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The Ebenezer Mennonite Church ([[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite]]), located two miles (three km) east of [[Bluffton (Ohio, USA)|Bluffton]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], was a member of the [[Middle District Conference (General Conference Mennonite Church)|Middle District Conference]] (later [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]]). This congregation formed one of the two centers of the original Swiss community between Bluffton and Pandora. A meetinghouse was built near the site of the present building in 1846, enlarged in 1883, and again in 1928. After Pandora in 1904, and Bluffton in 1918 had organized separate congregations, Ebenezer and St. Johns remained united as one congregation under the ministry of William Gotschall, the last of the ministers to serve the united Swiss community. In 1923 this union was dissolved, and Elmer Neuenschwander became the first minister of the separate congregation. The 1953 membership was 507, with Howard T. Landes as pastor.
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The Ebenezer Mennonite Church ([[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite]]), located two miles (three km) east of [[Bluffton (Ohio, USA)|Bluffton]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], was a member of the [[Middle District Conference (General Conference Mennonite Church)|Middle District Conference]] (later [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]]). This congregation formed one of the two centers of the original Swiss community between Bluffton and [[Pandora (Putnam County, Ohio, USA)|Pandora]]. A meetinghouse was built near the site of the present building in 1846, enlarged in 1883, and again in 1928, 1964, 1979, and 2001.  
  
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In February 1986 Ebenezer withdrew from the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Central District Conference. The church cited doctrinal and ethical differences, including sanctuary [refugees], abortion and peace. The congregation continued as an independent Mennonite church.
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After Pandora in 1904, and Bluffton in 1918 had organized separate congregations, Ebenezer and [[St. John Mennonite Church (Pandora, Ohio, USA)|St. John]] remained united as one congregation under the ministry of William Gottschall, the last of the ministers to serve the united Swiss community.
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In 1923 this union was dissolved, and [[Gottshall, William Shelly (1865-1941)|William Gottshall]] continued as the first minister of the separate Ebenezer congregation. The 1953 membership was 507, with Howard T. Landes as pastor.
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The division of St. John and Ebenezer also brought increased English-language usage. Previously, the combined congregation had one English Sunday morning service per month. This changed to alternating English and German on Sundays.
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In February 1986, Ebenezer formally withdrew from the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] and the [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]]. The church cited doctrinal and ethical differences, including sanctuary [refugees], abortion, and peace. This followed an earlier conflict with the Central District Conference dating to 1967. At that time, after discussions between the church and the executive board, the conference proposed to its delegate body that Ebenezer had withdrawn from the conference since it was no longer sending delegates. However, the conference delegates rejected this proposal.
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The congregation has continued since 1986 as an independent Mennonite church.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
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Weidner, Mark. "Ebenezer Church Withdraws from Conferences." <em class="gameo_bibliography">The Mennonite, Central District Edition</em> (22 April 1986): A-8.
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"Ebenezer Cong. Bluffton, O." ''The Mennonite'' (26 July 1923): 2-3.
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Rich, Elaine Sommers, ed. ''Walking Together in Faith: The Central District Conference, 1957-1990''. Bluffton, Ohio: The Conference, 2003: 103-105, 227-240.
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 +
Weidner, Mark. "Ebenezer Church Withdraws from Conferences." ''The Mennonite, Central District Edition'' (22 April 1986): A-8.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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Ebenezer Mennonite Church [http://www.ebenezermennonite.org/ website]
 
  
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<h4 align="center"></h4>
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'''Address''': 8905 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road, Bluffton, Ohio 45817
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, p. 136|date=1956|a1_last=Smith|a1_first=C. Henry|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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'''Phone''': 419-358-8588
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'''Website''': https://www.ebenezermennonite.org/
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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== Pastoral Leaders at Ebenezer Mennonite Church and its predecessors ==
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{| class="wikitable"  
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| [[Moser, John (1826-1908)|John Moser]] (1826-1908) || 1853-1903
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|-
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| Christian Zimmerly (1841-1916) || 1876-1900
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|-
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| Benjamin Diller (1845-1919) || 1881-1919
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|-
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| Friedrich Zeller (1820-1903) || 1891-1903
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|-
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| [[Baer, John B. (1854-1939)|John B. Baer]] (1854-1939) || 1894-1909
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|-
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| Christian Hege (1878-1971) || 1904-1909
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|-
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| [[Gottshall, William Shelly (1865-1941)|William S. Gottshall]] (1865-1941) || 1909-1924
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|-
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| Elmer J. Neuenschwander (1882-1959)|| 1924-1929
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|-
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| Peter A. "P. A." Kliewer (1879-1959) || 1929-1941
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|-
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| Arnold C. "A. C." Schultz (1904-1988) || 1941-1944
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|-
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| [[Esau, John J. (1900-1979)|John J. Esau]] (1900-1979)(Supply) || 1944-1945?
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|-
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| Howard T. Landes (1905-1994) || 1946-1954
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|-
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| Vernon J. Sprunger (1904-1980)(Interim) || 1955
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|-
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| Waldo J. "W. J." Flickinger (1909-2001) || 1955-1960
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|-
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| Daniel "Dan" U. Dalke (1921-2014) || 1961-1978?
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|-
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| Donald "Don" L. Pahl (Assistant) || 1978?-1981?
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|-
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| Burton Reed || 1981-1985
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|-
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| Mark Steiner (Associate) || 1986?-?
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|-
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| XXX || XXX
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|-
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| Dick Potter (Assistant) || 2004-present
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|-
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| Jim King (Senior) || 2008-2022
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|-
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| David Glick (Student Ministries || 2015?-present
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|-
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| Nick Ringger (Senior) || 2021-present
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|}
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== Membership at Ebenzezer Mennonite Church ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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|-
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! Year !! Membership
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|-
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| 1923 || 410
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|-
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| 1930 || 439
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|-
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| 1940 || 529
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|-
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| 1950 || 532
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|-
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| 1960 || 491
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|-
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| 1970 || 437
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|-
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| 1980 || 510
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|-
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| 1986 || 510
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|}
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, p. 136|date=November 2022|a1_last=Smith|a1_first=C. Henry|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]]
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[[Category:Central District Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Independent Mennonite Congregations]]
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[[Category:Ohio Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 11:52, 10 February 2023

The Ebenezer Mennonite Church (General Conference Mennonite), located two miles (three km) east of Bluffton, Ohio, was a member of the Middle District Conference (later Central District Conference). This congregation formed one of the two centers of the original Swiss community between Bluffton and Pandora. A meetinghouse was built near the site of the present building in 1846, enlarged in 1883, and again in 1928, 1964, 1979, and 2001.

After Pandora in 1904, and Bluffton in 1918 had organized separate congregations, Ebenezer and St. John remained united as one congregation under the ministry of William Gottschall, the last of the ministers to serve the united Swiss community.

In 1923 this union was dissolved, and William Gottshall continued as the first minister of the separate Ebenezer congregation. The 1953 membership was 507, with Howard T. Landes as pastor.

The division of St. John and Ebenezer also brought increased English-language usage. Previously, the combined congregation had one English Sunday morning service per month. This changed to alternating English and German on Sundays.

In February 1986, Ebenezer formally withdrew from the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Central District Conference. The church cited doctrinal and ethical differences, including sanctuary [refugees], abortion, and peace. This followed an earlier conflict with the Central District Conference dating to 1967. At that time, after discussions between the church and the executive board, the conference proposed to its delegate body that Ebenezer had withdrawn from the conference since it was no longer sending delegates. However, the conference delegates rejected this proposal.

The congregation has continued since 1986 as an independent Mennonite church.

Bibliography

"Ebenezer Cong. Bluffton, O." The Mennonite (26 July 1923): 2-3.

Rich, Elaine Sommers, ed. Walking Together in Faith: The Central District Conference, 1957-1990. Bluffton, Ohio: The Conference, 2003: 103-105, 227-240.

Weidner, Mark. "Ebenezer Church Withdraws from Conferences." The Mennonite, Central District Edition (22 April 1986): A-8.

Additional Information

Address: 8905 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road, Bluffton, Ohio 45817

Phone: 419-358-8588

Website: https://www.ebenezermennonite.org/

Denominational Affiliations:

Pastoral Leaders at Ebenezer Mennonite Church and its predecessors

Name Years
of Service
John Moser (1826-1908) 1853-1903
Christian Zimmerly (1841-1916) 1876-1900
Benjamin Diller (1845-1919) 1881-1919
Friedrich Zeller (1820-1903) 1891-1903
John B. Baer (1854-1939) 1894-1909
Christian Hege (1878-1971) 1904-1909
William S. Gottshall (1865-1941) 1909-1924
Elmer J. Neuenschwander (1882-1959) 1924-1929
Peter A. "P. A." Kliewer (1879-1959) 1929-1941
Arnold C. "A. C." Schultz (1904-1988) 1941-1944
John J. Esau (1900-1979)(Supply) 1944-1945?
Howard T. Landes (1905-1994) 1946-1954
Vernon J. Sprunger (1904-1980)(Interim) 1955
Waldo J. "W. J." Flickinger (1909-2001) 1955-1960
Daniel "Dan" U. Dalke (1921-2014) 1961-1978?
Donald "Don" L. Pahl (Assistant) 1978?-1981?
Burton Reed 1981-1985
Mark Steiner (Associate) 1986?-?
XXX XXX
Dick Potter (Assistant) 2004-present
Jim King (Senior) 2008-2022
David Glick (Student Ministries 2015?-present
Nick Ringger (Senior) 2021-present

Membership at Ebenzezer Mennonite Church

Year Membership
1923 410
1930 439
1940 529
1950 532
1960 491
1970 437
1980 510
1986 510


Author(s) C. Henry Smith
Samuel J. Steiner
Date Published November 2022

Cite This Article

MLA style

Smith, C. Henry and Samuel J. Steiner. "Ebenezer Mennonite Church (Bluffton, Ohio, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2022. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ebenezer_Mennonite_Church_(Bluffton,_Ohio,_USA)&oldid=174806.

APA style

Smith, C. Henry and Samuel J. Steiner. (November 2022). Ebenezer Mennonite Church (Bluffton, Ohio, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ebenezer_Mennonite_Church_(Bluffton,_Ohio,_USA)&oldid=174806.



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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 136. All rights reserved.


©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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