Difference between revisions of "Biblical Mennonite Alliance"

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In an August 1997 meeting, the [[Conservative Mennonite Conference|Conservative Mennonite Conference]] (CMC) took a vote on the conference's stated position calling baptized woman to wear the prayer [[Prayer Veil|veiling]]. The motion also required ministers' wives to wear the veiling. Approval of the motion required a two-thirds vote; it fell short by one vote. There had earlier been a softening of CMC positions on modesty in dress, and in ministers performing marriages for persons who had been divorced. Some persons also expressed concern about greater use of contemporary worship styles in some CMC churches. A concerned group had been formed in the mid-1990s, but had been ineffective in its appeals to the conference leadership. In February 1997 an extended discussion on the prayer veiling was held in a conference business session, and the lack of conference unity on the issue became evident.
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In an August 1997 meeting, the [[Rosedale Network of Churches|Conservative Mennonite Conference]] (CMC) took a vote on the conference's stated position calling baptized woman to wear the prayer [[Prayer Veil|veiling]]. The motion also required ministers' wives to wear the veiling. Approval of the motion required a two-thirds vote; it fell short by one vote. There had earlier been a softening of CMC positions on modesty in dress, and in ministers performing marriages for persons who had been divorced. Some persons also expressed concern about greater use of contemporary worship styles in some CMC churches. A concerned group had been formed in the mid-1990s, but had been ineffective in its appeals to the conference leadership. In February 1997 an extended discussion on the prayer veiling was held in a conference business session, and the lack of conference unity on the issue became evident.
  
 
The vote on the prayer veiling was a "final straw" for some leaders who finally left the conference. A meeting of concerned leaders in October 1997 agreed to move toward formation of a new conference, rather than engender further dissension within the CMC. An organizational meeting was held 5-6 June 1998 at the Fairhaven Mennonite Church in West Salem, [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]] at which a constitution was approved and ministerial membership established. Fourteen ministers became charter members of the Biblical Mennonite Alliance (BMA). A Ministerial Enrichment Week was held in February 1999 by which time seven congregations had applied for membership in the Biblical Mennonite Alliance.
 
The vote on the prayer veiling was a "final straw" for some leaders who finally left the conference. A meeting of concerned leaders in October 1997 agreed to move toward formation of a new conference, rather than engender further dissension within the CMC. An organizational meeting was held 5-6 June 1998 at the Fairhaven Mennonite Church in West Salem, [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]] at which a constitution was approved and ministerial membership established. Fourteen ministers became charter members of the Biblical Mennonite Alliance (BMA). A Ministerial Enrichment Week was held in February 1999 by which time seven congregations had applied for membership in the Biblical Mennonite Alliance.
  
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The first annual BMA conference was held on 6-8 August 1999 in Plain City, Ohio. At that time 43 ministers and nine congregations representing about 600 members joined the new denomination. Five congregations were formerly members of the Conservative Mennonite Conference: [[Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church]] in Brooklyn, New York; [[Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church (Millersburg, Indiana, USA)|Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church]] in Goshen, Indiana; [[Snow Hill Mennonite Church (Snow Hill, Maryland, USA)|Snow Hill Mennonite Church]] in Maryland; [[Fairhaven Mennonite Church (West Salem, Ohio, USA)|Fairhaven Mennonite Church]] in West Salem, Ohio; and Bethel Mennonite Fellowship in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. The other four congregations were unaffiliated congregations dissatisfied with former conference relationships: [[Faith Mennonite Fellowship (Crawford, Mississippi, USA)|Faith Mennonite Fellowship]] in Crawford, Mississippi; [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Due West, South Carolina, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] in East Donalds, South Carolina; [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Church]] in Harrisonburg, Virginia; and [[Mount Zion House of Prayer (Utica, Ohio, USA)|Mount Zion Mennonite Church]] in Bladensburg, Ohio. Since 1999, a number of other unaffiliated Mennonite congregations as well as congregations from other Mennonite denominations have joined the alliance.
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The first annual BMA conference was held on 6-8 August 1999 in Plain City, Ohio. At that time 43 ministers and nine congregations representing about 600 members joined the new denomination. Five congregations were formerly members of the Conservative Mennonite Conference: [[Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church]] in Brooklyn, New York; [[Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church]] in Goshen, Indiana; [[Snow Hill Mennonite Church (Snow Hill, Maryland, USA)|Snow Hill Mennonite Church]] in Maryland; [[Fairhaven Mennonite Church (West Salem, Ohio, USA)|Fairhaven Mennonite Church]] in West Salem, Ohio; and Bethel Mennonite Fellowship in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. The other four congregations were unaffiliated congregations dissatisfied with former conference relationships: [[Faith Mennonite Fellowship (Crawford, Mississippi, USA)|Faith Mennonite Fellowship]] in Crawford, Mississippi; [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Due West, South Carolina, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] in East Donalds, South Carolina; [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Church]] in Harrisonburg, Virginia; and [[Mount Zion House of Prayer (Utica, Ohio, USA)|Mount Zion Mennonite Church]] in Bladensburg, Ohio. Since 1999, a number of other unaffiliated Mennonite congregations as well as congregations from other Mennonite denominations have joined the alliance.
  
 
The [[Mennonite Confession of Faith, 1963|1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith]] was adopted as the official confession of faith of the denomination. The alliance has operated the Elnora Bible Institute in Elnora, Indiana since 2004, though a Bible institute was held annually beginning in 2000. The mission arm of the BMA is DestiNATIONS International (DNI), which operates a training center in Queens, New York. <em>The Alliance Newsletter,</em> begun in 1998, is the conference periodical.
 
The [[Mennonite Confession of Faith, 1963|1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith]] was adopted as the official confession of faith of the denomination. The alliance has operated the Elnora Bible Institute in Elnora, Indiana since 2004, though a Bible institute was held annually beginning in 2000. The mission arm of the BMA is DestiNATIONS International (DNI), which operates a training center in Queens, New York. <em>The Alliance Newsletter,</em> begun in 1998, is the conference periodical.
  
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In 2010 there were 50 congregations in the conference, with 2,843 members and a total average attendance of 4,092.
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In 2016 there were 62 congregations in the conference, with 3,545 members. In 2023 the BMA directory listed 72 member congregations and another 12 church plants.
 +
= BMA Congregations in 2023 =
  
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<div align="center">  
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<div align="center">
 +
(not including church plants)
 
{|  class="wikitable"  
 
{|  class="wikitable"  
−
! Congregation !! City !! State !! Year Founded !! Joined BMA !! Membership !! Average Attendance
+
! Congregation !! City !! State !! Year Founded !! Joined BMA !! Membership  
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Agape Mennonite Assembly (Burton, Ohio, USA)|Agape Mennonite Assembly]] || Middlefield || Ohio ||  align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | February 2000 ||  align="right" | 34 ||  align="right" | 50
+
| Abundant Life Christian Fellowship || Townville || Pennsylvania || align="right" | || align="right" |  || align="right" |  
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Believers’ Fellowship (Stuarts Draft, Virginia, USA)|Believers' Fellowship]] || Stuarts Draft || Virginia || align="right" | 2003 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 15 ||  align="right" | 25
+
| [[Calvary Mennonite Church (Paden, Oklahoma, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Church]] || Paden || Oklahoma || align="right" | 1995 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 38
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Blue Ridge Christian Fellowship (Radiant, Virginia, USA)|Blue Ridge Christian Fellowship]] || Radiant || Virginia || align="right" | 2000 || align="right" | August 2000 || align="right" | 17 ||  align="right" | 25
+
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Harrisonburg || Virginia || align="right" | 1990 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 190
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Calvary Mennonite Church (Paden, Oklahoma, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Church]] || Paden || Oklahoma || align="right" | 1995 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 36 ||  align="right" | 50
+
| [[Central Mennonite Church (Dover, Delaware, USA)|Central Mennonite Church]] || Dover || Delaware || align="right" | 1954 || align="right" | August 2002 || align="right" | 156
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Calvary Mennonite Fellowship (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Calvary Mennonite Fellowship]] || Harrisonburg || Virginia ||  align="right" | 1990 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 159 || align="right" | 225
+
| [[Christ's Ambassadors Church (St. Elizabeth, Jamaica)|Christ's Ambassadors]] || St. Elizabeth || Jamaica || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | 130
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Central Mennonite Church (Dover, Delaware, USA)|Central Mennonite Church]] || Dover || Delaware || align="right" | 1954 || align="right" | August 2002 || align="right" | 165 ||  align="right" | 180
+
| Churchtown Mennonite Church || Narvon || Pennsylvania || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |   
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Christ's Ambassadors Church (St. Elizabeth, Jamaica)|Christ's Ambassadors]] || St. Elizabeth || Jamaica || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | 130 ||
+
| [[Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1998 || align="right" | August 2005 || align="right" | 206
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Christian Life Mennonite Church (Beach City, Ohio, USA)|Christian Life Mennonite]] || Beach City || Ohio ||  align="right" | 2001 || align="right" | August 2003 || align="right" | 115 || align="right" | 195
+
| [[Crossroads Missionary Church (Belvidere, Tennessee, USA)|Crossroads Missionary Church]] || Belvidere || Tennessee || align="right" | 2010 || align="right" | 2010 || align="right" | 20
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship (Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA)|Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship]] || Ephrata || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1998 ||  align="right" | August 2005 || align="right" | 168 || align="right" | 225
+
| Crossway Mennonite Fellowship || Bird in Hand || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[East Hanover Mennonite Church (Palmyra, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Hanover Mennonite Church]] || Palmyra || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 30
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[East Hanover Mennonite Church (Palmyra, Pennsylvania, USA)|East Hanover Mennonite Church]] || Palmyra || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 24 ||  align="right" | 50
+
| [[East Union Mennonite Church (Orrville, Ohio, USA)|East Union Mennonite Church]] || Orrville || Ohio || align="right" | 1945 || align="right" | 2011? || align="right" | 66
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Fairhaven Mennonite Church (West Salem, Ohio, USA)|Fairhaven Mennonite Church]] || West Salem || Ohio || align="right" | 1965 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 18 ||  align="right" | 24
+
| [[Fairhaven Mennonite Church (West Salem, Ohio, USA)|Fairhaven Mennonite Church]] || West Salem || Ohio || align="right" | 1965 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 14
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Fair Play Christian Fellowship (Fair Play, South Carolina, USA)|Fair Play Christian Fellowship]] || Fair Play || South Carolina ||  align="right" | 1980 ||  align="right" | February 2009 ||  align="right" | 18 ||  align="right" | 15
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Faith Mennonite Fellowship (Crawford, Mississippi, USA)|Faith Mennonite Fellowship]] || Crawford || Mississippi || align="right" | 1985 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 66 ||  align="right" | 75
+
| [[Faith Community Fellowship (Harrisonville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Faith Community Fellowship]] || Harrisonville || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2011 || align="right" | 2011 || align="right" | 19
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Faith Mennonite Mission (Cuthbert, Georgia, USA)|Faith Mennonite Mission]] || Shellman || Georgia || align="right" | 1979 || align="right" | February 2008 || align="right" | 26 ||  align="right" | 50
+
| [[Faith Mennonite Fellowship (Crawford, Mississippi, USA)|Faith Mennonite Fellowship]] || Crawford || Mississippi || align="right" | 1985 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 69
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church]] || Brooklyn || New York || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | February 1999 ||  align="right" | 67 || align="right" | 124
+
| [[Faith Mennonite Mission (Cuthbert, Georgia, USA)|Faith Mennonite Mission]] || Shellman || Georgia || align="right" | 1979 || align="right" | February 2008 || align="right" | 24
 +
|-
 +
| Faith View Ministries || Jamesport || Missouri || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Goshen Mennonite Church (Laytonsville, Maryland, USA)|Goshen Mennonite Church]] || Laytonsville || Maryland || align="right" | 1949 || align="right" | February 2001 || align="right" | 24 ||  align="right" | 45
+
| [[Family Harvest Mennonite Church (Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Family Harvest Mennonite Church]] || Fredericksburg || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2013 || align="right" | 2013 || align="right" | 25
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Hartwell Mennonite Church (Hartwell, Georgia, USA)|Hartwell Mennonite Church]] || Hartwell || Georgia || align="right" | 1989 || align="right" | February 2009 || align="right" | 22 ||  align="right" | 45
+
| [[Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church (Brooklyn, New York, USA)|Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church]] || Brooklyn || New York || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 67
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Heritage Mennonite Church (Millbank, Ontario, Canada)|Heritage Mennonite Church]] || Millbank || Ontario || align="right" | 1998 || align="right" | February 2000 ||  align="right" | 24 || align="right" | 39
+
| [[Goshen Mennonite Church (Laytonsville, Maryland, USA)|Goshen Mennonite Church]] || Laytonsville || Maryland || align="right" | 1949 || align="right" | February 2001 || align="right" | 26
 +
|-
 +
| Gospel Haven Mennonite Church || Whiteville || Tennesee || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Herr Street Mennonite Church (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Herr Street Mennonite Church]] || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 30 ||  align="right" | 60
+
| Great Trail Christian Churvh || Minerva || Ohio || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| Haven of Home Fellowship || Auburn || Kentucky || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| Heritage Mennonite Church || Stevens || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Herr Street Mennonite Church (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Herr Street Mennonite Church]] || Harrisburg || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 26
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Juniata Christian Church (Port Royal, Pennsylvania, USA)|Juanita Christian Church]] || Port Royal || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2005 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 45 ||  align="right" | 100
+
| [[High Country Mennonite Church (Westcliffe, Colorado, USA)|High Country Mennonite Church]] || Westcliffe || Colorado || align="right" | 2011 || align="right" | 2011 || align="right" | 47
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Kossuth Community Chapel (Bolivar, New York, USA)|Kossuth Community Chapel]] || Bolivar || New York || align="right" | 1983 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 22 ||  align="right" | 29
+
| [[Juniata Christian Church (Port Royal, Pennsylvania, USA)|Juanita Christian Church]] || Port Royal || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2005 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 55
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Lamb of God Mennonite Church (Butler, Indiana, USA)|Lamb of God Mennonite Church]] || Butler || Indiana || align="right" | 2000 || align="right" | August 2000 || align="right" | 49 ||  align="right" | 85
+
| [[Kossuth Community Chapel (Bolivar, New York, USA)|Kossuth Community Chapel]] || Bolivar || New York || align="right" | 1983 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 33
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Laws Mennonite Church (Harrington, Delaware, USA)|Laws Mennonite Church]] || Harrington || Deleware || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 2003 || align="right" | 45 ||  align="right" | 45
+
| [[Lamb of God Mennonite Church (Butler, Indiana, USA)|Lamb of God Mennonite Church]] || Butler || Indiana || align="right" | 2000 || align="right" | August 2000 || align="right" | 40
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Living Water Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Living Water Mennonite Church]] || Goshen || Indiana ||  align="right" | 1999 ||  align="right" | February 2000 ||  align="right" | 102 ||  align="right" | 150
+
| La Road Fellowship || Los Angeles || California || align="right" | || align="right" |  || align="right" |
 +
|-
 +
| Leon Mennonite Chrisitan Fellowship || Leon || Iowa || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |   
 +
|-
 +
| Life in Christ Mennonite || Elmhurst || New York || align="right" | || align="right" |  || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Living Word Christian Fellowship (Sparta, Wisconsin, USA)|Living Word Christian Fellowship]] || Sparta || Wisconsin || align="right" | 2001 || align="right" | August 2007 ||  align="right" | 13 || align="right" | 40
+
| [[Living Hope Mennonite Church (Urbana, Ohio, USA)|Living Hope Mennonite Church]] || Urbana || Ohio || align="right" | 2014 || align="right" | 2014 || align="right" | 18
 +
|-
 +
| Living Home Mennonite Fellowship || Pottstown || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Madison Mennonite Fellowship (Madison, Indiana, USA)|Madison Mennonite Fellowship]] || Madison || Indiana || align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | August 2001 || align="right" | 16 ||  align="right" | 35
+
| [[Living Water Christian Fellowship (Lott, Texas, USA)|Living Water Christian Fellowship]] || Lott || Texas || align="right" | 2009 || align="right" | July 2010 || align="right" | 22
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Mohican Valley Door of Hope (Danville, Ohio, USA)|Mohican Valley Door of Hope]] || Danville || Ohio || align="right" | 2006 || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | 65 ||  align="right" | 126
+
| [[Living Water Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Living Water Mennonite Church]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1999 || align="right" | February 2000 || align="right" | 91
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Mount Airy Mennonite Church (Mount Airy, Maryland, USA)|Mt. Airy Mennonite Church]] || Mt. Airy || Maryland || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | August 2004 || align="right" | 11 ||  align="right" | 21
+
| [[Madison Mennonite Fellowship (Madison, Indiana, USA)|Madison Mennonite Fellowship]] || Madison || Indiana || align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | August 2001 || align="right" | 7
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Mount Zion House of Prayer (Utica, Ohio, USA)|Mt. Zion House of Prayer]] || Utica || Ohio || align="right" | 1995 || align="right" | August 1999 || align="right" | 62 ||  align="right" | 92
+
| [[Millwood Mennonite Church (Gap, Pennsylvania, USA)|Millwood Mennonite Church]] || Gap || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1877 || align="right" | February 2012 || align="right" | 105
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[New Holland Mennonite Church (Batesburg, South Carolina, USA)|New Holland Mennonite Church]] || Batesburg || South Carolina || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | July 2009 || align="right" | 68 ||  align="right" | 121
+
| [[Mohican Valley Door of Hope (Danville, Ohio, USA)|Mohican Valley Door of Hope]] || Danville || Ohio || align="right" | 2006 || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | 78
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[New Hope Mennonite Church (Orrstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Hope Mennonite Church]] || Orrstown || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2003 ||  align="right" | August 2004 || align="right" | 34 || align="right" | 70
+
| Mountain Springs Mennonite Church || New Holland || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[New Holland Mennonite Church (Batesburg, South Carolina, USA)|New Holland Mennonite Church]] || Batesburg || South Carolina || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | July 2009 || align="right" | 94
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Nickel Mines Mennonite Church (Paradise, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nickel Mines Mennonite Church]] || Paradise || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1935 || align="right" | August 2002 ||  align="right" | 70 || align="right" | 80
+
| [[New Hope Mennonite Church (Orrstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|New Hope Mennonite Church]] || Orrstown || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 2003 || align="right" | August 2004 || align="right" | 40
 +
|-
 +
| New LIfe Mennonite Church || Madison || Tennessee || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[North Vine Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)|North Vine Mennonite Church]] || Arthur || Illinois || align="right" | 1957 || align="right" | August 2008 || align="right" | 81 ||  align="right" | 90
+
| [[Nickel Mines Mennonite Church (Paradise, Pennsylvania, USA)|Nickel Mines Mennonite Church]] || Paradise || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1935 || align="right" | August 2002 || align="right" | 67
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Oak Hill Mennonite Church (Cumberland, Virginia, USA)|Oak Hill Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Virginia || align="right" | 1970 || align="right" | August 2000 || align="right" | 51 ||  align="right" | 60
+
| [[North Vine Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)|North Vine Mennonite Church]] || Arthur || Illinois || align="right" | 1957 || align="right" | August 2008 || align="right" | 85
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church (Millersburg, Indiana, USA)|Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1948 || align="right" | February 1999 ||  align="right" | 170 || align="right" | 245
+
| [[Oak Hill Mennonite Church (Cumberland, Virginia, USA)|Oak Hill Mennonite Church]] || Cumberland || Virginia || align="right" | 1970 || align="right" | August 2000 || align="right" | 57
 +
|-
 +
| Oasis Mennonite Fellowship || New Holland || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Prairie Mennonite Church (Stirling, Alberta, Canada)|Prairie Mennonite Church]] || Raymond || Alberta || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 30 ||  align="right" | 60
+
| [[Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Palm Grove Mennonite Church]] || Sarasota || Florida || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 2011 || align="right" | 115
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Red Oak Community Mennonite Church (Blountstown, Florida, USA)|Red Oak Community Mennonite Church]] || Blountstown || Florida || align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | February 2003 || align="right" | 40 ||  align="right" | 90
+
| [[Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1948 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 190
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Shalom Mennonite Church (Odon, Indiana, USA)|Shalom Mennonite Church]] || Odon || Indiana || align="right" | 1999 || align="right" | February 2000 || align="right" | 17 ||  align="right" | 30
+
| [[Potter's House Mennonite Chapel (Downing, Missouri, USA)|Potter's House Mennonite Chapel]] || Downing || Missouri || align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | July 2011 || align="right" | 16
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Shekinah Mennonite Fellowship (Croghan, New York, USA)|Shekinah Mennonite Fellowship]] || Castorland || New York || align="right" | 1997 || align="right" | August 2001 || align="right" | 41 ||  align="right" | 55
+
| [[Prairie Christian Fellowship (Magrath, Alberta, Canada)|Prairie Christian Fellowship]] || Magrath || Alberta || align="right" | 1986 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 57
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Due West, South Carolina, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Due West || South Carolina ||  align="right" | 1995 ||  align="right" | February 1999 ||  align="right" | 84 || align="right" | 130
+
| Quitman Gospel Light Mennonite Church || Quitman || Arkansa || align="right" | || align="right" |  || align="right" |
 +
|-
 +
| Redeemer Christian Fellowship || Harrisonburg || Virginia || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |   
 +
|-
 +
| [[River of Hope Fellowship (Vaughn, Montana, USA)|River of Hope Fellowship]] || Vaughn || Montana || align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | 2008? || align="right" | 23
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Skyline Mennonite Church (Canon City, Colorado, USA)|Skyline Mennonite Church]] || Caon City || Colorado || align="right" | 2004 || align="right" | July 2004 ||  align="right" | 67 ||  align="right" | 145
+
| River of Life Fellowship || Clam Gulch || Alaska || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| Seeds of Truth Mennonite Church || Warsaw || New York || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Sharon Conservative Mennonite Church (Sugarcreek, Ohio, USA)|Sharon Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Sugarcreek || Ohio || align="right" | 1951 || align="right" | July 2011 || align="right" | 100
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Snow Hill Mennonite Church (Snow Hill, Maryland, USA)|Snow Hill Mennonite Church]] || Snow Hill || Maryland || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 43 ||  align="right" | 50
+
| [[Shekinah Mennonite Fellowship (Croghan, New York, USA)|Shekinah Mennonite Fellowship]] || Castorland || New York || align="right" | 1997 || align="right" | August 2001 || align="right" | 41
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Solid Rock Mennonite Church (Liberty, Kentucky, USA)|Solid Rock Mennonite Church]] || Liberty || Kentucky || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 14 ||  align="right" | 30
+
| Sheridan Mennonite Church || Sheridan || Oregon || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (Due West, South Carolina, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || Due West || South Carolina || align="right" | 1995 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 77
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Strickler's Mennonite Church (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strickler's Mennonite Church]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1837 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 33 ||  align="right" | 48
+
| [[Skyline Mennonite Church (Canon City, Colorado, USA)|Skyline Mennonite Church]] || Caon City || Colorado || align="right" | 2004 || align="right" | July 2004 || align="right" | 62
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Union Chapel Mennonite Church (Odon, Indiana, USA)|Union Chapel Mennonite Church]] || Odon || Indiana || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | 17 ||  align="right" | 35
+
| [[Snow Hill Mennonite Church (Snow Hill, Maryland, USA)|Snow Hill Mennonite Church]] || Snow Hill || Maryland || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | February 1999 || align="right" | 43
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[United Bethel Mennonite Church (Plain City, Ohio, USA)|United Bethel Mennonite Church]] || Plain City || Ohio || align="right" | 1940 || align="right" | February 2000 || align="right" | 236 ||  align="right" | 250
+
| [[Solid Rock Mennonite Church (Liberty, Kentucky, USA)|Solid Rock Mennonite Church]] || Liberty || Kentucky || align="right" | 2007 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 12
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[United Covenant Mennonite Church (Etowah, North Carolina, USA)|United Covenant Mennonite Church]] || Etowah || North Carolina || align="right" | 1994 || align="right" | February 2000 ||  align="right" | 38 || align="right" | 65
+
| [[Strickler's Mennonite Church (Middletown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Strickler's Mennonite Church]] || Middletown || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1837 || align="right" | February 2006 || align="right" | 37
 +
|-
 +
| Sunny Mennonite Church || Kalona || Iowa || align="right" |  || align="right" | || align="right" |  
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Womelsdorf Mennonite Church (Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, USA)|Womelsdorf Mennonite Church]] || Womelsdorf || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1993 ||  align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | 71 || align="right" | 120
+
| The Vine Community Church || Monterey || Tennessee || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" |
 +
|-
 +
| [[Truth and Grace Mennonite Church (Elnora, Indiana, USA)|Truth and Grace Mennonite Church]] || Elnora || Indiana || align="right" | 2013 || align="right" | 2013 || align="right" | 15
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Word of Life Mennonite Church (South Hutchinson, Kansas, USA)|Word of Life Mennonite Church]] || Hutchinson || Kansas || align="right" | 2005 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 38 ||  align="right" | 65
+
| [[Two or Three Church (White Cloud, Michigan, USA)|Two or Three Church]] || White Cloud || Michigan || align="right" | 2004 || align="right" | 2013? || align="right" | 10
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| [[Zion Mennonite Church (Etna Green, Indiana, USA)|Zion Mennonite Church]] || Nappanee || Indiana || align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | 2009 || align="right" | 12 ||  align="right" | 28
+
| [[United Bethel Mennonite Church (Plain City, Ohio, USA)|United Bethel Mennonite Church]] || Plain City || Ohio || align="right" | 1940 || align="right" | February 2000 || align="right" | 225
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
| <strong>Totals</strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> ||  align="right" | <strong>2,843</strong> || align="right" | <strong>4,092</strong>
+
| [[United Covenant Mennonite Church (Etowah, North Carolina, USA)|United Covenant Mennonite Church]] || Etowah || North Carolina || align="right" | 1994 || align="right" | February 2000 || align="right" | 28
 +
|-
 +
|Way of the Cross Chrisitan Fellowship || Hamburg || Pennsylvania || align="right" |  || align="right" |  || align="right" | 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Womelsdorf Mennonite Church (Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, USA)|Womelsdorf Mennonite Church]] || Womelsdorf || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | 2008 || align="right" | 102
 +
|-
 +
| [[Word of Life Mennonite Church (South Hutchinson, Kansas, USA)|Word of Life Mennonite Church]] || Hutchinson || Kansas || align="right" | 2005 || align="right" | August 2007 || align="right" | 42
 +
|-
 +
| <strong>Totals</strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || align="right" | <strong>3,545</strong>  
 
|}  
 
|}  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
−
<em>Canadian Mennonite</em> (13 September 1999).
+
Biblical Mennonite Alliance. "Geograghical Directory of BMA Congregations." Web. January 2023. https://biblicalmennonite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Cong-DIRECTORY-for-open-web-Jan-23.pdf.
 +
 
 +
''Canadian Mennonite'' (13 September 1999).
  
 
Emerson, Paul M. <em>BMA: The First Ten Years</em>. Biblical Mennonite Alliance, 2009.
 
Emerson, Paul M. <em>BMA: The First Ten Years</em>. Biblical Mennonite Alliance, 2009.
  
 
Oswald, Laurie L. "New Conference Carves More Conservative Niche: Former Conservative Conf. Congregations and Others Form a 'Biblical Alliance.'" <em>Mennonite Weekly Review</em> (19 August 1999): 1-2.
 
Oswald, Laurie L. "New Conference Carves More Conservative Niche: Former Conservative Conf. Congregations and Others Form a 'Biblical Alliance.'" <em>Mennonite Weekly Review</em> (19 August 1999): 1-2.
 +
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
<strong>Website</strong>: [http://www.biblicalmennonite.com/ Biblical Mennonite Alliance].
+
'''Website''': [http://www.biblicalmennonite.com/ Biblical Mennonite Alliance].
−
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=May 2012|a1_last=Thiessen|a1_first=Richard D.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Sam}}
+
{{GAMEO_footer-3|hp=|date=August 2023|a1_last=Thiessen|a1_first=Richard D.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.|a3_last=Redekopp|a3_first=Alf}}
 
[[Category:Denominations]]
 
[[Category:Denominations]]

Latest revision as of 21:54, 5 August 2023

In an August 1997 meeting, the Conservative Mennonite Conference (CMC) took a vote on the conference's stated position calling baptized woman to wear the prayer veiling. The motion also required ministers' wives to wear the veiling. Approval of the motion required a two-thirds vote; it fell short by one vote. There had earlier been a softening of CMC positions on modesty in dress, and in ministers performing marriages for persons who had been divorced. Some persons also expressed concern about greater use of contemporary worship styles in some CMC churches. A concerned group had been formed in the mid-1990s, but had been ineffective in its appeals to the conference leadership. In February 1997 an extended discussion on the prayer veiling was held in a conference business session, and the lack of conference unity on the issue became evident.

The vote on the prayer veiling was a "final straw" for some leaders who finally left the conference. A meeting of concerned leaders in October 1997 agreed to move toward formation of a new conference, rather than engender further dissension within the CMC. An organizational meeting was held 5-6 June 1998 at the Fairhaven Mennonite Church in West Salem, Ohio at which a constitution was approved and ministerial membership established. Fourteen ministers became charter members of the Biblical Mennonite Alliance (BMA). A Ministerial Enrichment Week was held in February 1999 by which time seven congregations had applied for membership in the Biblical Mennonite Alliance.

The first annual BMA conference was held on 6-8 August 1999 in Plain City, Ohio. At that time 43 ministers and nine congregations representing about 600 members joined the new denomination. Five congregations were formerly members of the Conservative Mennonite Conference: Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church in Brooklyn, New York; Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana; Snow Hill Mennonite Church in Maryland; Fairhaven Mennonite Church in West Salem, Ohio; and Bethel Mennonite Fellowship in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania. The other four congregations were unaffiliated congregations dissatisfied with former conference relationships: Faith Mennonite Fellowship in Crawford, Mississippi; Shiloh Mennonite Church in East Donalds, South Carolina; Calvary Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Mount Zion Mennonite Church in Bladensburg, Ohio. Since 1999, a number of other unaffiliated Mennonite congregations as well as congregations from other Mennonite denominations have joined the alliance.

The 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith was adopted as the official confession of faith of the denomination. The alliance has operated the Elnora Bible Institute in Elnora, Indiana since 2004, though a Bible institute was held annually beginning in 2000. The mission arm of the BMA is DestiNATIONS International (DNI), which operates a training center in Queens, New York. The Alliance Newsletter, begun in 1998, is the conference periodical.

In 2016 there were 62 congregations in the conference, with 3,545 members. In 2023 the BMA directory listed 72 member congregations and another 12 church plants.

BMA Congregations in 2023

(not including church plants)

Congregation City State Year Founded Joined BMA Membership
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship Townville Pennsylvania
Calvary Mennonite Church Paden Oklahoma 1995 February 2006 38
Calvary Mennonite Fellowship Harrisonburg Virginia 1990 February 1999 190
Central Mennonite Church Dover Delaware 1954 August 2002 156
Christ's Ambassadors St. Elizabeth Jamaica 1974 2007 130
Churchtown Mennonite Church Narvon Pennsylvania
Cornerstone Mennonite Fellowship Ephrata Pennsylvania 1998 August 2005 206
Crossroads Missionary Church Belvidere Tennessee 2010 2010 20
Crossway Mennonite Fellowship Bird in Hand Pennsylvania
East Hanover Mennonite Church Palmyra Pennsylvania 1953 July 2004 30
East Union Mennonite Church Orrville Ohio 1945 2011? 66
Fairhaven Mennonite Church West Salem Ohio 1965 February 1999 14
Faith Community Fellowship Harrisonville Pennsylvania 2011 2011 19
Faith Mennonite Fellowship Crawford Mississippi 1985 February 1999 69
Faith Mennonite Mission Shellman Georgia 1979 February 2008 24
Faith View Ministries Jamesport Missouri
Family Harvest Mennonite Church Fredericksburg Pennsylvania 2013 2013 25
Followers of Jesus Mennonite Church Brooklyn New York 1986 February 1999 67
Goshen Mennonite Church Laytonsville Maryland 1949 February 2001 26
Gospel Haven Mennonite Church Whiteville Tennesee
Great Trail Christian Churvh Minerva Ohio
Haven of Home Fellowship Auburn Kentucky
Heritage Mennonite Church Stevens Pennsylvania
Herr Street Mennonite Church Harrisburg Pennsylvania 1953 February 2006 26
High Country Mennonite Church Westcliffe Colorado 2011 2011 47
Juanita Christian Church Port Royal Pennsylvania 2005 August 2007 55
Kossuth Community Chapel Bolivar New York 1983 February 2006 33
Lamb of God Mennonite Church Butler Indiana 2000 August 2000 40
La Road Fellowship Los Angeles California
Leon Mennonite Chrisitan Fellowship Leon Iowa
Life in Christ Mennonite Elmhurst New York
Living Hope Mennonite Church Urbana Ohio 2014 2014 18
Living Home Mennonite Fellowship Pottstown Pennsylvania
Living Water Christian Fellowship Lott Texas 2009 July 2010 22
Living Water Mennonite Church Goshen Indiana 1999 February 2000 91
Madison Mennonite Fellowship Madison Indiana 1993 August 2001 7
Millwood Mennonite Church Gap Pennsylvania 1877 February 2012 105
Mohican Valley Door of Hope Danville Ohio 2006 2007 78
Mountain Springs Mennonite Church New Holland Pennsylvania
New Holland Mennonite Church Batesburg South Carolina 1986 July 2009 94
New Hope Mennonite Church Orrstown Pennsylvania 2003 August 2004 40
New LIfe Mennonite Church Madison Tennessee
Nickel Mines Mennonite Church Paradise Pennsylvania 1935 August 2002 67
North Vine Mennonite Church Arthur Illinois 1957 August 2008 85
Oak Hill Mennonite Church Cumberland Virginia 1970 August 2000 57
Oasis Mennonite Fellowship New Holland Pennsylvania
Palm Grove Mennonite Church Sarasota Florida 1953 February 2011 115
Pleasant Grove Conservative Mennonite Church Goshen Indiana 1948 February 1999 190
Potter's House Mennonite Chapel Downing Missouri 2008 July 2011 16
Prairie Christian Fellowship Magrath Alberta 1986 July 2004 57
Quitman Gospel Light Mennonite Church Quitman Arkansa
Redeemer Christian Fellowship Harrisonburg Virginia
River of Hope Fellowship Vaughn Montana 2008 2008? 23
River of Life Fellowship Clam Gulch Alaska
Seeds of Truth Mennonite Church Warsaw New York
Sharon Conservative Mennonite Church Sugarcreek Ohio 1951 July 2011 100
Shekinah Mennonite Fellowship Castorland New York 1997 August 2001 41
Sheridan Mennonite Church Sheridan Oregon
Shiloh Mennonite Church Due West South Carolina 1995 February 1999 77
Skyline Mennonite Church Caon City Colorado 2004 July 2004 62
Snow Hill Mennonite Church Snow Hill Maryland 1953 February 1999 43
Solid Rock Mennonite Church Liberty Kentucky 2007 August 2007 12
Strickler's Mennonite Church Middletown Pennsylvania 1837 February 2006 37
Sunny Mennonite Church Kalona Iowa
The Vine Community Church Monterey Tennessee
Truth and Grace Mennonite Church Elnora Indiana 2013 2013 15
Two or Three Church White Cloud Michigan 2004 2013? 10
United Bethel Mennonite Church Plain City Ohio 1940 February 2000 225
United Covenant Mennonite Church Etowah North Carolina 1994 February 2000 28
Way of the Cross Chrisitan Fellowship Hamburg Pennsylvania
Womelsdorf Mennonite Church Womelsdorf Pennsylvania 1993 2008 102
Word of Life Mennonite Church Hutchinson Kansas 2005 August 2007 42
Totals 3,545

Bibliography

Biblical Mennonite Alliance. "Geograghical Directory of BMA Congregations." Web. January 2023. https://biblicalmennonite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Cong-DIRECTORY-for-open-web-Jan-23.pdf.

Canadian Mennonite (13 September 1999).

Emerson, Paul M. BMA: The First Ten Years. Biblical Mennonite Alliance, 2009.

Oswald, Laurie L. "New Conference Carves More Conservative Niche: Former Conservative Conf. Congregations and Others Form a 'Biblical Alliance.'" Mennonite Weekly Review (19 August 1999): 1-2.

Additional Information

Website: Biblical Mennonite Alliance.


Author(s) Richard D. Thiessen
Samuel J. Steiner
Alf Redekopp
Date Published August 2023

Cite This Article

MLA style

Thiessen, Richard D., Samuel J. Steiner and Alf Redekopp. "Biblical Mennonite Alliance." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2023. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Biblical_Mennonite_Alliance&oldid=176483.

APA style

Thiessen, Richard D., Samuel J. Steiner and Alf Redekopp. (August 2023). Biblical Mennonite Alliance. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Biblical_Mennonite_Alliance&oldid=176483.



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