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hampden Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hershey Mennonite Church (Kinzers, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hershey Mennonite Church]] || Kinzers || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Faro Ardiente (Vineland, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Faro Ardiente]] || Vineland || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida (Camden, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida]] || Camden || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Hispana Vida Nueva || Burke || Virginia
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Palabra de Vida (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Palabra de Vida]] || Kennett Square || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Puerta de Sion (Trenton, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Puerta de Sion]] || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Roca de Salvacion (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Roca de Salvacion]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Unida de Avivamiento || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| Immanuel Community Church || Flushing || New York
|-
| [[Infinity Mennonite Church (New York, New York, USA)|Infinity Mennonite Church]] || New York || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Jesucristo es el Señor]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Jesucristo Es La Respuesta || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Kauffman Mennonite Church (Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)|Kauffman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)|King of Glory Tabernacle]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Krall’s Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Krall's Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica La Luz del Mundo (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|La Luz del Mundo]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Landis Valley Christian Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Landis Valley Christian Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lao Mennonite Fellowship (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lao Mennonite Fellowship/Slate Hill]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Latter Rain House of Restoration (Claymont, Delaware, USA)|Latter Rain House of Restoration]] || Claymont || Delaware
|-
| [[Laurel Street Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Laurel Street Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lauver Mennonite Church (Richfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lauver Mennonite Church]] || Richfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lebanon Christian Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon Christian Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Light Mennonite Church (Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, USA)|Living Light Mennonite Church]] || Washington Boro || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Word Bible Fellowship (Boyds, Maryland, USA)|Living Word Bible Fellowship]] || Boyds || Maryland
|-
| [[Lost Creek Mennonite Church (Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lost Creek Mennonite Church]] || Mifflintown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Love Truth Chinese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Love Truth Chinese Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Luz Verdadera (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Luz Verdadera]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Manheim Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Manheim Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Mara Christian Church of America, Baltimore || Catonsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship (Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA)|Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship ]] || Nazareth || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Marietta Community Chapel (Marietta, Pennsylvania, USA)|Marietta Community Chapel]] || Marietta || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale Mennonite Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church (Swanton, Maryland, USA)|Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church]] || Swanton || Maryland
|-
| [[Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) |Meadville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church (Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church]] || Quarryville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meckville Mennonite Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Meckville Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mennonite Bible Fellowship (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)|Mennonite Bible Fellowship]] || New Haven || Connecticut
|-
| Mennonite Church Nueva Shalom || Falls Church || Virginia
|-
| [[Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millersville Mennonite Church (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville Mennonite Church]] || Millersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millport Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millport Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Moorhead Mennonite Church (Shreve, Ohio, USA)|Moorhead Mennonite Church]] || Shreve || Ohio
|-
| [[Mosaic International Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mosaic International Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mount Joy Mennonite Church (Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mount Joy Mennonite Church]] || Mount Joy || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain Spring Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain Spring Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain View Fellowship (Trout Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain View Fellowship]] || Trout Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountainside Bible Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountainside Bible Church]] || Pottsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountville Mennonite Church (Mountville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountville Mennonite Church]] || Mountville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Nanticoke Christian Fellowship (Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nanticoke Christian Fellowship]] || Nanticoke || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Danville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Danville Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| New Hope Community Church || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life Christian Fellowship (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)|New Life Christian Fellowship]] || Honolulu || Hawaii
|-
| [[New Life Mennonite Church (Ellicott City, Maryland, USA)|New Life Mennonite Church]] || Ellicott City || Maryland
|-
| [[New Providence Mennonite Church (New Providence, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Providence Mennonite Church]] || New Providence || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Newlinville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Newlinville Mennonite Church ]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Norma Mennonite Church (Norma, New Jersey, USA)|Norma Mennonite Church]] || Norma || New Jersey
|-
| [[North Lima Mennonite Church (North Lima, Ohio, USA)|North Lima Mennonite Church]] || North Lima || Ohio
|-
| Nueva Vida en Cristo || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Oak Grove Mennonite Church (Grantsville, Maryland, USA)|Oak Grove Mennonite Church]] || Grantsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Old Road Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Old Road Mennonite Church]] || Gap || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Oxford Circle Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Oxford Circle Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkesburg Mennonite Church (Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkesburg Mennonite Church]] || Parkesburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkview Mennonite Church (Stevens, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkview Mennonite Church]] || Stevens || Pennsylvania
|-
| Peabody Street Mennonite Church || Washington || District of Columbia
|-
| [[Pinto Mennonite Church (Pinto, Maryland, USA)|Pinto Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Maryland
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Casa del Rey (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Prince of Peace Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| REACH Church || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Red Run Mennonite Church (Denver, Pennsylvania, USA)|Red Run Mennonite Church]] || Denver || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Risser's Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Risser Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[River Corner Mennonite Church (Conestoga, Pennsylvania, USA)|River Corner Mennonite Church]] || Conestoga || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RiversEdge Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|RiversEdge Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Roedersville Mennonite Church (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Roedersville Mennonite Church]] || Pine Grove || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RMC Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Rohrerstown Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life in Christ Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Schubert Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Slate Hill Mennonite Church (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA) |Slate Hill Mennonite Church]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Steelton Mennonite Church (Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Steelton Mennonite Church]] || Steelton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stony Brook Mennonite Church (York, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stony Brook Mennonite Church]] || York || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Strasburg Mennonite Church (Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strasburg Mennonite Church]] || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stumptown Mennonite Church (Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stumptown Mennonite Church]] || Bird-in-Hand || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship, The (Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)|The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship]] || Chester || Pennsylvania
|-
| Tinsae Kristos Evangelical Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship]] || Penn Valley || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vietnamese Christian Fellowship || Pearl City || Hawaii
|-
| [[Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Village Chapel Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Village Chapel Mennonite Church]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vision Columbia || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| West End Mennonite Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church]] || Baltimore || Maryland
|-
| [[Willow Street Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Willow Street Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Witmer Heights Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Witmer Heights Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|}
</div>

= Original Articles from Mennonite Encyclopedia =
By Ira D. Landis & Carolyn C. Wenger. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 275-279; vol. 4, p. 1146 & vol. 5, p. 504. All rights reserved.
== 1957 Article ==
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA ) first convened in 1711, a few months after the Swiss-Palatine immigrants had established themselves in their new home, to select by lot one of their number to return to Europe. [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], their bishop and general adviser, was chosen, but Martin Kendig actually returned. In 1725 five representatives, Martin Baer, Hans Burkholtzer, Christian Herr, Benedikt Hirsche, and Johannes Bowman, attended the first general Mennonite Conference, held probably in Manatawny, when the historic[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)| Dordrecht Confession]] was translated into English and signed by 16 leaders, for all American Mennonites. The Conference always established peaceful relationships with the Indigenous, so that within the confines of the central county no blood was spilled on either side.

The Christian Herr house, built in 1719 on the Conestoga Road, connecting [[Indiantown Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Indiantown]], Brandywine, and [[Germantown Mennonite Settlement (Pennsylvania, USA)|Germantown]], is the oldest meetinghouse dwelling still standing in the county. The John Herr house, built in 1740, for 60 years provided a large room on the second floor as a place of worship. [[Abbeyville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Abbeyville]] and [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] were built before 1750, the members having previously met in private houses and [[Barns|barns]]. [[Gantz-Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley]] (1745), [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker]] (1760), and [[Bair Mennonite Meetinghouse (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bair's Hanover]] (1774) were built on Penn grants. The [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland house]] (1747) is preserved as a sample of the simplicity and miniature size of the meetinghouses in the woods of that day. In the 1950s many were about 50-60 ft. x 100 ft. They still were conservative in architecture, economically built with considerable free labor by the members, simple but practical, of brick or substantial blocks, with a raised pulpit at one end, and the floor sloping toward it, and furnished with basements for religious education and meals for all-day meetings.

Fifteen years after the first settlement in Lampeter, the Mennonites were located throughout [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] and ready to overflow. The Conference nurtured some of the scattered daughter colonies until full-fledged in the [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], [[Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference|Washington County (Maryland, USA)-Franklin County (Pennsylvania)]], and the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southwestern Pennsylvania Conferences]]. The Conference gave not only [[Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)|Benjamin Eby]] to Ontario, but most of the pioneers of both [[Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo]] and Woolwich Townships (Ontario, Canada), to establish two strong Mennonite communities in Upper Canada. It sent Ebersoles, [[Lehman (Lehmann, Layman, Leemann, Leeman, Leaman) family|Lehmans]], [[Horst (Hurst) family|Horsts]], and [[Martin family name|Martins]] to people [[Franklin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Franklin County]], Pennsylvania, and [[Washington County (Maryland, USA)|Washington County]], Maryland, mostly in 1790 and later. It gave [[Weaver (Weber) family|Weavers]], Abraham Brubaker, Rhodes, Stricklers, [[Hiestand (Histand, Heistand, Heystandt) family|Heistands]], etc., first to the northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia; then by 1790 David Heatwole, Joseph Wenger, [[Burkholder, Peter (1783-1846)|Peter Burkholder]], and others to [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], Virginia. John Graybill went to [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata County]] in the early 1770s, followed by [[Brubacher (Brubacker, Brubaker, Brubaher, Brupacher) family |Brubakers]] and Shellenbergers; they in turn peopled [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]] and Freeport, Illinois. John Brubaker started Rockton, Pennsylvania. [[Ressler, Jacob Andrews (1867-1936)|J. A. Ressler]] opened the India Mission in 1899. The Snyders and Abram Metzler established the church at Martinsburg in Morrison's Cove, [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]]. Bishop Michael Horst went from here to Stark County, Ohio, the Metzlers to [[Columbiana County (Ohio, USA)|Columbiana County]], John M. Greider to Clark County, William Westheffer and Henry Martin to Martin's Church, [[Wayne County (Ohio, USA)|Wayne County]], Ohio. Christian Snavely went to Sterling and Simon Graybill to Freeport, Illinois. David B., John M. R., and Reuben M. Weaver, Daniel A. Diener, [[Erb, Tillman M. (1865-1929)|Tillman Erb]], [[Charles, John Denlinger (1878-1923)|J. D. Charles]], and Abram Hess went to Hesston and elsewhere in Kansas. John M. Kreider went to Palmyra, Missouri).

They were always thrifty, with large families earlier, and of the middle class of Americans, preferring independence of one another, but in times of stress and strain, ready for the necessary relief. As pioneers they had more extensive [[Barns|barns]] than houses, so that both in this area were considerably larger than in most other large American communities. The best agricultural practices were followed. Some hemp and flax were raised in the first century. Dairying, beef fattening, and later poultry raising, including broiler production, was a big factor in preserving the fertility of the soil. This with industry, diversification, and crop rotation always placed [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] as the first in America in agricultural wealth. The land values, increased from 35 cents to $1,800 per acre by the 1950s, meant smaller farms, but the cost of building mostly offset this trend. At first the parents retired on the farm, but in later times in towns. There were town meetinghouses in Lancaster (1879), [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] (1905), [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz]] (1906), and Mt. Joy (1908). Others were built later. In 1956, 60 per cent of the members were still dependent upon agriculture. The rest were in industry, domestic employment, and the professions, especially teaching.

During the German ferment period, 1729-ca. 1790, their preachers were not permitted to perform marriages. They became naturalized beginning with 1729, under the British Crown. By 1742 Hans Tschantz called a conference to reprimand Martin Meylin for his large, extravagant sandstone house, to hold to simplicity and allay any undue suspicions among the neighbors concerning their prosperity. On 7 September 1758 a committee was sent to Holland to obtain aid for the suffering Virginia brethren. On 7 November 1775 they appealed to the Colonial Assembly for recognition of their conscientious scruples, which resulted in favorable legislation.

It was during the Revolutionary days that the United Brethren Church started here, when a Mennonite bishop, [[Boehm, Martin (1725-1812)|Martin Boehm]], and a Reformed minister, Philip W. Otterbein, met in 1767 in Isaac Long's barn. The former was excommunicated in 1777 and the new church began 1780, and was revived by another ex-Mennonite, Christian Newcomer, at the turn of the century. The [[Brethren in Christ Church |Brethren in Christ]] in Conoy Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], started about 1780. The [[Reformed Mennonite Church|Reformed Mennonites]] came later but officially started in 1812. The [[Stauffer Mennonite Church|Stauffer]] division occurred in 1845, the Martinite ([[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]]) in 1893, which in turn suffered the Joseph Wenger division in 1926. The [[Reidenbach Mennonite Church (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Reidenbach division]] in the Stauffer group occurred in 1946.

Semiannual conferences were held at the [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger meetinghouse]] in the fall and at one of the three Rohrerstown meetinghouses in the spring as far back as records are extant, about 1740. (Beginning in 1953 the latter was moved to [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg]].) Here all Conference decisions were made and approved or rejected. This was the practice up to the early 20th century, with no long meeting of the Bishop Board prior to the session, at which the actual decisions are made for the Conference, with only nominal ratification by the total conference body. In the 1950s the bishops met monthly or oftener for a day or more before the meeting of Conference.

The moderators of Lancaster Conference in order were [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], [[Burkholder, Hans (d. ca. 1745)|Hans Burkholder]], Hans Tschantz, Bentz Hirschi, [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]], Jacob Brubaker, Samuel Nissley, [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]], Jacob Hostetter, Benjamin Herr, [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]], Benjamin Zimmerman, [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]], Noah L. Landis, W. W. Graybill, and Henry E. Lutz. By 1912 Peter R. Nissley became the first secretary. The officers in 1956 were H. E. Lutz, Moderator, Noah W. Risser, Assistant Moderator, Amos S. Horst, Secretary, [[Danner, Richard Emanuel (1907-1982)|Richard Danner]], Assistant Secretary, and Mahlon Witmer, Treasurer. Until the mid-20th century the senior bishop in order of service served as moderator. Henry Lutz was the first elected moderator.

The Conference with more than 150 preaching points in 1956 included within [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] 78 churches from [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport]] to Oak Shade, from [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]] to [[Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]], with 640 and 621 members in the two largest, Weaverland and [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger]], both distinctly rural. Then there were eight in [[Lebanon County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon County]], three in [[Cumberland County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Cumberland County]], ten in York and [[Adams County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Adams]], five in [[Dauphin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Dauphin]], three in [[Berks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Berks]], seven in [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata]], Snyder, and Union Counties, with many more scattered (see missions below).

These are divided into 19 bishop districts in 1956. Weaverland, the largest, had 18 preaching points, 1,897 members, 17 Sunday schools with an enrollment of 3,012 and an average attendance of 2,520, and 19 summer Bible schools with 2,925 and 2,477 respectively, and two young people's Bible meetings with 183 in attendance. Bishop J. Paul Graybill was assisted by 20 ministers and 10 deacons. The total membership in 1954 was 15,166, with 23 bishops, 193 ministers, and 102 deacons.

The Spring Conference in 1871 sanctioned the [[Sunday School|Sunday-school]] movement and in 1956 in 148 schools, there was an enrollment of 22,706 and an attendance of 18,175. Following the first (1927) summer Bible school at [[Norris Square Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Norris Square]], Philadelphia, the movement grew until in 1953 there were in the Conference 165 with 26,116 enrolled and an average attendance for the ten nights of 23,312. The young people's Bible meetings started in the early 20th century and the number slowly increased, with 6,724 attending, meetings customarily held on Saturday evenings.

In 1956 this, the largest and second oldest conference, close communion was observed with unfermented wine. Adult baptism by pouring was generally held in the meetinghouse. Anointing with oil was a bit more prominent than a few decades earlier. Divorce was not sanctioned and weddings within the church were encouraged; in either home or church they were to be held with simplicity. The [[Kiss, Holy|holy kiss]] was still practiced. The devotional covering was conscientiously and continuously worn. A distinct garb, both for the men and women, was strongly advocated and observed by most in the 1950s. The plain garb was required of the women for membership, and of the men for active participation in church work, though not for membership.

The ministers have other vocations; formerly they were all farmers. They received no salary and frequently no support. In the 1950s there were five ministers who could still preach German; the transition to English was at its peak by 1900. For two centuries the types and figures and the sufferings of our Lord were rehearsed at communion time. At the semiannual counsel meeting, Matthew 18:1-22 was the Scriptural basis of the sermon. At preparatory services, generally on the Saturday before communion, Matthew 6:1-18 was used; at the ordination of a deacon Acts 6:1-7, of a minister Luke 10:1-20, and of a bishop John 21:15-17. The ministers were chosen by lot in the established congregation, unless there is but one candidate. When the votes are to be taken, the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, etc., for the office were stressed. The congregation was given the opportunity to present their choices to the bishops present. One vote for the offices of deacon and minister and five for the bishop placed the recipient in a class for examination. The ordination then followed in two to seven days.

After October 1905 a revival meeting was held annually or biennially in each congregation. At [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] in early 1906 there was a class of 130 converts. There were numerous large classes, but the largest were in the first two decades. While the number in classes was low generally by the 1950s, the revival did much to revive a congregation and was an additional blessing to our ministers.

The Mission Movement beginning in the mid-1890's received real impetus from this Conference. With John Mellinger and the [[Paradise (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Paradise]] district we had not only what was necessary to crystallize and establish local and foreign missions here, but as a spur into other areas. With the organization in 1916 of the mission board ([[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]]), the earlier missions in many cases took on new life, but the work also spread, so that in 1956 there were six missions in central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], a large field developed on the Alabama-Florida border, three missions each in Tampa (Florida), [[New York (USA)|New York]], Philadelphia, and Reading, two in Coatesville, one each in Lebanon and Harrisburg. In addition to the eight in and around Lancaster, there were numerous other missions in and within driving distance of the central county. Some were also in prospect in central and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and rural New York. In 1934 the first foreign missionaries were sent to Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]), in 1948 to [[Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], in 1950 to northern [[Honduras|Honduras]], in 1951 to [[Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] in Europe, and to [[Sommerfeld Colony (Bolivia)|Somalia]] in Africa in 1953. On 1 January 1954 there were 86 missionaries attached to the foreign mission fields and about 67 stations with 360 missionary workers in America, besides the established congregations and their work.

In the early day the children were given all their schooling in their homes. At the turn of the 18th century the school and church were often under one roof. Our home township had four of these—Landis, Lehn, Rudy, and Frick. Then with the enactment of the public school laws in 1834 and 1836, the Mennonites were opposed to sending their children to such schools, for the blessings of education in their schools under their own supervision would be lost. At Erisman, Risser, Hammer Creek, Stumptown, Cross Roads, [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler]], [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill]], Metzler, and Weaverland, the school was then placed on the adjoining grounds. Again in the 1950s with the school far removed geographically and spiritually from the church, there was a retrenchment in the Christian Day School movement. The first school of this kind was opened at Locust Grove in 1939. By the mid-1950s there were 19 in the area, exclusive of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] and the Shaeffer Private School, with 45 teachers and about 1,228 pupils.

Although requested in 1922, the first Ephrata Winter Bible school was held in 1938, and after five terms the [[Lancaster Mennonite School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster Mennonite School]] opened in the fall of 1942, with a special Bible term added in 1953. It is a full high school, operated by a board of trustees appointed by the conference. The enrollment in 1954-55 was 303, with a faculty of 18. Some of the above elementary schools have ninth and tenth grades. In Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]) there were 60 bush schools with a thousand pupils, with some primary and middle schools started.

The winter Bible schools were placed at pivotal points in the Conference, beginning in 1943, meeting Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks in January and February, until by 1956 there were 13 such, with an additional day school of two weeks at [[Millwood Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millwood]]. These reached 2,200-2,500 of our constituency. They included book study, the Bible, missions, Christian education, Christian ethics, theology, and pedagogy, using chiefly our own literature as texts. Like the Sunday school they reached all ages.

By the 1950s there were three [[Homes, Retirement and Nursing|old people's homes]] in this Conference. Oreville in 1903 was the first. The [[Welsh Mountain Industrial Mission (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Mission]] (1898) gradually developed into the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Good Samaritan Home]]. In 1953 the Philadelphia Colored Home was opened. Together about 185 were provided for within these three institutions. A girls' home for Mennonites working as domestics in Reading served for many years. A [[Mennonite Children's Home (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|children's home]] in [[Millersville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville]] in 1911 began to invite unfortunate children of all ages into its sphere, with Levi Sauder serving as superintendent until his death in October 1940. 1,215 children had received physical and spiritual nurture here by 1956.

In loving appreciation of what God through the Dutch Foreign Relief Committee accomplished in bringing the Mennonites to America, they aided wherever possible, not only in the early years when it was a case of mutual survival, but throughout the years. In the 1870's and 1922 they did their part in settling the Russian Mennonites on this continent. Following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] [[Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)|Orie O. Miller]], the Myers, Zimmermans, and others served in France and Near East Relief. The MCC has been a channel for immigration and [[Relief Work|relief]] funds from the Conference since 1920, aggregating in 1949-1952 alone more than $224,500. The Conference has always had a member on the MCC, first John Mellinger, and later Henry F. Garber. The sewing circles were a substantial aid in giving materials in kind over the years. The movement began in 1895 in the Paradise district, developing into a general circle by 1911. Many tons have moved out from and through the Ephrata Clothing Depot, into overseas relief distribution. The Mary Mellinger cutting room at Paradise in 1948 served an ever-enlarging constituency and service both local and world-wide.

Through itinerant evangelism and Voluntary Service, by the mid-1950s the summer Bible schools not only spread over the southeastern states, central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], but exceeded the Sunday-school figures by 3,400; they reached the unreached, not only in isolated places, but in migrant work camps the year round and among the Puerto Ricans in the [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] area and established missions and congregations.

The Peace Problems Committee, earlier the Bishop Board, helped to steer the church through the war years, promoted nonresistance teaching, provided for the pastoral care of men in [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] and [[I-W Service (United States)|I-W service]], and represented the church in its peace testimony.

The Lancaster (Mental) Hospital opened in 1952 on the north edge of Mt. Gretna, with a maximum capacity of 35 patients, with one doctor, two nurses, and numerous helpers. A large farm was attached. It was called Philhaven.

The historic German[[Martyrs' Mirror]] (1748), with the Ephrata prints of [[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|Ernsthafte Christen]][[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|pflicht]] of 1745, 1770, 1785, and 1808, and the 1769 [[Christliches Gemütsgespräch|Christliches Gemüthsgespräch]], following the English translation (1727) of the historic [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession]], adopted by the 1725 Conference, were the known extent of our Mennonite publications for this century. But in the next 15 decades this changed. The Ernsthafte Christenpflicht appeared in Lancaster in 1826, 1841, 1852, 1862, 1868, 1875, 1876, 1892, 1904, and 1927, and the Gemüthsgespräch there in 1811, 1836, 1869, and 1892, English 1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and at Union Grove in 1921. The [[Ausbund|Ausbund]] was reprinted at Lancaster eight times, 1815, 1834, 1846, 1856, 1868, 1880, 1908, and 1912. The Unparteyisches Gesangbuch (1804-1923) appeared in 17 editions as the official conference hymnbook. The [[Ehrenfried, Joseph (1783-1862)|Ehrenfried]] Martyrs' Mirror was published in 1814 and the Lampeter edition of I. D. Rupp in 1836. [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]]' Fundamentbuch appeared in German at Lancaster in 1794, 1835, 1853, and 1876, in English in 1835, 1863, and 1869. Christian Spiritual Conversation in Saving Faith (1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and 1921), a translation of Christliches Gemüthsgespräch, included [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder's]] Counsel for Youth, a translation of Anrede an die Jugend, which appeared in two editions in Ephrata in 1804, and was added to the Gemüthsgespräch in its editions of 1839, 1848, 1868, 1869, and 1873, but had a separate edition at [[Allentown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Allentown]] in 1829. [[Wandering Soul|The Wandering Soul]], which appeared in 8 German and 10 English editions in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] 1768-1919, appeared in English in Lancaster in 1874. In 1787 the Froschauer New Testament was published in German at Ephrata.

One of the first original writings known aside from Christian Burkholder's was a series of three Question and Answer Booklets for the Sunday School, prepared by [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] and other leaders with [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] in 1880 and 1881. Earlier was the Conference Meeting Calendar in 1854, prepared by Abraham Martin. The other Calendar editors for the century were Abraham Brubaker, [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]], and after 1940 Ira D. Landis.

The Rules and Discipline of Lancaster Conference was put into a printed leaflet in 1881 and has appeared since in numerous revisions, the last in 1954. In the same decade (1880) appeared [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher's]] Brubaker Genealogy and in 1896 John Hess's second Hess Genealogy. In 1902 [[Wenger, Amos Daniel (1867-1935)|A. D. Wenger's]] Six Months in Bible Lands was published and in 1931 Martin G. Weaver's Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the first conference history attempted by any Mennonite.

After 1924 the [[Missionary Messenger, The (Periodical) |Missionary Messenger]] was the official organ of the Mission Board and after 1941 the Pastoral Messenger of the Conference. The Mennonite Youth Service (1951) was a monthly, Victory Calls (1949), an annual, and by the 1950s many congregations had weekly or fortnightly bulletins.

The Christian Nurture Committee revised the [[Weekday Bible School|weekday Bible school]] manuals of the late thirties, so that by 1955 there were be new courses from kindergarten I to grade VIII, with two for high-school grades. This committee prepared Youth Faces Life and Making Our Homes Christian, two smaller publications for religious education. It had a ten-year program of Bible Memory work for school and Sunday school, and a Bible reading program for family altars, beginning with the whole New Testament in 1954.

The Hershey Genealogy by Henry Hershey appeared in 1929, the Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites in 1937, Faith of Our Fathers on Eschatology (1946), The Landis Family Book, Sections I-IV (1950-54), and I Must See Switzerland (1954) by Ira D. Landis. Africa Calls (1936) by Catherine Leatherman and Ada Zimmerman, Africa Answers (1951) by Merle Eshleman, Noah Mack, His Life and Times (1952) by Graybill, Landis, and Sauder, and Christian Manhood (1948) by Eshleman and Mack were other publications by Lancaster authors.

The Conference has had outstanding leaders in [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]] (1639-1725), [[Brechbill, Benedikt (1665-ca. 1720)|Benedict Brackbill]] (1665-1720), Bentz Hirsche (1697-1789), [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809), [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] (1766-1843), Jacob Hostetter (1774-1865), [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]] (1838-1913), and layman [[Mellinger, John H. (1858-1952)|John H. Mellinger]] (1858-1952). With their foundations and links in co-operation with every member in the 1950s, on [[Nonconformity|nonconformity]], including apparel, the Conference was conservative, on [[Nonresistance|nonresistance]] officially solid, considerably opposed to Calvinism and [[Eternal Security|eternal security]], but slightly colored by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalism]] and [[Pietism|pietism]]. -- Ira D. Landis
== 1990 Update ==
Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the largest conference of the Mennonite Church (MC), shifted from the relative uniformity of religious thought and expression of the 1950s and extended borders geographically, ethnically, and numerically. Membership in 1950 numbered 14,061 in 18 bishop districts, all but one in Pennsylvania. Membership in 1986 was 17,033 in 30 districts with approximately one-third outside [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], from Maine to Florida. In 2005 there were 17,496 members in 186 congregations in 26 bishop districts.

Increased involvement in foreign and home missions and in higher education led to formation of more bishop districts, which decentralized the authority of the Bishop Board. Congregations developed greater autonomy and formal organization, dropped specific membership requirements, and tolerated more diverse patterns of religious thought and expression, such as instrumental music, open rather than close communion, [[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]] influences, increased employment of professional staff members in greater divisions of labor, and the appropriation of prevailing cultural values ([[Acculturation|acculturation]]). Preference still existed for team ministry.

Several schisms developed in response to these compromises. In 1960 nine ordained men withdrew to form the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood; some of them eventually associated with the [[Nationwide Fellowship Churches|Fellowship Churches]]. In 1969 the [[Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church]] was organized in the wake of differences over general trends and specific issues related to [[Divorce and Remarriage|divorce and remarriage]], [[Television|television]], and relaxed [[Dress|dress]] requirements. In 1975 approximately 200 members formed the [[Conservative Mennonite Churches of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania]].

Despite repeated invitations and limited fraternal ties, Lancaster Conference did not officially join the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]] general conference (general assembly) until 1971. In 1977 it reorganized with a structure parallel to the Mennonite Church (MC). Instead of all committees and boards responsible to the Bishop Board as previously, the Bishop Board still served as the executive board of the conference but was assisted by a Conference Coordinating Council, which coordinated four program boards: [[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]], Board of Education, Board of Brotherhood Ministries, and Board of Congregational Resources. Four other agencies served the conference: Leadership Council, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Women's Missionary and Service Commission, and Finance Committee. Lancaster Conference News began in 1981 as the semimonthly successor to Pastoral Messenger and Newsletter. It provides news and interpretation of conference programs and needs. -- Carolyn C. Wenger

== Original Bibliographies ==
Graber, Robert Bates. "An Amiable Mennonite Schism: The Origin of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 (October 1984): 2-10.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 608.

Kraybill, Donald B. "Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren in the Modern Era." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 10 (April 1987): 2-20.

Landis, Ira D. The Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1938.

Landis, Ira D. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background. [Lancaster, Pa.?] : Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Weaver, Martin. G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference : Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
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[[Category:Area/Regional Conferences]]
[[Category:Denominations]]

Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)

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SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) to Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)

#REDIRECT [[Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)]]

Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)

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SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) to Welsh Mountain Christian Fellowship (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)

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[[File:MeadvilleMennoniteChurch1952.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Meadville Mennonite Mission in Meadville, Pennsylvania in May 1952. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.1-24). 
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitechurchusa-archives/5263972102/in/set-72157625460443202/ Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana]''.]]
The Meadville Mennonite Mission was located on the southern plateau of the Welsh Mountain, three miles (5 km) north of White Horse, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. John L. Musser, then superintendent of the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home]], conducted a summer Bible school in the schoolhouse with success. Thereafter, on 28 July 1954, the ministers of the Hershey district opened Sunday school and services in the same building. The schoolhouse was used until the spring of 1951, when a frame structure 32 x 46 ft. was erected a short distance east of the schoolhouse. In 1955 Galen Hostetter served as pastor, with a membership of 41.

In 2006 there were 48 members with John D. Meck and Micah G. Zimmerman as pastors.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 5726 Meadville Rd, Gap, PA 17527

'''Phone''': 717-768-8555

'''Website''': [http://www.meadvillechurch.com/ Meadville Mennonite Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
= Map =
[[Map:Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)]]
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[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

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SamSteiner: /* LMC Congregations */

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= 2013 Article =
Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) is a fellowship of congregations in the Northeast corridor of the United States, and joined [[Mennonite Church USA]] as a full member in 2006 after five years of provisional membership in the new denomination. At that time it was one of five conferences of Mennonite Church USA in Southeast Pennsylvania along with [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Conference]], [[Eastern District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Eastern District Conference]], [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]], and [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Conference]].

Prior to the affiliation with Mennonite Church USA, Lancaster Mennonite Conference affiliated with the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|(Old) Mennonite Church]]. Mennonite Church USA was a merger of the (Old) Mennonite Church and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], which occurred in 2001.

In 2010 Lancaster Mennonite Conference included 170 congregations with about 15,000 members and six agencies. The number of congregations has decreased from a high of 248 with slightly more than 20,000 members in 1998. This decrease resulted in part from the departure of congregations from Lancaster Conference in relation to the decisions to join Mennonite Church USA and to [[Ordination|ordain]] women. The congregations of Lancaster Mennonite Conference encompass six states in the Northeast United States and the state of [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]]. Congregations are scattered across eastern Pennsylvania with a majority located in [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. Many congregations are situated in major urban areas like New York City, [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], Baltimore, and [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington DC]]. In 2013 there were approximately 14 different language groups throughout Lancaster Mennonite Conference. One estimate has suggested that almost two-thirds of the new churches in Lancaster Mennonite Conference are of non-Germanic ethnicity. Hispanic ethnicity is the largest grouping after Caucasian.

The six agencies of Lancaster Mennonite Conference--[[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Missions]], Friendship Community, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster Mennonite Schools, Landis Communities, and Philhaven--provide a host of services to the congregations of Lancaster Conference and considerably beyond. Eleven fraternal agencies also relate to Conference congregations. The official organ for the Conference is ''Shalom News'', which began in 2009 and replaced the prior ''Lancaster Conference News''.

In 2013 Lancaster Mennonite Conference had a Board of Bishops, which provided spiritual guidance, oversight, and nurture, and which made some decisions for the whole. It has also ha\d a smaller executive council, which deals with governance issues. A conference moderator has facilitated both groups. Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are grouped in geographic districts. A [[bishop]], overseer, or supervisor provides oversight of each district. A Constitution and Bylaws have provided formal structural guidance. While there have been several [[Confessions, Doctrinal|confessions of faith]] developed over the centuries, the Conference primarily utilizes the ''Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective'' [1995], a document developed as part of the merger process that culminated in the formation of Mennonite Church USA in 2001. A ''Mennonite Polity for Ministerial Leadership'' guides polity issues, which is also a Mennonite Church USA document.

What in 2013 was Lancaster Mennonite Conference took shape after the arrival of 29 Swiss Anabaptist immigrants in Philadelphia in 1710. The several histories of Lancaster Conference tell this story in some detail. The most recent and most detailed, ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' by John L. Ruth, appeared in 2001. It provided both a sense of the breadth of the 300-year history of Lancaster Conference from its origins among German-speaking Swiss [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] who immigrated to William Penn's "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania to details of the lives of many Conference members over the centuries. ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' largely replaced the two earlier histories, ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background'' by Ira Landis and ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference'' by Martin G. Weaver.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are part of the free-church tradition and [[Believers Church|believers-church tradition]]. They also connect with the historic peace-church tradition. "[[Historic Peace Churches]]" is a label that refers collectively to the Mennonites, the [[Society of Friends]] (Quakers), and the [[Church of the Brethren]].

The first 100 years of Lancaster Conference saw growth and consolidation of the pioneer Mennonite community around the acquisition of land and wealth plus the trials of the Revolutionary War upon a nonresistant faith community. The 19th century [[Revivalism|revivalist movement]] proved divisive to the community as some members sought a more "heart-felt" experience of faith. The 19th century also saw communal wrestling with the emerging American social ethos that was in many ways contradictory to the Lancaster Mennonite faith experience, especially as it related to [[Nonconformity|nonconformity to society]] and [[American Civil War (1861-1865)|Civil War]] issues. The adoption of the English language, the use of pulpits, and the adoption of [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] in the 1890s were schismatic issues. The schism in the Groffdale-Weaverland district led by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Bishop Jonas Martin]] took place in 1893. This division between conservatives and progressives was perhaps the most antagonistic in Lancaster Conference history.

In the 20th century, Lancaster Conference engaged in significant institutional building with most of the current agencies emerging during this period. In 1905, this community included almost 6,800 members overseen by eight bishops. Two world wars generated stress on the pacifist and nonresistant belief and practice. Institutional responses included the creation of government sanctioned alternate service institutions in lieu of military service. Foreign missions, increased educational attainment, and alternate service in the 20th century broadened the horizons of many people, especially young adults from this community. As a result, Lancaster Conference experienced a time of immense change by mid-century in relation to what lived faith might look like. The Healing Revivals and the [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic Renewal]] presented serious theological questions. Modernity pressed on praxis issues like the use of [[technology]] ([[Automobile|cars]], [[Radio|radio]], and television), [[Dress|plain dress]], and the application of the formal Conference ''Rules and Discipline'', a doctrinal and behavioral manual rescinded by Bishops in 1981.

As the 21st century opened, the suspicion of higher education present in the Anabaptist movement had largely reversed itself. At the same time, the movement from the farm into business, trades, and professions was mostly complete. The prior emphasis on a nonconformity that was both visible and doctrinal began to move toward a solely theological nonconformity that, while less obvious, was equally distinct from other Christian traditions and the broader culture. Training of new church leadership received considerable attention during the waning decades of 20th century and into the first decade of the 21st century. Lancaster Conference leadership introduced the missional church movement to the constituency with generally positive and mostly successful results. In many ways, the Anabaptist movement was and is a missional movement.

The experience of these Anabaptists, European and otherwise, that constitute Lancaster Mennonite Conference is a story of vibrant growth, struggle with change from within and without, and painful division. A few families in 1710 grew to encompass a large faith community. Consistent strife over issues of faithfulness and proper praxis regularly generated schism over the centuries. In 2013 this fellowship of congregations contained considerable ethnic variety, great theological diversity, and assorted congregational polities.

= 2018 Update =
In July 2015 the Lancaster Mennonite Conference's Bishop Board and Conference Executive unanimously recommended withdrawing from Mennonite Church USA "to best strengthen LMC's shared future in God's missional calling." A Leadership Assembly was held in September and at that time, a booklet for participants stated that a "cultural and theological divide" existed within MC USA on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ relationships and that there were "deep differences between area conferences" on LGBTQ membership. The July decision was affirmed by the Board of Bishops in October. Credentialed leaders met on 19 November 2015 and the proposal by the Board of Bishops to leave MC USA was ratified by 82.3% of those in attendance. At that time it was stated that the withdrawal will be finalized on or before the end of 2017. Effective immediately, congregations will function as non-participating in MC USA, although congregations had the option of continuing to participate. At that time, the Conference had 13,838 members in 163 congregations.

In January 2016, Mennonite Church USA reported only 1,091 members from Lancaster Mennonite Conference.

In November 2017 it was reported that Lancaster Mennonite Conference would officially leave Mennonite Church USA on 31 December 2017. Of 179 congregations, 17 had chosen to undertake an extended discernment process. Of those, eight decided to remain with Mennonite Church USA and transferred to Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference. Seven chose to remain with Lancaster Mennonite Conference and two would make their decision by 31 December.

Moderator Keith Weaver, during the conference's 2018 annual assembly, said the executive council had approved a "name adaptation" to "LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches." The legal name remained Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The conference welcomed 54 congregations, bringing its total to 218. Among the additions are a cluster of 14 congregations from the Dominican Republic; 13 from the former [[Franklin Mennonite Conference|Franklin Conference]], now the Franklin District of LMC; and several Spanish-speaking congregations from [[Costa Rica]], [[Mexico]], [[Nicaragua]] and the United States. Besides Pennsylvania, U.S. states with Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations include Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii.

= Bibliography =
Cornelius, Earle. "Lancaster Conference undergoes name change." LancasterOnline. 7 April 2018. Web. 21 October 2020. https://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/lancaster-conference-undergoes-name-change/article_a31cc0e6-3902-11e8-b692-cf8dd3b61919.html#:~:text=In%20his%20State%20of%20the,will%20remain%20Lancaster%20Mennonite%20Conference.

Durnbaugh, Donald F. ''The Believers' Church: the History and Character of Radical Protestantism''. New York: Macmillan Co., 1968, 1970, reprinted Scottdale, 1985.

Juhnke, James C. Vision, ''Doctrine, War: Mennonite Identity and Organization in America, 1890-1930'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 3. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1989.

Kanagy, Conrad. ''Road Signs for the Journey''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2006.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference ''Core Values''. Web. http://www.lancasterconference.org/who_we_are/what_we_believe.php.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference. "Come Walk With Us: 300 Years of Lancaster Conference History." Video, 2010. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=yhSVdBEOelc.

Landis, Ira D. ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background''. [Lancaster, Pa.]: Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Littell, Franklin H. ''The Free Church: The Significance of the Left Wing of the Reformation for Modern American Protestantism''. Boston: Starr King Press, 1957.

MacMaster, Richard K. Land, Piety, ''Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America, 1683-1790'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 1. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1985.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a Narrative History of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001.

Santiago, Rolando. "Immigrant Churches from the Global South," ''Shalom News'' (August-September 2013). Web. http://www.shalomnews.net/aug_sept_13/spa.html.

Schlabach, Theron F. ''Peace, Faith, Nation: Mennonites and Amish in Nineteenth-Century America'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 2. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1988.

Toews, Paul. ''Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970: Modernity and the Persistence of Religious Community'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 4. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1996.

Weaver, Martin. G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data''. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
= 2018 Bibliography =
Hubert, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Bishops Recommend Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 October 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/10/26/news/lancaster-conference-bishops-recommend-withdrawal-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Leaders Propose Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 July 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/07/26/news/lancaster-conference-leaders-recommend-withdrawing-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference to Leave Mennonite Church USA." Mennonite World Review. 24 November 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/11/20/news/lancaster-conference-to-leave-mennonite-church-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster's Distancing Shrinks Roll." Mennonite World Review. 26 January 2016. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2016/01/26/news/lancasters-distancing-shrinks-roll/.

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference begins new era." ''Mennonite World Review'' 2 April 2018. Web. 2 April 2018. http://mennoworld.org/2018/04/02/news/lancaster-conference-begins-new-era/

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference returning to independence: Leaders look toward collaborative relationships, revitalizing identity, mission." Mennonite World Review. 6 November 2017. Web. 6 November 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/11/06/news/lancaster-conference-returning-to-independence/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2160 Lincoln Hwy E Ste 5, Lancaster PA 17602-1150

'''Phone''': 717-293-5246 or 800-216-7249

'''Website''': [https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
== LMC Congregations ==
The following 160 congregations were members of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 2017:

<div align="center">
{| class="wikitable"
! Congregation !! City !! State
|-
| Abundant Life Chinese Mennonite Church || Cherry Hill || New Jersey
|-
| [[Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church (Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA)|Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church]] || Williamsport || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alive Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alive Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alleluia Worship Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alleluia Worship Center]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Assured Hope Community Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Aurora Mennonite Church (Aurora, Ohio, USA)|Aurora Mennonite Church]] || Aurora || Ohio
|-
| [[Crossroads Fellowship (Corry, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaverdam Mennonite Church]] || Corry || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Benders Mennonite Church (Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Benders Mennonite Church]] || Pen Argyl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Gate (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bethlehem Community Fellowship]] || Bethlehem || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport Mennonite Church]] || Reinholds || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blough Mennonite Church]] || Hollsopple || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Morris Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Morris Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cambridge Mennonite Church (Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cambridge Mennonite Church]] || Honey Brook || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Capital Christian Fellowship (Lanham, Maryland, USA)|Capital Christian Fellowship]] || Lanham || Maryland
|-
| [[Carpenter Community Church (Talmage, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Community Church]] || Talmage || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Carpenter Park Mennonite Church (Davidsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Park Mennonite Church]] || Davidsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cedar Lane Chapel (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cedar Lane Chapel]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church]] || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Church for the Needy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Church for the Needy]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Church of the Overcomer || Trainer || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown Mennonite Church]] || Narvon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Coatesville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Coatesville Mennonite Church]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Community Mennonite Fellowship (Milton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Community Mennonite Fellowship]] || Milton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción (Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción]] || Sunbury || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Shalom (New Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Shalom]] || New Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| CONNECT || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Community Fellowship (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Community Fellowship]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Mennonite]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware County Fellowship (Folcroft, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware County Fellowship]] || Folcroft || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware Mennonite Church (Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware Mennonite Church]] || Thompsontown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Diller Mennonite Church (Newville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diller Mennonite Church]] || Newville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg Mennonite Church]] || East Petersburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Emmanuel Community Fellowship (Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA)|Emmanuel Community Fellowship]] || Jersey Shore || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erb Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erb Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erisman Mennonite Church (Rapho Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erisman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster (Landisville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster]] || Landisville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore]] || Windsor Mill || Maryland
|-
| Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Philadelphia || Lansdowne || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Middletown]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Hatfield]] || Hatfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church (Bronx, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan (Manhattan, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[First Deaf Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|First Deaf Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[First Mennonite Church (Berne, Indiana, USA)|First Mennonite Church Berne]] || Berne|| Indiana
|-
| [[Freedom in Christ Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Freedom in Christ Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gehman Mennonite Church (Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gehman Mennonite Church]] || Adamstown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gingrichs Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gingrichs Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Glade Mennonite Church (Accident, Maryland, USA)|Glade Mennonite Church]] || Accident || Maryland
|-
| [[Good's Mennonite Church (Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goods Mennonite Church]] || Bainbridge || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville Mennonite Church]] || Goodville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Grace Community Fellowship (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Grace Community Fellowship]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Greater Works Deliverance Church || Brookhaven || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Green Terrace Mennonite Church (Wernersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Green Terrace Mennonite Church]] || Wernersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hammer Creek Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA) |Hammer Creek Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hampden Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hampden Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hershey Mennonite Church (Kinzers, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hershey Mennonite Church]] || Kinzers || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Faro Ardiente (Vineland, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Faro Ardiente]] || Vineland || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida (Camden, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida]] || Camden || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Hispana Vida Nueva || Burke || Virginia
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Palabra de Vida (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Palabra de Vida]] || Kennett Square || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Puerta de Sion (Trenton, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Puerta de Sion]] || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Roca de Salvacion (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Roca de Salvacion]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Unida de Avivamiento || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| Immanuel Community Church || Flushing || New York
|-
| [[Infinity Mennonite Church (New York, New York, USA)|Infinity Mennonite Church]] || New York || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Jesucristo es el Señor]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Jesucristo Es La Respuesta || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Kauffman Mennonite Church (Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)|Kauffman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)|King of Glory Tabernacle]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Krall’s Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Krall's Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica La Luz del Mundo (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|La Luz del Mundo]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Landis Valley Christian Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Landis Valley Christian Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lao Mennonite Fellowship (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lao Mennonite Fellowship/Slate Hill]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Latter Rain House of Restoration (Claymont, Delaware, USA)|Latter Rain House of Restoration]] || Claymont || Delaware
|-
| [[Laurel Street Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Laurel Street Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lauver Mennonite Church (Richfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lauver Mennonite Church]] || Richfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lebanon Christian Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon Christian Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Light Mennonite Church (Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, USA)|Living Light Mennonite Church]] || Washington Boro || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Word Bible Fellowship (Boyds, Maryland, USA)|Living Word Bible Fellowship]] || Boyds || Maryland
|-
| [[Lost Creek Mennonite Church (Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lost Creek Mennonite Church]] || Mifflintown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Love Truth Chinese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Love Truth Chinese Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Luz Verdadera (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Luz Verdadera]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Manheim Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Manheim Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Mara Christian Church of America, Baltimore || Catonsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship (Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA)|Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship ]] || Nazareth || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Marietta Community Chapel (Marietta, Pennsylvania, USA)|Marietta Community Chapel]] || Marietta || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale Mennonite Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church (Swanton, Maryland, USA)|Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church]] || Swanton || Maryland
|-
| [[Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) |Meadville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church (Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church]] || Quarryville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meckville Mennonite Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Meckville Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mennonite Bible Fellowship (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)|Mennonite Bible Fellowship]] || New Haven || Connecticut
|-
| Mennonite Church Nueva Shalom || Falls Church || Virginia
|-
| [[Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millersville Mennonite Church (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville Mennonite Church]] || Millersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millport Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millport Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Moorhead Mennonite Church (Shreve, Ohio, USA)|Moorhead Mennonite Church]] || Shreve || Ohio
|-
| [[Mosaic International Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mosaic International Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mount Joy Mennonite Church (Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mount Joy Mennonite Church]] || Mount Joy || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain Spring Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain Spring Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain View Fellowship (Trout Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain View Fellowship]] || Trout Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountainside Bible Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountainside Bible Church]] || Pottsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountville Mennonite Church (Mountville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountville Mennonite Church]] || Mountville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Nanticoke Christian Fellowship (Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nanticoke Christian Fellowship]] || Nanticoke || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Danville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Danville Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| New Hope Community Church || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life Christian Fellowship (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)|New Life Christian Fellowship]] || Honolulu || Hawaii
|-
| [[New Life Mennonite Church (Ellicott City, Maryland, USA)|New Life Mennonite Church]] || Ellicott City || Maryland
|-
| [[New Providence Mennonite Church (New Providence, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Providence Mennonite Church]] || New Providence || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Newlinville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Newlinville Mennonite Church ]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Norma Mennonite Church (Norma, New Jersey, USA)|Norma Mennonite Church]] || Norma || New Jersey
|-
| [[North Lima Mennonite Church (North Lima, Ohio, USA)|North Lima Mennonite Church]] || North Lima || Ohio
|-
| Nueva Vida en Cristo || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Oak Grove Mennonite Church (Grantsville, Maryland, USA)|Oak Grove Mennonite Church]] || Grantsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Old Road Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Old Road Mennonite Church]] || Gap || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Oxford Circle Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Oxford Circle Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkesburg Mennonite Church (Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkesburg Mennonite Church]] || Parkesburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkview Mennonite Church (Stevens, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkview Mennonite Church]] || Stevens || Pennsylvania
|-
| Peabody Street Mennonite Church || Washington || District of Columbia
|-
| [[Pinto Mennonite Church (Pinto, Maryland, USA)|Pinto Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Maryland
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Casa del Rey (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Prince of Peace Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| REACH Church || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Red Run Mennonite Church (Denver, Pennsylvania, USA)|Red Run Mennonite Church]] || Denver || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Risser's Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Risser Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[River Corner Mennonite Church (Conestoga, Pennsylvania, USA)|River Corner Mennonite Church]] || Conestoga || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RiversEdge Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|RiversEdge Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Roedersville Mennonite Church (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Roedersville Mennonite Church]] || Pine Grove || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RMC Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Rohrerstown Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life in Christ Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Schubert Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Slate Hill Mennonite Church (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA) |Slate Hill Mennonite Church]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Steelton Mennonite Church (Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Steelton Mennonite Church]] || Steelton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stony Brook Mennonite Church (York, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stony Brook Mennonite Church]] || York || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Strasburg Mennonite Church (Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strasburg Mennonite Church]] || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stumptown Mennonite Church (Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stumptown Mennonite Church]] || Bird-in-Hand || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship, The (Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)|The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship]] || Chester || Pennsylvania
|-
| Tinsae Kristos Evangelical Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship]] || Penn Valley || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vietnamese Christian Fellowship || Pearl City || Hawaii
|-
| [[Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Village Chapel Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Village Chapel Mennonite Church]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vision Columbia || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| West End Mennonite Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church]] || Baltimore || Maryland
|-
| [[Willow Street Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Willow Street Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Witmer Heights Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Witmer Heights Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|}
</div>

= Original Articles from Mennonite Encyclopedia =
By Ira D. Landis & Carolyn C. Wenger. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 275-279; vol. 4, p. 1146 & vol. 5, p. 504. All rights reserved.
== 1957 Article ==
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA ) first convened in 1711, a few months after the Swiss-Palatine immigrants had established themselves in their new home, to select by lot one of their number to return to Europe. [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], their bishop and general adviser, was chosen, but Martin Kendig actually returned. In 1725 five representatives, Martin Baer, Hans Burkholtzer, Christian Herr, Benedikt Hirsche, and Johannes Bowman, attended the first general Mennonite Conference, held probably in Manatawny, when the historic[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)| Dordrecht Confession]] was translated into English and signed by 16 leaders, for all American Mennonites. The Conference always established peaceful relationships with the Indigenous, so that within the confines of the central county no blood was spilled on either side.

The Christian Herr house, built in 1719 on the Conestoga Road, connecting [[Indiantown Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Indiantown]], Brandywine, and [[Germantown Mennonite Settlement (Pennsylvania, USA)|Germantown]], is the oldest meetinghouse dwelling still standing in the county. The John Herr house, built in 1740, for 60 years provided a large room on the second floor as a place of worship. [[Abbeyville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Abbeyville]] and [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] were built before 1750, the members having previously met in private houses and [[Barns|barns]]. [[Gantz-Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley]] (1745), [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker]] (1760), and [[Bair Mennonite Meetinghouse (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bair's Hanover]] (1774) were built on Penn grants. The [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland house]] (1747) is preserved as a sample of the simplicity and miniature size of the meetinghouses in the woods of that day. In the 1950s many were about 50-60 ft. x 100 ft. They still were conservative in architecture, economically built with considerable free labor by the members, simple but practical, of brick or substantial blocks, with a raised pulpit at one end, and the floor sloping toward it, and furnished with basements for religious education and meals for all-day meetings.

Fifteen years after the first settlement in Lampeter, the Mennonites were located throughout [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] and ready to overflow. The Conference nurtured some of the scattered daughter colonies until full-fledged in the [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], [[Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference|Washington County (Maryland, USA)-Franklin County (Pennsylvania)]], and the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southwestern Pennsylvania Conferences]]. The Conference gave not only [[Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)|Benjamin Eby]] to Ontario, but most of the pioneers of both [[Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo]] and Woolwich Townships (Ontario, Canada), to establish two strong Mennonite communities in Upper Canada. It sent Ebersoles, [[Lehman (Lehmann, Layman, Leemann, Leeman, Leaman) family|Lehmans]], [[Horst (Hurst) family|Horsts]], and [[Martin family name|Martins]] to people [[Franklin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Franklin County]], Pennsylvania, and [[Washington County (Maryland, USA)|Washington County]], Maryland, mostly in 1790 and later. It gave [[Weaver (Weber) family|Weavers]], Abraham Brubaker, Rhodes, Stricklers, [[Hiestand (Histand, Heistand, Heystandt) family|Heistands]], etc., first to the northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia; then by 1790 David Heatwole, Joseph Wenger, [[Burkholder, Peter (1783-1846)|Peter Burkholder]], and others to [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], Virginia. John Graybill went to [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata County]] in the early 1770s, followed by [[Brubacher (Brubacker, Brubaker, Brubaher, Brupacher) family |Brubakers]] and Shellenbergers; they in turn peopled [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]] and Freeport, Illinois. John Brubaker started Rockton, Pennsylvania. [[Ressler, Jacob Andrews (1867-1936)|J. A. Ressler]] opened the India Mission in 1899. The Snyders and Abram Metzler established the church at Martinsburg in Morrison's Cove, [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]]. Bishop Michael Horst went from here to Stark County, Ohio, the Metzlers to [[Columbiana County (Ohio, USA)|Columbiana County]], John M. Greider to Clark County, William Westheffer and Henry Martin to Martin's Church, [[Wayne County (Ohio, USA)|Wayne County]], Ohio. Christian Snavely went to Sterling and Simon Graybill to Freeport, Illinois. David B., John M. R., and Reuben M. Weaver, Daniel A. Diener, [[Erb, Tillman M. (1865-1929)|Tillman Erb]], [[Charles, John Denlinger (1878-1923)|J. D. Charles]], and Abram Hess went to Hesston and elsewhere in Kansas. John M. Kreider went to Palmyra, Missouri).

They were always thrifty, with large families earlier, and of the middle class of Americans, preferring independence of one another, but in times of stress and strain, ready for the necessary relief. As pioneers they had more extensive [[Barns|barns]] than houses, so that both in this area were considerably larger than in most other large American communities. The best agricultural practices were followed. Some hemp and flax were raised in the first century. Dairying, beef fattening, and later poultry raising, including broiler production, was a big factor in preserving the fertility of the soil. This with industry, diversification, and crop rotation always placed [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] as the first in America in agricultural wealth. The land values, increased from 35 cents to $1,800 per acre by the 1950s, meant smaller farms, but the cost of building mostly offset this trend. At first the parents retired on the farm, but in later times in towns. There were town meetinghouses in Lancaster (1879), [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] (1905), [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz]] (1906), and Mt. Joy (1908). Others were built later. In 1956, 60 per cent of the members were still dependent upon agriculture. The rest were in industry, domestic employment, and the professions, especially teaching.

During the German ferment period, 1729-ca. 1790, their preachers were not permitted to perform marriages. They became naturalized beginning with 1729, under the British Crown. By 1742 Hans Tschantz called a conference to reprimand Martin Meylin for his large, extravagant sandstone house, to hold to simplicity and allay any undue suspicions among the neighbors concerning their prosperity. On 7 September 1758 a committee was sent to Holland to obtain aid for the suffering Virginia brethren. On 7 November 1775 they appealed to the Colonial Assembly for recognition of their conscientious scruples, which resulted in favorable legislation.

It was during the Revolutionary days that the United Brethren Church started here, when a Mennonite bishop, [[Boehm, Martin (1725-1812)|Martin Boehm]], and a Reformed minister, Philip W. Otterbein, met in 1767 in Isaac Long's barn. The former was excommunicated in 1777 and the new church began 1780, and was revived by another ex-Mennonite, Christian Newcomer, at the turn of the century. The [[Brethren in Christ Church |Brethren in Christ]] in Conoy Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], started about 1780. The [[Reformed Mennonite Church|Reformed Mennonites]] came later but officially started in 1812. The [[Stauffer Mennonite Church|Stauffer]] division occurred in 1845, the Martinite ([[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]]) in 1893, which in turn suffered the Joseph Wenger division in 1926. The [[Reidenbach Mennonite Church (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Reidenbach division]] in the Stauffer group occurred in 1946.

Semiannual conferences were held at the [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger meetinghouse]] in the fall and at one of the three Rohrerstown meetinghouses in the spring as far back as records are extant, about 1740. (Beginning in 1953 the latter was moved to [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg]].) Here all Conference decisions were made and approved or rejected. This was the practice up to the early 20th century, with no long meeting of the Bishop Board prior to the session, at which the actual decisions are made for the Conference, with only nominal ratification by the total conference body. In the 1950s the bishops met monthly or oftener for a day or more before the meeting of Conference.

The moderators of Lancaster Conference in order were [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], [[Burkholder, Hans (d. ca. 1745)|Hans Burkholder]], Hans Tschantz, Bentz Hirschi, [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]], Jacob Brubaker, Samuel Nissley, [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]], Jacob Hostetter, Benjamin Herr, [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]], Benjamin Zimmerman, [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]], Noah L. Landis, W. W. Graybill, and Henry E. Lutz. By 1912 Peter R. Nissley became the first secretary. The officers in 1956 were H. E. Lutz, Moderator, Noah W. Risser, Assistant Moderator, Amos S. Horst, Secretary, [[Danner, Richard Emanuel (1907-1982)|Richard Danner]], Assistant Secretary, and Mahlon Witmer, Treasurer. Until the mid-20th century the senior bishop in order of service served as moderator. Henry Lutz was the first elected moderator.

The Conference with more than 150 preaching points in 1956 included within [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] 78 churches from [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport]] to Oak Shade, from [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]] to [[Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]], with 640 and 621 members in the two largest, Weaverland and [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger]], both distinctly rural. Then there were eight in [[Lebanon County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon County]], three in [[Cumberland County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Cumberland County]], ten in York and [[Adams County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Adams]], five in [[Dauphin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Dauphin]], three in [[Berks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Berks]], seven in [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata]], Snyder, and Union Counties, with many more scattered (see missions below).

These are divided into 19 bishop districts in 1956. Weaverland, the largest, had 18 preaching points, 1,897 members, 17 Sunday schools with an enrollment of 3,012 and an average attendance of 2,520, and 19 summer Bible schools with 2,925 and 2,477 respectively, and two young people's Bible meetings with 183 in attendance. Bishop J. Paul Graybill was assisted by 20 ministers and 10 deacons. The total membership in 1954 was 15,166, with 23 bishops, 193 ministers, and 102 deacons.

The Spring Conference in 1871 sanctioned the [[Sunday School|Sunday-school]] movement and in 1956 in 148 schools, there was an enrollment of 22,706 and an attendance of 18,175. Following the first (1927) summer Bible school at [[Norris Square Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Norris Square]], Philadelphia, the movement grew until in 1953 there were in the Conference 165 with 26,116 enrolled and an average attendance for the ten nights of 23,312. The young people's Bible meetings started in the early 20th century and the number slowly increased, with 6,724 attending, meetings customarily held on Saturday evenings.

In 1956 this, the largest and second oldest conference, close communion was observed with unfermented wine. Adult baptism by pouring was generally held in the meetinghouse. Anointing with oil was a bit more prominent than a few decades earlier. Divorce was not sanctioned and weddings within the church were encouraged; in either home or church they were to be held with simplicity. The [[Kiss, Holy|holy kiss]] was still practiced. The devotional covering was conscientiously and continuously worn. A distinct garb, both for the men and women, was strongly advocated and observed by most in the 1950s. The plain garb was required of the women for membership, and of the men for active participation in church work, though not for membership.

The ministers have other vocations; formerly they were all farmers. They received no salary and frequently no support. In the 1950s there were five ministers who could still preach German; the transition to English was at its peak by 1900. For two centuries the types and figures and the sufferings of our Lord were rehearsed at communion time. At the semiannual counsel meeting, Matthew 18:1-22 was the Scriptural basis of the sermon. At preparatory services, generally on the Saturday before communion, Matthew 6:1-18 was used; at the ordination of a deacon Acts 6:1-7, of a minister Luke 10:1-20, and of a bishop John 21:15-17. The ministers were chosen by lot in the established congregation, unless there is but one candidate. When the votes are to be taken, the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, etc., for the office were stressed. The congregation was given the opportunity to present their choices to the bishops present. One vote for the offices of deacon and minister and five for the bishop placed the recipient in a class for examination. The ordination then followed in two to seven days.

After October 1905 a revival meeting was held annually or biennially in each congregation. At [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] in early 1906 there was a class of 130 converts. There were numerous large classes, but the largest were in the first two decades. While the number in classes was low generally by the 1950s, the revival did much to revive a congregation and was an additional blessing to our ministers.

The Mission Movement beginning in the mid-1890's received real impetus from this Conference. With John Mellinger and the [[Paradise (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Paradise]] district we had not only what was necessary to crystallize and establish local and foreign missions here, but as a spur into other areas. With the organization in 1916 of the mission board ([[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]]), the earlier missions in many cases took on new life, but the work also spread, so that in 1956 there were six missions in central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], a large field developed on the Alabama-Florida border, three missions each in Tampa (Florida), [[New York (USA)|New York]], Philadelphia, and Reading, two in Coatesville, one each in Lebanon and Harrisburg. In addition to the eight in and around Lancaster, there were numerous other missions in and within driving distance of the central county. Some were also in prospect in central and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and rural New York. In 1934 the first foreign missionaries were sent to Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]), in 1948 to [[Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], in 1950 to northern [[Honduras|Honduras]], in 1951 to [[Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] in Europe, and to [[Sommerfeld Colony (Bolivia)|Somalia]] in Africa in 1953. On 1 January 1954 there were 86 missionaries attached to the foreign mission fields and about 67 stations with 360 missionary workers in America, besides the established congregations and their work.

In the early day the children were given all their schooling in their homes. At the turn of the 18th century the school and church were often under one roof. Our home township had four of these—Landis, Lehn, Rudy, and Frick. Then with the enactment of the public school laws in 1834 and 1836, the Mennonites were opposed to sending their children to such schools, for the blessings of education in their schools under their own supervision would be lost. At Erisman, Risser, Hammer Creek, Stumptown, Cross Roads, [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler]], [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill]], Metzler, and Weaverland, the school was then placed on the adjoining grounds. Again in the 1950s with the school far removed geographically and spiritually from the church, there was a retrenchment in the Christian Day School movement. The first school of this kind was opened at Locust Grove in 1939. By the mid-1950s there were 19 in the area, exclusive of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] and the Shaeffer Private School, with 45 teachers and about 1,228 pupils.

Although requested in 1922, the first Ephrata Winter Bible school was held in 1938, and after five terms the [[Lancaster Mennonite School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster Mennonite School]] opened in the fall of 1942, with a special Bible term added in 1953. It is a full high school, operated by a board of trustees appointed by the conference. The enrollment in 1954-55 was 303, with a faculty of 18. Some of the above elementary schools have ninth and tenth grades. In Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]) there were 60 bush schools with a thousand pupils, with some primary and middle schools started.

The winter Bible schools were placed at pivotal points in the Conference, beginning in 1943, meeting Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks in January and February, until by 1956 there were 13 such, with an additional day school of two weeks at [[Millwood Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millwood]]. These reached 2,200-2,500 of our constituency. They included book study, the Bible, missions, Christian education, Christian ethics, theology, and pedagogy, using chiefly our own literature as texts. Like the Sunday school they reached all ages.

By the 1950s there were three [[Homes, Retirement and Nursing|old people's homes]] in this Conference. Oreville in 1903 was the first. The [[Welsh Mountain Industrial Mission (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Mission]] (1898) gradually developed into the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Good Samaritan Home]]. In 1953 the Philadelphia Colored Home was opened. Together about 185 were provided for within these three institutions. A girls' home for Mennonites working as domestics in Reading served for many years. A [[Mennonite Children's Home (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|children's home]] in [[Millersville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville]] in 1911 began to invite unfortunate children of all ages into its sphere, with Levi Sauder serving as superintendent until his death in October 1940. 1,215 children had received physical and spiritual nurture here by 1956.

In loving appreciation of what God through the Dutch Foreign Relief Committee accomplished in bringing the Mennonites to America, they aided wherever possible, not only in the early years when it was a case of mutual survival, but throughout the years. In the 1870's and 1922 they did their part in settling the Russian Mennonites on this continent. Following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] [[Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)|Orie O. Miller]], the Myers, Zimmermans, and others served in France and Near East Relief. The MCC has been a channel for immigration and [[Relief Work|relief]] funds from the Conference since 1920, aggregating in 1949-1952 alone more than $224,500. The Conference has always had a member on the MCC, first John Mellinger, and later Henry F. Garber. The sewing circles were a substantial aid in giving materials in kind over the years. The movement began in 1895 in the Paradise district, developing into a general circle by 1911. Many tons have moved out from and through the Ephrata Clothing Depot, into overseas relief distribution. The Mary Mellinger cutting room at Paradise in 1948 served an ever-enlarging constituency and service both local and world-wide.

Through itinerant evangelism and Voluntary Service, by the mid-1950s the summer Bible schools not only spread over the southeastern states, central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], but exceeded the Sunday-school figures by 3,400; they reached the unreached, not only in isolated places, but in migrant work camps the year round and among the Puerto Ricans in the [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] area and established missions and congregations.

The Peace Problems Committee, earlier the Bishop Board, helped to steer the church through the war years, promoted nonresistance teaching, provided for the pastoral care of men in [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] and [[I-W Service (United States)|I-W service]], and represented the church in its peace testimony.

The Lancaster (Mental) Hospital opened in 1952 on the north edge of Mt. Gretna, with a maximum capacity of 35 patients, with one doctor, two nurses, and numerous helpers. A large farm was attached. It was called Philhaven.

The historic German[[Martyrs' Mirror]] (1748), with the Ephrata prints of [[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|Ernsthafte Christen]][[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|pflicht]] of 1745, 1770, 1785, and 1808, and the 1769 [[Christliches Gemütsgespräch|Christliches Gemüthsgespräch]], following the English translation (1727) of the historic [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession]], adopted by the 1725 Conference, were the known extent of our Mennonite publications for this century. But in the next 15 decades this changed. The Ernsthafte Christenpflicht appeared in Lancaster in 1826, 1841, 1852, 1862, 1868, 1875, 1876, 1892, 1904, and 1927, and the Gemüthsgespräch there in 1811, 1836, 1869, and 1892, English 1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and at Union Grove in 1921. The [[Ausbund|Ausbund]] was reprinted at Lancaster eight times, 1815, 1834, 1846, 1856, 1868, 1880, 1908, and 1912. The Unparteyisches Gesangbuch (1804-1923) appeared in 17 editions as the official conference hymnbook. The [[Ehrenfried, Joseph (1783-1862)|Ehrenfried]] Martyrs' Mirror was published in 1814 and the Lampeter edition of I. D. Rupp in 1836. [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]]' Fundamentbuch appeared in German at Lancaster in 1794, 1835, 1853, and 1876, in English in 1835, 1863, and 1869. Christian Spiritual Conversation in Saving Faith (1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and 1921), a translation of Christliches Gemüthsgespräch, included [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder's]] Counsel for Youth, a translation of Anrede an die Jugend, which appeared in two editions in Ephrata in 1804, and was added to the Gemüthsgespräch in its editions of 1839, 1848, 1868, 1869, and 1873, but had a separate edition at [[Allentown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Allentown]] in 1829. [[Wandering Soul|The Wandering Soul]], which appeared in 8 German and 10 English editions in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] 1768-1919, appeared in English in Lancaster in 1874. In 1787 the Froschauer New Testament was published in German at Ephrata.

One of the first original writings known aside from Christian Burkholder's was a series of three Question and Answer Booklets for the Sunday School, prepared by [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] and other leaders with [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] in 1880 and 1881. Earlier was the Conference Meeting Calendar in 1854, prepared by Abraham Martin. The other Calendar editors for the century were Abraham Brubaker, [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]], and after 1940 Ira D. Landis.

The Rules and Discipline of Lancaster Conference was put into a printed leaflet in 1881 and has appeared since in numerous revisions, the last in 1954. In the same decade (1880) appeared [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher's]] Brubaker Genealogy and in 1896 John Hess's second Hess Genealogy. In 1902 [[Wenger, Amos Daniel (1867-1935)|A. D. Wenger's]] Six Months in Bible Lands was published and in 1931 Martin G. Weaver's Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the first conference history attempted by any Mennonite.

After 1924 the [[Missionary Messenger, The (Periodical) |Missionary Messenger]] was the official organ of the Mission Board and after 1941 the Pastoral Messenger of the Conference. The Mennonite Youth Service (1951) was a monthly, Victory Calls (1949), an annual, and by the 1950s many congregations had weekly or fortnightly bulletins.

The Christian Nurture Committee revised the [[Weekday Bible School|weekday Bible school]] manuals of the late thirties, so that by 1955 there were be new courses from kindergarten I to grade VIII, with two for high-school grades. This committee prepared Youth Faces Life and Making Our Homes Christian, two smaller publications for religious education. It had a ten-year program of Bible Memory work for school and Sunday school, and a Bible reading program for family altars, beginning with the whole New Testament in 1954.

The Hershey Genealogy by Henry Hershey appeared in 1929, the Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites in 1937, Faith of Our Fathers on Eschatology (1946), The Landis Family Book, Sections I-IV (1950-54), and I Must See Switzerland (1954) by Ira D. Landis. Africa Calls (1936) by Catherine Leatherman and Ada Zimmerman, Africa Answers (1951) by Merle Eshleman, Noah Mack, His Life and Times (1952) by Graybill, Landis, and Sauder, and Christian Manhood (1948) by Eshleman and Mack were other publications by Lancaster authors.

The Conference has had outstanding leaders in [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]] (1639-1725), [[Brechbill, Benedikt (1665-ca. 1720)|Benedict Brackbill]] (1665-1720), Bentz Hirsche (1697-1789), [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809), [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] (1766-1843), Jacob Hostetter (1774-1865), [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]] (1838-1913), and layman [[Mellinger, John H. (1858-1952)|John H. Mellinger]] (1858-1952). With their foundations and links in co-operation with every member in the 1950s, on [[Nonconformity|nonconformity]], including apparel, the Conference was conservative, on [[Nonresistance|nonresistance]] officially solid, considerably opposed to Calvinism and [[Eternal Security|eternal security]], but slightly colored by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalism]] and [[Pietism|pietism]]. -- Ira D. Landis
== 1990 Update ==
Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the largest conference of the Mennonite Church (MC), shifted from the relative uniformity of religious thought and expression of the 1950s and extended borders geographically, ethnically, and numerically. Membership in 1950 numbered 14,061 in 18 bishop districts, all but one in Pennsylvania. Membership in 1986 was 17,033 in 30 districts with approximately one-third outside [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], from Maine to Florida. In 2005 there were 17,496 members in 186 congregations in 26 bishop districts.

Increased involvement in foreign and home missions and in higher education led to formation of more bishop districts, which decentralized the authority of the Bishop Board. Congregations developed greater autonomy and formal organization, dropped specific membership requirements, and tolerated more diverse patterns of religious thought and expression, such as instrumental music, open rather than close communion, [[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]] influences, increased employment of professional staff members in greater divisions of labor, and the appropriation of prevailing cultural values ([[Acculturation|acculturation]]). Preference still existed for team ministry.

Several schisms developed in response to these compromises. In 1960 nine ordained men withdrew to form the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood; some of them eventually associated with the [[Nationwide Fellowship Churches|Fellowship Churches]]. In 1969 the [[Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church]] was organized in the wake of differences over general trends and specific issues related to [[Divorce and Remarriage|divorce and remarriage]], [[Television|television]], and relaxed [[Dress|dress]] requirements. In 1975 approximately 200 members formed the [[Conservative Mennonite Churches of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania]].

Despite repeated invitations and limited fraternal ties, Lancaster Conference did not officially join the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]] general conference (general assembly) until 1971. In 1977 it reorganized with a structure parallel to the Mennonite Church (MC). Instead of all committees and boards responsible to the Bishop Board as previously, the Bishop Board still served as the executive board of the conference but was assisted by a Conference Coordinating Council, which coordinated four program boards: [[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]], Board of Education, Board of Brotherhood Ministries, and Board of Congregational Resources. Four other agencies served the conference: Leadership Council, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Women's Missionary and Service Commission, and Finance Committee. Lancaster Conference News began in 1981 as the semimonthly successor to Pastoral Messenger and Newsletter. It provides news and interpretation of conference programs and needs. -- Carolyn C. Wenger

== Original Bibliographies ==
Graber, Robert Bates. "An Amiable Mennonite Schism: The Origin of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 (October 1984): 2-10.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 608.

Kraybill, Donald B. "Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren in the Modern Era." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 10 (April 1987): 2-20.

Landis, Ira D. The Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1938.

Landis, Ira D. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background. [Lancaster, Pa.?] : Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Weaver, Martin. G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference : Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
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[[Category:Area/Regional Conferences]]
[[Category:Denominations]]

Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T14:46:07Z

SamSteiner: /* Pastoral Leaders at Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community */

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[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch1946.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania in May 1946. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-5). 
Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana''.]]
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church, 2008. 
Source: [http://www.bernethy-eby-scribner.com/showmap.php?cemeteryID=735 Our Family History and Ancestry Bernethy-Eby-Scribner]''.]]
In April 1720, Hans Weber desired a grant of land four miles north of Hans Graff's land on the Conestoga River in what became [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. In spring 1723, his sons, Henry, Jacob, and George Weber, moved to the rich bottomlands between what is now [[Blue Ball (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blue Ball]] and the Conestoga, where the [[Good (Guth) family|Good]], [[Hoover (Hover, Hoober, Huber, Huver, Hueber) family|Huber]], [[Martin family name|Martin]], [[Musselman (Musselmann, Moselmann) family|Musselman]], Newcomer, and [[Ruth family|Rutt]] families soon joined them. The area became known as Weaverland, after the three sons.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A log church-schoolhouse may have been built by 1740. By 1766, there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. This stone house had the very plainest furniture. There was a long pine table around which the leaders of singing sat on three sides, with a long bench for the ministers along the north side wall. The preacher, addressing the congregation, stood at the head of this table. The benches for the congregation were two-inch oak planks, a foot wide, without backs, supported by two-inch sticks or legs.

An addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. Its benches had backs. In 1883, a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. At the time, the congregation built a separate house for the caretaker. A brick church was erected in 1926, with expansions and remodeling in 1972, 1987, and 1997 to accommodate additional Sunday school classrooms.

Weaverland became the central church for a circuit that included [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-1819. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912, [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

The Weaverland District held services at the Weaverland meetinghouse into the 1940s, when they were held weekly. This gradually led to the practice of ministers linked to one congregation

In 2018, in alignment with the name change of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]], Weaverland Mennonite Church changed its name to Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community.

The average Sunday morning attendance in 2024 was 490.
= Bibliography =
Burkholder, Roy S. ''Be Not Conformed To This World''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1997.

"Congregational Profile: Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community." ''Shalom News" 44, no. 1 (January-March 2024): 9.

Martin, C. Kenneth. ''1723-1998, 275th Anniversary Weaverland Mennonite Church''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1998.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 341-342, 678-689, 898-899, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: xi, 122, 125-131, 137-141, 152-155. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.

Wenger, Eli D. ''The Weaverland Mennonites''. Adamstown, Pennsylvania: Ensigner Printing Service, 1968.

Zimmerman, Paul S. ''250th Anniversary, First Mennonite Settlement, Weaverland: 1723-1973''. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster Mennonite Conference Historical Society, 1973.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 210 Weaverland Valley Road, East Earl, Pennsylvania 17519

'''Telephone''': 717-445-6348

'''Website''': https://weaverland.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Peter Shirk (1709-1770) || ca. 1750-1770
|-
| Martin Huber (1725-1785) || 1760s-1785?
|-
| [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809) (Bishop) || 1770-1778 1778-1809
|-
| Henry Martin (1741-1825) (Bishop) || 1770-1809 1809-1825
|-
| Jacob R. Zimmerman (1784-1856) (Bishop) || 1812-1815 1815-1856
|-
| Daniel Witwer (1769-1819) || 1812-1819
|-
| Jacob Newswanger (1782-1835) || 1815-1835
|-
| Christian Shirk (1796-1870) || 1837-1870
|-
| Tobias Wanner (1803-1887) || 1840-1887
|-
| Johannes Stauffer (1791-1861) || 1841?-1850s?
|-
| [[Weaver, George W. (1818-1883)|George W. Weaver]] (1818-1883) (Bishop) || 1846-1854 1854-1883
|-
| John B. Weaver (1821-1907) || 1856-1869
|-
| Samuel Good (1814-1886) || 1861-1886
|-
| Emanuel Newswanger (1832-1905) || 1869-1882
|-
| [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Jonas H. Martin]] (1829-1925) (Bishop) || 1875-1881 1881-1893
|-
| John M. Zimmerman (1829-1903) || 1883-1903
|-
| Menno S. Zimmerman (1854-1941) || 1884-1893
|-
| Samuel B. Witmer (1862-1909) || 1894-1909
|-
| John M. Sauder (1864-1939) (Bishop) || 1895-1926 1926-1939
|-
| [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin W. Weaver]] (1853-1928) (Bishop) || 1899-1902 1902-1928
|-
| [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|Israel "I. B." Good]] (1861-1945) || 1903-1945
|-
| [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]] (1870-1944) || 1909-1944
|-
| [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] (1861-1948)(Bishop) || 1919-1926
|-
| Jacob "J. Paul" Graybill (1900-1975) (Bishop) || 1920-1922 1939-1970s
|-
| B. Franklin Martin (1876-1937) || 1926-1937
|-
| George N. Good (1886-1941) || 1928-1941
|-
| Aaron H. Weaver (1881-1958) || 1936-1958
|-
| John W. Burkholder (1903-1998) || 1940-1950s?
|-
| David N. Weaver (1900-1989) || 1942-1980s
|-
| Paul R. Weaver (1921-2002) || 1949-1950s?
|-
| Alvin G. Martin (1921-2011) (Bishop) || 1947-1966 1966-1990s?
|-
| Aaron H. Hollinger (1924-2005) (Bishop) || 1957-1975 1975-1993
|-
| Leon R. Hurst || 1972-2016
|-
| Charles "C. Kenneth" Martin (Bishop) || 1977-1993 1993-2010s
|-
| Earl S. Weaver || 1988-2010s
|-
| Donald R. Weaver || 1995-2021?
|-
| J. Nevin Hurst (Youth) (Discipleship) || 2000?-2004? 2014?-2018
|-
| Brian E. Martin (Bishop) || 2005-2020 2020-
|-
| J. Ronald Horning (Youth) || 2004?-2008?
|-
| Andrew S. Metcalf (Youth) || 2008?-2012?
|-
| Neal Martin (Youth) || 2012?-2016
|-
| Steve Martin (Worship Arts) || 2015-
|-
| Jay M. Gandy (Youth) || 2016-2020?
|-
| Brandon DaSilva (Students) || 2019-2021
|-
| Dale Zimmerman (Student Ministries) || 2021-
|-
| Alphaus Stoltzfus (Discipleship & Outreach) || 2021-
|-
| Rodney Horst (Care Ministries) || 2021-
|}

== Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1907 || 500 In District
|-
| 1915 || 650 In District
|-
| 1920 || 640 In District
|-
| 1930 || 850 In District
|-
| 1940 || 1040 In District
|-
| 1950 || 570
|-
| 1960 || 561
|-
| 1970 || 483
|-
| 1980 || 519
|-
| 1990 || 540
|-
| 2000 || 573
|-
| 2009 || 625
|}

= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, pp. 905, 1148. All rights reserved.

Weaverland Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania, has been a strong Mennonite center since the days of David Martin and the coming of George, Henry, and Jacob Weaver from West Lampeter Township in ca. 1723. John Weaver was in West Lampeter ca. 1717, and in 1721 applied for a grant of land for the three Weaver brothers.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A church-schoolhouse may have been built, but by 1766 there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. The new addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. In 1883 a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. The present brick church, 60 x 120 ft, was erected in 1926.

This was the home congregation of bishops Henry Martin (1741-1825), [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas H. Martin]] (1839-1925), John M. Sauder (1864-1939), and J. Paul Graybill; preachers Peter Shirk (d. 1770), Daniel Witwer (1767-1819), Tobias Wanner (1813-87), Samuel B. [[Witmer family name|Witmer]] (1861-1909), [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] (1861-1945). It has been the central church for a circuit that includes [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-19. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912 I. B. Good promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

This congregation, long the largest in Lancaster Conference (now second), listed 575 members 1957, with J. Paul Graybill as resident bishop and D. N. Weaver, Alvin G. Martin, A. H. Hollinger ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer-3|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D.|a2_last=Thiessen|a2_first=Richard D.|a3_last=Steiner|a3_first=Samuel J.}}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T14:45:52Z

SamSteiner: /* Additional Information */

__TOC__
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch1946.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania in May 1946. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-5). 
Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana''.]]
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church, 2008. 
Source: [http://www.bernethy-eby-scribner.com/showmap.php?cemeteryID=735 Our Family History and Ancestry Bernethy-Eby-Scribner]''.]]
In April 1720, Hans Weber desired a grant of land four miles north of Hans Graff's land on the Conestoga River in what became [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. In spring 1723, his sons, Henry, Jacob, and George Weber, moved to the rich bottomlands between what is now [[Blue Ball (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blue Ball]] and the Conestoga, where the [[Good (Guth) family|Good]], [[Hoover (Hover, Hoober, Huber, Huver, Hueber) family|Huber]], [[Martin family name|Martin]], [[Musselman (Musselmann, Moselmann) family|Musselman]], Newcomer, and [[Ruth family|Rutt]] families soon joined them. The area became known as Weaverland, after the three sons.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A log church-schoolhouse may have been built by 1740. By 1766, there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. This stone house had the very plainest furniture. There was a long pine table around which the leaders of singing sat on three sides, with a long bench for the ministers along the north side wall. The preacher, addressing the congregation, stood at the head of this table. The benches for the congregation were two-inch oak planks, a foot wide, without backs, supported by two-inch sticks or legs.

An addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. Its benches had backs. In 1883, a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. At the time, the congregation built a separate house for the caretaker. A brick church was erected in 1926, with expansions and remodeling in 1972, 1987, and 1997 to accommodate additional Sunday school classrooms.

Weaverland became the central church for a circuit that included [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-1819. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912, [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

The Weaverland District held services at the Weaverland meetinghouse into the 1940s, when they were held weekly. This gradually led to the practice of ministers linked to one congregation

In 2018, in alignment with the name change of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]], Weaverland Mennonite Church changed its name to Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community.

The average Sunday morning attendance in 2024 was 490.
= Bibliography =
Burkholder, Roy S. ''Be Not Conformed To This World''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1997.

"Congregational Profile: Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community." ''Shalom News" 44, no. 1 (January-March 2024): 9.

Martin, C. Kenneth. ''1723-1998, 275th Anniversary Weaverland Mennonite Church''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1998.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 341-342, 678-689, 898-899, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: xi, 122, 125-131, 137-141, 152-155. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.

Wenger, Eli D. ''The Weaverland Mennonites''. Adamstown, Pennsylvania: Ensigner Printing Service, 1968.

Zimmerman, Paul S. ''250th Anniversary, First Mennonite Settlement, Weaverland: 1723-1973''. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster Mennonite Conference Historical Society, 1973.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 210 Weaverland Valley Road, East Earl, Pennsylvania 17519

'''Telephone''': 717-445-6348

'''Website''': https://weaverland.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Hans Rudolph Nägele (ca. 1668-1765) || 1720?-1725
|-
| Peter Shirk (1709-1770) || ca. 1750-1770
|-
| Martin Huber (1725-1785) || 1760s-1785?
|-
| [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809) (Bishop) || 1770-1778 1778-1809
|-
| Henry Martin (1741-1825) (Bishop) || 1770-1809 1809-1825
|-
| Jacob R. Zimmerman (1784-1856) (Bishop) || 1812-1815 1815-1856
|-
| Daniel Witwer (1769-1819) || 1812-1819
|-
| Jacob Newswanger (1782-1835) || 1815-1835
|-
| Christian Shirk (1796-1870) || 1837-1870
|-
| Tobias Wanner (1803-1887) || 1840-1887
|-
| Johannes Stauffer (1791-1861) || 1841?-1850s?
|-
| [[Weaver, George W. (1818-1883)|George W. Weaver]] (1818-1883) (Bishop) || 1846-1854 1854-1883
|-
| John B. Weaver (1821-1907) || 1856-1869
|-
| Samuel Good (1814-1886) || 1861-1886
|-
| Emanuel Newswanger (1832-1905) || 1869-1882
|-
| [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Jonas H. Martin]] (1829-1925) (Bishop) || 1875-1881 1881-1893
|-
| John M. Zimmerman (1829-1903) || 1883-1903
|-
| Menno S. Zimmerman (1854-1941) || 1884-1893
|-
| Samuel B. Witmer (1862-1909) || 1894-1909
|-
| John M. Sauder (1864-1939) (Bishop) || 1895-1926 1926-1939
|-
| [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin W. Weaver]] (1853-1928) (Bishop) || 1899-1902 1902-1928
|-
| [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|Israel "I. B." Good]] (1861-1945) || 1903-1945
|-
| [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]] (1870-1944) || 1909-1944
|-
| [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] (1861-1948)(Bishop) || 1919-1926
|-
| Jacob "J. Paul" Graybill (1900-1975) (Bishop) || 1920-1922 1939-1970s
|-
| B. Franklin Martin (1876-1937) || 1926-1937
|-
| George N. Good (1886-1941) || 1928-1941
|-
| Aaron H. Weaver (1881-1958) || 1936-1958
|-
| John W. Burkholder (1903-1998) || 1940-1950s?
|-
| David N. Weaver (1900-1989) || 1942-1980s
|-
| Paul R. Weaver (1921-2002) || 1949-1950s?
|-
| Alvin G. Martin (1921-2011) (Bishop) || 1947-1966 1966-1990s?
|-
| Aaron H. Hollinger (1924-2005) (Bishop) || 1957-1975 1975-1993
|-
| Leon R. Hurst || 1972-2016
|-
| Charles "C. Kenneth" Martin (Bishop) || 1977-1993 1993-2010s
|-
| Earl S. Weaver || 1988-2010s
|-
| Donald R. Weaver || 1995-2021?
|-
| J. Nevin Hurst (Youth) (Discipleship) || 2000?-2004? 2014?-2018
|-
| Brian E. Martin (Bishop) || 2005-2020 2020-
|-
| J. Ronald Horning (Youth) || 2004?-2008?
|-
| Andrew S. Metcalf (Youth) || 2008?-2012?
|-
| Neal Martin (Youth) || 2012?-2016
|-
| Steve Martin (Worship Arts) || 2015-
|-
| Jay M. Gandy (Youth) || 2016-2020?
|-
| Brandon DaSilva (Students) || 2019-2021
|-
| Dale Zimmerman (Student Ministries) || 2021-
|-
| Alphaus Stoltzfus (Discipleship & Outreach) || 2021-
|-
| Rodney Horst (Care Ministries) || 2021-
|}
== Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1907 || 500 In District
|-
| 1915 || 650 In District
|-
| 1920 || 640 In District
|-
| 1930 || 850 In District
|-
| 1940 || 1040 In District
|-
| 1950 || 570
|-
| 1960 || 561
|-
| 1970 || 483
|-
| 1980 || 519
|-
| 1990 || 540
|-
| 2000 || 573
|-
| 2009 || 625
|}

= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, pp. 905, 1148. All rights reserved.

Weaverland Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania, has been a strong Mennonite center since the days of David Martin and the coming of George, Henry, and Jacob Weaver from West Lampeter Township in ca. 1723. John Weaver was in West Lampeter ca. 1717, and in 1721 applied for a grant of land for the three Weaver brothers.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A church-schoolhouse may have been built, but by 1766 there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. The new addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. In 1883 a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. The present brick church, 60 x 120 ft, was erected in 1926.

This was the home congregation of bishops Henry Martin (1741-1825), [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas H. Martin]] (1839-1925), John M. Sauder (1864-1939), and J. Paul Graybill; preachers Peter Shirk (d. 1770), Daniel Witwer (1767-1819), Tobias Wanner (1813-87), Samuel B. [[Witmer family name|Witmer]] (1861-1909), [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] (1861-1945). It has been the central church for a circuit that includes [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-19. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912 I. B. Good promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

This congregation, long the largest in Lancaster Conference (now second), listed 575 members 1957, with J. Paul Graybill as resident bishop and D. N. Weaver, Alvin G. Martin, A. H. Hollinger ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer-3|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D.|a2_last=Thiessen|a2_first=Richard D.|a3_last=Steiner|a3_first=Samuel J.}}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T14:44:36Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch1946.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania in May 1946. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-5). 
Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana''.]]
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church, 2008. 
Source: [http://www.bernethy-eby-scribner.com/showmap.php?cemeteryID=735 Our Family History and Ancestry Bernethy-Eby-Scribner]''.]]
In April 1720, Hans Weber desired a grant of land four miles north of Hans Graff's land on the Conestoga River in what became [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. In spring 1723, his sons, Henry, Jacob, and George Weber, moved to the rich bottomlands between what is now [[Blue Ball (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blue Ball]] and the Conestoga, where the [[Good (Guth) family|Good]], [[Hoover (Hover, Hoober, Huber, Huver, Hueber) family|Huber]], [[Martin family name|Martin]], [[Musselman (Musselmann, Moselmann) family|Musselman]], Newcomer, and [[Ruth family|Rutt]] families soon joined them. The area became known as Weaverland, after the three sons.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A log church-schoolhouse may have been built by 1740. By 1766, there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. This stone house had the very plainest furniture. There was a long pine table around which the leaders of singing sat on three sides, with a long bench for the ministers along the north side wall. The preacher, addressing the congregation, stood at the head of this table. The benches for the congregation were two-inch oak planks, a foot wide, without backs, supported by two-inch sticks or legs.

An addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. Its benches had backs. In 1883, a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. At the time, the congregation built a separate house for the caretaker. A brick church was erected in 1926, with expansions and remodeling in 1972, 1987, and 1997 to accommodate additional Sunday school classrooms.

Weaverland became the central church for a circuit that included [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-1819. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912, [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

The Weaverland District held services at the Weaverland meetinghouse into the 1940s, when they were held weekly. This gradually led to the practice of ministers linked to one congregation

In 2018, in alignment with the name change of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]], Weaverland Mennonite Church changed its name to Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community.

The average Sunday morning attendance in 2024 was 490.
= Bibliography =
Burkholder, Roy S. ''Be Not Conformed To This World''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1997.

"Congregational Profile: Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community." ''Shalom News" 44, no. 1 (January-March 2024): 9.

Martin, C. Kenneth. ''1723-1998, 275th Anniversary Weaverland Mennonite Church''. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1998.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 341-342, 678-689, 898-899, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: xi, 122, 125-131, 137-141, 152-155. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.

Wenger, Eli D. ''The Weaverland Mennonites''. Adamstown, Pennsylvania: Ensigner Printing Service, 1968.

Zimmerman, Paul S. ''250th Anniversary, First Mennonite Settlement, Weaverland: 1723-1973''. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster Mennonite Conference Historical Society, 1973.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 210 Weaverland Valley Road, East Earl, Pennsylvania 17519

'''Telephone''': 717-445-6348

'''Website''': https://weaverland.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
== Pastoral Leaders at Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Hans Rudolph Nägele (ca. 1668-1765) || 1720?-1725
|-
| Peter Shirk (1709-1770) || ca. 1750-1770
|-
| Martin Huber (1725-1785) || 1760s-1785?
|-
| [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809) (Bishop) || 1770-1778 1778-1809
|-
| Henry Martin (1741-1825) (Bishop) || 1770-1809 1809-1825
|-
| Jacob R. Zimmerman (1784-1856) (Bishop) || 1812-1815 1815-1856
|-
| Daniel Witwer (1769-1819) || 1812-1819
|-
| Jacob Newswanger (1782-1835) || 1815-1835
|-
| Christian Shirk (1796-1870) || 1837-1870
|-
| Tobias Wanner (1803-1887) || 1840-1887
|-
| Johannes Stauffer (1791-1861) || 1841?-1850s?
|-
| [[Weaver, George W. (1818-1883)|George W. Weaver]] (1818-1883) (Bishop) || 1846-1854 1854-1883
|-
| John B. Weaver (1821-1907) || 1856-1869
|-
| Samuel Good (1814-1886) || 1861-1886
|-
| Emanuel Newswanger (1832-1905) || 1869-1882
|-
| [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Jonas H. Martin]] (1829-1925) (Bishop) || 1875-1881 1881-1893
|-
| John M. Zimmerman (1829-1903) || 1883-1903
|-
| Menno S. Zimmerman (1854-1941) || 1884-1893
|-
| Samuel B. Witmer (1862-1909) || 1894-1909
|-
| John M. Sauder (1864-1939) (Bishop) || 1895-1926 1926-1939
|-
| [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin W. Weaver]] (1853-1928) (Bishop) || 1899-1902 1902-1928
|-
| [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|Israel "I. B." Good]] (1861-1945) || 1903-1945
|-
| [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]] (1870-1944) || 1909-1944
|-
| [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] (1861-1948)(Bishop) || 1919-1926
|-
| Jacob "J. Paul" Graybill (1900-1975) (Bishop) || 1920-1922 1939-1970s
|-
| B. Franklin Martin (1876-1937) || 1926-1937
|-
| George N. Good (1886-1941) || 1928-1941
|-
| Aaron H. Weaver (1881-1958) || 1936-1958
|-
| John W. Burkholder (1903-1998) || 1940-1950s?
|-
| David N. Weaver (1900-1989) || 1942-1980s
|-
| Paul R. Weaver (1921-2002) || 1949-1950s?
|-
| Alvin G. Martin (1921-2011) (Bishop) || 1947-1966 1966-1990s?
|-
| Aaron H. Hollinger (1924-2005) (Bishop) || 1957-1975 1975-1993
|-
| Leon R. Hurst || 1972-2016
|-
| Charles "C. Kenneth" Martin (Bishop) || 1977-1993 1993-2010s
|-
| Earl S. Weaver || 1988-2010s
|-
| Donald R. Weaver || 1995-2021?
|-
| J. Nevin Hurst (Youth) (Discipleship) || 2000?-2004? 2014?-2018
|-
| Brian E. Martin (Bishop) || 2005-2020 2020-
|-
| J. Ronald Horning (Youth) || 2004?-2008?
|-
| Andrew S. Metcalf (Youth) || 2008?-2012?
|-
| Neal Martin (Youth) || 2012?-2016
|-
| Steve Martin (Worship Arts) || 2015-
|-
| Jay M. Gandy (Youth) || 2016-2020?
|-
| Brandon DaSilva (Students) || 2019-2021
|-
| Dale Zimmerman (Student Ministries) || 2021-
|-
| Alphaus Stoltzfus (Discipleship & Outreach) || 2021-
|-
| Rodney Horst (Care Ministries) || 2021-
|}
== Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1907 || 500 In District
|-
| 1915 || 650 In District
|-
| 1920 || 640 In District
|-
| 1930 || 850 In District
|-
| 1940 || 1040 In District
|-
| 1950 || 570
|-
| 1960 || 561
|-
| 1970 || 483
|-
| 1980 || 519
|-
| 1990 || 540
|-
| 2000 || 573
|-
| 2009 || 625
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, pp. 905, 1148. All rights reserved.

Weaverland Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania, has been a strong Mennonite center since the days of David Martin and the coming of George, Henry, and Jacob Weaver from West Lampeter Township in ca. 1723. John Weaver was in West Lampeter ca. 1717, and in 1721 applied for a grant of land for the three Weaver brothers.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A church-schoolhouse may have been built, but by 1766 there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. The new addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. In 1883 a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. The present brick church, 60 x 120 ft, was erected in 1926.

This was the home congregation of bishops Henry Martin (1741-1825), [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas H. Martin]] (1839-1925), John M. Sauder (1864-1939), and J. Paul Graybill; preachers Peter Shirk (d. 1770), Daniel Witwer (1767-1819), Tobias Wanner (1813-87), Samuel B. [[Witmer family name|Witmer]] (1861-1909), [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] (1861-1945). It has been the central church for a circuit that includes [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-19. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912 I. B. Good promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

This congregation, long the largest in Lancaster Conference (now second), listed 575 members 1957, with J. Paul Graybill as resident bishop and D. N. Weaver, Alvin G. Martin, A. H. Hollinger ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer-3|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D.|a2_last=Thiessen|a2_first=Richard D.|a3_last=Steiner|a3_first=Samuel J.}}
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Red Run Mennonite Church (Denver, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:38:37Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
The Red Run Mennonite Church near Denver, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began in 1912 as a [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] in a one-room schoolhouse moved from Stevens, Pennsylvania, to a spot next to a community cemetery near Fivepointville. The Weaverland District of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] organized the project. This union chapel was initially known as Martin's Church, though the community was known as Red Run. Barton G. Horning from the [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville Mennonite Church]] served as the first Sunday school superintendent.

Services were held every four weeks until the 1950s. Bowmansville ministers served the congregation. A [[United Zion Church]] shared the building with Red Run between 1912 and 1964.

= Bibliography =
Sensenig, J. Carl. "History." Red Run Mennonite Church. 2012. Web. 3 February 2026. https://redrunmc.wordpress.com/history/.

Weaver, M. G. "Some Sunday School History in Lancaster County." ''Gospel Herald'' 13, no. 48 (24 February 1921): 947.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 987 Martin Church Road, Denver, Pennsylvania 17517

'''Telephone''': 717-445-7771

'''Website''': https://redrunmc.wordpress.com/ (not updated since 2019)

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2017)
== Pastoral Leaders at Red Run Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Bowmansville Ministers || 1912-1959
|-
| Amos N. Hostetter (1927-2017) || 1959-1968
|-
| Howard "Arthur" Good || 1969-1981
|-
| Paul G. Weaver || 1980-2002
|-
| Stephen S. Esh (1927-2016) || 1983-1993?
|-
| James R. Martin (Interim) || 1994
|-
| Dale L. Gehman || 1995-2001
|-
| Jay "J. Carl" Sensenig (Bishop) || 2002-2011? 2011?-2020?
|-
| Kevin Weaver || 2006-
|-
| Melvin Weaver (Associate) || 2006-
|}
== Red Run Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1912- 1954 || Included in [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville]]
|-
| 1955 || 47
|-
| 1960 || 60
|-
| 1970 || 65
|-
| 1980 || 85
|-
| 1990 || 82
|-
| 2000 || 100
|-
| 2009 || 48
|}

= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 263. All rights reserved.

Red Run Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), near Denver, Pennsylvania, formerly called Martin's, a member of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]], in 1957 had a membership of 50, but actually was considered a sub-congregation of [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville]] and served by the ministry of that congregation. A Sunday school was conducted here 1912-27 in the Martin's Schoolhouse between Fivepointville and Terre Hill by the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] congregation, and thereafter preaching once a month until in June 1946, when the Sunday school was reopened. More recently preaching services have been held every two weeks.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=February 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Poplar Grove Mennonite Mission Church (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:37:58Z

SamSteiner:

Poplar Grove Mennonite Mission Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church [MC]]]) was begun in May 1908 by the Missions Committee of the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland (MC) congregation]] to serve eighteen members of the congregation with twenty-seven children, who were living on rented farms in [[Chester County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Chester County]], Pennsylvania. The services were held in a schoolhouse on the farm of A. S. Wenger. By 1911 it was a prosperous and self-supporting work, but in 1912 the work was abandoned and by 1914 all the families had moved nearer to [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] churches, to be replaced by [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] families.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 203|date=1959|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:37:36Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
[[Groff, Hans (1661-1746)|Hans Groff]], with his family, came to [[Germantown Mennonite Settlement (Pennsylvania, USA)|Germantown]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] in 1696, where he lived until he moved to the Pequea River in [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. In 1717, he built a home near the present location of the Groffdale Mennonite Church, northwest of [[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]]. The area became known as Groffdale in recognition of settler Hans Groff.

An early Mennonite minister at Groffdale was Hans Rudolph Nägele, who was ordained by 1720. However, he left the Mennonites in 1725, becoming a convert to [[Beissel, Johann Conrad (1691-1768)|Johann Conrad Beissel's]] group, which became the Seventh Day Baptists who established the [[Ephrata Cloister (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Ephrata Cloister]]. Beissel also influenced other Mennonites.

According to tradition, Martin Groff and the sons of Hans Groff built Groffdale's first log meetinghouse in 1755 on land set apart for this purpose in the original grant to Hans Groff. An acre was set aside for a cemetery then, though burials there preceded this transaction.

[[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]], ordained as [[Bishop|bishop]] in 1778, provided leadership during tumultuous political and religious times in Lancaster County. This included Mennonites paying fines instead of militia service, resistance to a mandatory oath of allegiance, requests for public schools, migration of some families to [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], and competition for members with the new [[United Brethren in Christ Church|United Brethren in Christ]] denomination. In response to these challenges, Burkholder wrote a book directed at youth, first printed in 1804. Burkholder's ''Nützliche und erbauliche Anrede an die Jugend von der wahren Busse'' provided instruction about Mennonite faith. He used the material much before it was printed, as the forward is dated in 1792.

In 1823, a limestone building replaced the log meetinghouse. Detailed records about its construction have survived. Two other meetinghouses were built in the Groffdale area in the following years—1827 in the [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler]] area and "[[Pike Mennonite Church (Hinkletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|The Pike]]" east of Hinkletown before 1840. During these years, the bishop of the district usually came from one of the two larger congregations.

In the 1840s, the Groffdale congregation suffered a division when the recently ordained minister [[Stauffer, Jacob W. (1811-1855)|Jacob W. Stauffer]] protested against lax [[Discipline, Church|discipline]] in the Mennonite church. By 1845, Stauffer was silenced, but he and Jacob Weber were among those who formed the conservative [[Stauffer Mennonite Church]]. This was a time of larger change within the church, as the English language became more used and pressure to initiate [[Sunday School|Sunday schools]] increased. The [[Civil War (United States)|Civil War]] also added pressure as some Mennonite young men joined the Union Army or paid for volunteers to take their place.

In about 1886, a frame addition on the meetinghouse's south end increased the worship space. During these years, worship services were held every two weeks. In 1893, the district suffered from the [[Old Order Mennonites, Pennsylvania|Old Order Mennonite division]] led by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Jonas H. Martin]], the bishop ordained at [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]], who also served Groffdale. One-third of the district membership joined the Old Order and soon built two Old Order meetinghouses.

The Metzler and Groffdale congregations were served by the same ministers until 1905; after that, a gradual separation took place.

By 1908, the modified stone and frame building needed extensive repairs. On 13 June 1909, the congregation decided to build a new brick meetinghouse with a basement. Stones from the old building were used for the new church's foundation. It opened for worship on 10 February 1910 with a coal furnace and electric lights powered by a generator. The congregation added an extension to the building in 1976 and planned another building project in the 1990s.

The congregation initiated more programs with the new meetinghouse, including [[Singing Schools|singing schools]], a sewing circle in 1920, and a young people's meeting in 1921.

In 1948, the congregation helped to launch a mission outpost at [[Mountainside Bible Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Palo Alto]], near Pottsville. Lester Hoover from Groffdale served as the founding minister.

= Bibliography =

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 267, 319, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: 121-122, 125-135, 151. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.

Wenger, A. Grace. ''Frontiers of faithfulness: the story of the Groffdale Mennonite Church''. Leola, Pa.: Groffdale Mennonite Church, 1992.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 168 North Groffdale Road, Leola, Pennsylvania 17540

'''Telephone''': 717-656-6388

'''Website''': https://www.groffdale.com/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2017)
== Pastoral Leaders at Groffdale Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Hans Rudolph Nägele (ca. 1668-1765) || 1720?-1725
|-
| Hans Peter Summy (1674?-1740s? || 1730s-1740s
|-
| Christian Wenger (1698-1772) || 1740s-1772
|-
| Martin Groff (ca. 1720-1759) || Before 1755-1759
|-
| Martin Huber (1725-1785) || 1760s-1785?
|-
| [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809) (Bishop) || 1770-1778 1778-1809
|-
| Abraham Reiff (1735-1788) || 1770s?-1788
|-
| Christian Horst (1755-1837) || 1780s-1837
|-
| Joseph G. Wenger (1766-1851) || 1800s?-1851
|-
| William Westheffer (1785-1851) || 1810-1826
|-
| Abraham Burkholder (1768-1840) || 1810?-1820?
|-
| Jacob Weber (1796-1861) || 1830-1846
|-
| [[Stauffer, Jacob W. (1811-1855)|Jacob W. Stauffer]] (1811-1855) || 1840-1845
|-
| Abraham S. Martin (1799-1889) || 1847-1885
|-
| Joseph E. Wenger (1829-1907) || 1857-1907
|-
| Elias W. Nolt (1824-1900) || 1868-1900
|-
| Esaias G. Witmer (1856-1937) || 1895-1937
|-
| [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] (1861-1948) (Bishop) || 1900-1919 1919-1926
|-
| Benjamin G. Wenger (1875-1942) || 1908-1942
|-
| Banks S. Winey (1858-1918) || 1910-1918
|-
| Eli G. Sauder (1888-1979) || 1920-1979
|-
| Amos H. Sauder (1912-2000) (Bishop) || 1940-1962 1962-
|-
| Lester M. Hoover (1921-2010) || 1944-1948
|-
| John S. Martin (1908-1964) (Bishop) || 1949-1962 1962-1964
|-
| Curvin R. Buchen(Assistant) || 1962-
|-
| Charles W. Wert (Bishop) || 1965-1988 1988-1996
|-
| Keith Blank (Youth) || 1986-1989
|-
| Ray M. Martin (Youth/Assistant) || 1989-2000?
|-
| Timothy L. Herr || 1990-1999
|-
| Timothy Horst (Youth) || 1992-2000
|-
| Craig Sensenig (Youth/Assistant) || 2000-2004
|-
| James R. Martin (Interim) || 2000-2001
|-
| James R. Leaman || 2001-2009
|-
| Thomas L. Eshleman (Associate) (Lead) || 2005-2009 2009-
|-
| Kathy Weaver Wenger (Associate) || 2010?-2017
|-
| Austin Horning (Youth/Associate) || 2015?-2019
|-
| Krista Snader (Associate)|| 2021-
|}
== Groffdale Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1913 || 240
|-
| 1920 || 260
|-
| 1930 || 290
|-
| 1940 || 328
|-
| 1950 || 360
|-
| 1960 || 320
|-
| 1970 || 301
|-
| 1980 || 301
|-
| 1990 || 311
|-
| 2000 || 267
|-
| 2009 || 179
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 2, p. 587. All rights reserved.

The Groffdale Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church (MC)), located two miles northwest of [[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], is a member of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. The first meetinghouse was built of logs in 1755 on Hans Groff's vast acreage. A stone addition was built in 1823. In 1909 the new brick church was built which was enlarged in 1936. The congregation cooperated in the [[Palo Alto Mennonite Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Palo Alto Mission]] from the start, releasing one of its ministers, Lester M. Hoover, to serve there. In 1954 Mahlon Witmer was the bishop in charge, with Eli G. Sauder, Arnos Sauder, and John S. Martin as ministers and Floyd Graybill as deacon.

Though a large percentage are still farmers, the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonites]] were buying up most of the land around them. Until 1905 the [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler]] and Groffdale congregations were served by the same ministers; after that a gradual separation took place. First they had separate deacons and gradually a separate ministry. In 1953 all except two ministers were serving both congregations. The membership in 1953 was 348.
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:37:10Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
Christian Z. Mast, from the Conestoga Amish-Mennonite Church in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, wrote an article for the ''[[Gospel Witness (Periodical)|Gospel Witness]]'' in 1907 in which he pointed out that there was an abandoned Mennonite "chapel" ([[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]]) in eastern [[Chester County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Chester County]] and lamented that an Amish-Mennonite witness was no longer present there. A newly-formed Mission Committee in the Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community ([[Lancaster Mennonite Conference|Lancaster Conference]]) read Mast’s article and pursued starting a church there in 1908, sending preachers from the Lancaster and [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia]] Conferences.

In the spring of 1910, the few local Mennonite families attending services at the “chapel” intentionally changed the meeting place to an old schoolhouse located on the Main Line in Frazer (Route #30) and named it Frazer Mennonite Church. These Mennonites were shop owners of small businesses in or near Frazer who wanted their church visible and accessible in the community rather than four miles northeast out in the country.

From its beginning, Frazer welcomed and attracted local people from non-Mennonite and non-church backgrounds and incorporated them into the life of the church. In 1914, Bishop [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]] received an Episcopalian immigrant from Holland, Christine Swanenburg, into membership at Frazer. One of the sons of this family, Mark Swanenburg, became Frazer’s first resident pastor when he was ordained in 1924.

By the 1960s, Frazer became a church for young Mennonites moving to the greater [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]] area for higher education, [[I-W Service (United States)|I-W service]], medical professions, and more.

In 2010 the congregation's Ploughshares Community Garden offered garden plots to local families. Its soccer field was used by local teams. Its building hosted three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, an Overeaters Anonymous meeting and provided space for Chester County Intermediate Unit consultations for children with special education needs. It shared worship space with a Pentecostal Hispanic church that met on Sunday afternoons. That year the congregation celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special service on 9 May 2010, and a Bible school reunion held on 12 June 2010. A major celebration was held on the weekend of 15-17 October 2010.

On 20 April 2013, Frazer Mennonite Church was released from membership in the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] and became an associate member of the [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]]. The congregation had expressed "preliminary affirmation" for a general membership statement that "welcomes into membership all persons who profess faith in Christ and all who desire to walk with Christ in order to grow and trust in God, in following the light of Scripture and in living Jesus’ way," without naming or singling out gays for exclusion. The congregation requested membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference after it became clear that Lancaster Mennonite Conference would not support the church's position. The congregation became a full member of the Atlantic Coast Conference on 25 October 2014.
= Bibliography =
Brown, Lowell. "Welcoming Stance Affects Church Transfer Request: Atlantic Coast Approves Pa. Congregation's Move From Lancaster Conference." Mennonite World Review (13 May 2013): [http://www.mennoworld.org/2013/5/13/welcoming-stance-affects-church-transfer-request/ http://www.mennoworld.org/2013/5/13/welcoming-stance-affects-church-transfer-request/].

Huber, Tim. "Atlantic Coast Conference adds one, loses another." ''Mennonite World Review'' (10 November 2014): 3.

Martin, Darvin L. ''An Experiment in Grace: A Centennial History of Frazer Mennonite Church 1910-2010.'' Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2010.

Martin Hurst, Brenda. "A Brief Introduction to Frazer Mennonite Church for Atlantic Coast Conference Delegates." Frazer Mennonite Church. 4 September 2012. Web. 22 November 2021. https://atlanticcoastconference.net/images/frazerintro.pdf.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 57 Maple Linden Lane, Frazer, Pennsylvania

'''Phone''': 610-644-3397

'''Website''': [http://frazermennonite.org/ Frazer Mennonite Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference] (until 2013)

[http://atlanticcoastconference.net/ Atlantic Coast Conference] (2013-present)

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
== Pastoral Leaders at Frazer Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Visiting ministers || 1910-1924
|-
| Marcus Swanenburg (1893-1979) || 1924-1969
|-
| Milton G. Brackbill (1896-1997) || 1933-1968
|-
| C. Ralph Malin (1927-2017) || 1945-1977
|-
| Ray M. Geigley || 1976-1985
|-
| Dale Stoltzfus || 1985-1987
|-
| David Huston || 1985-1987
|-
| Jason Kuniholm|| 1987-2005
|-
| Vernon Zehr, Jr. || 1987-2006
|-
| Arthur E. Smoker (Interim) || 2005-2007
|-
| Brenda Martin Hurst || 2007-2017
|-
| Nelson Yoder (Interim) || 2017-2018
|-
| Amy Yoder McGloughlin || 2018-present
|}
== Membership at Frazer Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! Year !! Membership
|-
| 1925 || 32
|-
| 1930 || 40
|-
| 1940 || 99
|-
| 1950 || 114
|-
| 1960 || 118
|-
| 1970 || 128
|-
| 1980 || 99
|-
| 1990 || 120
|-
| 2000 || 160
|-
| 2007 || 125
|-
| 2020 || 90
|}
=Map=
[[Map:Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)]]
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 2, p. 382. All rights reserved.

The Frazer Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church USA]]) is an outgrowth of [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] in an early [[Old Order Amish|Amish]] settlement two miles north of Malvern, [[Chester County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Chester County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. The [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Missions Committee]] in 1908-1909 revived this work, and in 1917-1918 a frame church was built along the Lincoln Highway, west of Malvern. The 1955 membership, many of non-Mennonite extraction, was 115; Mahlon Witmer had the bishop oversight, Marcus Swanenberg, Milton G. Brackbill, and C. Ralph Malin were the ministers, and Irvin J. King the deacon.
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Weaver (Weber) family

2026-04-13T13:36:45Z

SamSteiner:

Weaver is an old Mennonite family name of Swiss origin. As early as 1664 the Palatine Mennonite Census Lists reported two Webers, Peter at Oberflörsheim and Christian at Spiesheim. In 1685 Peter Weber was still living at Oberflörsheim (6 sons and a daughter), but there was a second Peter Weber at Waltzheim, Johannes Weber at [[Osthofen (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Osthofen]], and Heinrich Weber and Dietrich Weber at Gundersheim. In 1732 Peter Weber was a minister at Oberflörsheim. In 1738, in addition to the Weber families at Oberflörsheim (Peter Sr., Peter Jr., Dietrich, and Christian), there were also families at Gundersheim (Peter), Spiesheim (Johannes), Wolfsheim (Mathias, Johannes), and four Weber families at [[Heppenheim auf der Wiese (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Heppenheim an der Wiese]] near [[Alzey (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Alzey]] (Johannes, Heinrich, Martin, and Matthäus). All of these locations were in the [[p3594.html|Palatinate]] and west of the Rhine. The Weber family name has been well represented in this region since these beginnings. In 1940, according to the Franz Crous lists, there were 67 Mennonite Webers (including children) in the South German Mennonite churches, with only one elsewhere in [[Germany|Germany]], at [[Krefeld (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)|Krefeld]]. Of these families, 46 were in the Palatinate ([[Monsheim (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Monsheim]] congregation leading with 22, [[Kühbörncheshof Mennonite Church (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Kühbörncheshof]] 8, [[Neudorferhof (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Neudorferhof]] 7, [[Uffhofen (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Uffhofen]] 5, three other congregations 4), one in Frankfurt and two in the [[Ingolstadt (Freistaat Bayern, Germany)|Ingolstadt]] congregation in Bavaria. Outstanding among the Webers in the 18th century was[[Weber, Peter (1731-1781)| Peter Weber]] of Kindenheim (1731-1781), a very influential preacher and a strong Pietist.

Several Webers emigrated from the Palatinate to [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania in the early 18th century. The brothers Jacob, Henry, George, and John Weber are known to have arrived before 1718. The first three established a settlement in the rich bottom land between [[Blue Ball (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blue Ball]] and Conestoga, which came to be known as Weberthal or Weaverland, and from which the present Mennonite Church (MC) congregation, [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Mennonite Church]], takes its name. Among their descendants were two early bishops serving the Weaverland-Groffdale district ([[Weaver, George W. (1818-1883)|George]], served from 1854-83, and Benjamin, from 1902-8) and a host of ministers serving both in the Weaverland district (MC) and elsewhere, chiefly in [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], and [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]], as well as Old Order Mennonite Weavers in the [[Blue Ball (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blue Ball]]-[[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]] area. M. G. Weaver, himself a descendant, listed in his Mennonites of Lancaster Conference in 1931 a total of 32 ordained men (10 being deacons) bearing the name (3 Weber, 29 Weaver). Of these 32, 31 were serving in the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]], including four bishops, mostly in the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]] and the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Conference]]. In addition there were four Old Order Mennonite ministers with the name Weaver, seven [[Old Order Amish]] Mennonite ministers, and one General Conference Mennonite Church minister. J. W. Weaver (d. 1944) was the founder and manager of the Weaver Book Store at [[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]], Pennsylvania as well as a prominent Lancaster Conference evangelist. Edwin Weaver was a missionary bishop in [[India|India]]. [[Weber, Urias K. (1879-1971)|Urias K. Weber]] served for a long time as pastor of the First Mennonite and Stirling Avenue Mennonite churches in [[Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Kitchener]], Ontario.
= Bibliography =
Bender, Harold S. and Gerhard Hein. "Weber." ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols., edited by Christian Hege and Christian Neff. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. IV, 476.

Crous, Franz. "Mennonitische Familien in Zahlen." Mennonitische Geschichtsblätter 5 (August 1940): 26-44.

Gratz, Delbert. Bernese Anabaptists. Scottdale, PA, 1953.

Peachey, Paul. Die soziale Herkunft der Schweizer Täufer. Karlsruhe, 1954.

Stauffer, Ezra N. Weber or Weaver Family History. Nappanee, IN 1953.

Weaver, Esther. Descendants of Henry B. Weaver. Ephrata, PA?, 1953.

Weaver, M. G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference. Scottdale, PA, 1931.
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[[Category:Family Names]]

Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)

2026-04-13T13:36:13Z

SamSteiner:

John W. Weaver: [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] church worker; was b. 4 July 1870, the ninth of the eleven children of Isaac Weaver and Catherine Witwer, east of Union Grove, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Bishop Benjamin Weaver]] was a brother. He was reared in a godly home, was well acquainted with the Bible, and able to quote much from it as a young man. He was very modest. His home was not affected by the division of 1893, even though he had been baptized by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas Martin]] in 1888. On 15 November 1891, he married Anna M. Nolt (1868-1946). He became a saddler in Union Grove and in 1895 started a bookstore. In 1897 he became a member of the [[Mennonite Book and Tract Society|Mennonite Book and Tract Society]] and two years later secretary-treasurer. In 1915 he was coauthor of a book on the ministry and in 1940 of Talks with Young People. He also wrote the tracts, A Letter to Young Church Members and A Message to Young People. His greatest work was the Conference Meeting Calendar, which he published for forty years. John W. Weaver's son David was also a minister. John W. Weaver, the first chairman of the Conference Library Committee, the first Sunday-school superintendent at [[Lichty Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]] in 1897, a member of the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Missions Committee]] in 1907, was ordained to the ministry by his brother Benjamin on 19 August 1909. That fall he held revival meetings at Red Well. He was a promoter of the Millersville Children's Home, a charter member of the Eastern Board of Missions and Charities, and became its first field worker. As such he nurtured many new missions, especially [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] and Miners Village. He was a very successful evangelist throughout the Lancaster Mennonite Conference and beyond. His extensive evangelistic effort practically closed in 1926, when he collapsed in the pulpit at East Petersburg. John d. 18 February 1944.
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Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)

2026-04-13T13:35:46Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
Benjamin Witwer Weaver: Mennonite bishop in the [[Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]; the second child and oldest son of Isaac Weaver and Catherine Witwer, was born 27 November 1853. He was a direct descendant of both Henry Weaver and Deacon Michael Widower, [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]], [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], Swiss pioneers. Benjamin Weaver's brother, [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]], was a Mennonite evangelist-pastor, and brothers George Weaver and David Weaver were elders in the [[Church of the Brethren|Church of the Brethren]]. Benjamin married Barbara Sauder (1851-1916). They had seven children; Benjamin Weaver, a preacher of Bowmansville, was a grandson. Benjamin died 3 September 1928. Four children, 32 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren survived him.

In 1882 Benjamin Weaver bought the Upper Windsor gristmill from his father and successfully operated it for many years. His integrity was unquestioned, and his wit in crises was quite medicinal. He retired near Union Grove, then to Terre Hill, and spent his last days in Goodville.

Benjamin Weaver's first active church work was as the first [[Sunday School|Sunday-school]] superintendent in the [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]] congregation in 1894. In 1898 he was appointed to the board of the [[Welsh Mountain Industrial Mission (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Mission]]. In 1899 he was ordained as minister of the Weaverland circuit, and on 23 January 1903, as bishop of the district from Groffdale to Allegheny. He became familiar with the Bible as a boy; in fact he memorized many stories before his eighteenth birthday. With his genial disposition, warm handshake, and oratorical ability in both German and English, he held a large circle of friends, both within and outside the church, gaining most of the children of members and also many whose fathers and grandfathers had left with the schism of 1893. Entering the Bishop Board when [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]], [[Eby, Isaac (1834-1910)|Isaac Eby]], and Martin Rutt were the influential trio, he soon became a valuable asset. He was an organizer of both the Oreville Old People's Home and the Millersville Children's Home. He served as moderator of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference 1922-28. [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] was his assistant bishop 1919-26, and John M. Sauder from 1926, who succeeded him when he died in 1928.
= Bibliography =
Hollinger, John H. "Benjamin W. Weaver (1853-1928)." ''The Historical Journal'' 22, no. 2 (October 2016): 4.
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New Holland Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:35:15Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
[[File:NewHollandMennoniteChurch1946.jpg|350px|thumbnail|''New Holland Mennonite Church in New Holland, Pennsylvania in May 1946. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-1). 
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitechurchusa-archives/5204057531/in/set-72157625460443202/ Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana]''.]]
[[File:NewHollandMennoniteChurch.JPG|350px|thumbnail|''New Holland Mennonite Church, New Holland, PA 
Source: [http://www.newholland.pa.us.mennonite.net/ Church website]'']]
The New Holland Mennonite Church in New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA, began as a response to rural Mennonites beginning to move into town at the beginning of the 20th century. These included members from the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]], [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale]], and Hershey congregations.

[[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] began to hold services every other week on Sunday evenings in the local Methodist Episcopal Church in 1910. In 1913 women organized a [[Sewing Circle|sewing circle]], and in 1915 the group began a [[Sunday School]] that met on Sunday afternoons. In 1921 work began on erecting a Mennonite meetinghouse on Roberts Avenue.

On 18-19 March 1922, the not-yet-organized congregation dedicated a new 54 x 90-foot building that would hold up to 700 persons. Finally, on 18 November 1923, 55 charter members formed the New Holland Mennonite Church. From their number, they called Noah N. Sauder as the first local pastor.

In 1974 the congregation built a larger facility on Western Avenue. The [[Iglesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland Spanish Mennonite Church]] bought the 1922 building.

In 1981 the congregation started a daycare ministry. The New Holland Learning Center had grown to 100 children by 2020.

In June 2016, New Holland Mennonite Church chose to leave [[Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] and join the [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]] of [[Mennonite Church USA]], and formally joined the conference in October.

In 2019 the congregation moved from traditional membership to an annual membership covenant. The first Covenant Sunday was held on 24 February 2019. That same year the congregation launched a community garden "Sprouts for Peace Garden" on its property.
= Bibliography =
"History." New Holland Mennonite Church. 2020. Web. 24 December 2021. https://www.newhollandmc.org/history.

Martin, Darvin L. ''A People on the Way: History of the New Holland Mennonite Church: Seventy-Five Years 1922-1997.'' New Holland, Pa.: New Holland Mennonite Church, 1997.

Musser, Shelley. "New Holland, Pa." '' Gospel Herald'' 15, no. 1 (6 April 1922): 9.
= Additional Information =

'''Address''': 18 Western Avenue, New Holland, Pennsylvania 17557

'''Phone''': 717-354-0602

'''Website''': https://www.newhollandmc.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':
[https://atlanticcoastconference.net/ Atlantic Coast Conference]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
== Pastoral Leaders at New Holland Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Noah H. Mack (1861-1948) (Bishop) || 1910-1919 1919-1923
|-
| Noah N. Sauder (1882-1965) || 1923-1965
|-
| Mahlon S. Witmer (1893-1975) (Bishop) || 1934-1939 1939-1975
|-
| Daniel S. Sensenig (1912-1985) || 1941-1947 1970-1977
|-
| Frank E. Shirk (1925-2014) || 1958-1977
|-
| James H. Martin (1907-1980) || 1947-1976
|-
| Robert A. Martin || 1975-1983
|-
| Clarence Nevin Miller (1927-1993) || 1980-1983
|-
| James Musser (Youth) || 1981-1983
|-
| Charles S. Good (1923-2003) || 1983-1989
|-
| Clyde Kratz || 1989-2002
|-
| A. Richard Weaver (Associate) || 2000-2002
|-
| Ronald E. Zook || 2002-2013
|-
| Judith E. Zook (Associate) || 2002-2013
|-
| Dawn Ranck-Hower || 2014-present
|}
== Membership at New Holland Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! Year !! Membership
|-
| 1923 || 55
|-
| 1930 || 163
|-
| 1940 || 234
|-
| 1950 || 250
|-
| 1960 || 270
|-
| 1970 || 294
|-
| 1980 || 305
|-
| 1990 || 254
|-
| 2000 || 175
|-
| 2007 || 131
|-
| 2020 || 52
|}
= Map =
[[Map:18 Western Avenue, New Holland, PA 17557]]

= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 3, p. 862. All rights reserved.

The New Holland Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] in [[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], was organized for a number of retired farmers and nearby farmers from the [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]], [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale]], and Hershey congregations. In 1910-1922 services were held in the Methodist church, with [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] as minister. In 1922 a large meetinghouse was built in the town. Noah Sauder was the first local minister, ordained 20 December 1923. By the mid-1950s six ordinations had been held. Mahlon Witmer as bishop, and Noah N. Sauder and James H. Martin as ministers served a congregation of 258 members in 1956.

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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:34:46Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
[[File:MartindaleMennoniteChurch1949.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Martindale Mennonite Church in Martindale, Pennsylvania in July 1949. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-13). 
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitechurchusa-archives/5204656214/in/set-72157625460443202/ Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana]''.]]
[[File:MartindaleMennoniteChurch.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Martindale Mennonite Church. Source: [http://www.martindalemc.org/ Church website]'']]
Members of the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Mennonite Church]] in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], were widely dispersed in the mid-19th century. In 1854, the Weaverland congregation purchased a plot of land in Martindale and erected a small stone meetinghouse. It used the meetinghouse as a worship location until May 1886, when it was sold and converted to a private dwelling. Ministers ordained for Weaverland served its Martindale members.

In 1848, the widow of Christian Zimmerman donated a tract of land for a cemetery west of the town. This became the site of a new meetinghouse in the summer of 1886.

The [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] division in the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] in 1893 resulted in both groups using the Martindale meetinghouse. After 1926, three congregations used the building, since the [[Martindale Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Old Order Mennonite group]] had another schism. Consequently, the meetinghouse still retained the traditional singing table and a table on the floor for a pulpit.

After the 1893 division, the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite (MC)]] congregation was very small and continued to be cared for by the ministers of the Weaverland congregation. [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|Israel B. Good]] gave leadership to this small group at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1949, the congregation built a new brick meetinghouse northwest of Martindale. The Old Order Mennonite groups retained the [[Martindale Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|former meetinghouse]]. The new building was dedicated on 25 June 1949. Several significant additions have been made to the building in subsequent years.

Worship services were held every two weeks into the 1950s.

The Martindale Mennonite Church planted several churches, including Parkview Mennonite Church in Reamstown, in 2010.
= Bibliography =

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2001: 696-704, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: 129-131, 156. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 171 Hurst Road, Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522

'''Telephone''': 717-445-6333

'''Website''': https://www.martindalemc.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Martindale Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Jacob R. Zimmerman (1784-1856) (Bishop) || 1812-1815 1815-1856
|-
| Christian Shirk (1796-1870) || 1837-1870
|-
| Tobias Wanner (1803-1887) || 1840-1887
|-
| Johannes Stauffer (1791-1861) || 1841?-1850s?
|-
| [[Weaver, George W. (1818-1883)|George W. Weaver]] (1818-1883) (Bishop) || 1846-1854 1854-1883
|-
| John B. Weaver (1821-1907) || 1856-1869
|-
| Samuel Good (1814-1886) || 1861-1886
|-
| Emanuel Newswanger (1832-1905) || 1869-1882
|-
| [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Jonas H. Martin]] (1829-1925) (Bishop) || 1875-1881 1881-1893
|-
| John M. Zimmerman (1829-1903) || 1883-1903
|-
| Menno S. Zimmerman (1854-1941) || 1884-1893
|-
| Samuel B. Witmer (1862-1909) || 1894-1909
|-
| John M. Sauder (1864-1939) (Bishop) || 1895-1926 1926-
|-
| [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin W. Weaver]] (1853-1928) (Bishop) || 1899-1902 1902-1928
|-
| [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|Israel "I. B." Good]] (1861-1945) || 1903-1945
|-
| [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]] (1870-1944) || 1909-1944
|-
| [[Mack, Noah H. (1861-1948)|Noah H. Mack]] (1861-1948)(Bishop) || 1919-1926
|-
| Jacob "J. Paul" Graybill (1900-1975) (Bishop) || 1920-1922 1939-1974
|-
| Benjamin "B. Franklin" Martin (1876-1937) || 1926-1937
|-
| George N. Good (1886-1941) || 1928-1941
|-
| Aaron H. Weaver (1881-1958) || 1936-1950s
|-
| John W. Burkholder (1903-1998) || 1940-1980?
|-
| David N. Weaver (1900-1989) || 1942-1950s
|-
| Raymond K. Horning (1915-1978) || 1957-1964?
|-
| Harvey M. Zimmerman (1920-1994) || 1964-1994
|-
| Earl M. Sensenig (1927-2021) (Bishop) || 1970-1974 1974-1994
|-
| Larry L. Groff (1944-2017) || 1976-1994
|-
| Robert L. Trupe (1954-2009) || 1988-2009
|-
| George G. Weber (1928-2018) || 1991?-1990s
|-
| Eugene Z. Weaver (Associate) (Lead) || 1993-2001? 2008?-2017 2017-2020s
|-
| Matthew W. Martin (Associate) || 2005-2010
|-
| David E. Sensenig (Associate) (Lead) || 2001?-2010s 2020s-2024
|-
| Glenn Hoover (Associate) || 2009-2015?
|-
| Daryl L. Weaver (Bishop) || 2014-
|-
| Javan Horst (Associate) || 2015-2020?
|-
| Jay Reiff (Associate) || 2020-2024?
|-
| Jonathan Martin (Associate) || 2020-2024?
|-
| Chad M. Burkholder || 2024-
|-
| Dean E. Martin (Associate) || 2024-
|}

== Martindale Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1905 || 500 In District
|-
| 1915 || 650 In District
|-
| 1920 || 650 In District
|-
| 1930 || 850 In District
|-
| 1940 || 1040 In District
|-
| 1950 || 305
|-
| 1960 || 304
|-
| 1970 || 299
|-
| 1980 || 316
|-
| 1990 || 355
|-
| 2000 || 412
|-
| 2009 || 354
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 3, p. 516. All rights reserved.

Martindale (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church (MC), a member of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]], formerly called Fairview, had a meetinghouse on the northeast corner of the town square by 1854. In 1848 the widow of Christian Zimmerman gave a tract for burial purposes west of the town, which became the location of a new meetinghouse in 1886. The [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism of 1893 in this area resulted in two branches, both using the meetinghouse, and after 1926 three used this commodious stone house, since the Old Order Mennonite group had a schism. The meetinghouse still has the singing table and a table on the floor for a pulpit. After the 1893 division the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite (MC)]] congregation was very small, and was cared for by the ministers of the Weaverland congregation. This small group became the especial care of [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] and the membership grew. In 1948-49 a 60 x 86 ft. brick meetinghouse was built northwest of the town, the Old Order Mennonite groups retaining the [[Martindale Old Order Mennonite Meetinghouse (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|old house]]. In 1954 the membership was 266 with John D. Burkholder and Alvin Martin as ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=September 2025|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
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Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)

2026-04-13T13:34:17Z

SamSteiner:

Jonas Hershey Martin, b. 15 January 1839, was one of seven children born to Jonas S. and Nancy (Hershey) Martin. He spent most of his life as a farmer in East Earl Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania as did his ancestors for several generations. In 1865 Jonas Martin married Sarah Witwer (1845-1889), and after her death he married Annie Wenger (1852-1927). Eleven children grew to maturity.

Martin embraced the Mennonite faith of his forebears and was baptized at 20 years of age in the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] church. On 7 December 1875 his home church called him to the ministry, and six years later, on 3 May 1881, he was chosen as bishop of nine congregations. He served in the ministerial capacity for nearly 50 years until he passed away 3 July 1925 at the age of 86.

Jonas Martin is best remembered for his conservative position in his work as bishop. He opposed modern church practices, especially the introduction of [[Sunday School|Sunday schools]]. Two other issues he identified were Mennonite bishops officiating at the marriages of non-members, and the incorporation of the [[Kauffman Mennonite Church (Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)|Kauffman Mennonite Church]], allowing it to receive and administer property.

In the fall of 1893 he led his conservative followers out of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]] to found his own [[Weaverland Mennonite Conference|Weaverland Conference]] (often called the Martinites). Most of his followers were from north-east Lancaster County, although ripples of that division were felt over many counties as well as in all the major settlements of other states. His group merged with the Wisler groups of [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], and [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]]. The Weaverland Conference, the [[Groffdale Old Order Mennonite Conference|Groffdale Conference]], and the Reidenbach Mennonites all originate from the Martinites. The 1987 estimated total membership of these groups is 8,700. They are often known collectively as [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonites]].

Jonas Martin was a likeable and sociable man. He was remembered as an interesting speaker who held the attention of his audience. He often quoted scripture from memory, and stayed close to scripture in his preaching. Tradition holds that he knew the ''[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession of Faith]]'' by memory. The last five years of his life were frail ones, as he showed symptoms of a stroke. He is buried at the [[Weaverland Old Order Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Old Order Church]] cemetery.
= Bibliography =
Hoover, Amos B. ''The Jonas Martin Era : presented in a collection of essays, letters, and documents that shed light on the Mennonite churches during the 50 year ministry (1875-1925) of Bishop Jonas H. Martin.'' Denver, PA: the Author, 1982.

Hoover, Amos B. ''Pennsylvania Folklife'' (Winter 1983-84): 90-94.

Martin, Raymond S. and Elizabeth S. Martin. ''Bishop Jonas H. Martin, His Life and Genealogy.'' Baltimore : Gateway Press, 1985.

Weaver, Vernon E. "Jonas H. Martin (1839-1925)." ''The Historical Journal'' 21, no. 2 (October 2015): 4.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 5, p. 543|date=November 2018|a1_last=Hoover|a1_first=Amos B.|a2_last=Weaver|a2_first=Vernon E.}}
[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Bishops]]
[[Category:Old Order Mennonite Bishops]]

Martin family name

2026-04-13T13:33:48Z

SamSteiner:

Martin is a family name of Swiss descent that is widely represented in the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]]. The progenitor of many of these Martins was David Martin, who arrived in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] in 1727 and settled in what is now the Weaverland area of [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. Many of his descendants still live in that area, while others have moved farther west in Pennsylvania and to other states, as well as to [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]]. More than twenty Martins served in the ministry of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference ]]in the two centuries after the family arrived in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. Some well-known Martins in the Lancaster area include Henry Martin (d. 1825), a bishop in [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] starting in 1809, [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas Martin]] a Weaverland Mennonite, chosen bishop in 1881, who led a schism from the conference in 1893 to form the so-called [[Weaverland Mennonite Conference|Martinites]] ([[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonites]]), Abraham L. Martin of the Pequea district of the Lancaster Conference was ordained bishop in 1921 and was active for many years, Elmer G. Martin (b. 1894), was a bishop at Mellinger's beginning in 1946, and C. Z. Martin (b. 1893), a minister in [[Columbia Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Columbia]] beginning in 1923. In 1954 there were 16 ministers bearing the name Martin in the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]] and only 14 from other areas of the Mennonite Church (MC); these fourteen were found in [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]] and [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]]. A. D. Martin (1878-1913) was a Mennonite preacher in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and for a number of years was in charge of the [[Mennonite Book and Tract Society|Mennonite Book and Tract Society]] work, as well as serving as secretary-treasurer of the [[Mennonite Publishing House (Scottdale, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mennonite Publishing House]].

The Old Order (Wisler) Mennonite schism in [[Waterloo County (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo County]], Ontario (1889), was led by [[Martin, Abraham W. (1834-1902)|Bishop Abraham Martin]] (1834-1902), who was ordained bishop in 1867 and served at the [[Martins Mennonite Meetinghouse (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)|Martins meetinghouse]]. Many of the ministers in the Waterloo Old Order group have been Martins. In 1954 two of the three bishops of the group were Martins, as were four of the remaining nine preachers.

A leading historian of the Martin family was Isaac W. Martin (1861-1954).
= Additional Information =
[http://www.genealogygoldmine.com/martin/ Martin Genealogy & Family History Project]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 3, p. 515|date=1957|a1_last=Wenger|a1_first=John C|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Family Names]]

Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:33:16Z

SamSteiner:

[[File:ChurchtownMennoniteChurchNarvon1949.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Churchtown Mennonite Church in Churchtown, Pennsylvania in July 1949. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-12). 
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitechurchusa-archives/5204656140/in/set-72157625460443202/ Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana]''.]]
The Churchtown Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) in Narvon, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], is a member of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. The Mennonites of this area first rode or walked the four to six miles (6.5 to 10 km) to the [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Church]]. When Christian Shirk was ordained at the Weaverland Church in 1837, the brethren obtained the use of a log schoolhouse near his home for a meetinghouse and later a larger one. In 1879 an acre along Route 23, one mile (1.5 km) east of Churchtown, was purchased and a substantial frame house was built on it, which was again enlarged and remodeled in 1947. [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]], later bishop, opened a Sunday school here in 1894. The 1953 membership of the church was 112. J. Paul Graybill was bishop at that time, and the Weaverland circuit ministers had charge of the congregation. [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] especially built up this congregation.

In 2009 the membership was 68.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2327 Main Street, Narvon, Pennsylvania

'''Phone''': 610-286-7405

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]

= Maps =
[[Map:Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania)|Map:Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, pp. 602-603|date=1953|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D|a2_last= |a2_first= }}

[[Category:Churches]]
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Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)

2026-04-13T13:32:30Z

SamSteiner:

Christian Burkholder, (born 1 June 1746, died 13 May 1809), an outstanding Mennonite ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]) bishop of [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], was the son of Christian Burkholder, Sr., of [[Gerolsheim (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Gerolsheim]] in the [[Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Palatinate]], a prominent leader who did much to aid his afflicted brethren in the Upper Rhine area. While preparing for the emigration to Pennsylvania the elder Burkholder died (March 1755), leaving a widow with six small children, the oldest being Christian, Jr., then aged nine. [Burkholder's parentage is disputed in later research; his father is most commonly determined to be Ulrich Burkholder who also died before emigration. See SAGA reference.] The brave woman managed the voyage (then a difficult enterprise), and settled (1755) in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Christian grew up during the French and Indian War in this new Mennonite community which his father had partly planned and visualized. Before the Revolutionary War Christian married Anna Groff (died 13 November 1795), a granddaughter of the pioneer [[Groff, Hans (1661-1746)|Hans Groff.]] They made their farmstead home north of Farmersville. He was a brother of Peter Burkholder (the father of the later bishop, [[Burkholder, Peter (1783-1846)|Peter Burkholder]], of Virginia) and of Ulrich Burkholder, preacher at Bowmansville. He himself was a successful preacher and the father of eight children.

On 12 August 1770 Christian was ordained at [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale]], and was chosen bishop on 18 October 1778 for Earl and Brecknock townships. As such he was very active, traveling much and establishing new churches. He preached in the schoolhouse meetinghouse which had been built in 1755 on the land of Henry Landis (son-in-law of Hans Groff). The [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Church]] (1766) was then the only other meetinghouse in his district.

About 1790 a German Methodist movement sprang up in Pennsylvania. In 1792 [[Albright, Jacob (1759-1808)|Jacob Albright]] began organizing the [[Evangelical Association|Evangelical Association]], which had a center also at Hahnstown of Burkholder’s district. This movement proved to be a great temptation mainly to the younger generation to whom the [[Revivalism|revivalistic]] type of church movement strongly appealed. This most likely led Burkholder to counteract it in order to keep the youth in the Mennonite fold. The result is his renowned "Address to Youth Regarding True Repentance" (Nützliche und erbauliche Anrede an die Jugend von der wahren Busse), of 1792. We do not know whether these speeches were actually given (as might be assumed) or just written down for private circulation. In any case they were not printed until 1804. The address is a very strong and forceful appeal to loyalty to the time-honored and tested Christian way of the Mennonites, a teaching of the fundamentals of Christian living, and an exhortation to those of "faithful heart," showing them the true values of the faith of their fathers. It was an outstanding contribution to religious education, somewhat reminiscent of [[Braght, Tieleman Jansz van (1625-1664)|van Braght’s]] School of Moral Virtue (School der Deugd). Eight German editions and five English during the 19th century prove the vitality of this small book. The first edition of 1804 was published without naming the author. A second, enlarged and somewhat changed edition, now signed by 27 ministers (all of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]), was brought out later in the same year. It was probably adopted as an official church edition. Since 1839 the Anrede was printed as an appendix to [[Roosen, Gerrit (1612-1711)|G. Roosen’s]] [[Christliches Gemütsgespräch (Monograph)|Christliches Gemütsgespräch]], with which it has much in common; and in 1857, when the latter was translated into English, Burkholder’s Address was also translated and again appended as Part IV to the Conversation on Saving Faith.

The book consists of three parts: (1) Concerning true repentance (this is the central theme of the entire book); (2) Concerning saving faith, and pure love of God and one’s neighbor (later this part was divided, and the section on love made an independent item exhorting people to yearn after true discipleship in brotherly love); (3) Concerning obedience to the Word of God and the full surrender of the soul into God’s hand. A smaller tract "Warning against Backsliding" followed. The second edition has a few new items of a more emotional, pietistic nature.

The book would still be profitable and attractive reading, formulating the Mennonite position over against that of the newer (revivalistic) churches. It is the last literary product of the "colonial period" of the Mennonites. I. D. Landis presents in his article on Burkholder a thorough analysis of its contents.
= Bibliography =
Bender, Harold S. "Literature and Hymnology of the Mennonites of Lancaster County." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' (1932): 160 ff.

"Bishop Christian Burkholder." SAGA (Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Association) Genealogical Website. Accessed 6 July 2007 <[http://www.saga-omii.com/tng/getperson.php http://www.saga-omii.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I108&tree=hoover]>

Friedmann, Robert. Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries: its Genius and its Literature. Goshen, IN: Mennonite Historical Society, 1949. Reprinted Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1976: 238-244.

Landis, Ira D. "Bishop Christian Burkholder of Groffdale (1746-1809)." Mennonite Quarterly Review (1944): 145 f.

Weaver, Martin G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publicaiton Board, 1982: 125 ff.
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Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:31:42Z

SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA) to Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

#REDIRECT [[Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)]]

Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-13T13:31:42Z

SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA) to Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch1946.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania in May 1946. 
Source: Mennonite Community Photograph Collection, The Congregation (HM4-134 Box 1 photo 010.0-5). 
Mennonite Church USA Archives, Goshen, Indiana''.]]
[[File:WeaverlandMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Weaverland Mennonite Church, 2008. 
Source: [http://www.bernethy-eby-scribner.com/showmap.php?cemeteryID=735 Our Family History and Ancestry Bernethy-Eby-Scribner]''.]]
Weaverland Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), in eastern [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania, has been a strong Mennonite center since the days of David Martin and the coming of George, Henry, and Jacob Weaver from West Lampeter Township in ca. 1723. John Weaver was in West Lampeter ca. 1717, and in 1721 applied for a grant of land for the three Weaver brothers.

A congregation was organized by 1733. Peter Shirk (d. 1770), one of the first ministers, mentions Henry Martin (later bishop), John Witwer, Martin Huber, and John Sensenig as "elders of the Mennonite meeting." A church-schoolhouse may have been built, but by 1766 there was a 34 x 50 ft. stone church with a seating capacity of about 240. The sexton lived on the west end. The new addition in 1853, with its two ten-plate stoves in the central aisle, seated about 400. In 1883 a new stone church, 50 x 78 ft., seated 600. The present brick church, 60 x 120 ft, was erected in 1926, with expansion and remodeling in 1972, 1987, and 1997 to allow for additional Sunday school classrooms.

This was the home congregation of bishops Henry Martin (1741-1825), [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925) |Jonas H. Martin]] (1839-1925), John M. Sauder (1864-1939), and J. Paul Graybill; preachers Peter Shirk (d. 1770), Daniel Witwer (1767-1819), Tobias Wanner (1813-87), Samuel B. [[Witmer family name|Witmer]] (1861-1909), [[Good, Israel B. (1861-1945)|I. B. Good]] (1861-1945). It has been the central church for a circuit that includes [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale]], [[Lichty's Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lichty]], [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville]], and [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]]. The three Mennonites arrested for sheltering Hessian soldiers overnight were from this congregation. Deacon John Weber (1786-1854), Abraham Weber (1787-1867), Peter Martin (1769-1831) and fourteen of his children, Daniel Weber (1797-1864), and others from this congregation helped to settle [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] in 1809-19. The first [[Sunday School|Sunday school]], organized by [[Musselman, Samuel H. (1855-1929)|Samuel H. Musselman]] and Isaac W. Martin in the spring of 1893, precipitated the [[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]] schism in the fall of that year. The Weaverland Missions Committee (1906-1928) founded permanent work at [[Diamond Rock Mennonite Meetinghouse (Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diamond Rock]] (now [[Frazer Mennonite Church (Frazer, Pennsylvania, USA)|Frazer]]) and Red Run. In 1912 I. B. Good promoted the Weaverland Young People's Meeting "distinctly for young people."

This congregation, long the largest in Lancaster Conference (second late 1950s), listed 575 members 1957, with J. Paul Graybill as resident bishop and D. N. Weaver, Alvin G. Martin, A. H. Hollinger ministers.
= Bibliography =
Burkholder, Roy S. Be Not Conformed To This World. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1997.

Martin, C. Kenneth. 1723-1998, 275th Anniversary Weaverland Mennonite Church. Morgantown, Pennsylvania: Masthof Press, 1998.

Ruth, John Landis. The Earth Is the Lord’s: A Narrative History of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. Scottdale, Pennsylvania and Waterloo, Ontario: Herald Press, 2001.

Weaver, Martin G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference. Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.

Wenger, Eli D. The Weaverland Mennonites. Adamstown, Pennsylvania: Ensigner Printing Service, 1968.

Zimmerman, Paul S. 250th Anniversary, First Mennonite Settlement, Weaverland: 1723-1973. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster Mennonite Conference Historical Society, 1973.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 210 Weaverland Valley Road, East Earl, Pennsylvania 17519

'''Phone''': 717-445-6348

'''Website''': [http://www.weaverland.org/ Weaverland Mennonite Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]

= Maps =
[[Map:Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania)|Map:Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 905, 1148|date=August 2007|a1_last=Landis|a1_first=Ira D.|a2_last=Thiessen|a2_first=Richard D.}}

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WayLife Community (Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-09T13:28:31Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The WayLife Community in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, began as a church plant of LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches in 2019. It has ope..."

__TOC__
The WayLife Community in Mountain Top, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began as a church plant of [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]] in 2019. It has operated as a cell-based church under the leadership of Michael Deckman. In 2026, it met in homes.

Its goal was to model the church as it was in the beginning, when Christians met from house to house and did life together as a strong community.

= Bibliography =
"Who we are." WayLife Community. Web. 9 April 2026. https://www.waylife.org/about.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

'''Telephone''': 570-550-4466

'''Website''': https://www.waylife.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

== Pastoral Leaders at Waylife Community ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Michael Deckman || 2019-
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

2026-04-09T13:13:29Z

SamSteiner: /* LMC Congregations */ added link

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
= 2013 Article =
Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) is a fellowship of congregations in the Northeast corridor of the United States, and joined [[Mennonite Church USA]] as a full member in 2006 after five years of provisional membership in the new denomination. At that time it was one of five conferences of Mennonite Church USA in Southeast Pennsylvania along with [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Conference]], [[Eastern District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Eastern District Conference]], [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]], and [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Conference]].

Prior to the affiliation with Mennonite Church USA, Lancaster Mennonite Conference affiliated with the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|(Old) Mennonite Church]]. Mennonite Church USA was a merger of the (Old) Mennonite Church and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], which occurred in 2001.

In 2010 Lancaster Mennonite Conference included 170 congregations with about 15,000 members and six agencies. The number of congregations has decreased from a high of 248 with slightly more than 20,000 members in 1998. This decrease resulted in part from the departure of congregations from Lancaster Conference in relation to the decisions to join Mennonite Church USA and to [[Ordination|ordain]] women. The congregations of Lancaster Mennonite Conference encompass six states in the Northeast United States and the state of [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]]. Congregations are scattered across eastern Pennsylvania with a majority located in [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. Many congregations are situated in major urban areas like New York City, [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], Baltimore, and [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington DC]]. In 2013 there were approximately 14 different language groups throughout Lancaster Mennonite Conference. One estimate has suggested that almost two-thirds of the new churches in Lancaster Mennonite Conference are of non-Germanic ethnicity. Hispanic ethnicity is the largest grouping after Caucasian.

The six agencies of Lancaster Mennonite Conference--[[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Missions]], Friendship Community, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster Mennonite Schools, Landis Communities, and Philhaven--provide a host of services to the congregations of Lancaster Conference and considerably beyond. Eleven fraternal agencies also relate to Conference congregations. The official organ for the Conference is ''Shalom News'', which began in 2009 and replaced the prior ''Lancaster Conference News''.

In 2013 Lancaster Mennonite Conference had a Board of Bishops, which provided spiritual guidance, oversight, and nurture, and which made some decisions for the whole. It has also ha\d a smaller executive council, which deals with governance issues. A conference moderator has facilitated both groups. Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are grouped in geographic districts. A [[bishop]], overseer, or supervisor provides oversight of each district. A Constitution and Bylaws have provided formal structural guidance. While there have been several [[Confessions, Doctrinal|confessions of faith]] developed over the centuries, the Conference primarily utilizes the ''Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective'' [1995], a document developed as part of the merger process that culminated in the formation of Mennonite Church USA in 2001. A ''Mennonite Polity for Ministerial Leadership'' guides polity issues, which is also a Mennonite Church USA document.

What in 2013 was Lancaster Mennonite Conference took shape after the arrival of 29 Swiss Anabaptist immigrants in Philadelphia in 1710. The several histories of Lancaster Conference tell this story in some detail. The most recent and most detailed, ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' by John L. Ruth, appeared in 2001. It provided both a sense of the breadth of the 300-year history of Lancaster Conference from its origins among German-speaking Swiss [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] who immigrated to William Penn's "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania to details of the lives of many Conference members over the centuries. ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' largely replaced the two earlier histories, ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background'' by Ira Landis and ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference'' by Martin G. Weaver.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are part of the free-church tradition and [[Believers Church|believers-church tradition]]. They also connect with the historic peace-church tradition. "[[Historic Peace Churches]]" is a label that refers collectively to the Mennonites, the [[Society of Friends]] (Quakers), and the [[Church of the Brethren]].

The first 100 years of Lancaster Conference saw growth and consolidation of the pioneer Mennonite community around the acquisition of land and wealth plus the trials of the Revolutionary War upon a nonresistant faith community. The 19th century [[Revivalism|revivalist movement]] proved divisive to the community as some members sought a more "heart-felt" experience of faith. The 19th century also saw communal wrestling with the emerging American social ethos that was in many ways contradictory to the Lancaster Mennonite faith experience, especially as it related to [[Nonconformity|nonconformity to society]] and [[American Civil War (1861-1865)|Civil War]] issues. The adoption of the English language, the use of pulpits, and the adoption of [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] in the 1890s were schismatic issues. The schism in the Groffdale-Weaverland district led by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Bishop Jonas Martin]] took place in 1893. This division between conservatives and progressives was perhaps the most antagonistic in Lancaster Conference history.

In the 20th century, Lancaster Conference engaged in significant institutional building with most of the current agencies emerging during this period. In 1905, this community included almost 6,800 members overseen by eight bishops. Two world wars generated stress on the pacifist and nonresistant belief and practice. Institutional responses included the creation of government sanctioned alternate service institutions in lieu of military service. Foreign missions, increased educational attainment, and alternate service in the 20th century broadened the horizons of many people, especially young adults from this community. As a result, Lancaster Conference experienced a time of immense change by mid-century in relation to what lived faith might look like. The Healing Revivals and the [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic Renewal]] presented serious theological questions. Modernity pressed on praxis issues like the use of [[technology]] ([[Automobile|cars]], [[Radio|radio]], and television), [[Dress|plain dress]], and the application of the formal Conference ''Rules and Discipline'', a doctrinal and behavioral manual rescinded by Bishops in 1981.

As the 21st century opened, the suspicion of higher education present in the Anabaptist movement had largely reversed itself. At the same time, the movement from the farm into business, trades, and professions was mostly complete. The prior emphasis on a nonconformity that was both visible and doctrinal began to move toward a solely theological nonconformity that, while less obvious, was equally distinct from other Christian traditions and the broader culture. Training of new church leadership received considerable attention during the waning decades of 20th century and into the first decade of the 21st century. Lancaster Conference leadership introduced the missional church movement to the constituency with generally positive and mostly successful results. In many ways, the Anabaptist movement was and is a missional movement.

The experience of these Anabaptists, European and otherwise, that constitute Lancaster Mennonite Conference is a story of vibrant growth, struggle with change from within and without, and painful division. A few families in 1710 grew to encompass a large faith community. Consistent strife over issues of faithfulness and proper praxis regularly generated schism over the centuries. In 2013 this fellowship of congregations contained considerable ethnic variety, great theological diversity, and assorted congregational polities.

= 2018 Update =
In July 2015 the Lancaster Mennonite Conference's Bishop Board and Conference Executive unanimously recommended withdrawing from Mennonite Church USA "to best strengthen LMC's shared future in God's missional calling." A Leadership Assembly was held in September and at that time, a booklet for participants stated that a "cultural and theological divide" existed within MC USA on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ relationships and that there were "deep differences between area conferences" on LGBTQ membership. The July decision was affirmed by the Board of Bishops in October. Credentialed leaders met on 19 November 2015 and the proposal by the Board of Bishops to leave MC USA was ratified by 82.3% of those in attendance. At that time it was stated that the withdrawal will be finalized on or before the end of 2017. Effective immediately, congregations will function as non-participating in MC USA, although congregations had the option of continuing to participate. At that time, the Conference had 13,838 members in 163 congregations.

In January 2016, Mennonite Church USA reported only 1,091 members from Lancaster Mennonite Conference.

In November 2017 it was reported that Lancaster Mennonite Conference would officially leave Mennonite Church USA on 31 December 2017. Of 179 congregations, 17 had chosen to undertake an extended discernment process. Of those, eight decided to remain with Mennonite Church USA and transferred to Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference. Seven chose to remain with Lancaster Mennonite Conference and two would make their decision by 31 December.

Moderator Keith Weaver, during the conference's 2018 annual assembly, said the executive council had approved a "name adaptation" to "LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches." The legal name remained Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The conference welcomed 54 congregations, bringing its total to 218. Among the additions are a cluster of 14 congregations from the Dominican Republic; 13 from the former [[Franklin Mennonite Conference|Franklin Conference]], now the Franklin District of LMC; and several Spanish-speaking congregations from [[Costa Rica]], [[Mexico]], [[Nicaragua]] and the United States. Besides Pennsylvania, U.S. states with Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations include Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii.

= Bibliography =
Cornelius, Earle. "Lancaster Conference undergoes name change." LancasterOnline. 7 April 2018. Web. 21 October 2020. https://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/lancaster-conference-undergoes-name-change/article_a31cc0e6-3902-11e8-b692-cf8dd3b61919.html#:~:text=In%20his%20State%20of%20the,will%20remain%20Lancaster%20Mennonite%20Conference.

Durnbaugh, Donald F. ''The Believers' Church: the History and Character of Radical Protestantism''. New York: Macmillan Co., 1968, 1970, reprinted Scottdale, 1985.

Juhnke, James C. Vision, ''Doctrine, War: Mennonite Identity and Organization in America, 1890-1930'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 3. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1989.

Kanagy, Conrad. ''Road Signs for the Journey''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2006.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference ''Core Values''. Web. http://www.lancasterconference.org/who_we_are/what_we_believe.php.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference. "Come Walk With Us: 300 Years of Lancaster Conference History." Video, 2010. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=yhSVdBEOelc.

Landis, Ira D. ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background''. [Lancaster, Pa.]: Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Littell, Franklin H. ''The Free Church: The Significance of the Left Wing of the Reformation for Modern American Protestantism''. Boston: Starr King Press, 1957.

MacMaster, Richard K. Land, Piety, ''Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America, 1683-1790'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 1. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1985.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a Narrative History of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001.

Santiago, Rolando. "Immigrant Churches from the Global South," ''Shalom News'' (August-September 2013). Web. http://www.shalomnews.net/aug_sept_13/spa.html.

Schlabach, Theron F. ''Peace, Faith, Nation: Mennonites and Amish in Nineteenth-Century America'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 2. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1988.

Toews, Paul. ''Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970: Modernity and the Persistence of Religious Community'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 4. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1996.

Weaver, Martin. G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data''. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
= 2018 Bibliography =
Hubert, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Bishops Recommend Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 October 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/10/26/news/lancaster-conference-bishops-recommend-withdrawal-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Leaders Propose Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 July 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/07/26/news/lancaster-conference-leaders-recommend-withdrawing-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference to Leave Mennonite Church USA." Mennonite World Review. 24 November 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/11/20/news/lancaster-conference-to-leave-mennonite-church-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster's Distancing Shrinks Roll." Mennonite World Review. 26 January 2016. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2016/01/26/news/lancasters-distancing-shrinks-roll/.

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference begins new era." ''Mennonite World Review'' 2 April 2018. Web. 2 April 2018. http://mennoworld.org/2018/04/02/news/lancaster-conference-begins-new-era/

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference returning to independence: Leaders look toward collaborative relationships, revitalizing identity, mission." Mennonite World Review. 6 November 2017. Web. 6 November 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/11/06/news/lancaster-conference-returning-to-independence/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2160 Lincoln Hwy E Ste 5, Lancaster PA 17602-1150

'''Phone''': 717-293-5246 or 800-216-7249

'''Website''': [https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
== LMC Congregations ==
The following 160 congregations were members of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 2017:

<div align="center">
{| class="wikitable"
! Congregation !! City !! State
|-
| Abundant Life Chinese Mennonite Church || Cherry Hill || New Jersey
|-
| [[Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church (Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA)|Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church]] || Williamsport || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alive Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alive Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alleluia Worship Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alleluia Worship Center]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Assured Hope Community Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Aurora Mennonite Church (Aurora, Ohio, USA)|Aurora Mennonite Church]] || Aurora || Ohio
|-
| [[Crossroads Fellowship (Corry, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaverdam Mennonite Church]] || Corry || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Benders Mennonite Church (Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Benders Mennonite Church]] || Pen Argyl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Gate (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bethlehem Community Fellowship]] || Bethlehem || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport Mennonite Church]] || Reinholds || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blough Mennonite Church]] || Hollsopple || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Morris Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Morris Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cambridge Mennonite Church (Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cambridge Mennonite Church]] || Honey Brook || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Capital Christian Fellowship (Lanham, Maryland, USA)|Capital Christian Fellowship]] || Lanham || Maryland
|-
| [[Carpenter Community Church (Talmage, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Community Church]] || Talmage || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Carpenter Park Mennonite Church (Davidsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Park Mennonite Church]] || Davidsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cedar Lane Chapel (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cedar Lane Chapel]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church]] || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Church for the Needy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Church for the Needy]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Church of the Overcomer || Trainer || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown Mennonite Church]] || Narvon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Coatesville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Coatesville Mennonite Church]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Community Mennonite Fellowship (Milton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Community Mennonite Fellowship]] || Milton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción (Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción]] || Sunbury || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Shalom (New Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Shalom]] || New Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| CONNECT || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Community Fellowship (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Community Fellowship]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Mennonite]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware County Fellowship (Folcroft, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware County Fellowship]] || Folcroft || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware Mennonite Church (Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware Mennonite Church]] || Thompsontown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Diller Mennonite Church (Newville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diller Mennonite Church]] || Newville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg Mennonite Church]] || East Petersburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Emmanuel Community Fellowship (Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA)|Emmanuel Community Fellowship]] || Jersey Shore || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erb Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erb Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erisman Mennonite Church (Rapho Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erisman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster (Landisville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster]] || Landisville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore]] || Windsor Mill || Maryland
|-
| Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Philadelphia || Lansdowne || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Middletown]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Hatfield]] || Hatfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church (Bronx, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan (Manhattan, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[First Deaf Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|First Deaf Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[First Mennonite Church (Berne, Indiana, USA)|First Mennonite Church Berne]] || Berne|| Indiana
|-
| [[Freedom in Christ Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Freedom in Christ Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gehman Mennonite Church (Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gehman Mennonite Church]] || Adamstown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gingrichs Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gingrichs Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Glade Mennonite Church (Accident, Maryland, USA)|Glade Mennonite Church]] || Accident || Maryland
|-
| [[Good's Mennonite Church (Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goods Mennonite Church]] || Bainbridge || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville Mennonite Church]] || Goodville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Grace Community Fellowship (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Grace Community Fellowship]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Greater Works Deliverance Church || Brookhaven || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Green Terrace Mennonite Church (Wernersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Green Terrace Mennonite Church]] || Wernersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hammer Creek Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA) |Hammer Creek Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hampden Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hampden Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hershey Mennonite Church (Kinzers, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hershey Mennonite Church]] || Kinzers || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Faro Ardiente (Vineland, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Faro Ardiente]] || Vineland || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida (Camden, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida]] || Camden || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Hispana Vida Nueva || Burke || Virginia
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Palabra de Vida (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Palabra de Vida]] || Kennett Square || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Puerta de Sion (Trenton, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Puerta de Sion]] || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Roca de Salvacion (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Roca de Salvacion]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Unida de Avivamiento || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| Immanuel Community Church || Flushing || New York
|-
| [[Infinity Mennonite Church (New York, New York, USA)|Infinity Mennonite Church]] || New York || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Jesucristo es el Señor]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Jesucristo Es La Respuesta || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Kauffman Mennonite Church (Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)|Kauffman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)|King of Glory Tabernacle]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Krall’s Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Krall's Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica La Luz del Mundo (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|La Luz del Mundo]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Landis Valley Christian Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Landis Valley Christian Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lao Mennonite Fellowship (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lao Mennonite Fellowship/Slate Hill]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Latter Rain House of Restoration (Claymont, Delaware, USA)|Latter Rain House of Restoration]] || Claymont || Delaware
|-
| [[Laurel Street Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Laurel Street Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lauver Mennonite Church (Richfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lauver Mennonite Church]] || Richfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lebanon Christian Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon Christian Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Light Mennonite Church (Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, USA)|Living Light Mennonite Church]] || Washington Boro || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Word Bible Fellowship (Boyds, Maryland, USA)|Living Word Bible Fellowship]] || Boyds || Maryland
|-
| [[Lost Creek Mennonite Church (Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lost Creek Mennonite Church]] || Mifflintown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Love Truth Chinese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Love Truth Chinese Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Luz Verdadera (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Luz Verdadera]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Manheim Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Manheim Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Mara Christian Church of America, Baltimore || Catonsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship (Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA)|Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship ]] || Nazareth || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Marietta Community Chapel (Marietta, Pennsylvania, USA)|Marietta Community Chapel]] || Marietta || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale Mennonite Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church (Swanton, Maryland, USA)|Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church]] || Swanton || Maryland
|-
| [[Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) |Meadville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church (Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church]] || Quarryville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meckville Mennonite Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Meckville Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mennonite Bible Fellowship (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)|Mennonite Bible Fellowship]] || New Haven || Connecticut
|-
| Mennonite Church Nueva Shalom || Falls Church || Virginia
|-
| [[Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millersville Mennonite Church (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville Mennonite Church]] || Millersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millport Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millport Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Moorhead Mennonite Church (Shreve, Ohio, USA)|Moorhead Mennonite Church]] || Shreve || Ohio
|-
| [[Mosaic International Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mosaic International Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mount Joy Mennonite Church (Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mount Joy Mennonite Church]] || Mount Joy || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain Spring Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain Spring Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain View Fellowship (Trout Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain View Fellowship]] || Trout Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountainside Bible Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountainside Bible Church]] || Pottsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountville Mennonite Church (Mountville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountville Mennonite Church]] || Mountville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Nanticoke Christian Fellowship (Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nanticoke Christian Fellowship]] || Nanticoke || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Danville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Danville Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| New Hope Community Church || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life Christian Fellowship (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)|New Life Christian Fellowship]] || Honolulu || Hawaii
|-
| [[New Life Mennonite Church (Ellicott City, Maryland, USA)|New Life Mennonite Church]] || Ellicott City || Maryland
|-
| [[New Providence Mennonite Church (New Providence, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Providence Mennonite Church]] || New Providence || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Newlinville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Newlinville Mennonite Church ]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Norma Mennonite Church (Norma, New Jersey, USA)|Norma Mennonite Church]] || Norma || New Jersey
|-
| [[North Lima Mennonite Church (North Lima, Ohio, USA)|North Lima Mennonite Church]] || North Lima || Ohio
|-
| Nueva Vida en Cristo || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Oak Grove Mennonite Church (Grantsville, Maryland, USA)|Oak Grove Mennonite Church]] || Grantsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Old Road Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Old Road Mennonite Church]] || Gap || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Oxford Circle Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Oxford Circle Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkesburg Mennonite Church (Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkesburg Mennonite Church]] || Parkesburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkview Mennonite Church (Stevens, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkview Mennonite Church]] || Stevens || Pennsylvania
|-
| Peabody Street Mennonite Church || Washington || District of Columbia
|-
| [[Pinto Mennonite Church (Pinto, Maryland, USA)|Pinto Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Maryland
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Casa del Rey (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Prince of Peace Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| REACH Church || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Red Run Mennonite Church (Denver, Pennsylvania, USA)|Red Run Mennonite Church]] || Denver || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Risser's Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Risser Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[River Corner Mennonite Church (Conestoga, Pennsylvania, USA)|River Corner Mennonite Church]] || Conestoga || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RiversEdge Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|RiversEdge Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Roedersville Mennonite Church (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Roedersville Mennonite Church]] || Pine Grove || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RMC Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Rohrerstown Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life in Christ Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Schubert Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Slate Hill Mennonite Church (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA) |Slate Hill Mennonite Church]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Steelton Mennonite Church (Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Steelton Mennonite Church]] || Steelton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stony Brook Mennonite Church (York, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stony Brook Mennonite Church]] || York || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Strasburg Mennonite Church (Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strasburg Mennonite Church]] || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stumptown Mennonite Church (Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stumptown Mennonite Church]] || Bird-in-Hand || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship, The (Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)|The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship]] || Chester || Pennsylvania
|-
| Tinsae Kristos Evangelical Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship]] || Penn Valley || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vietnamese Christian Fellowship || Pearl City || Hawaii
|-
| [[Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Village Chapel Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Village Chapel Mennonite Church]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vision Columbia || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| West End Mennonite Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church]] || Baltimore || Maryland
|-
| [[Willow Street Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Willow Street Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Witmer Heights Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Witmer Heights Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|}
</div>

= Original Articles from Mennonite Encyclopedia =
By Ira D. Landis & Carolyn C. Wenger. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 275-279; vol. 4, p. 1146 & vol. 5, p. 504. All rights reserved.
== 1957 Article ==
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA ) first convened in 1711, a few months after the Swiss-Palatine immigrants had established themselves in their new home, to select by lot one of their number to return to Europe. [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], their bishop and general adviser, was chosen, but Martin Kendig actually returned. In 1725 five representatives, Martin Baer, Hans Burkholtzer, Christian Herr, Benedikt Hirsche, and Johannes Bowman, attended the first general Mennonite Conference, held probably in Manatawny, when the historic[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)| Dordrecht Confession]] was translated into English and signed by 16 leaders, for all American Mennonites. The Conference always established peaceful relationships with the Indigenous, so that within the confines of the central county no blood was spilled on either side.

The Christian Herr house, built in 1719 on the Conestoga Road, connecting [[Indiantown Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Indiantown]], Brandywine, and [[Germantown Mennonite Settlement (Pennsylvania, USA)|Germantown]], is the oldest meetinghouse dwelling still standing in the county. The John Herr house, built in 1740, for 60 years provided a large room on the second floor as a place of worship. [[Abbeyville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Abbeyville]] and [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] were built before 1750, the members having previously met in private houses and [[Barns|barns]]. [[Gantz-Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley]] (1745), [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker]] (1760), and [[Bair Mennonite Meetinghouse (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bair's Hanover]] (1774) were built on Penn grants. The [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland house]] (1747) is preserved as a sample of the simplicity and miniature size of the meetinghouses in the woods of that day. In the 1950s many were about 50-60 ft. x 100 ft. They still were conservative in architecture, economically built with considerable free labor by the members, simple but practical, of brick or substantial blocks, with a raised pulpit at one end, and the floor sloping toward it, and furnished with basements for religious education and meals for all-day meetings.

Fifteen years after the first settlement in Lampeter, the Mennonites were located throughout [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] and ready to overflow. The Conference nurtured some of the scattered daughter colonies until full-fledged in the [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], [[Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference|Washington County (Maryland, USA)-Franklin County (Pennsylvania)]], and the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southwestern Pennsylvania Conferences]]. The Conference gave not only [[Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)|Benjamin Eby]] to Ontario, but most of the pioneers of both [[Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo]] and Woolwich Townships (Ontario, Canada), to establish two strong Mennonite communities in Upper Canada. It sent Ebersoles, [[Lehman (Lehmann, Layman, Leemann, Leeman, Leaman) family|Lehmans]], [[Horst (Hurst) family|Horsts]], and [[Martin family name|Martins]] to people [[Franklin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Franklin County]], Pennsylvania, and [[Washington County (Maryland, USA)|Washington County]], Maryland, mostly in 1790 and later. It gave [[Weaver (Weber) family|Weavers]], Abraham Brubaker, Rhodes, Stricklers, [[Hiestand (Histand, Heistand, Heystandt) family|Heistands]], etc., first to the northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia; then by 1790 David Heatwole, Joseph Wenger, [[Burkholder, Peter (1783-1846)|Peter Burkholder]], and others to [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], Virginia. John Graybill went to [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata County]] in the early 1770s, followed by [[Brubacher (Brubacker, Brubaker, Brubaher, Brupacher) family |Brubakers]] and Shellenbergers; they in turn peopled [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]] and Freeport, Illinois. John Brubaker started Rockton, Pennsylvania. [[Ressler, Jacob Andrews (1867-1936)|J. A. Ressler]] opened the India Mission in 1899. The Snyders and Abram Metzler established the church at Martinsburg in Morrison's Cove, [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]]. Bishop Michael Horst went from here to Stark County, Ohio, the Metzlers to [[Columbiana County (Ohio, USA)|Columbiana County]], John M. Greider to Clark County, William Westheffer and Henry Martin to Martin's Church, [[Wayne County (Ohio, USA)|Wayne County]], Ohio. Christian Snavely went to Sterling and Simon Graybill to Freeport, Illinois. David B., John M. R., and Reuben M. Weaver, Daniel A. Diener, [[Erb, Tillman M. (1865-1929)|Tillman Erb]], [[Charles, John Denlinger (1878-1923)|J. D. Charles]], and Abram Hess went to Hesston and elsewhere in Kansas. John M. Kreider went to Palmyra, Missouri).

They were always thrifty, with large families earlier, and of the middle class of Americans, preferring independence of one another, but in times of stress and strain, ready for the necessary relief. As pioneers they had more extensive [[Barns|barns]] than houses, so that both in this area were considerably larger than in most other large American communities. The best agricultural practices were followed. Some hemp and flax were raised in the first century. Dairying, beef fattening, and later poultry raising, including broiler production, was a big factor in preserving the fertility of the soil. This with industry, diversification, and crop rotation always placed [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] as the first in America in agricultural wealth. The land values, increased from 35 cents to $1,800 per acre by the 1950s, meant smaller farms, but the cost of building mostly offset this trend. At first the parents retired on the farm, but in later times in towns. There were town meetinghouses in Lancaster (1879), [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] (1905), [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz]] (1906), and Mt. Joy (1908). Others were built later. In 1956, 60 per cent of the members were still dependent upon agriculture. The rest were in industry, domestic employment, and the professions, especially teaching.

During the German ferment period, 1729-ca. 1790, their preachers were not permitted to perform marriages. They became naturalized beginning with 1729, under the British Crown. By 1742 Hans Tschantz called a conference to reprimand Martin Meylin for his large, extravagant sandstone house, to hold to simplicity and allay any undue suspicions among the neighbors concerning their prosperity. On 7 September 1758 a committee was sent to Holland to obtain aid for the suffering Virginia brethren. On 7 November 1775 they appealed to the Colonial Assembly for recognition of their conscientious scruples, which resulted in favorable legislation.

It was during the Revolutionary days that the United Brethren Church started here, when a Mennonite bishop, [[Boehm, Martin (1725-1812)|Martin Boehm]], and a Reformed minister, Philip W. Otterbein, met in 1767 in Isaac Long's barn. The former was excommunicated in 1777 and the new church began 1780, and was revived by another ex-Mennonite, Christian Newcomer, at the turn of the century. The [[Brethren in Christ Church |Brethren in Christ]] in Conoy Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], started about 1780. The [[Reformed Mennonite Church|Reformed Mennonites]] came later but officially started in 1812. The [[Stauffer Mennonite Church|Stauffer]] division occurred in 1845, the Martinite ([[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]]) in 1893, which in turn suffered the Joseph Wenger division in 1926. The [[Reidenbach Mennonite Church (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Reidenbach division]] in the Stauffer group occurred in 1946.

Semiannual conferences were held at the [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger meetinghouse]] in the fall and at one of the three Rohrerstown meetinghouses in the spring as far back as records are extant, about 1740. (Beginning in 1953 the latter was moved to [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg]].) Here all Conference decisions were made and approved or rejected. This was the practice up to the early 20th century, with no long meeting of the Bishop Board prior to the session, at which the actual decisions are made for the Conference, with only nominal ratification by the total conference body. In the 1950s the bishops met monthly or oftener for a day or more before the meeting of Conference.

The moderators of Lancaster Conference in order were [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], [[Burkholder, Hans (d. ca. 1745)|Hans Burkholder]], Hans Tschantz, Bentz Hirschi, [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]], Jacob Brubaker, Samuel Nissley, [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]], Jacob Hostetter, Benjamin Herr, [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]], Benjamin Zimmerman, [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]], Noah L. Landis, W. W. Graybill, and Henry E. Lutz. By 1912 Peter R. Nissley became the first secretary. The officers in 1956 were H. E. Lutz, Moderator, Noah W. Risser, Assistant Moderator, Amos S. Horst, Secretary, [[Danner, Richard Emanuel (1907-1982)|Richard Danner]], Assistant Secretary, and Mahlon Witmer, Treasurer. Until the mid-20th century the senior bishop in order of service served as moderator. Henry Lutz was the first elected moderator.

The Conference with more than 150 preaching points in 1956 included within [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] 78 churches from [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport]] to Oak Shade, from [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]] to [[Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]], with 640 and 621 members in the two largest, Weaverland and [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger]], both distinctly rural. Then there were eight in [[Lebanon County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon County]], three in [[Cumberland County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Cumberland County]], ten in York and [[Adams County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Adams]], five in [[Dauphin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Dauphin]], three in [[Berks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Berks]], seven in [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata]], Snyder, and Union Counties, with many more scattered (see missions below).

These are divided into 19 bishop districts in 1956. Weaverland, the largest, had 18 preaching points, 1,897 members, 17 Sunday schools with an enrollment of 3,012 and an average attendance of 2,520, and 19 summer Bible schools with 2,925 and 2,477 respectively, and two young people's Bible meetings with 183 in attendance. Bishop J. Paul Graybill was assisted by 20 ministers and 10 deacons. The total membership in 1954 was 15,166, with 23 bishops, 193 ministers, and 102 deacons.

The Spring Conference in 1871 sanctioned the [[Sunday School|Sunday-school]] movement and in 1956 in 148 schools, there was an enrollment of 22,706 and an attendance of 18,175. Following the first (1927) summer Bible school at [[Norris Square Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Norris Square]], Philadelphia, the movement grew until in 1953 there were in the Conference 165 with 26,116 enrolled and an average attendance for the ten nights of 23,312. The young people's Bible meetings started in the early 20th century and the number slowly increased, with 6,724 attending, meetings customarily held on Saturday evenings.

In 1956 this, the largest and second oldest conference, close communion was observed with unfermented wine. Adult baptism by pouring was generally held in the meetinghouse. Anointing with oil was a bit more prominent than a few decades earlier. Divorce was not sanctioned and weddings within the church were encouraged; in either home or church they were to be held with simplicity. The [[Kiss, Holy|holy kiss]] was still practiced. The devotional covering was conscientiously and continuously worn. A distinct garb, both for the men and women, was strongly advocated and observed by most in the 1950s. The plain garb was required of the women for membership, and of the men for active participation in church work, though not for membership.

The ministers have other vocations; formerly they were all farmers. They received no salary and frequently no support. In the 1950s there were five ministers who could still preach German; the transition to English was at its peak by 1900. For two centuries the types and figures and the sufferings of our Lord were rehearsed at communion time. At the semiannual counsel meeting, Matthew 18:1-22 was the Scriptural basis of the sermon. At preparatory services, generally on the Saturday before communion, Matthew 6:1-18 was used; at the ordination of a deacon Acts 6:1-7, of a minister Luke 10:1-20, and of a bishop John 21:15-17. The ministers were chosen by lot in the established congregation, unless there is but one candidate. When the votes are to be taken, the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, etc., for the office were stressed. The congregation was given the opportunity to present their choices to the bishops present. One vote for the offices of deacon and minister and five for the bishop placed the recipient in a class for examination. The ordination then followed in two to seven days.

After October 1905 a revival meeting was held annually or biennially in each congregation. At [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] in early 1906 there was a class of 130 converts. There were numerous large classes, but the largest were in the first two decades. While the number in classes was low generally by the 1950s, the revival did much to revive a congregation and was an additional blessing to our ministers.

The Mission Movement beginning in the mid-1890's received real impetus from this Conference. With John Mellinger and the [[Paradise (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Paradise]] district we had not only what was necessary to crystallize and establish local and foreign missions here, but as a spur into other areas. With the organization in 1916 of the mission board ([[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]]), the earlier missions in many cases took on new life, but the work also spread, so that in 1956 there were six missions in central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], a large field developed on the Alabama-Florida border, three missions each in Tampa (Florida), [[New York (USA)|New York]], Philadelphia, and Reading, two in Coatesville, one each in Lebanon and Harrisburg. In addition to the eight in and around Lancaster, there were numerous other missions in and within driving distance of the central county. Some were also in prospect in central and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and rural New York. In 1934 the first foreign missionaries were sent to Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]), in 1948 to [[Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], in 1950 to northern [[Honduras|Honduras]], in 1951 to [[Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] in Europe, and to [[Sommerfeld Colony (Bolivia)|Somalia]] in Africa in 1953. On 1 January 1954 there were 86 missionaries attached to the foreign mission fields and about 67 stations with 360 missionary workers in America, besides the established congregations and their work.

In the early day the children were given all their schooling in their homes. At the turn of the 18th century the school and church were often under one roof. Our home township had four of these—Landis, Lehn, Rudy, and Frick. Then with the enactment of the public school laws in 1834 and 1836, the Mennonites were opposed to sending their children to such schools, for the blessings of education in their schools under their own supervision would be lost. At Erisman, Risser, Hammer Creek, Stumptown, Cross Roads, [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler]], [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill]], Metzler, and Weaverland, the school was then placed on the adjoining grounds. Again in the 1950s with the school far removed geographically and spiritually from the church, there was a retrenchment in the Christian Day School movement. The first school of this kind was opened at Locust Grove in 1939. By the mid-1950s there were 19 in the area, exclusive of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] and the Shaeffer Private School, with 45 teachers and about 1,228 pupils.

Although requested in 1922, the first Ephrata Winter Bible school was held in 1938, and after five terms the [[Lancaster Mennonite School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster Mennonite School]] opened in the fall of 1942, with a special Bible term added in 1953. It is a full high school, operated by a board of trustees appointed by the conference. The enrollment in 1954-55 was 303, with a faculty of 18. Some of the above elementary schools have ninth and tenth grades. In Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]) there were 60 bush schools with a thousand pupils, with some primary and middle schools started.

The winter Bible schools were placed at pivotal points in the Conference, beginning in 1943, meeting Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks in January and February, until by 1956 there were 13 such, with an additional day school of two weeks at [[Millwood Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millwood]]. These reached 2,200-2,500 of our constituency. They included book study, the Bible, missions, Christian education, Christian ethics, theology, and pedagogy, using chiefly our own literature as texts. Like the Sunday school they reached all ages.

By the 1950s there were three [[Homes, Retirement and Nursing|old people's homes]] in this Conference. Oreville in 1903 was the first. The [[Welsh Mountain Industrial Mission (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Mission]] (1898) gradually developed into the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Good Samaritan Home]]. In 1953 the Philadelphia Colored Home was opened. Together about 185 were provided for within these three institutions. A girls' home for Mennonites working as domestics in Reading served for many years. A [[Mennonite Children's Home (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|children's home]] in [[Millersville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville]] in 1911 began to invite unfortunate children of all ages into its sphere, with Levi Sauder serving as superintendent until his death in October 1940. 1,215 children had received physical and spiritual nurture here by 1956.

In loving appreciation of what God through the Dutch Foreign Relief Committee accomplished in bringing the Mennonites to America, they aided wherever possible, not only in the early years when it was a case of mutual survival, but throughout the years. In the 1870's and 1922 they did their part in settling the Russian Mennonites on this continent. Following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] [[Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)|Orie O. Miller]], the Myers, Zimmermans, and others served in France and Near East Relief. The MCC has been a channel for immigration and [[Relief Work|relief]] funds from the Conference since 1920, aggregating in 1949-1952 alone more than $224,500. The Conference has always had a member on the MCC, first John Mellinger, and later Henry F. Garber. The sewing circles were a substantial aid in giving materials in kind over the years. The movement began in 1895 in the Paradise district, developing into a general circle by 1911. Many tons have moved out from and through the Ephrata Clothing Depot, into overseas relief distribution. The Mary Mellinger cutting room at Paradise in 1948 served an ever-enlarging constituency and service both local and world-wide.

Through itinerant evangelism and Voluntary Service, by the mid-1950s the summer Bible schools not only spread over the southeastern states, central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], but exceeded the Sunday-school figures by 3,400; they reached the unreached, not only in isolated places, but in migrant work camps the year round and among the Puerto Ricans in the [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] area and established missions and congregations.

The Peace Problems Committee, earlier the Bishop Board, helped to steer the church through the war years, promoted nonresistance teaching, provided for the pastoral care of men in [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] and [[I-W Service (United States)|I-W service]], and represented the church in its peace testimony.

The Lancaster (Mental) Hospital opened in 1952 on the north edge of Mt. Gretna, with a maximum capacity of 35 patients, with one doctor, two nurses, and numerous helpers. A large farm was attached. It was called Philhaven.

The historic German[[Martyrs' Mirror]] (1748), with the Ephrata prints of [[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|Ernsthafte Christen]][[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|pflicht]] of 1745, 1770, 1785, and 1808, and the 1769 [[Christliches Gemütsgespräch|Christliches Gemüthsgespräch]], following the English translation (1727) of the historic [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession]], adopted by the 1725 Conference, were the known extent of our Mennonite publications for this century. But in the next 15 decades this changed. The Ernsthafte Christenpflicht appeared in Lancaster in 1826, 1841, 1852, 1862, 1868, 1875, 1876, 1892, 1904, and 1927, and the Gemüthsgespräch there in 1811, 1836, 1869, and 1892, English 1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and at Union Grove in 1921. The [[Ausbund|Ausbund]] was reprinted at Lancaster eight times, 1815, 1834, 1846, 1856, 1868, 1880, 1908, and 1912. The Unparteyisches Gesangbuch (1804-1923) appeared in 17 editions as the official conference hymnbook. The [[Ehrenfried, Joseph (1783-1862)|Ehrenfried]] Martyrs' Mirror was published in 1814 and the Lampeter edition of I. D. Rupp in 1836. [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]]' Fundamentbuch appeared in German at Lancaster in 1794, 1835, 1853, and 1876, in English in 1835, 1863, and 1869. Christian Spiritual Conversation in Saving Faith (1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and 1921), a translation of Christliches Gemüthsgespräch, included [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder's]] Counsel for Youth, a translation of Anrede an die Jugend, which appeared in two editions in Ephrata in 1804, and was added to the Gemüthsgespräch in its editions of 1839, 1848, 1868, 1869, and 1873, but had a separate edition at [[Allentown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Allentown]] in 1829. [[Wandering Soul|The Wandering Soul]], which appeared in 8 German and 10 English editions in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] 1768-1919, appeared in English in Lancaster in 1874. In 1787 the Froschauer New Testament was published in German at Ephrata.

One of the first original writings known aside from Christian Burkholder's was a series of three Question and Answer Booklets for the Sunday School, prepared by [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] and other leaders with [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] in 1880 and 1881. Earlier was the Conference Meeting Calendar in 1854, prepared by Abraham Martin. The other Calendar editors for the century were Abraham Brubaker, [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]], and after 1940 Ira D. Landis.

The Rules and Discipline of Lancaster Conference was put into a printed leaflet in 1881 and has appeared since in numerous revisions, the last in 1954. In the same decade (1880) appeared [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher's]] Brubaker Genealogy and in 1896 John Hess's second Hess Genealogy. In 1902 [[Wenger, Amos Daniel (1867-1935)|A. D. Wenger's]] Six Months in Bible Lands was published and in 1931 Martin G. Weaver's Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the first conference history attempted by any Mennonite.

After 1924 the [[Missionary Messenger, The (Periodical) |Missionary Messenger]] was the official organ of the Mission Board and after 1941 the Pastoral Messenger of the Conference. The Mennonite Youth Service (1951) was a monthly, Victory Calls (1949), an annual, and by the 1950s many congregations had weekly or fortnightly bulletins.

The Christian Nurture Committee revised the [[Weekday Bible School|weekday Bible school]] manuals of the late thirties, so that by 1955 there were be new courses from kindergarten I to grade VIII, with two for high-school grades. This committee prepared Youth Faces Life and Making Our Homes Christian, two smaller publications for religious education. It had a ten-year program of Bible Memory work for school and Sunday school, and a Bible reading program for family altars, beginning with the whole New Testament in 1954.

The Hershey Genealogy by Henry Hershey appeared in 1929, the Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites in 1937, Faith of Our Fathers on Eschatology (1946), The Landis Family Book, Sections I-IV (1950-54), and I Must See Switzerland (1954) by Ira D. Landis. Africa Calls (1936) by Catherine Leatherman and Ada Zimmerman, Africa Answers (1951) by Merle Eshleman, Noah Mack, His Life and Times (1952) by Graybill, Landis, and Sauder, and Christian Manhood (1948) by Eshleman and Mack were other publications by Lancaster authors.

The Conference has had outstanding leaders in [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]] (1639-1725), [[Brechbill, Benedikt (1665-ca. 1720)|Benedict Brackbill]] (1665-1720), Bentz Hirsche (1697-1789), [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809), [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] (1766-1843), Jacob Hostetter (1774-1865), [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]] (1838-1913), and layman [[Mellinger, John H. (1858-1952)|John H. Mellinger]] (1858-1952). With their foundations and links in co-operation with every member in the 1950s, on [[Nonconformity|nonconformity]], including apparel, the Conference was conservative, on [[Nonresistance|nonresistance]] officially solid, considerably opposed to Calvinism and [[Eternal Security|eternal security]], but slightly colored by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalism]] and [[Pietism|pietism]]. -- Ira D. Landis
== 1990 Update ==
Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the largest conference of the Mennonite Church (MC), shifted from the relative uniformity of religious thought and expression of the 1950s and extended borders geographically, ethnically, and numerically. Membership in 1950 numbered 14,061 in 18 bishop districts, all but one in Pennsylvania. Membership in 1986 was 17,033 in 30 districts with approximately one-third outside [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], from Maine to Florida. In 2005 there were 17,496 members in 186 congregations in 26 bishop districts.

Increased involvement in foreign and home missions and in higher education led to formation of more bishop districts, which decentralized the authority of the Bishop Board. Congregations developed greater autonomy and formal organization, dropped specific membership requirements, and tolerated more diverse patterns of religious thought and expression, such as instrumental music, open rather than close communion, [[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]] influences, increased employment of professional staff members in greater divisions of labor, and the appropriation of prevailing cultural values ([[Acculturation|acculturation]]). Preference still existed for team ministry.

Several schisms developed in response to these compromises. In 1960 nine ordained men withdrew to form the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood; some of them eventually associated with the [[Nationwide Fellowship Churches|Fellowship Churches]]. In 1969 the [[Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church]] was organized in the wake of differences over general trends and specific issues related to [[Divorce and Remarriage|divorce and remarriage]], [[Television|television]], and relaxed [[Dress|dress]] requirements. In 1975 approximately 200 members formed the [[Conservative Mennonite Churches of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania]].

Despite repeated invitations and limited fraternal ties, Lancaster Conference did not officially join the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]] general conference (general assembly) until 1971. In 1977 it reorganized with a structure parallel to the Mennonite Church (MC). Instead of all committees and boards responsible to the Bishop Board as previously, the Bishop Board still served as the executive board of the conference but was assisted by a Conference Coordinating Council, which coordinated four program boards: [[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]], Board of Education, Board of Brotherhood Ministries, and Board of Congregational Resources. Four other agencies served the conference: Leadership Council, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Women's Missionary and Service Commission, and Finance Committee. Lancaster Conference News began in 1981 as the semimonthly successor to Pastoral Messenger and Newsletter. It provides news and interpretation of conference programs and needs. -- Carolyn C. Wenger

== Original Bibliographies ==
Graber, Robert Bates. "An Amiable Mennonite Schism: The Origin of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 (October 1984): 2-10.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 608.

Kraybill, Donald B. "Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren in the Modern Era." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 10 (April 1987): 2-20.

Landis, Ira D. The Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1938.

Landis, Ira D. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background. [Lancaster, Pa.?] : Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Weaver, Martin. G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference : Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
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[[Category:Area/Regional Conferences]]
[[Category:Denominations]]

Vishva Jyoti Church (Akron, Ohio, USA)

2026-04-09T13:12:19Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Vishva Jyoti Church in Akron, Ohio, began in 2017 as an outreach to Nepalese immigrants. In 2019, the congregation affiliated with LMC: a Fellows..."

__TOC__
The Vishva Jyoti Church in Akron, [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], began in 2017 as an outreach to Nepalese immigrants.

In 2019, the congregation affiliated with [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]].

It met in, and in 2023 purchased, the decommissioned St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

= Bibliography =

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 765 Thayer Street, Akron, Ohio

'''Telephone''': 330-934-9616

'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/vishvajoyoti.church.7/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

== Pastoral Leaders at Vishva Jyoti Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Tika "Alex" Gurung || 2017?-
|-
| Arati Gurung || 2017?-
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Ohio Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Unity Pentecostal Church of God Homestead (Homestead, Florida, USA)

2026-04-08T14:09:27Z

SamSteiner: corrected link

__TOC__
The Unity Pentecostal Church of God of Homestead, in Homestead, [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], began in about 2006 as an outreach to Haitian Americans in South Florida. Like its [[Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA)|sister congregation in Miami]], it became affiliated with the [[Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southeast Mennonite Conference]] of [[Mennonite Church USA]].

When the Southeast Mennonite Conference withdrew from Mennonite Church USA in 2019 and the following year joined [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]], the congregation became part of that conference.

In 2026, the congregation's Facebook page described itself as Pentecostal, with no mention of an Anabaptist/Mennonite connection, though it remained listed as a member congregation of LMC.

= Bibliography =

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 45 South Flagler Street, Homestead, Florida 33030

'''Meeting Place''': 200 SW 4th Street, Homestead, Florida 33030-7110

'''Telephone''': 786-439-6939

'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064719879367

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2019)
== Pastoral Leaders at Unity Pentecostal Church of God ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Jean Peres Desir || 2006?-
|}
== Unity Pentecostal Church of God Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 2009 || 35
|}

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[[Category:Southeast Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Florida Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Village Chapel Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-08T13:11:52Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Village Chapel Mennonite Church near New Holland, Pennsylvania, began as a church plant in 1971. It util..."

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The Village Chapel Mennonite Church near [[New Holland (Pennsylvania, USA)|New Holland]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began as a church plant in 1971. It utilized a former union meetinghouse in Voganville (near New Holland), first built in 1848, and rebuilt in 1867.

In 2019, the average Sunday attendance was 35-40.

= Bibliography =
"Congregational profile: Village Chapel" ''Shalom News" 39, no. 2 (April-June 2019): 9.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 335 Wissler Road, New Holland, Pennsylvania 17557

'''Telephone''': 717-354-8082

'''Website''': http://www.villagechapelmc.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Village Chapel Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Jason J. Steffy (1933-2016) || 1973-1998
|-
| Jeffrey S. Horst (Associate)(1961- ) (Lead) || 1988-1998<br /1998-2023
|-
| Lester W. Gehman (Associate)(1956- ) || 1995-2010s
|-
| Chester L. Martin (Associate)(1944- ) || 1995-2006?
|-
| David L. Musselman (Associate)(1953- ) || 1995-2010s
|-
| Thomas Philpot (Associate) (Lead)|| 2012-2023 2023-
|-
| Frank Arzillo (Associate) || 2023-
|}
== Village Chapel Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1980 || 83
|-
| 1990 || 112
|-
| 2000 || 81
|-
| 2009 || 75
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-07T11:33:34Z

SamSteiner: /* Pastoral Leaders at Vietnamese Mennonite Church */

__TOC__
The Vietnamese Mennonite Church in [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] began in 1982 when Pastor Trân Xuân Quang (Trân is the family name) and his wife, Tam, reached out to Vietnamese immigrants who had settled in the Philadelphia area following the end of [[Vietnam War (1954-75)|Vietnam War]]. Pastor Quang served as the Saigon Mennonite Church's leader in [[Vietnam]] from 1969 to 1975, though his original training was with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

The new Philadelphia congregation combined mission outreach with social services for Vietnamese refugees. Pastor Quang had earlier launched a Vietnamese church in [[Ephrata (Pennsylvania, USA)|Ephrata]], Pennsylvania, in 1979, but that congregation commissioned him to launch a work in Philadelphia.

The Vietnamese Mennonite Church rented space on the second floor of the Second Mile Center at 214 South 45th Street. It later met at the Calgary United Mennonite Church before renovating space in a former bar on Woodland Avenue in 1988. The [[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions]] helped with funds for the purchase and renovation of the building.

In 2010, the congregation launched the [[Church for the Needy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Church for the Needy]], an English-speaking congregation that met in the same building and tried to reach members of the local community.

In the 2010s, the congregation began outreach back in Vietnam, and by 2017, it had launched 11 congregations.

In 2019, Sunday morning attendance was about 35.
= Bibliography =
Greiser, David. "Worship as diverse as the city in which it is held." ''Gospel Herald'' 86, no. 25 (22 June 1993): 7.

Martin, Luke S. "First Vietnamese Mennonite pastor dies." Mennonite World Conference. 26 November 2014. Web. 4 December 2024. https://mwc-cmm.org/en/stories/first-vietnamese-mennonite-pastor-dies.

Nguyen, Crystal. "Day by day with God." ''Shalom News'' 39, no. 3 (July-September 2019): 7.

"Our Vietnamese roots." ''Shalom News" 30, no. 4 (August-September 2010): 4.

"Vietnamese Mennonite Church (VMC) outreach in Vietnam." ''Shalom News'' 37, no. 3 (July-September 2017): 7.

"Vietnamese Mennonites attend conference for Vietnamese leaders." ''Gospel Herald'' 79, no. 4 (28 January 1986): 63.

Witmer, Nancy. "Church in bar." ''Gospel Herald'' 84, no. 3 (15 January 1991): 13.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 6237 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19142

'''Telephone''': 215-820-5399

'''Website''':

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

== Pastoral Leaders at Vietnamese Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Trân Xuân Quang (1930-2014) || 1982-2006
|-
| Tuyen T. Nguyen (Bishop)|| 2006?-2009 2009-
|-
| Peter Nguyen || 2018-
|-
| Daniel Q. Tran (Associate) || 2017-
|}

== Vietnamese Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1985 || 4
|-
| 1990 || 48
|-
| 2000 || 158
|-
| 2009 || 160
|}
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Vietnamese Christian Fellowship (Pearl City, Hawaii, USA)

2026-04-06T14:21:54Z

SamSteiner: /* Bibliography */

__TOC__
The Vietnamese Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]], began as a church plant in August 1986, led by Luc Van Pham and Qui Thi Vu, a former Mennonite pastor couple in [[Vietnam]], and was supported by the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions]], the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]], and the [[Mosaic Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Mennonite Conference]]. The group initially met in the Kaumakapili United Church of Christ in Honolulu. The effort followed several years of [[Mennonite Disaster Service]] activity in Hawaii after natural disasters. Initial attendance was about 40, but the group has never been large.

= Bibliography =
"The first Mennonite congregation in Hawaii...." ''Gospel Herald'' 80, no. 10 (10 March 1987): 172.

"Hawaii gets its first Mennonite congregation." ''Gospel Herald'' 80, no. 20 (19 May 1987): 344.

Weaver, Irv. "The Hawaii church planting...." ''Gospel Herald'' 80, no. 14 (7 April 1987): 243.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2371 Anihinihi Street, Pearl City, Hawaii

'''Telephone''': 808-454-0491

'''Website''':

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Vietnamese Christian Fellowship ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Luc Van Pham || 1986-1989
|-
| James K. Stauffer (1930-2024) || 1989-1995
|-
| Paul Quoccuong Luu || 1995-
|}
== Vietnamese Christian Fellowship Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1992 || 19
|-
| 2000 || 30
|-
| 2009 || 8
|}
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[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Hawaii Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Vietnamese Christian Fellowship (Pearl City, Hawaii, USA)

2026-04-06T14:20:30Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Vietnamese Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, began as a church plant in August 1986, led by Luc Van Pham and Qui Thi Vu, a former Mennonit..."

__TOC__
The Vietnamese Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]], began as a church plant in August 1986, led by Luc Van Pham and Qui Thi Vu, a former Mennonite pastor couple in [[Vietnam]], and was supported by the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions]], the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]], and the [[Mosaic Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Mennonite Conference]]. The group initially met in the Kaumakapili United Church of Christ in Honolulu. The effort followed several years of [[Mennonite Disaster Service]] activity in Hawaii after natural disasters. Initial attendance was about 40, but the group has never been large.

= Bibliography =
"The first Mennonite congregation in Hawaii...." ''Gospel Herald'' 80, no. 10 (10 March 1987): 172.

"Hawaii gets its first Mennonite congregation." ''Gospel Herald'' 80, no. 20 (19 May 1987): 344.

Weaver, Irv. "The Hawaii church planting...." ''Gospel Herald 80, no. 14 (7 April 1987): 243.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2371 Anihinihi Street, Pearl City, Hawaii

'''Telephone''': 808-454-0491

'''Website''':

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Vietnamese Christian Fellowship ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Luc Van Pham || 1986-1989
|-
| James K. Stauffer (1930-2024) || 1989-1995
|-
| Paul Quoccuong Luu || 1995-
|}
== Vietnamese Christian Fellowship Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1992 || 19
|-
| 2000 || 30
|-
| 2009 || 8
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Hawaii Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Upper Marlboro Christian Missionary Fellowship (Upper Marlboro Township, Maryland, USA)

2026-04-06T10:28:42Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Upper Marlboro Christian Missionary Fellowship in Upper Marlboro Township, Maryland, began in the early 2020s as a church plant sponsored by the Franklin Mennoni..."

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The Upper Marlboro Christian Missionary Fellowship in Upper Marlboro Township, Maryland, began in the early 2020s as a church plant sponsored by the [[Franklin Mennonite Conference|Franklin District]] of [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]].

= Bibliography =

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 16101 Swanson Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

'''Meeting Place''': Bethel United Methodist Church

'''Telephone''': 240-528-0450

'''Website''':

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
== Pastoral Leaders at Upper Marlboro Christian Missionary Fellowship ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Gabriel Nijika || 2022?-
|-
| Ruth Nijika || 2022?-
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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[[Category:Franklin Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Maryland Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

2026-04-05T13:10:15Z

SamSteiner: /* LMC Congregations */

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
= 2013 Article =
Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) is a fellowship of congregations in the Northeast corridor of the United States, and joined [[Mennonite Church USA]] as a full member in 2006 after five years of provisional membership in the new denomination. At that time it was one of five conferences of Mennonite Church USA in Southeast Pennsylvania along with [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Conference]], [[Eastern District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Eastern District Conference]], [[Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA|Atlantic Coast Conference]], and [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Conference]].

Prior to the affiliation with Mennonite Church USA, Lancaster Mennonite Conference affiliated with the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|(Old) Mennonite Church]]. Mennonite Church USA was a merger of the (Old) Mennonite Church and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], which occurred in 2001.

In 2010 Lancaster Mennonite Conference included 170 congregations with about 15,000 members and six agencies. The number of congregations has decreased from a high of 248 with slightly more than 20,000 members in 1998. This decrease resulted in part from the departure of congregations from Lancaster Conference in relation to the decisions to join Mennonite Church USA and to [[Ordination|ordain]] women. The congregations of Lancaster Mennonite Conference encompass six states in the Northeast United States and the state of [[Hawaii (USA)|Hawaii]]. Congregations are scattered across eastern Pennsylvania with a majority located in [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]]. Many congregations are situated in major urban areas like New York City, [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], Baltimore, and [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington DC]]. In 2013 there were approximately 14 different language groups throughout Lancaster Mennonite Conference. One estimate has suggested that almost two-thirds of the new churches in Lancaster Mennonite Conference are of non-Germanic ethnicity. Hispanic ethnicity is the largest grouping after Caucasian.

The six agencies of Lancaster Mennonite Conference--[[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Missions]], Friendship Community, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster Mennonite Schools, Landis Communities, and Philhaven--provide a host of services to the congregations of Lancaster Conference and considerably beyond. Eleven fraternal agencies also relate to Conference congregations. The official organ for the Conference is ''Shalom News'', which began in 2009 and replaced the prior ''Lancaster Conference News''.

In 2013 Lancaster Mennonite Conference had a Board of Bishops, which provided spiritual guidance, oversight, and nurture, and which made some decisions for the whole. It has also ha\d a smaller executive council, which deals with governance issues. A conference moderator has facilitated both groups. Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are grouped in geographic districts. A [[bishop]], overseer, or supervisor provides oversight of each district. A Constitution and Bylaws have provided formal structural guidance. While there have been several [[Confessions, Doctrinal|confessions of faith]] developed over the centuries, the Conference primarily utilizes the ''Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective'' [1995], a document developed as part of the merger process that culminated in the formation of Mennonite Church USA in 2001. A ''Mennonite Polity for Ministerial Leadership'' guides polity issues, which is also a Mennonite Church USA document.

What in 2013 was Lancaster Mennonite Conference took shape after the arrival of 29 Swiss Anabaptist immigrants in Philadelphia in 1710. The several histories of Lancaster Conference tell this story in some detail. The most recent and most detailed, ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' by John L. Ruth, appeared in 2001. It provided both a sense of the breadth of the 300-year history of Lancaster Conference from its origins among German-speaking Swiss [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] who immigrated to William Penn's "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylvania to details of the lives of many Conference members over the centuries. ''The Earth Is the Lord's'' largely replaced the two earlier histories, ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background'' by Ira Landis and ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference'' by Martin G. Weaver.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations are part of the free-church tradition and [[Believers Church|believers-church tradition]]. They also connect with the historic peace-church tradition. "[[Historic Peace Churches]]" is a label that refers collectively to the Mennonites, the [[Society of Friends]] (Quakers), and the [[Church of the Brethren]].

The first 100 years of Lancaster Conference saw growth and consolidation of the pioneer Mennonite community around the acquisition of land and wealth plus the trials of the Revolutionary War upon a nonresistant faith community. The 19th century [[Revivalism|revivalist movement]] proved divisive to the community as some members sought a more "heart-felt" experience of faith. The 19th century also saw communal wrestling with the emerging American social ethos that was in many ways contradictory to the Lancaster Mennonite faith experience, especially as it related to [[Nonconformity|nonconformity to society]] and [[American Civil War (1861-1865)|Civil War]] issues. The adoption of the English language, the use of pulpits, and the adoption of [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] in the 1890s were schismatic issues. The schism in the Groffdale-Weaverland district led by [[Martin, Jonas H. (1839-1925)|Bishop Jonas Martin]] took place in 1893. This division between conservatives and progressives was perhaps the most antagonistic in Lancaster Conference history.

In the 20th century, Lancaster Conference engaged in significant institutional building with most of the current agencies emerging during this period. In 1905, this community included almost 6,800 members overseen by eight bishops. Two world wars generated stress on the pacifist and nonresistant belief and practice. Institutional responses included the creation of government sanctioned alternate service institutions in lieu of military service. Foreign missions, increased educational attainment, and alternate service in the 20th century broadened the horizons of many people, especially young adults from this community. As a result, Lancaster Conference experienced a time of immense change by mid-century in relation to what lived faith might look like. The Healing Revivals and the [[Charismatic Movement|Charismatic Renewal]] presented serious theological questions. Modernity pressed on praxis issues like the use of [[technology]] ([[Automobile|cars]], [[Radio|radio]], and television), [[Dress|plain dress]], and the application of the formal Conference ''Rules and Discipline'', a doctrinal and behavioral manual rescinded by Bishops in 1981.

As the 21st century opened, the suspicion of higher education present in the Anabaptist movement had largely reversed itself. At the same time, the movement from the farm into business, trades, and professions was mostly complete. The prior emphasis on a nonconformity that was both visible and doctrinal began to move toward a solely theological nonconformity that, while less obvious, was equally distinct from other Christian traditions and the broader culture. Training of new church leadership received considerable attention during the waning decades of 20th century and into the first decade of the 21st century. Lancaster Conference leadership introduced the missional church movement to the constituency with generally positive and mostly successful results. In many ways, the Anabaptist movement was and is a missional movement.

The experience of these Anabaptists, European and otherwise, that constitute Lancaster Mennonite Conference is a story of vibrant growth, struggle with change from within and without, and painful division. A few families in 1710 grew to encompass a large faith community. Consistent strife over issues of faithfulness and proper praxis regularly generated schism over the centuries. In 2013 this fellowship of congregations contained considerable ethnic variety, great theological diversity, and assorted congregational polities.

= 2018 Update =
In July 2015 the Lancaster Mennonite Conference's Bishop Board and Conference Executive unanimously recommended withdrawing from Mennonite Church USA "to best strengthen LMC's shared future in God's missional calling." A Leadership Assembly was held in September and at that time, a booklet for participants stated that a "cultural and theological divide" existed within MC USA on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ relationships and that there were "deep differences between area conferences" on LGBTQ membership. The July decision was affirmed by the Board of Bishops in October. Credentialed leaders met on 19 November 2015 and the proposal by the Board of Bishops to leave MC USA was ratified by 82.3% of those in attendance. At that time it was stated that the withdrawal will be finalized on or before the end of 2017. Effective immediately, congregations will function as non-participating in MC USA, although congregations had the option of continuing to participate. At that time, the Conference had 13,838 members in 163 congregations.

In January 2016, Mennonite Church USA reported only 1,091 members from Lancaster Mennonite Conference.

In November 2017 it was reported that Lancaster Mennonite Conference would officially leave Mennonite Church USA on 31 December 2017. Of 179 congregations, 17 had chosen to undertake an extended discernment process. Of those, eight decided to remain with Mennonite Church USA and transferred to Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference. Seven chose to remain with Lancaster Mennonite Conference and two would make their decision by 31 December.

Moderator Keith Weaver, during the conference's 2018 annual assembly, said the executive council had approved a "name adaptation" to "LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches." The legal name remained Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The conference welcomed 54 congregations, bringing its total to 218. Among the additions are a cluster of 14 congregations from the Dominican Republic; 13 from the former [[Franklin Mennonite Conference|Franklin Conference]], now the Franklin District of LMC; and several Spanish-speaking congregations from [[Costa Rica]], [[Mexico]], [[Nicaragua]] and the United States. Besides Pennsylvania, U.S. states with Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations include Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Hawaii.

= Bibliography =
Cornelius, Earle. "Lancaster Conference undergoes name change." LancasterOnline. 7 April 2018. Web. 21 October 2020. https://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/lancaster-conference-undergoes-name-change/article_a31cc0e6-3902-11e8-b692-cf8dd3b61919.html#:~:text=In%20his%20State%20of%20the,will%20remain%20Lancaster%20Mennonite%20Conference.

Durnbaugh, Donald F. ''The Believers' Church: the History and Character of Radical Protestantism''. New York: Macmillan Co., 1968, 1970, reprinted Scottdale, 1985.

Juhnke, James C. Vision, ''Doctrine, War: Mennonite Identity and Organization in America, 1890-1930'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 3. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1989.

Kanagy, Conrad. ''Road Signs for the Journey''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2006.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference ''Core Values''. Web. http://www.lancasterconference.org/who_we_are/what_we_believe.php.

Lancaster Mennonite Conference. "Come Walk With Us: 300 Years of Lancaster Conference History." Video, 2010. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=yhSVdBEOelc.

Landis, Ira D. ''The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background''. [Lancaster, Pa.]: Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Littell, Franklin H. ''The Free Church: The Significance of the Left Wing of the Reformation for Modern American Protestantism''. Boston: Starr King Press, 1957.

MacMaster, Richard K. Land, Piety, ''Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America, 1683-1790'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 1. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1985.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a Narrative History of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001.

Santiago, Rolando. "Immigrant Churches from the Global South," ''Shalom News'' (August-September 2013). Web. http://www.shalomnews.net/aug_sept_13/spa.html.

Schlabach, Theron F. ''Peace, Faith, Nation: Mennonites and Amish in Nineteenth-Century America'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 2. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1988.

Toews, Paul. ''Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970: Modernity and the Persistence of Religious Community'', Mennonite Experience in America Series, volume 4. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1996.

Weaver, Martin. G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data''. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
= 2018 Bibliography =
Hubert, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Bishops Recommend Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 October 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/10/26/news/lancaster-conference-bishops-recommend-withdrawal-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference Leaders Propose Withdrawal from MC USA." Mennonite World Review. 26 July 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/07/26/news/lancaster-conference-leaders-recommend-withdrawing-from-mc-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster Conference to Leave Mennonite Church USA." Mennonite World Review. 24 November 2015. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2015/11/20/news/lancaster-conference-to-leave-mennonite-church-usa/.

Huber, Tim. "Lancaster's Distancing Shrinks Roll." Mennonite World Review. 26 January 2016. Web. 26 January 2016. http://mennoworld.org/2016/01/26/news/lancasters-distancing-shrinks-roll/.

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference begins new era." ''Mennonite World Review'' 2 April 2018. Web. 2 April 2018. http://mennoworld.org/2018/04/02/news/lancaster-conference-begins-new-era/

Stella, Rachel. "Lancaster Conference returning to independence: Leaders look toward collaborative relationships, revitalizing identity, mission." Mennonite World Review. 6 November 2017. Web. 6 November 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/11/06/news/lancaster-conference-returning-to-independence/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2160 Lincoln Hwy E Ste 5, Lancaster PA 17602-1150

'''Phone''': 717-293-5246 or 800-216-7249

'''Website''': [https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
== LMC Congregations ==
The following 160 congregations were members of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 2017:

<div align="center">
{| class="wikitable"
! Congregation !! City !! State
|-
| Abundant Life Chinese Mennonite Church || Cherry Hill || New Jersey
|-
| [[Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church (Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA)|Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church]] || Williamsport || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alive Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alive Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Alleluia Worship Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Alleluia Worship Center]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Assured Hope Community Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Aurora Mennonite Church (Aurora, Ohio, USA)|Aurora Mennonite Church]] || Aurora || Ohio
|-
| [[Crossroads Fellowship (Corry, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaverdam Mennonite Church]] || Corry || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Believers Mennonite Garifuna Ministries]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Benders Mennonite Church (Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Benders Mennonite Church]] || Pen Argyl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Gate (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bethlehem Community Fellowship]] || Bethlehem || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport Mennonite Church]] || Reinholds || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blough Mennonite Church]] || Hollsopple || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Bowmansville Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bowmansville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Morris Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Morris Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cambridge Mennonite Church (Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cambridge Mennonite Church]] || Honey Brook || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Capital Christian Fellowship (Lanham, Maryland, USA)|Capital Christian Fellowship]] || Lanham || Maryland
|-
| [[Carpenter Community Church (Talmage, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Community Church]] || Talmage || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Carpenter Park Mennonite Church (Davidsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Carpenter Park Mennonite Church]] || Davidsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Cedar Lane Chapel (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cedar Lane Chapel]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church]] || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Church for the Needy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Church for the Needy]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Church of the Overcomer || Trainer || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown Mennonite Church]] || Narvon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Coatesville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Coatesville Mennonite Church]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Community Mennonite Fellowship (Milton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Community Mennonite Fellowship]] || Milton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción (Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Nueva Canción]] || Sunbury || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Congregación Menonita Shalom (New Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Congregación Menonita Shalom]] || New Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| CONNECT || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Community Fellowship (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Community Fellowship]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Crossroads Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crossroads Mennonite]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware County Fellowship (Folcroft, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware County Fellowship]] || Folcroft || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Delaware Mennonite Church (Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Delaware Mennonite Church]] || Thompsontown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Diller Mennonite Church (Newville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Diller Mennonite Church]] || Newville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg Mennonite Church]] || East Petersburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Église Evangelique de l'Arbre de Vie]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Emmanuel Community Fellowship (Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, USA)|Emmanuel Community Fellowship]] || Jersey Shore || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erb Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erb Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Erisman Mennonite Church (Rapho Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Erisman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster (Landisville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Lancaster]] || Landisville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Baltimore]] || Windsor Mill || Maryland
|-
| Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Philadelphia || Lansdowne || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Middletown]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Center for Revival (Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Evangelical Center for Revival – Hatfield]] || Hatfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church (Bronx, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan (Manhattan, New York, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church of Manhattan]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[First Deaf Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|First Deaf Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[First Mennonite Church (Berne, Indiana, USA)|First Mennonite Church Berne]] || Berne|| Indiana
|-
| [[Freedom in Christ Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Freedom in Christ Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gehman Mennonite Church (Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gehman Mennonite Church]] || Adamstown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Gingrichs Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Gingrichs Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Glade Mennonite Church (Accident, Maryland, USA)|Glade Mennonite Church]] || Accident || Maryland
|-
| [[Good's Mennonite Church (Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goods Mennonite Church]] || Bainbridge || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Goodville Mennonite Church (Goodville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Goodville Mennonite Church]] || Goodville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Grace Community Fellowship (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Grace Community Fellowship]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Greater Works Deliverance Church || Brookhaven || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Green Terrace Mennonite Church (Wernersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Green Terrace Mennonite Church]] || Wernersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Groffdale Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Groffdale Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hammer Creek Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA) |Hammer Creek Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hampden Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hampden Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Hershey Mennonite Church (Kinzers, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hershey Mennonite Church]] || Kinzers || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Valle de Jesus]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Evangélica El Buen Pastor]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Faro Ardiente (Vineland, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Faro Ardiente]] || Vineland || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida (Camden, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Manantial de Vida]] || Camden || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Arca de Salvación (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Hispana Vida Nueva || Burke || Virginia
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Palabra de Vida (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Palabra de Vida]] || Kennett Square || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Puerta de Sion (Trenton, New Jersey, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Puerta de Sion]] || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Iglesia Roca de Salvacion (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Iglesia Roca de Salvacion]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| Iglesia Unida de Avivamiento || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| Immanuel Community Church || Flushing || New York
|-
| [[Infinity Mennonite Church (New York, New York, USA)|Infinity Mennonite Church]] || New York || New York
|-
| [[Iglesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Jesucristo es el Señor]] || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Jesucristo Es La Respuesta || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Kauffman Mennonite Church (Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)|Kauffman Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)|King of Glory Tabernacle]] || Bronx || New York
|-
| [[Krall’s Mennonite Church (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Krall's Mennonite Church]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica La Luz del Mundo (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|La Luz del Mundo]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Landis Valley Christian Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Landis Valley Christian Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lao Mennonite Fellowship (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lao Mennonite Fellowship/Slate Hill]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Latter Rain House of Restoration (Claymont, Delaware, USA)|Latter Rain House of Restoration]] || Claymont || Delaware
|-
| [[Laurel Street Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Laurel Street Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lauver Mennonite Church (Richfield, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lauver Mennonite Church]] || Richfield || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lebanon Christian Fellowship (Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon Christian Fellowship]] || Lebanon || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Light Mennonite Church (Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, USA)|Living Light Mennonite Church]] || Washington Boro || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Living Word Bible Fellowship (Boyds, Maryland, USA)|Living Word Bible Fellowship]] || Boyds || Maryland
|-
| [[Lost Creek Mennonite Church (Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lost Creek Mennonite Church]] || Mifflintown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Love Truth Chinese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Love Truth Chinese Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangélica Luz Verdadera (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Luz Verdadera]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Manheim Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Manheim Mennonite Church]] || Manheim || Pennsylvania
|-
| Mara Christian Church of America, Baltimore || Catonsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship (Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA)|Maranatha Family Christian Fellowship ]] || Nazareth || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Marietta Community Chapel (Marietta, Pennsylvania, USA)|Marietta Community Chapel]] || Marietta || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Martindale Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Martindale Mennonite Church]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church (Swanton, Maryland, USA)|Meadow Mountain Mennonite Church]] || Swanton || Maryland
|-
| [[Meadville Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA) |Meadville Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church (Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mechanic Grove Mennonite Church]] || Quarryville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Meckville Mennonite Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Meckville Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mennonite Bible Fellowship (New Haven, Connecticut, USA)|Mennonite Bible Fellowship]] || New Haven || Connecticut
|-
| Mennonite Church Nueva Shalom || Falls Church || Virginia
|-
| [[Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Mennonite Evangelistic Tabernacle]] || Brooklyn || New York
|-
| [[Metzler Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)|Metzler Mennonite Church]] || Lititz || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millersville Mennonite Church (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville Mennonite Church]] || Millersville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Millport Mennonite Church (Leola, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millport Mennonite Church]] || Leola || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Moorhead Mennonite Church (Shreve, Ohio, USA)|Moorhead Mennonite Church]] || Shreve || Ohio
|-
| [[Mosaic International Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mosaic International Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mount Joy Mennonite Church (Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mount Joy Mennonite Church]] || Mount Joy || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain Spring Mennonite Church (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain Spring Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountain View Fellowship (Trout Run, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain View Fellowship]] || Trout Run || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountainside Bible Church (Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountainside Bible Church]] || Pottsville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Mountville Mennonite Church (Mountville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountville Mennonite Church]] || Mountville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Nanticoke Christian Fellowship (Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nanticoke Christian Fellowship]] || Nanticoke || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Danville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Danville Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| New Hope Community Church || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life Christian Fellowship (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)|New Life Christian Fellowship]] || Honolulu || Hawaii
|-
| [[New Life Mennonite Church (Ellicott City, Maryland, USA)|New Life Mennonite Church]] || Ellicott City || Maryland
|-
| [[New Providence Mennonite Church (New Providence, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Providence Mennonite Church]] || New Providence || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Newlinville Mennonite Church (Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Newlinville Mennonite Church ]] || Coatesville || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Norma Mennonite Church (Norma, New Jersey, USA)|Norma Mennonite Church]] || Norma || New Jersey
|-
| [[North Lima Mennonite Church (North Lima, Ohio, USA)|North Lima Mennonite Church]] || North Lima || Ohio
|-
| Nueva Vida en Cristo || Trenton || New Jersey
|-
| [[Oak Grove Mennonite Church (Grantsville, Maryland, USA)|Oak Grove Mennonite Church]] || Grantsville || Maryland
|-
| [[Old Road Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Old Road Mennonite Church]] || Gap || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Oxford Circle Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Oxford Circle Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkesburg Mennonite Church (Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkesburg Mennonite Church]] || Parkesburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Parkview Mennonite Church (Stevens, Pennsylvania, USA)|Parkview Mennonite Church]] || Stevens || Pennsylvania
|-
| Peabody Street Mennonite Church || Washington || District of Columbia
|-
| [[Pinto Mennonite Church (Pinto, Maryland, USA)|Pinto Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Maryland
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Casa del Rey (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Prince of Peace Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| REACH Church || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Red Run Mennonite Church (Denver, Pennsylvania, USA)|Red Run Mennonite Church]] || Denver || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Risser's Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Risser Mennonite Church]] || Elizabethtown || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[River Corner Mennonite Church (Conestoga, Pennsylvania, USA)|River Corner Mennonite Church]] || Conestoga || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RiversEdge Fellowship (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|RiversEdge Fellowship]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Roedersville Mennonite Church (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Roedersville Mennonite Church]] || Pine Grove || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[RMC Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Rohrerstown Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[New Life in Christ Church (Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA)|Schubert Mennonite Church]] || Bethel || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Reading, Pennsylvania, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Reading || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Slate Hill Mennonite Church (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA) |Slate Hill Mennonite Church]] || Camp Hill || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Steelton Mennonite Church (Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA)|Steelton Mennonite Church]] || Steelton || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stony Brook Mennonite Church (York, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stony Brook Mennonite Church]] || York || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Strasburg Mennonite Church (Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strasburg Mennonite Church]] || Strasburg || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Stumptown Mennonite Church (Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stumptown Mennonite Church]] || Bird-in-Hand || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship, The (Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)|The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship]] || Chester || Pennsylvania
|-
| Tinsae Kristos Evangelical Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, USA)|Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship]] || Penn Valley || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vietnamese Christian Fellowship || Pearl City || Hawaii
|-
| [[Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennonite Church]] || Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
|-
| Village Chapel Mennonite Church || New Holland || Pennsylvania
|-
| Vision Columbia || Columbia || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland Mennonite Church]] || East Earl || Pennsylvania
|-
| West End Mennonite Church || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church (Baltimore, Maryland, USA)|Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church]] || Baltimore || Maryland
|-
| [[Willow Street Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Willow Street Mennonite Church]] || Willow Street || Pennsylvania
|-
| [[Witmer Heights Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Witmer Heights Mennonite Church]] || Lancaster || Pennsylvania
|}
</div>

= Original Articles from Mennonite Encyclopedia =
By Ira D. Landis & Carolyn C. Wenger. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 275-279; vol. 4, p. 1146 & vol. 5, p. 504. All rights reserved.
== 1957 Article ==
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA ) first convened in 1711, a few months after the Swiss-Palatine immigrants had established themselves in their new home, to select by lot one of their number to return to Europe. [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], their bishop and general adviser, was chosen, but Martin Kendig actually returned. In 1725 five representatives, Martin Baer, Hans Burkholtzer, Christian Herr, Benedikt Hirsche, and Johannes Bowman, attended the first general Mennonite Conference, held probably in Manatawny, when the historic[[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)| Dordrecht Confession]] was translated into English and signed by 16 leaders, for all American Mennonites. The Conference always established peaceful relationships with the Indigenous, so that within the confines of the central county no blood was spilled on either side.

The Christian Herr house, built in 1719 on the Conestoga Road, connecting [[Indiantown Mennonite Church (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Indiantown]], Brandywine, and [[Germantown Mennonite Settlement (Pennsylvania, USA)|Germantown]], is the oldest meetinghouse dwelling still standing in the county. The John Herr house, built in 1740, for 60 years provided a large room on the second floor as a place of worship. [[Abbeyville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Abbeyville]] and [[Weaverland Mennonite Church (East Earl, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaverland]] were built before 1750, the members having previously met in private houses and [[Barns|barns]]. [[Gantz-Hernley Mennonite Church (Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA)|Hernley]] (1745), [[Habecker Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Habecker]] (1760), and [[Bair Mennonite Meetinghouse (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bair's Hanover]] (1774) were built on Penn grants. The [[Byerland Mennonite Church (Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA)|Byerland house]] (1747) is preserved as a sample of the simplicity and miniature size of the meetinghouses in the woods of that day. In the 1950s many were about 50-60 ft. x 100 ft. They still were conservative in architecture, economically built with considerable free labor by the members, simple but practical, of brick or substantial blocks, with a raised pulpit at one end, and the floor sloping toward it, and furnished with basements for religious education and meals for all-day meetings.

Fifteen years after the first settlement in Lampeter, the Mennonites were located throughout [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] and ready to overflow. The Conference nurtured some of the scattered daughter colonies until full-fledged in the [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], [[Washington County (Maryland) and Franklin County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Conference|Washington County (Maryland, USA)-Franklin County (Pennsylvania)]], and the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southwestern Pennsylvania Conferences]]. The Conference gave not only [[Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)|Benjamin Eby]] to Ontario, but most of the pioneers of both [[Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo]] and Woolwich Townships (Ontario, Canada), to establish two strong Mennonite communities in Upper Canada. It sent Ebersoles, [[Lehman (Lehmann, Layman, Leemann, Leeman, Leaman) family|Lehmans]], [[Horst (Hurst) family|Horsts]], and [[Martin family name|Martins]] to people [[Franklin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Franklin County]], Pennsylvania, and [[Washington County (Maryland, USA)|Washington County]], Maryland, mostly in 1790 and later. It gave [[Weaver (Weber) family|Weavers]], Abraham Brubaker, Rhodes, Stricklers, [[Hiestand (Histand, Heistand, Heystandt) family|Heistands]], etc., first to the northern Shenandoah Valley, Virginia; then by 1790 David Heatwole, Joseph Wenger, [[Burkholder, Peter (1783-1846)|Peter Burkholder]], and others to [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], Virginia. John Graybill went to [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata County]] in the early 1770s, followed by [[Brubacher (Brubacker, Brubaker, Brubaher, Brupacher) family |Brubakers]] and Shellenbergers; they in turn peopled [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]] and Freeport, Illinois. John Brubaker started Rockton, Pennsylvania. [[Ressler, Jacob Andrews (1867-1936)|J. A. Ressler]] opened the India Mission in 1899. The Snyders and Abram Metzler established the church at Martinsburg in Morrison's Cove, [[Blair County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Blair County]]. Bishop Michael Horst went from here to Stark County, Ohio, the Metzlers to [[Columbiana County (Ohio, USA)|Columbiana County]], John M. Greider to Clark County, William Westheffer and Henry Martin to Martin's Church, [[Wayne County (Ohio, USA)|Wayne County]], Ohio. Christian Snavely went to Sterling and Simon Graybill to Freeport, Illinois. David B., John M. R., and Reuben M. Weaver, Daniel A. Diener, [[Erb, Tillman M. (1865-1929)|Tillman Erb]], [[Charles, John Denlinger (1878-1923)|J. D. Charles]], and Abram Hess went to Hesston and elsewhere in Kansas. John M. Kreider went to Palmyra, Missouri).

They were always thrifty, with large families earlier, and of the middle class of Americans, preferring independence of one another, but in times of stress and strain, ready for the necessary relief. As pioneers they had more extensive [[Barns|barns]] than houses, so that both in this area were considerably larger than in most other large American communities. The best agricultural practices were followed. Some hemp and flax were raised in the first century. Dairying, beef fattening, and later poultry raising, including broiler production, was a big factor in preserving the fertility of the soil. This with industry, diversification, and crop rotation always placed [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] as the first in America in agricultural wealth. The land values, increased from 35 cents to $1,800 per acre by the 1950s, meant smaller farms, but the cost of building mostly offset this trend. At first the parents retired on the farm, but in later times in towns. There were town meetinghouses in Lancaster (1879), [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] (1905), [[Lititz Mennonite Church (Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lititz]] (1906), and Mt. Joy (1908). Others were built later. In 1956, 60 per cent of the members were still dependent upon agriculture. The rest were in industry, domestic employment, and the professions, especially teaching.

During the German ferment period, 1729-ca. 1790, their preachers were not permitted to perform marriages. They became naturalized beginning with 1729, under the British Crown. By 1742 Hans Tschantz called a conference to reprimand Martin Meylin for his large, extravagant sandstone house, to hold to simplicity and allay any undue suspicions among the neighbors concerning their prosperity. On 7 September 1758 a committee was sent to Holland to obtain aid for the suffering Virginia brethren. On 7 November 1775 they appealed to the Colonial Assembly for recognition of their conscientious scruples, which resulted in favorable legislation.

It was during the Revolutionary days that the United Brethren Church started here, when a Mennonite bishop, [[Boehm, Martin (1725-1812)|Martin Boehm]], and a Reformed minister, Philip W. Otterbein, met in 1767 in Isaac Long's barn. The former was excommunicated in 1777 and the new church began 1780, and was revived by another ex-Mennonite, Christian Newcomer, at the turn of the century. The [[Brethren in Christ Church |Brethren in Christ]] in Conoy Township, [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], started about 1780. The [[Reformed Mennonite Church|Reformed Mennonites]] came later but officially started in 1812. The [[Stauffer Mennonite Church|Stauffer]] division occurred in 1845, the Martinite ([[Old Order Mennonites|Old Order Mennonite]]) in 1893, which in turn suffered the Joseph Wenger division in 1926. The [[Reidenbach Mennonite Church (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Reidenbach division]] in the Stauffer group occurred in 1946.

Semiannual conferences were held at the [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger meetinghouse]] in the fall and at one of the three Rohrerstown meetinghouses in the spring as far back as records are extant, about 1740. (Beginning in 1953 the latter was moved to [[East Petersburg Mennonite Church (East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Petersburg]].) Here all Conference decisions were made and approved or rejected. This was the practice up to the early 20th century, with no long meeting of the Bishop Board prior to the session, at which the actual decisions are made for the Conference, with only nominal ratification by the total conference body. In the 1950s the bishops met monthly or oftener for a day or more before the meeting of Conference.

The moderators of Lancaster Conference in order were [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]], [[Burkholder, Hans (d. ca. 1745)|Hans Burkholder]], Hans Tschantz, Bentz Hirschi, [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]], Jacob Brubaker, Samuel Nissley, [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]], Jacob Hostetter, Benjamin Herr, [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]], Benjamin Zimmerman, [[Weaver, Benjamin (1853-1928)|Benjamin Weaver]], Noah L. Landis, W. W. Graybill, and Henry E. Lutz. By 1912 Peter R. Nissley became the first secretary. The officers in 1956 were H. E. Lutz, Moderator, Noah W. Risser, Assistant Moderator, Amos S. Horst, Secretary, [[Danner, Richard Emanuel (1907-1982)|Richard Danner]], Assistant Secretary, and Mahlon Witmer, Treasurer. Until the mid-20th century the senior bishop in order of service served as moderator. Henry Lutz was the first elected moderator.

The Conference with more than 150 preaching points in 1956 included within [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] 78 churches from [[Blainsport Mennonite Church (Reinholds, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blainsport]] to Oak Shade, from [[Churchtown Mennonite Church (Narvon, Pennsylvania, USA)|Churchtown]] to [[Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]], with 640 and 621 members in the two largest, Weaverland and [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger]], both distinctly rural. Then there were eight in [[Lebanon County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lebanon County]], three in [[Cumberland County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Cumberland County]], ten in York and [[Adams County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Adams]], five in [[Dauphin County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Dauphin]], three in [[Berks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Berks]], seven in [[Juniata County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Juniata]], Snyder, and Union Counties, with many more scattered (see missions below).

These are divided into 19 bishop districts in 1956. Weaverland, the largest, had 18 preaching points, 1,897 members, 17 Sunday schools with an enrollment of 3,012 and an average attendance of 2,520, and 19 summer Bible schools with 2,925 and 2,477 respectively, and two young people's Bible meetings with 183 in attendance. Bishop J. Paul Graybill was assisted by 20 ministers and 10 deacons. The total membership in 1954 was 15,166, with 23 bishops, 193 ministers, and 102 deacons.

The Spring Conference in 1871 sanctioned the [[Sunday School|Sunday-school]] movement and in 1956 in 148 schools, there was an enrollment of 22,706 and an attendance of 18,175. Following the first (1927) summer Bible school at [[Norris Square Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Norris Square]], Philadelphia, the movement grew until in 1953 there were in the Conference 165 with 26,116 enrolled and an average attendance for the ten nights of 23,312. The young people's Bible meetings started in the early 20th century and the number slowly increased, with 6,724 attending, meetings customarily held on Saturday evenings.

In 1956 this, the largest and second oldest conference, close communion was observed with unfermented wine. Adult baptism by pouring was generally held in the meetinghouse. Anointing with oil was a bit more prominent than a few decades earlier. Divorce was not sanctioned and weddings within the church were encouraged; in either home or church they were to be held with simplicity. The [[Kiss, Holy|holy kiss]] was still practiced. The devotional covering was conscientiously and continuously worn. A distinct garb, both for the men and women, was strongly advocated and observed by most in the 1950s. The plain garb was required of the women for membership, and of the men for active participation in church work, though not for membership.

The ministers have other vocations; formerly they were all farmers. They received no salary and frequently no support. In the 1950s there were five ministers who could still preach German; the transition to English was at its peak by 1900. For two centuries the types and figures and the sufferings of our Lord were rehearsed at communion time. At the semiannual counsel meeting, Matthew 18:1-22 was the Scriptural basis of the sermon. At preparatory services, generally on the Saturday before communion, Matthew 6:1-18 was used; at the ordination of a deacon Acts 6:1-7, of a minister Luke 10:1-20, and of a bishop John 21:15-17. The ministers were chosen by lot in the established congregation, unless there is but one candidate. When the votes are to be taken, the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, etc., for the office were stressed. The congregation was given the opportunity to present their choices to the bishops present. One vote for the offices of deacon and minister and five for the bishop placed the recipient in a class for examination. The ordination then followed in two to seven days.

After October 1905 a revival meeting was held annually or biennially in each congregation. At [[Elizabethtown Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Elizabethtown]] in early 1906 there was a class of 130 converts. There were numerous large classes, but the largest were in the first two decades. While the number in classes was low generally by the 1950s, the revival did much to revive a congregation and was an additional blessing to our ministers.

The Mission Movement beginning in the mid-1890's received real impetus from this Conference. With John Mellinger and the [[Paradise (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Paradise]] district we had not only what was necessary to crystallize and establish local and foreign missions here, but as a spur into other areas. With the organization in 1916 of the mission board ([[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]]), the earlier missions in many cases took on new life, but the work also spread, so that in 1956 there were six missions in central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], a large field developed on the Alabama-Florida border, three missions each in Tampa (Florida), [[New York (USA)|New York]], Philadelphia, and Reading, two in Coatesville, one each in Lebanon and Harrisburg. In addition to the eight in and around Lancaster, there were numerous other missions in and within driving distance of the central county. Some were also in prospect in central and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and rural New York. In 1934 the first foreign missionaries were sent to Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]), in 1948 to [[Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], in 1950 to northern [[Honduras|Honduras]], in 1951 to [[Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] in Europe, and to [[Sommerfeld Colony (Bolivia)|Somalia]] in Africa in 1953. On 1 January 1954 there were 86 missionaries attached to the foreign mission fields and about 67 stations with 360 missionary workers in America, besides the established congregations and their work.

In the early day the children were given all their schooling in their homes. At the turn of the 18th century the school and church were often under one roof. Our home township had four of these—Landis, Lehn, Rudy, and Frick. Then with the enactment of the public school laws in 1834 and 1836, the Mennonites were opposed to sending their children to such schools, for the blessings of education in their schools under their own supervision would be lost. At Erisman, Risser, Hammer Creek, Stumptown, Cross Roads, [[Bossler Mennonite Church (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Bossler]], [[Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church (Columbia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Chestnut Hill]], Metzler, and Weaverland, the school was then placed on the adjoining grounds. Again in the 1950s with the school far removed geographically and spiritually from the church, there was a retrenchment in the Christian Day School movement. The first school of this kind was opened at Locust Grove in 1939. By the mid-1950s there were 19 in the area, exclusive of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] and the Shaeffer Private School, with 45 teachers and about 1,228 pupils.

Although requested in 1922, the first Ephrata Winter Bible school was held in 1938, and after five terms the [[Lancaster Mennonite School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster Mennonite School]] opened in the fall of 1942, with a special Bible term added in 1953. It is a full high school, operated by a board of trustees appointed by the conference. The enrollment in 1954-55 was 303, with a faculty of 18. Some of the above elementary schools have ninth and tenth grades. In Tanganyika ([[Tanzania, United Republic of|Tanzania]]) there were 60 bush schools with a thousand pupils, with some primary and middle schools started.

The winter Bible schools were placed at pivotal points in the Conference, beginning in 1943, meeting Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks in January and February, until by 1956 there were 13 such, with an additional day school of two weeks at [[Millwood Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millwood]]. These reached 2,200-2,500 of our constituency. They included book study, the Bible, missions, Christian education, Christian ethics, theology, and pedagogy, using chiefly our own literature as texts. Like the Sunday school they reached all ages.

By the 1950s there were three [[Homes, Retirement and Nursing|old people's homes]] in this Conference. Oreville in 1903 was the first. The [[Welsh Mountain Industrial Mission (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Welsh Mountain Mission]] (1898) gradually developed into the [[Welsh Mountain Samaritan Home (New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA)|Good Samaritan Home]]. In 1953 the Philadelphia Colored Home was opened. Together about 185 were provided for within these three institutions. A girls' home for Mennonites working as domestics in Reading served for many years. A [[Mennonite Children's Home (Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA)|children's home]] in [[Millersville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Millersville]] in 1911 began to invite unfortunate children of all ages into its sphere, with Levi Sauder serving as superintendent until his death in October 1940. 1,215 children had received physical and spiritual nurture here by 1956.

In loving appreciation of what God through the Dutch Foreign Relief Committee accomplished in bringing the Mennonites to America, they aided wherever possible, not only in the early years when it was a case of mutual survival, but throughout the years. In the 1870's and 1922 they did their part in settling the Russian Mennonites on this continent. Following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] [[Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)|Orie O. Miller]], the Myers, Zimmermans, and others served in France and Near East Relief. The MCC has been a channel for immigration and [[Relief Work|relief]] funds from the Conference since 1920, aggregating in 1949-1952 alone more than $224,500. The Conference has always had a member on the MCC, first John Mellinger, and later Henry F. Garber. The sewing circles were a substantial aid in giving materials in kind over the years. The movement began in 1895 in the Paradise district, developing into a general circle by 1911. Many tons have moved out from and through the Ephrata Clothing Depot, into overseas relief distribution. The Mary Mellinger cutting room at Paradise in 1948 served an ever-enlarging constituency and service both local and world-wide.

Through itinerant evangelism and Voluntary Service, by the mid-1950s the summer Bible schools not only spread over the southeastern states, central [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], and northern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], but exceeded the Sunday-school figures by 3,400; they reached the unreached, not only in isolated places, but in migrant work camps the year round and among the Puerto Ricans in the [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]] area and established missions and congregations.

The Peace Problems Committee, earlier the Bishop Board, helped to steer the church through the war years, promoted nonresistance teaching, provided for the pastoral care of men in [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] and [[I-W Service (United States)|I-W service]], and represented the church in its peace testimony.

The Lancaster (Mental) Hospital opened in 1952 on the north edge of Mt. Gretna, with a maximum capacity of 35 patients, with one doctor, two nurses, and numerous helpers. A large farm was attached. It was called Philhaven.

The historic German[[Martyrs' Mirror]] (1748), with the Ephrata prints of [[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|Ernsthafte Christen]][[Ernsthafte Christenpflicht|pflicht]] of 1745, 1770, 1785, and 1808, and the 1769 [[Christliches Gemütsgespräch|Christliches Gemüthsgespräch]], following the English translation (1727) of the historic [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession]], adopted by the 1725 Conference, were the known extent of our Mennonite publications for this century. But in the next 15 decades this changed. The Ernsthafte Christenpflicht appeared in Lancaster in 1826, 1841, 1852, 1862, 1868, 1875, 1876, 1892, 1904, and 1927, and the Gemüthsgespräch there in 1811, 1836, 1869, and 1892, English 1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and at Union Grove in 1921. The [[Ausbund|Ausbund]] was reprinted at Lancaster eight times, 1815, 1834, 1846, 1856, 1868, 1880, 1908, and 1912. The Unparteyisches Gesangbuch (1804-1923) appeared in 17 editions as the official conference hymnbook. The [[Ehrenfried, Joseph (1783-1862)|Ehrenfried]] Martyrs' Mirror was published in 1814 and the Lampeter edition of I. D. Rupp in 1836. [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]]' Fundamentbuch appeared in German at Lancaster in 1794, 1835, 1853, and 1876, in English in 1835, 1863, and 1869. Christian Spiritual Conversation in Saving Faith (1857, 1870, 1878, 1892, and 1921), a translation of Christliches Gemüthsgespräch, included [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder's]] Counsel for Youth, a translation of Anrede an die Jugend, which appeared in two editions in Ephrata in 1804, and was added to the Gemüthsgespräch in its editions of 1839, 1848, 1868, 1869, and 1873, but had a separate edition at [[Allentown (Pennsylvania, USA)|Allentown]] in 1829. [[Wandering Soul|The Wandering Soul]], which appeared in 8 German and 10 English editions in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] 1768-1919, appeared in English in Lancaster in 1874. In 1787 the Froschauer New Testament was published in German at Ephrata.

One of the first original writings known aside from Christian Burkholder's was a series of three Question and Answer Booklets for the Sunday School, prepared by [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] and other leaders with [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] in 1880 and 1881. Earlier was the Conference Meeting Calendar in 1854, prepared by Abraham Martin. The other Calendar editors for the century were Abraham Brubaker, [[Weaver, John W. (1870-1944)|John W. Weaver]], and after 1940 Ira D. Landis.

The Rules and Discipline of Lancaster Conference was put into a printed leaflet in 1881 and has appeared since in numerous revisions, the last in 1954. In the same decade (1880) appeared [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher's]] Brubaker Genealogy and in 1896 John Hess's second Hess Genealogy. In 1902 [[Wenger, Amos Daniel (1867-1935)|A. D. Wenger's]] Six Months in Bible Lands was published and in 1931 Martin G. Weaver's Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the first conference history attempted by any Mennonite.

After 1924 the [[Missionary Messenger, The (Periodical) |Missionary Messenger]] was the official organ of the Mission Board and after 1941 the Pastoral Messenger of the Conference. The Mennonite Youth Service (1951) was a monthly, Victory Calls (1949), an annual, and by the 1950s many congregations had weekly or fortnightly bulletins.

The Christian Nurture Committee revised the [[Weekday Bible School|weekday Bible school]] manuals of the late thirties, so that by 1955 there were be new courses from kindergarten I to grade VIII, with two for high-school grades. This committee prepared Youth Faces Life and Making Our Homes Christian, two smaller publications for religious education. It had a ten-year program of Bible Memory work for school and Sunday school, and a Bible reading program for family altars, beginning with the whole New Testament in 1954.

The Hershey Genealogy by Henry Hershey appeared in 1929, the Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites in 1937, Faith of Our Fathers on Eschatology (1946), The Landis Family Book, Sections I-IV (1950-54), and I Must See Switzerland (1954) by Ira D. Landis. Africa Calls (1936) by Catherine Leatherman and Ada Zimmerman, Africa Answers (1951) by Merle Eshleman, Noah Mack, His Life and Times (1952) by Graybill, Landis, and Sauder, and Christian Manhood (1948) by Eshleman and Mack were other publications by Lancaster authors.

The Conference has had outstanding leaders in [[Herr, Hans (1639-1725)|Hans Herr]] (1639-1725), [[Brechbill, Benedikt (1665-ca. 1720)|Benedict Brackbill]] (1665-1720), Bentz Hirsche (1697-1789), [[Burkholder, Christian (1746-1809)|Christian Burkholder]] (1746-1809), [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter Eby]] (1766-1843), Jacob Hostetter (1774-1865), [[Brubacher, Jacob N. (1838-1913)|Jacob N. Brubacher]] (1838-1913), and layman [[Mellinger, John H. (1858-1952)|John H. Mellinger]] (1858-1952). With their foundations and links in co-operation with every member in the 1950s, on [[Nonconformity|nonconformity]], including apparel, the Conference was conservative, on [[Nonresistance|nonresistance]] officially solid, considerably opposed to Calvinism and [[Eternal Security|eternal security]], but slightly colored by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalism]] and [[Pietism|pietism]]. -- Ira D. Landis
== 1990 Update ==
Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the largest conference of the Mennonite Church (MC), shifted from the relative uniformity of religious thought and expression of the 1950s and extended borders geographically, ethnically, and numerically. Membership in 1950 numbered 14,061 in 18 bishop districts, all but one in Pennsylvania. Membership in 1986 was 17,033 in 30 districts with approximately one-third outside [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], from Maine to Florida. In 2005 there were 17,496 members in 186 congregations in 26 bishop districts.

Increased involvement in foreign and home missions and in higher education led to formation of more bishop districts, which decentralized the authority of the Bishop Board. Congregations developed greater autonomy and formal organization, dropped specific membership requirements, and tolerated more diverse patterns of religious thought and expression, such as instrumental music, open rather than close communion, [[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]] influences, increased employment of professional staff members in greater divisions of labor, and the appropriation of prevailing cultural values ([[Acculturation|acculturation]]). Preference still existed for team ministry.

Several schisms developed in response to these compromises. In 1960 nine ordained men withdrew to form the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood; some of them eventually associated with the [[Nationwide Fellowship Churches|Fellowship Churches]]. In 1969 the [[Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church]] was organized in the wake of differences over general trends and specific issues related to [[Divorce and Remarriage|divorce and remarriage]], [[Television|television]], and relaxed [[Dress|dress]] requirements. In 1975 approximately 200 members formed the [[Conservative Mennonite Churches of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania]].

Despite repeated invitations and limited fraternal ties, Lancaster Conference did not officially join the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]] general conference (general assembly) until 1971. In 1977 it reorganized with a structure parallel to the Mennonite Church (MC). Instead of all committees and boards responsible to the Bishop Board as previously, the Bishop Board still served as the executive board of the conference but was assisted by a Conference Coordinating Council, which coordinated four program boards: [[Eastern Mennonite Missions (Lancaster Mennonite Conference)|Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]], Board of Education, Board of Brotherhood Ministries, and Board of Congregational Resources. Four other agencies served the conference: Leadership Council, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Women's Missionary and Service Commission, and Finance Committee. Lancaster Conference News began in 1981 as the semimonthly successor to Pastoral Messenger and Newsletter. It provides news and interpretation of conference programs and needs. -- Carolyn C. Wenger

== Original Bibliographies ==
Graber, Robert Bates. "An Amiable Mennonite Schism: The Origin of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 (October 1984): 2-10.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 608.

Kraybill, Donald B. "Amish, Mennonites, and Brethren in the Modern Era." Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 10 (April 1987): 2-20.

Landis, Ira D. The Missionary Movement Among Lancaster Conference Mennonites. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1938.

Landis, Ira D. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference History and Background. [Lancaster, Pa.?] : Christian Nurture Committee of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, 1956.

Weaver, Martin. G. Mennonites of Lancaster Conference : Containing Biographical Sketches of Mennonite Leaders, Histories of Congregations, Missions, and Sunday Schools, Record of Ordinations, and Other Interesting Historical Data. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931.
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[[Category:Denominations]]

Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship (Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-04-05T13:09:37Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship began in September 2008 as a church plant of the Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennon..."

__TOC__
The Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship began in September 2008 as a church plant of the [[Vietnamese Mennonite Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)|Vietnamese Mennonite Fellowship]] in [[Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. Luc Pham led the outreach.

It has been affiliated with [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|LMCː a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]].
= Bibliography =
Nguyen, Crystal. "Day by day with God." LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches. 19 July 2019. Web. 3 April 2026. https://lmcchurches.org/2019/07/day-by-day-with-god/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 6839 Chestnut Street, Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania 19082

'''Telephone''': 610-659-2848

'''Website''':

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Upper Darby Mennonite Fellowship ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Luc T. Pham || 2008-
|-
| Danh Ho (Associate) || 2018-
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)

2026-04-02T15:27:34Z

SamSteiner: /* 2018 Update */ added links

__TOC__
=1990 Article=
From 1927 to 1967 Mennonite churches in the Southeastern [[United States of America|United States]] belonged to the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan]], [[Ohio Mennonite Conference|Ohio]], [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster]], [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia]], or [[Conservative Mennonite Conference|Conservative Mennonite]] conferences ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]) and had few ties to one another.

The Southeast Mennonite Convention was born on 9-10 August 1967 when a group of 13 ministers and a few lay people representing Mennonite churches in [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], [[Georgia (USA)|Georgia]], and [[South Carolina (USA)|South Carolina ]] met in Tampa, Florida, to discuss mission strategy for Mennonites in the Southeast. For six years the convention was an informal fellowship for Mennonite churches in the Southeast.

In 1973 the convention affirmed a plan to become a regional conference affiliated with the Mennonite Church (MC) General Assembly. Except for those affiliated with the Conservative Mennonite Conference, the congregations eventually chose to discontinue formal ties to the parent conferences.

In 1987 the convention changed its name to Southeast Mennonite Conference. It had 23 congregations totaling approximately 2,000 members. Major conference components were the Board of Congregational Outreach, Board of Congregational Life, Southeast Mennonite Mutual Aid Board, Women's Mission and Service Commission, Congregational Leadership Committee, and Peace and Social Concerns Committee. An executive committee oversees the conference's work. The conference office is in Sarasota, Florida. The official publication was Proclamation, published 10 times each year.

The Sarasota Christian School, Sunnyside Properties and Nursing Home, World's Attic ([[Ten Thousand Villages|Ten Thousand Villages]]), and the Southern Mennonite Camp Association were affiliated institutions which reported to the conference.

=2018 Update=
Following a three-year discernment process, delegates of Southeast Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA voted on 5-6 October 2018 for the Southeast Mennonite Conference to leave Mennonite Church USA. The reason for the action was attributed to the "forbearance resolution" passed at the 2015 MC USA convention, and its relationship to the issue of homosexuality. That action became effective on 16 March 2019. At that time, all congregations were given one year to determine their future denominational affiliation.

Eventually, the Southeast Mennonite Conference became a district of [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]] as that former regional body developed into a nationwide denomination.

In 2018 the following 25 congregations were members of the Southeast Mennonite Conference, though some congregations were exploring other affiliations:

{| class="wikitable"
! Congregation !! City !! State
|-
| [[Americus Mennonite Fellowship (Americus, Georgia, USA)|Americus Mennonite Fellowship]] || Americus || Georgia
|-
| [[Église de Dieu Assemblee de la Grace (Immokalee, Florida, USA)|Assemblee de la Grace]] || Immokalee || Florida
|-
| Cape Christian Fellowship || Cape Coral || Florida
|-
| [[Church of God Prince of Peace (Miami, Florida, USA)|Church of God Prince of Peace]] || Miami || Florida
|-
| [[College Hill Mennonite Church (Tampa, Florida, USA)|College Hill Mennonite Church]] || Tampa || Florida
|-
| [[Emmanuel Mennonite Church (Gainesville, Florida, USA)|Emmanuel Mennonite Church]] || Gainesville || Florida
|-
| [[Garifuna Evangelical Church (Miami, Florida, USA)|Evangelical Garifuna Church]] || Lauderdale Lakes || Florida
|-
| Good Shepherd Evangelical || Miami || Florida
|-
| [[Homestead Mennonite Church (Homestead, Florida, USA)|Homestead Mennonite Church]] || Homestead || Florida
|-
| [[Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer (Apopka, Florida, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer]] || Apopka || Florida
|-
| [[Iglesia Evangelica Nueva Vida (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Iglesia Evangelica Nueva Vida]] || Sarasota || Florida
|-
| [[Iglesia Arca de Salvación (Fort Myers, Florida, USA)|Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion]] || Fort Myers || Florida
|-
| Iglesia Menonita Encuentro de Renovacion || Miami || Florida
|-
| Iglesia Seguidores de Cristo || Sarasota || Florida
|-
| [[Iglesia Menonita Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, Florida, USA)|Luz y Verdad]] || Lakeland || Florida
|-
| Luz y Vida Mennonite Church || Orlando || Florida
|-
| New Beginning Community Church || St. Petersburg || Florida
|-
| [[Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Newtown Gospel Chapel]] || Sarasota || Florida
|-
| [[North Tampa Christian Fellowship (Tampa, Florida, USA)|North Tampa Christian Fellowship]] || Tampa || Florida
|-
| Peace Christian Fellowship || North Port || Florida
|-
| [[Sarasota Community Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Sarasota Community Church]] || Sarasota|| Florida
|-
| The Gathering Tree || Key West || Florida
|-
| [[Unity Pentecostal Church of God Homestead (Homestead, Florida, USA)|Unity Pentecostal Church of God/Mennonite-Homestead]] || Homestead || Florida
|-
| [[Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA)|Unity Pentecostal Church of God - Miami]] || Miami || Florida
|-
| West Palm Beach Anabaptist Family Group || West Palm Beach || Florida
|}

= Bibliography =
Good, Sheldon C. "Southeast Churches Weigh New Affiliations." ''Mennonite World Review''. 3 June 2019. Web. http://mennoworld.org/2019/06/03/news/southeast-churches-weigh-new-affiliations/.

Good, Sheldon C. "Southeast Conference votes to leave MC USA." ''The Mennonite'' Daily News Updates. 15 October 2018. Web. https://themennonite.org/daily-news/southeast-conference-votes-leave-mc-usa/.

Horsch, James E., ed. Mennonite Yearbook and Directory. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House (1988-89): 79-80.

"Mennonite Church USA Online Directory." Online Directory, Mennonite Church USA. 15 June 2006. [http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/conference.asp http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/conference.asp?confID=48].

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 35 S Beneva Road Ste A, Sarasota FL 34232-1452

'''Phone''': 941-373-9459
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 5, p. 847|date=June 2019|a1_last=Lehman|a1_first=Martin W|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
[[Category:Area/Regional Conferences]]

Unity Pentecostal Church of God Homestead (Homestead, Florida, USA)

2026-04-02T15:26:35Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Unity Pentecostal Church of God of Homestead, in Homestead, Florida, began in about 2006 as an outreach to Haitian Americans in South Florida. Like it..."

__TOC__
The Unity Pentecostal Church of God of Homestead, in Homestead, [[Florida |Florida]], began in about 2006 as an outreach to Haitian Americans in South Florida. Like its [[Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA)|sister congregation in Miami]], it became affiliated with the [[Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southeast Mennonite Conference]] of [[Mennonite Church USA]].

When the Southeast Mennonite Conference withdrew from Mennonite Church USA in 2019 and the following year joined [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]], the congregation became part of that conference.

In 2026, the congregation's Facebook page described itself as Pentecostal, with no mention of an Anabaptist/Mennonite connection, though it remained listed as a member congregation of LMC.

= Bibliography =

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 45 South Flagler Street, Homestead, Florida 33030

'''Meeting Place''': 200 SW 4th Street, Homestead, Florida 33030-7110

'''Telephone''': 786-439-6939

'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064719879367

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2019)
== Pastoral Leaders at Unity Pentecostal Church of God ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Jean Peres Desir || 2006?-
|}
== Unity Pentecostal Church of God Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 2009 || 35
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Southeast Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Florida Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA)

2026-04-02T15:24:04Z

SamSteiner: SamSteiner moved page Unity Pentecostal Church of God Mennonite (Miami, Florida, USA) to Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA) without leaving a redirect

__TOC__
The Unity Pentecostal Church of God Mennonite in Miami, [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], began in February 1990 as an outreach to Haitian immigrants in South Florida. It used rented facilities until 1995 when it purchased its own temple.

At some point in the 1990s, the church connected with, and became a member congregation of, the [[Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southeast Mennonite Conference]] of the [[Mennonite Church (MC)]].

When the Southeast Mennonite Conference withdrew from [[Mennonite Church USA]] in 2019 and the following year joined [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]], the congregation became part of that conference.

In 2026, the congregation's website described itself as Pentecostal, with no mention of an Anabaptist/Mennonite connection, though it remained listed as a member congregation of LMC.

= Bibliography =
"How it all began." Unity Pentecostal Church of God. Web. 2 April 2026. https://www.upcogm.org/about/our-story/.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 801 NW 111th Street, Miami, Florida 33168

'''Telephone''': 786-439-6939

'''Website''': https://www.upcogm.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2019)
== Pastoral Leaders at Unity Pentecostal Church of God Mennonite ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Ducois Forestal || 1990-
|}
== Unity Pentecostal Church of God Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 2009 || 45
|}

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=April 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Southeast Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Florida Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Unity Pentecostal Church of God (Miami, Florida, USA)

2026-04-02T15:23:04Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Unity Pentecostal Church of God Mennonite in Miami, Florida, began in February 1990 as an outreach to Haitian immigrants in South Florida. It use..."

Community Mennonite Church of Stouffville (Stouffville, Ontario, Canada)

2026-04-01T18:43:37Z

SamSteiner: /* Community Mennonite Pastoral Leaders */ updated table

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
Community Mennonite Church of Stouffville, Stouffville, [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], [[Canada]], began in 1996 as an outreach from the [[Hagerman Mennonite Church (Markham, Ontario, Canada)|Hagerman Mennonite Church]]. In 1995 a significant number of members at Hagerman developed a vision to start a new church in the town of Stouffville, and about half the congregation helped to form the new congregation--about 30 adults and 25 children. Hagerman's pastor, Gord Alton, agreed to serve both congregations during a transition period that lasted four years. He continued as Community Mennonite's pastor for an additional six years.

Over the years, the Community Mennonite congregation's members have been active, both in local and national politics. Its members were central to erecting a plaque honoring the Town of Stouffville's founding pacifists who settled the local area prior to the War of 1812. Members of the congregation have run for local political office, and another Community Mennonite member, Jane Philpott, was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015 and served as a minister in the Liberal government.

The congregation was also the home of several of the founders of the drama troupe, Theatre of the Beat, who have addressed numerous contemporary issues in their projects.

Community Mennonite has always rented space in the facilities of Parkview Village, a complex begun by Mennonites that provides a range of facilities for seniors.

Community Mennonite's mission statement commits, "To be a growing Christian community seeking to love God and God's creation, our neighbours and ourselves."
=Bibliography=
Benner, Dick. "'Seeking the welfare of the city': God at work in the halls of power." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 18, no. 22 (10 November 2014):4-7.

Reesor-McDowell, Joanna. "Hagerman church fosters two new congregations." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 7, no. 4 (24 February 2003): 26.

=Additional Information=

'''Address:''' P.O. Box 95028, Stouffville, ON L4A 1J1

'''Meeting at:''' Parkview Village Auditorium, 12184 Ninth Line, Stouffville, Ontario

'''Phone:''' 905-640-9730

'''Website:''' http://www.cmchurch.ca/

'''Denominational Affiliations:'''

[http://home.mennonitechurch.ca/ Mennonite Church Canada]

[https://mcec.ca/ Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]

==Community Mennonite Pastoral Leaders==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Gord Alton || 1996-2006
|-
| Cameron Kaufman-Frey || 2006-2016
|-
| Marv Friesen (Interim) || 2018-September 2019
|-
| Glyn Jones (Shared with [[Rouge Valley Mennonite Church (Markham, Ontario, Canada)|Rouge Valley]]) || May 2020-April 2025
|-
| Michele Rizoli || March 2026-
|}

==Community Mennonite Membership==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1996 || 30
|-
| 2008 || 54
|-
| 2015 || 75
|-
| 2020 || 38
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=August 2016|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Congregations]]
[[Category:Ontario Congregations]]
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]

Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia, USA)

2026-03-29T10:22:37Z

SamSteiner: added text and category

__TOC__
[[File:Trissels-Easter-sunrise-service.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''An Easter sunrise service. Photo by Harold N. Miller. '']]
[[File:TrisselsMennoniteChurch2012.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Trissels Mennonite Church, Broadway, Virginia, 2015. 
Photo by Elwood Yoder. 
Source: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitearchivesofvirginia/20643640906/ Mennonite Archive of Virginia].'']]
Trissels Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located four miles (6.5 km) southwest of [[Broadway (Virginia, USA)|Broadway]], [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], is a member of the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]].

The congregation's roots extend to the mid-1700s when reports of rich farm land encouraged Mennonite families in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] to begin moving down the Valley Turnpike into the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. They settled in close proximity to one another and gathered to worship in homes, eventually deciding to build a meetinghouse on land that included a stand of oak trees and a graveyard containing the remains of early families--including folks with the name of Trissel. This was the first meetinghouse to be built entirely by Virginians. The land was purchased in 1823 from Abraham Neff and wife Catherine for $15. Harry Brunk records that the first church was attended by [[Brenneman (Branaman, Brannaman, Brenaman, Breneman, Breniman, Brenman, Brennaman, Brennemann, Brinneman) family |Brennemans]], Drivers, Trissels, Rhodes, [[Brunk family|Brunks]], [[Showalter (Schowalter) family|Showalters]], Geils, Branners, [[Funk (Funck) family|Funks]], Beerys, and [[Shank family name|Shanks]].

One early Mennonite who followed the route from Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley was Daniel Showalter in 1788. Two of his descendants, Howard Daniel Hercus Showalter and Mark Cephas Showalter, were instrumental in building the church community. Eight generations of Showalters were buried at Trissels at the beginning of the 21st century.

A log building, reputedly built in 1822, was enlarged in 1848. In 1900 the congregation replaced that structure with a new white frame church 40x50 ft., built on the opposite side of the cemetery. A third Trissels building was constructed of brick in 1950, along with a new parsonage. Trissels added a fellowship hall in 1964 and a new entryway in 1993.

Trissels' history has featured commitment to mission outreach. Ministers like George Showalter, Perry Shank, and Joseph Geil rode a circuit route in the Highlands of [[West Virginia (USA)|West Virginia]] to bring God's message of salvation. On horseback and later by car, they witnessed and seeded churches. According to Grace Showalter, daughter of Timothy Showalter, this work became known as “Schoolhouse Evangelism.” By 1920 there were 20 such locations. Another ongoing outreach to the local Cedar Run community was Summer Bible school, first offered at Trissels in 1949.

In 2012 worship services were held every Sunday morning at 10:30 with Sunday school at 9:30. Membership was 112. Trissels Mennonite Women met on the second Wednesday of every month for quilting and sewing projects. Several adult small groups have met regularly, as well as middle school, senior high and young adult groups. Recent congregational leaders included council chairs Chris Burkholder and Kent Kauffman, and elders Tim C. Mumbauer, Jewel Yutzy, and Duane Showalter.

In 2024, the congregation withdrew from the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]] of [[Mennonite Church USA]] and joined [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]].

The congregation's commitment is to know Christ and to make Him known, learning to let God's healing and hope flow through them to the world.
= Bibliography =
Brunk, Harry A. ''History of Mennonites in Virginia, 1727-1900''. Vol. 1. Harrisonburg, Va, 1959.

Wetzler, Jessica. "Local church gets historical highway marker." ''Daily News Record'' (5 January 2020). Web. 2 February 2020. https://www.dnronline.com/news/rockingham_county/local-church-gets-historical-highway-marker/article_01c35449-b6bb-5891-8c9e-ec53cbf7abc5.html.

==Archival Records==
The congregation's archival records are located at the [http://virginiaconference.org/about/conference-archives/ Virginia Mennonite Conference Archives].

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 11246 Hisers Lane, Broadway, Virginia 22815

'''Phone''': 540-896-7289

'''Website''': [http://www.trisselsmc.org/ Trissels Mennonite Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations:'''

[http://www.vmconf.org/ Virginia Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2024)

==Pastoral Leaders at Trissels Mennonite Church==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!'''Name'''
!'''Years of Service'''
|-
|Henry Shank
|1784-?
|-
|Henry Rhodes
|
|-
|Daniel Good
|1820-? Bishop 1837-?
|-
|John Shank
|
|-
|Daniel Showalter
|1835-?
|-
|Samuel Shank
|1846-? Bishop 1850-?
|-
|John Geil
|1840-? Bishop 1859-?
|-
|Christian Brunk
|
|-
|Abraham Shank
|c. 1861-? Bishop 1875-?
|-
|Samuel Shank II
|1864-?
|-
|George Brunk
|1874-?
|-
|John Geil II
|1875-?
|-
|Lewis Shank
|1883-? Bishop 1901-?
|-
|Joseph Geil
|1896-?
|-
|George B. Showalter
|1901-?
|-
|Perry Shank
|1905-?
|-
|Joseph Shank
|1905-?
|-
|Abraham G. Heishman
|1911-?
|-
|J. Hopkins Turner
|1914-?
|-
|Lewis P. Showalter
|1922-?
|-
|Wilmer Geil
|1922-?
|-
|[[Mumaw, John Rudy (1904-1993)|John R. Mumaw]]
|1928-?
|-
|Samuel A. Shank
|1928-?
|-
|Timothy Showalter
|1932-? Bishop 1943-?
|-
|G. Paul Showalter
|1936-?
|-
|J. Ward Shank
|1938-? Bishop 1945-?
|-
|Linden Wenger
|1945-? Bishop 1959-?
|-
|[[Stauffer, John L. (1888-1959)|John L. Stauffer]]
|1947-1952
|-
|Norman Derstine
|1952-1956
|-
|Norman Yutzy
|1956-1963 1967-1971 1975-1978
|-
|David Augsburger
|1963-1971
|-
|H. Michael Shenk
|1971-1975
|-
|Carl Mericle
|1975-1978
|-
|Richard E. Martin
|1978-1981
|-
|Gerald E. Martin
|1981-1986
|-
|Don Augsburger
|1986-1989
|-
|Eric A. Kouns
|1989-1993
|-
|Paul G. Conrad
|1993-1996
|-
|Philip C. Kanagy
|1997-2007
|-
|Laban Peachey (Interim)
|2008-2009
|-
|Harold N. Miller
|2009-2024
|-
|David Lehman (Interim)
|2025-
|}
==Original Article from Mennonite Encyclopedia==
Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 749. All rights reserved.

Trissels Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] USA), four miles southwest of [[Broadway (Virginia, USA)|Broadway]], Rockingham County, [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], is a member of the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]]. This perhaps was the location of the first Mennonite meetinghouse built in Virginia. The first building, of logs, was built in 1822, and enlarged in 1848. In 1900 it was replaced by a new frame church 40 x 50 ft., built on the opposite side of the [[Cemeteries|cemetery]]. The third church was built of brick in 1950. Since January 1948 Sunday school and preaching services have been held every Sunday. The first ministers serving this church were Henry Rhodes, Henry Shank, and John Geil. The membership in 1957 was 123, with Norman Yutzy, a licensed minister, as pastor. -- Timothy Showalter.

= Maps =
[[Map:Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia)|Map:Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=July 2013|a1_last=Showalter|a1_first=Eunice|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Virginia Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Virginia Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia, USA)

2026-03-29T10:15:38Z

SamSteiner: /* Additional Information */ updated table

__TOC__
[[File:Trissels-Easter-sunrise-service.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''An Easter sunrise service. Photo by Harold N. Miller. '']]
[[File:TrisselsMennoniteChurch2012.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Trissels Mennonite Church, Broadway, Virginia, 2015. 
Photo by Elwood Yoder. 
Source: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/mennonitearchivesofvirginia/20643640906/ Mennonite Archive of Virginia].'']]
Trissels Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located four miles (6.5 km) southwest of [[Broadway (Virginia, USA)|Broadway]], [[Rockingham County (Virginia, USA) |Rockingham County]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], is a member of the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]].

The congregation's roots extend to the mid-1700s when reports of rich farm land encouraged Mennonite families in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] to begin moving down the Valley Turnpike into the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. They settled in close proximity to one another and gathered to worship in homes, eventually deciding to build a meetinghouse on land that included a stand of oak trees and a graveyard containing the remains of early families--including folks with the name of Trissel. This was the first meetinghouse to be built entirely by Virginians. The land was purchased in 1823 from Abraham Neff and wife Catherine for $15. Harry Brunk records that the first church was attended by [[Brenneman (Branaman, Brannaman, Brenaman, Breneman, Breniman, Brenman, Brennaman, Brennemann, Brinneman) family |Brennemans]], Drivers, Trissels, Rhodes, [[Brunk family|Brunks]], [[Showalter (Schowalter) family|Showalters]], Geils, Branners, [[Funk (Funck) family|Funks]], Beerys, and [[Shank family name|Shanks]].

One early Mennonite who followed the route from Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley was Daniel Showalter in 1788. Two of his descendants, Howard Daniel Hercus Showalter and Mark Cephas Showalter, were instrumental in building the church community. Eight generations of Showalters were buried at Trissels at the beginning of the 21st century.

A log building, reputedly built in 1822, was enlarged in 1848. In 1900 the congregation replaced that structure with a new white frame church 40x50 ft., built on the opposite side of the cemetery. A third Trissels building was constructed of brick in 1950, along with a new parsonage. Trissels added a fellowship hall in 1964 and a new entryway in 1993.

Trissels' history has featured commitment to mission outreach. Ministers like George Showalter, Perry Shank, and Joseph Geil rode a circuit route in the Highlands of [[West Virginia (USA)|West Virginia]] to bring God's message of salvation. On horseback and later by car, they witnessed and seeded churches. According to Grace Showalter, daughter of Timothy Showalter, this work became known as “Schoolhouse Evangelism.” By 1920 there were 20 such locations. Another ongoing outreach to the local Cedar Run community was Summer Bible school, first offered at Trissels in 1949.

In 2012 worship services were held every Sunday morning at 10:30 with Sunday school at 9:30. Membership was 112. Trissels Mennonite Women met on the second Wednesday of every month for quilting and sewing projects. Several adult small groups have met regularly, as well as middle school, senior high and young adult groups. Recent congregational leaders included council chairs Chris Burkholder and Kent Kauffman, and elders Tim C. Mumbauer, Jewel Yutzy, and Duane Showalter.

The congregation's commitment is to know Christ and to make Him known, learning to let God's healing and hope flow through them to the world.
= Bibliography =
Brunk, Harry A. History of Mennonites in Virginia, 1727-1900. Vol. 1. Harrisonburg, Va, 1959.

Wetzler, Jessica. "Local church gets historical highway marker." ''Daily News Record'' (5 January 2020). Web. 2 February 2020. https://www.dnronline.com/news/rockingham_county/local-church-gets-historical-highway-marker/article_01c35449-b6bb-5891-8c9e-ec53cbf7abc5.html.

==Archival Records==
The congregation's archival records are located at the [http://virginiaconference.org/about/conference-archives/ Virginia Mennonite Conference Archives].

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 11246 Hisers Lane, Broadway, Virginia 22815

'''Phone''': 540-896-7289

'''Website''': [http://www.trisselsmc.org/ Trissels Mennonite Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations:'''

[http://www.vmconf.org/ Virginia Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]

<h3>Pastoral Leaders at Trissels Mennonite Church</h3>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!'''Name'''
!'''Years of Service'''
|-
|Henry Shank
|1784-?
|-
|Henry Rhodes
|
|-
|Daniel Good
|1820-? Bishop 1837-?
|-
|John Shank
|
|-
|Daniel Showalter
|1835-?
|-
|Samuel Shank
|1846-? Bishop 1850-?
|-
|John Geil
|1840-? Bishop 1859-?
|-
|Christian Brunk
|
|-
|Abraham Shank
|c. 1861-? Bishop 1875-?
|-
|Samuel Shank II
|1864-?
|-
|George Brunk
|1874-?
|-
|John Geil II
|1875-?
|-
|Lewis Shank
|1883-? Bishop 1901-?
|-
|Joseph Geil
|1896-?
|-
|George B. Showalter
|1901-?
|-
|Perry Shank
|1905-?
|-
|Joseph Shank
|1905-?
|-
|Abraham G. Heishman
|1911-?
|-
|J. Hopkins Turner
|1914-?
|-
|Lewis P. Showalter
|1922-?
|-
|Wilmer Geil
|1922-?
|-
|[[Mumaw, John Rudy (1904-1993)|John R. Mumaw]]
|1928-?
|-
|Samuel A. Shank
|1928-?
|-
|Timothy Showalter
|1932-? Bishop 1943-?
|-
|G. Paul Showalter
|1936-?
|-
|J. Ward Shank
|1938-? Bishop 1945-?
|-
|Linden Wenger
|1945-? Bishop 1959-?
|-
|[[Stauffer, John L. (1888-1959)|John L. Stauffer]]
|1947-1952
|-
|Norman Derstine
|1952-1956
|-
|Norman Yutzy
|1956-1963 1967-1971 1975-1978
|-
|David Augsburger
|1963-1971
|-
|H. Michael Shenk
|1971-1975
|-
|Carl Mericle
|1975-1978
|-
|Richard E. Martin
|1978-1981
|-
|Gerald E. Martin
|1981-1986
|-
|Don Augsburger
|1986-1989
|-
|Eric A. Kouns
|1989-1993
|-
|Paul G. Conrad
|1993-1996
|-
|Philip C. Kanagy
|1997-2007
|-
|Laban Peachey (Interim)
|2008-2009
|-
|Harold N. Miller
|2009-2024
|-
|David Lehman (Interim)
|2025-
|}
==Original Article from Mennonite Encyclopedia==
Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 749. All rights reserved.

Trissels Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] USA), four miles southwest of [[Broadway (Virginia, USA)|Broadway]], Rockingham County, [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], is a member of the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]]. This perhaps was the location of the first Mennonite meetinghouse built in Virginia. The first building, of logs, was built in 1822, and enlarged in 1848. In 1900 it was replaced by a new frame church 40 x 50 ft., built on the opposite side of the [[Cemeteries|cemetery]]. The third church was built of brick in 1950. Since January 1948 Sunday school and preaching services have been held every Sunday. The first ministers serving this church were Henry Rhodes, Henry Shank, and John Geil. The membership in 1957 was 123, with Norman Yutzy, a licensed minister, as pastor. -- Timothy Showalter.

= Maps =
[[Map:Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia)|Map:Trissels Mennonite Church (Broadway, Virginia)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=July 2013|a1_last=Showalter|a1_first=Eunice|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Virginia Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Virginia Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship, The (Chester, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-03-28T11:24:22Z

SamSteiner: /* Additional Information */

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship (formerly Way Through Christ Ministry) in Chester, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] began in May 1989 as a church plant of the Lighthouse Mennonite Fellowship of Upland, Pennsylvania. It began in a mostly African-American part of west Chester, but in 2001 moved to a former Presbyterian Church in a more multi-cultural area of the city. A Spanish-language congregation also meets at the church.

For its first four years the congregation used rented space. In 1993 it purchased a former Ukrainian Catholic American Citizens Social Club that was owned by the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Members of the congregation walk through the neighboring community every Saturday morning to connect and to distribute tracts. Since 2009, prior to worship, the congregation has gathered at the front of the sanctuary to confess sins and to pray for those are lost or fallen away.

Alvin Motley has been the lead pastor of the congregation since its formation.
= Bibliography =
Raftery, Kay. "The Way Through Christ Ministry a New Calling For Club In Chester." Philadelphia Inquirer (1 December 1993). Web. 7 December 2011. https://articles.philly.com/1993-12-01/news/25941384_1_congregation-permanent-church-parochial-school.

"The Way Thru Christ Community Fellowship." ''ShalomNews.Net'' (March-April 2009). Web. 7 December 2011. http://www.shalomnews.net/Number_1/waythrucrist.html
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2305 Edgmont Avenue, Chester, Pennsylvania 19013

'''Phone''': 610-874-6351

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.lanmenconf.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]

[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)

[http://www.aamamcusa.org/ African American Mennonite Association]

==Pastoral Leaders at The Way Thru Chrisθ=
{| class="wikitable"
! Pastors !! Years of Service
|-
| Alvin Motley || 1989-
|}
==Membership at The Way Thru Christ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Members
|-
| style="text-align: right;" | 1993 || style="text-align: right;" | 75
|-
| style="text-align: right;" | 2003 || style="text-align: right;" | 140
|-
| style="text-align: right;" | 2011 || style="text-align: right;" | 160
|}

= Maps =
[[Map:Way Thru Christ Community Church (Chester, Pennsylvania)|Map:Way Thru Christ Community Church (Chester, Pennsylvania)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=December 2011|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Tabernacle of Praise (Bowie, Maryland, USA)

2026-03-28T11:14:22Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
The Tabernacle of Praise began in August 2007 as a house church in the [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington, D.C]]. area. Participants were inspired by the evangelistic teachings of Zacharias Tanee Fomum of Yaoundé, Cameroon, West Africa. The group participated in the [[Christian Missionary Fellowship International (Westminster, Maryland, USA)|Christian Missionary Fellowship International]] (CMFI) in Westminster, [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], led by Bishop Robinson Fondong, a native of Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in 2000, and developed a relationship with the [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Mennonite Conference]].

In 2007, the Westminster CMFI instructed the Washington area group to establish a church. Thomas Bechem, one of its leaders, initially found space at the Margaret Brent School in New Carrollton, Maryland. Eventually, the congregation relocated to its own space in Bowie, Maryland.

In 2016, the Franklin Mennonite Conference withdrew from [[Mennonite Church USA]]. In 2017, it became the Franklin District of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]; Tabernacle of Praise became part of that conference.
= Bibliography =
"CMFI TOP Brief Church History." Tabernacle of Praise CMFI-USA. Web. 27 March 2026. https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/religious-organization-about-us.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 13710 Old Chapel Road, Bowie, Maryland 20715

'''Telephone''': 301-793-2534

'''Website''': https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

Christian Missionary Fellowship International
== Pastoral Leaders at Tabernacle of Praise ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| James Ekortah || 2007-2012
|-
| Thomas Bechem || 2012-
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Franklin Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Maryland Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Tabernacle of Praise (Bowie, Maryland, USA)

2026-03-27T15:08:08Z

SamSteiner:

__TOC__
The Tabernacle of Praise began in August 2007 as a house church in the [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington, D.C]]. area. They were inspired by the evangelistic teachings of Zacharias Tanee Fomum of Yaoundé, Cameroon, West Africa. The group participated in the [[Christian Missionary Fellowship International (Westminster, Maryland, USA)|Christian Missionary Fellowship International]] (CMFI) in Westminster, [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], led by Bishop Robinson Fondong, a native of Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in 2000, and developed a relationship with the [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Mennonite Conference]].

In 2007, the Westminster CMFI instructed the Washington area group to establish a church. Thomas Bechem, one of the leaders, initially found space at the Margaret Brent School in New Carrollton, Maryland. Eventually, it relocated to its own space in Bowie, Maryland.

In 2016, the Franklin Mennonite Conference withdrew from [[Mennonite Church USA]]. In 2017, it became the Franklin District of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]; Tabernacle of Praise became part of that conference.
= Bibliography =
"CMFI TOP Brief Church History." Tabernacle of Praise CMFI-USA. Web. 27 March 2026. https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/religious-organization-about-us.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 13710 Old Chapel Road, Bowie, Maryland 20715

'''Telephone''': 301-793-2534

'''Website''': https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

Christian Missionary Fellowship International
== Pastoral Leaders at Tabernacle of Praise ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| James Ekortah || 2007-2012
|-
| Thomas Bechem || 2012-
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Franklin Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Maryland Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Tabernacle of Praise (Bowie, Maryland, USA)

2026-03-27T15:07:16Z

SamSteiner: Created page with "__TOC__ The Tabernacle of Praise began in August 2007 as a house church in the Washington, D.C. area. They were inspired by the evan..."

__TOC__
The Tabernacle of Praise began in August 2007 as a house church in the [[Washington (District of Columbia, USA)|Washington, D.C]]. area. They were inspired by the evangelistic teachings of Zacharias Tanee Fomum of Yaoundé, Cameroon, West Africa. The group participated in the [[Christian Missionary Fellowship International (Westminster, Maryland, USA)|Christian Missionary Fellowship International]] (CMFI) in Westminster, [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], led by Bishop Robinson Fondong, a native of Cameroon who immigrated to the United States in 2000, and developed a relationship with the [[Franklin Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franklin Mennonite Conference]].

In 2007, the Westminster CMFI instructed the Washington area group to establish a church. Thomas Bechem, one of the leaders, initially found space at the Margaret Brent School in New Carrollton, Maryland.

In 2016, the Franklin Mennonite Conference withdrew from [[Mennonite Church USA]]. In 2017, it became the Franklin District of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]; Tabernacle of Praise became part of that conference.
= Bibliography =
"CMFI TOP Brief Church History." Tabernacle of Praise CMFI-USA. Web. 27 March 2026. https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/religious-organization-about-us.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 13710 Old Chapel Road, Bowie, Maryland 20715

'''Telephone''': 301-793-2534

'''Website''': https://www.cmfitopchurch.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

Christian Missionary Fellowship International
== Pastoral Leaders at Tabernacle of Praise ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| James Ekortah || 2007-2012
|-
| Thomas Bechem || 2012-
|}
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Franklin Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Maryland Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-03-27T14:16:34Z

SamSteiner: /* Additional Information */

__TOC__
The Sunnyside Mennonite Church, initially located one mile south of [[Lancaster (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began in 1930 as a mission outreach led by David S. High. The sponsors leased a former dance hall for $5 per month. [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] began in January 1930. The Strasburg-Brick District ministers of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] provided initial pastoral care.

The fledgling mission, named for its community, broke ground for a new brick building in 1934 and dedicated it in January 1935. Renovations and building expansion took place in 1960 and 1966, with a major addition in 1972.

= Bibliography =
"History." Sunnyside Mennonite Church. Web. 25 March 2026. https://www.sunnysidemc.org/about.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 1138-1169.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 337 Circle Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602

'''Telephone''': 717-397-7344

'''Website''': https://www.sunnysidemc.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Sunnyside Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| District ministers || 1930-1947
|-
| David S. High (1882-1961) || 1947-
|-
| Witmer J. Barge (1880-1968) || 1954-1968
|-
| Joseph C. Miller, Jr. (1932-2003) || 1956-1968?
|-
| Daniel S. Lapp || 1966-1979
|-
| Harold B. Schultz || 1973-1998?
|-
| Ira A. Kurtz || 1990-2008?
|-
| J. Brian Miller || 2002?-2012?
|-
| Emily Ralph || 2013-2015
|-
| Donald Sharp (Interim) || 2015-2017
|-
| Joshua Jefferson || 2017-2023?
|-
| Darryl Weaver (Outreach) || 2018-
|-
| Dean Sauder || 2023-
|}
== Sunnyside Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1930 || 17
|-
| 1940 || 42
|-
| 1950 || 31
|-
| 1960 || 35
|-
| 1970 || 75
|-
| 1980 || 104
|-
| 1990 || 76
|-
| 2000 || 110
|-
| 2009 || 121
|}

= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 663. All rights reserved.

Sunnyside Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)]], in a former suburb of Lancaster,[[Pennsylvania (USA)| Pennsylvania]], began as a mission, initiated by David S. High. The first services were held in an abandoned dance hall with 71 from the community present. Through evangelistic sermons and home visitation the work grew until by 1957 the membership was 50, with David S. High, Witmer J. Barge, and Joseph C. Miller, Jr., as ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-03-27T14:16:18Z

SamSteiner: replaced article

__TOC__
The Sunnyside Mennonite Church, initially located one mile south of [[Lancaster (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began in 1930 as a mission outreach led by David S. High. The sponsors leased a former dance hall for $5 per month. [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] began in January 1930. The Strasburg-Brick District ministers of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]] provided initial pastoral care.

The fledgling mission, named for its community, broke ground for a new brick building in 1934 and dedicated it in January 1935. Renovations and building expansion took place in 1960 and 1966, with a major addition in 1972.

= Bibliography =
"History." Sunnyside Mennonite Church. Web. 25 March 2026. https://www.sunnysidemc.org/about.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 1138-1169.

= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 337 Circle Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602

'''Telephone''': 717-397-7344

'''Website''': https://www.sunnysidemc.org/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
== Pastoral Leaders at Sunnyside Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| District ministers || 1930-1947
|-
| David S. High (1882-1961) || 1947-
|-
| Witmer J. Barge (1880-1968) || 1954-1968
|-
| Joseph C. Miller, Jr. (1932-2003) || 1956-1968?
|-
| Daniel S. Lapp || 1966-1979
|-
| Harold B. Schultz || 1973-1998?
|-
| Ira A. Kurtz || 1990-2008?
|-
| J. Brian Miller || 2002?-2012?
|-
| Emily Ralph || 2013-2015
|-
| Donald Sharp (Interim) || 2015-2017
|-
| Joshua Jefferson || 2017-2023?
|-
| Darryl Weaver (Outreach) || 2018-
|-
| Dean Sauder || 2023-
|}
== Sunnyside Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1930 || 17
|-
| 1940 || 42
|-
| 1950 || 31
|-
| 1960 || 35
|-
| 1970 || 75
|-
| 1980 || 104
|-
| 1990 || 76
|-
| 2000 || 110
|-
| 2009 || 121
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 663. All rights reserved.

Sunnyside Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)]], in a former suburb of Lancaster,[[Pennsylvania (USA)| Pennsylvania]], began as a mission, initiated by David S. High. The first services were held in an abandoned dance hall with 71 from the community present. Through evangelistic sermons and home visitation the work grew until by 1957 the membership was 50, with David S. High, Witmer J. Barge, and Joseph C. Miller, Jr., as ministers.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2026|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Stumptown Mennonite Church (Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, USA)

2026-03-25T13:47:25Z

SamSteiner: replaced article

__TOC__
[[File:StumptownMennoniteChurch.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''Stumptown Mennonite Church, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Source: [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&PIcrid=1998328&PIpi=68100877&PIMode=cemetery Find A Grave website].'']]
The Stumptown Mennonite Church in Bird in Hand, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], began in 1781 when members began to meet in homes. In 1815, the group began to use the Stumptown schoolhouse. It built a plain meetinghouse in 1846 and a larger brick meetinghouse in 1882. After some controversy, a new brick building was constructed across the road and dedicated on 12 December 1916. Numerous additions and renovations have taken place since then, especially in 2005, with a new sanctuary, church offices, a foyer, a larger fellowship hall, and many new classrooms.

During the summers of 1868 and 1869, John Buckwalter, John Stauffer, and their wives led a small [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] with the encouragement of their pastor, David Witmer, though a lack of support closed the effort. The transition from German to English began by the 1860s after the ordination of John L. Landis.

Stumptown Mennonite Church has always been part of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. It helped to launch the [[Beaver Run Mennonite Church (Turbutville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Beaver Run Mennonite Church]] in 1953-1954.
= Bibliography =
"Bareville, Pa." ''Gospel Herald'' 9, no. 41 (11 January 1917): 753.

"Beginnings of Stumptown." Stumptown Mennonite Church. Web. 23 March 2026. https://stumptown.church/history/.

Leaman, Mary Ellen. "Stumptown Mennonite Church Congregación Menonita Shalom." ''Shalom News'' 36, no. 4 (October-December 2016): 3-4.

Ruth, John L. ''The Earth is the Lord's: a narrative history of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001: 583, 1138-1169.

Weaver, Martin G. ''Mennonites of Lancaster Conference: containing biographical sketches of Mennonite leaders, histories of congregations, missions, and Sunday schools, record of ordinations, and other interesting historical data''. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1931. Reprinted Ephrata, PA: Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church Publication Board, 1982: 43-59, 66-71. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/mennonitesoflanc00weav_0/page/n3/mode/2up.
= Additional Information =
'''Address''': 2813 Stumptown Road, Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania 17505

'''Telephone''': 717-656-7878

'''Website''': https://stumptown.church/

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]

[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
== Pastoral Leaders at Stumptown Mennonite Church ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years of Service
|-
| Johannes Herr (1720-1797) || ?-1797
|-
| Jacob Hartman (1714-1796) || ca. 1760-1796
|-
| Johannes Stauffer (1737-1811) || 1791-1811
|-
| Heinrich Buckwalter (1742-1805) || 1796-1805
|-
| Johannes Kreider (1747-1825) || ?-1825
|-
| [[Eby, Peter (1765-1843)|Peter B. Eby]] (1765-1843)(Bishop) || 1804-1843
|-
| John Kreider (1784-1847) || 1812-1847
|-
| George Zeiset (1793-1861) || after 1853-1861
|-
| David Witmer (1800-1876) || 1833-1876
|-
| [[Herr, Christian (1780-1853)|Christian B. Herr]] (1780-1853)(Bishop) || 1840-1853
|-
| Tobias Kreider (1811-1864) || 1847-1864
|-
| Joseph Hershey (1791-1856)(Bishop) || 1849-1856
|-
| Benjamin Herr (1801-1888)(Bishop) || 1856-1888
|-
| Adam Rank (1808-1882) || 1862-1882
|-
| John L. Landis (1832-1914) || 1865-1914
|-
| David Buckwalter (1820-1906) || 1876-1906
|-
| [[Eby, Isaac (1834-1910)|Isaac W. Eby]] (1834-1910)(Bishop) || 1878-1910
|-
| Sanford B. Landis (1857-1926) || 1896-1926
|-
| David L. Landis (1882-1961) || 1911-1940s
|-
| Elmer G. Martin (1894-1974) (Bishop) || 1926-1946 1946-1960s
|-
| Lloyd M. Eby (1911-1999) || 1943-1980s
|-
| John G. Oberholtzer (1914-2000) || 1953-1980s
|-
| Paul G. Landis (1932-2019)(Bishop) || 1962-1992?
|-
| Mark "M. Luke" Nolt || 1976-2004?
|-
| Paul M. Zehr (Bishop) || 1980-2000s
|-
| John M. Leaman || 1982?-2013?
|-
| Chester I. Kurtz (1934-2003)(Interim) || 1993-1994?
|-
| Donald M. Sensenig || 1994-2003
|-
| Donald D. Sharp || 2003?-2013
|-
| Jansen Herr (Youth) || 2004?-2008?
|-
| Mark W. Mentzer (Youth) (Lead) || 2009-2013 2013-2019
|-
| R. Keith Nyce (Associate) (Lead) || 2015-2019 2019-
|-
| Austen Kewin (Associate) || 2024-
|-
| Greg Detweiler (Associate) || 2023?-
|}
== Stumptown Mennonite Church Membership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 1907 || 2000 in District
|-
| 1913 || 250
|-
| 1920 || 250
|-
| 1930 || 300?
|-
| 1940 || 350
|-
| 1950 || 310
|-
| 1960 || 309
|-
| 1970 || 305
|-
| 1980 || 283
|-
| 1990 || 287
|-
| 2000 || 312
|-
| 2009 || 259
|}
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =

By Ira D. Landis. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, pp. 648-649. All rights reserved.

Stumptown Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)]], located near Monterey, 8 miles northeast of [[Lancaster (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], in Upper Leacock Township, is a member of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The church had its beginnings was an outgrowth of the enlarging [[Mellinger Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mellinger congregation]] to the northeast. The members used a schoolhouse on the present meetinghouse site until 1846, when a worship center was built. This was enlarged in 1882 and replaced in 1916 by a 48 x 80 ft. brick structure. It was here during the summer of 1868 that John B. Landis and John Stauffer and their wives conducted a small Sunday school before the movement had conference approval. It was a part of the Mellinger-Stumptown circuit until a recent decade.

Elmer G. Martin is bishop, Lloyd M. Eby and John G. Oberholtzer ministers. This was the home congregation of Preacher Sanford B. Landis (1868-1926). The membership in 1957 was 310.
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