Difference between revisions of "Arthur Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)"

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[[File:ArthurMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Arthur Mennonite Church Source: [http://www.arthurmennonite.org/ Church web site]'']]    
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[[File:ArthurMennoniteChurch.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Arthur Mennonite Church Source: [http://www.arthurmennonite.org/ Church web site]'']]
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The Arthur Mennonite Church had its beginning in October 1936 when a group of workers from the [[East Bend Church (Fisher, Illinois, USA)|East Bend]] congregation near [[Fisher (Illinois, USA)|Fisher]], [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], began services in the Obie Bontrager home in Arthur. The first series of meetings was also held there in December of the same year by J. A. Heiser. In the fall of 1938 H. J. King and family moved to Arthur from Harper, [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]], and took charge of the work. In the spring of 1948 [[Yordy, Richard (1922-1995)|Richard Yordy]] and wife came to assist in the work. The group was organized into a congregation in the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA) |Illinois Conference of the Mennonite Church]] on 15 September 1940, by Bishops C. A. Hartzler and J. A. Heiser, with a charter membership of fifty-six. The 1953 membership was 241. A new church was dedicated in May 1949. The group at that time was almost entirely of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] background and drawn from the neighboring Amish community.
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The [[East Bend Mennonite Church (Fisher, Illinois, USA)|East Bend Mennonite Church]] first explored the possibility of a [[Mennonite Church (MC)]] congregation 50 miles away in the [[Arthur (Illinois, USA)|Arthur]], [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], area in 1926. At that time, the Arthur community included a large [[Old Order Amish]] settlement. Bishop Joseph A. Heiser again explored the idea in 1929. Finally, in 1936, the Obie Bontrager family moved to Arthur from [[Nappanee (Indiana, USA)|Nappanee]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]]. They opened their home for Sunday afternoon services for the eight local members of the East Bend congregation in October 1936.
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In Spring 1938, the small group began using the former Union Prairie Church southwest of Arthur. In October of that year, Henry J. and Ann King moved to Arthur from [[Harper County (Kansas, USA)|Harper]], [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]]. H. J., an ordained minister, served as pastor of the Arthur group, which had grown to 38 members. The congregation began to draw many of its members from the [[Arthur Old Order Amish Settlement (Arthur, Illinois, USA)|local Old Order Amish]], causing conflict with the Amish leadership and caused them to shun the Arthur Mennonite Church, though this only increased defections. This continued until the [[Rosedale Network of Churches|Conservative Mennonite Conference]] established the [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)|Arthur Conservative Amish Mennonite]] congregation in 1945, providing a less dramatic cultural shift to families leaving the Old Order. Arthur Mennonite Church formally organized as a separate congregation in 1940.
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The congregation grew rapidly. In October 1939, it purchased and soon expanded a former Pentecostal church in Arthur, with further expansion in 1946. Already by 1943, the congregation purchased a plot of land for a new church building it dedicated on 1 May 1949. In 1956, internal dissension led to the withdrawal of 35-40 members over issues of nonconformity. Some began the Quinn Chapel Conservative Church, and others joined the Arthur Conservative Amish Mennonite Church.
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In November 2014, the congregation opened an MCC thrift shop in Arthur.
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In May 2019, the congregation voted by 88% to withdraw from the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Illinois Mennonite Conference]] and [[Mennonite Church USA]], and join [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]] and the Evana Network.
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= Bibliography =
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"Congregational vote results." Arthur Mennonite Church. 2019. Web. 7 March 2024. https://www.arthurmennonite.org/congregational-vote-results/.
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''History of the Arthur Mennonite Church, Arthur, Illinois.'' Arthur, Ill.: The Church, 1958.
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Smith, Willard H. ''Mennonites in Illinois''. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 141-142, 164-165, 212-213, 542.
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= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': 710 E Park Street, Arthur, IL 61911
 
  
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'''Phone''': 217-543-2781
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'''Address:''' 710 East Park, Arthur, Illinois 61911
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'''Phone:''' 217-543-2781
  
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'''Web site''': [http://www.arthurmennonite.org/ http://www.arthurmennonite.org/]
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'''Website''': https://www.arthurmennonite.org/
  
 
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
 
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches
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Evana Network
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== Pastoral Leaders at Arthur Mennonite Church ==
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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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| East Bend ministers || 1936-1938
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|-
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| Henry J. "H. J." King (1891-1981)<br />(Bishop) || 1938-1949<br />1949-1958
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|-
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| [[Yordy, Richard (1922-1995)|Richard Yordy]] (1922-1995)<br />(Bishop) || 1948-1950<br />1960-1965
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|-
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| Theodore Wentland (1917-2003) || 1954-1959
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|-
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| Paul C. Sieber (1921-2019) || 1965-1977
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|-
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| Glenn A. Richard (1916-2011)(Interim) || 1978-1979
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|-
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| Wayne Hochstetler || 1979-1983
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|-
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| Willard D. Conrad || 1984-1988
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|-
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| Wayne D. King (1931-2021) || 1989-1995?
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|-
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| Phil Schrock || 1996-2001?
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|-
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| Gary E. Martin || 2001?-2006?
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|-
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| Glen Rhodes || 2002-
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|-
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| Tony Chmeil || 2004?-2006?
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|-
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| Clara King || 2004?-2006?
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|-
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| Lamar Miller || 2006?-2014
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|-
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| Jeff Marner || 2006?-2022?
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|-
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| Lynn Marner || 2006?-2011
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|-
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| Matt Lane || 2012-2014
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|-
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| Ashley Litwiller || 2015-2020
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|-
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| Nancy Kuhns || 2022?-
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|-
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| Emily Kauffman || 2022?-
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|}
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== Arthur Mennonite Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1936 || 8
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|-
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| 1940 || 57
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|-
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| 1950 || 211
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|-
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| 1960 || 207
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|-
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| 1970 || 233
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|-
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| 1980 || 234
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|-
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| 1990 || 155
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|-
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| 2000 || 229
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|-
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| 2009 || 241
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|}
  
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[https://illinoismennonite.com/home/ Illinois Mennonite Conference]
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
  
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[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
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By Henry J. King. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 1, p. 172. All rights reserved.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, p. 172|date=1953|a1_last=King|a1_first=Henry J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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The Arthur Mennonite Church had its beginning in October 1936 when a group of workers from the [[East Bend Church (Fisher, Illinois, USA)|East Bend]] congregation near [[Fisher (Illinois, USA)|Fisher]], [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], began services in the Obie Bontrager home in Arthur. The first series of meetings was also held there in December of the same year by J. A. Heiser. In the fall of 1938 H. J. King and family moved to Arthur from Harper, [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]], and took charge of the work. In the spring of 1948 [[Yordy, Richard (1922-1995)|Richard Yordy]] and wife came to assist in the work. The group was organized into a congregation in the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA) |Illinois Conference of the Mennonite Church]] on 15 September 1940, by Bishops C. A. Hartzler and J. A. Heiser, with a charter membership of fifty-six. The 1953 membership was 241. A new church was dedicated in May 1949. The group at that time was almost entirely of [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] background and drawn from the neighboring Amish community.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Illinois Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:Evana Network Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Illinois Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 15:26, 14 September 2024

Arthur Mennonite Church Source: Church web site

The East Bend Mennonite Church first explored the possibility of a Mennonite Church (MC) congregation 50 miles away in the Arthur, Illinois, area in 1926. At that time, the Arthur community included a large Old Order Amish settlement. Bishop Joseph A. Heiser again explored the idea in 1929. Finally, in 1936, the Obie Bontrager family moved to Arthur from Nappanee, Indiana. They opened their home for Sunday afternoon services for the eight local members of the East Bend congregation in October 1936.

In Spring 1938, the small group began using the former Union Prairie Church southwest of Arthur. In October of that year, Henry J. and Ann King moved to Arthur from Harper, Kansas. H. J., an ordained minister, served as pastor of the Arthur group, which had grown to 38 members. The congregation began to draw many of its members from the local Old Order Amish, causing conflict with the Amish leadership and caused them to shun the Arthur Mennonite Church, though this only increased defections. This continued until the Conservative Mennonite Conference established the Arthur Conservative Amish Mennonite congregation in 1945, providing a less dramatic cultural shift to families leaving the Old Order. Arthur Mennonite Church formally organized as a separate congregation in 1940.

The congregation grew rapidly. In October 1939, it purchased and soon expanded a former Pentecostal church in Arthur, with further expansion in 1946. Already by 1943, the congregation purchased a plot of land for a new church building it dedicated on 1 May 1949. In 1956, internal dissension led to the withdrawal of 35-40 members over issues of nonconformity. Some began the Quinn Chapel Conservative Church, and others joined the Arthur Conservative Amish Mennonite Church.

In November 2014, the congregation opened an MCC thrift shop in Arthur.

In May 2019, the congregation voted by 88% to withdraw from the Illinois Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA, and join LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches and the Evana Network.

Bibliography

"Congregational vote results." Arthur Mennonite Church. 2019. Web. 7 March 2024. https://www.arthurmennonite.org/congregational-vote-results/.

History of the Arthur Mennonite Church, Arthur, Illinois. Arthur, Ill.: The Church, 1958.

Smith, Willard H. Mennonites in Illinois. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 141-142, 164-165, 212-213, 542.

Additional Information

Address: 710 East Park, Arthur, Illinois 61911

Phone: 217-543-2781

Website: https://www.arthurmennonite.org/

Denominational Affiliations: LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

Evana Network

Pastoral Leaders at Arthur Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
East Bend ministers 1936-1938
Henry J. "H. J." King (1891-1981)
(Bishop)		 1938-1949
1949-1958
Richard Yordy (1922-1995)
(Bishop)		 1948-1950
1960-1965
Theodore Wentland (1917-2003) 1954-1959
Paul C. Sieber (1921-2019) 1965-1977
Glenn A. Richard (1916-2011)(Interim) 1978-1979
Wayne Hochstetler 1979-1983
Willard D. Conrad 1984-1988
Wayne D. King (1931-2021) 1989-1995?
Phil Schrock 1996-2001?
Gary E. Martin 2001?-2006?
Glen Rhodes 2002-
Tony Chmeil 2004?-2006?
Clara King 2004?-2006?
Lamar Miller 2006?-2014
Jeff Marner 2006?-2022?
Lynn Marner 2006?-2011
Matt Lane 2012-2014
Ashley Litwiller 2015-2020
Nancy Kuhns 2022?-
Emily Kauffman 2022?-

Arthur Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1936 8
1940 57
1950 211
1960 207
1970 233
1980 234
1990 155
2000 229
2009 241

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Henry J. King. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 172. All rights reserved.

The Arthur Mennonite Church had its beginning in October 1936 when a group of workers from the East Bend congregation near Fisher, Illinois, began services in the Obie Bontrager home in Arthur. The first series of meetings was also held there in December of the same year by J. A. Heiser. In the fall of 1938 H. J. King and family moved to Arthur from Harper, Kansas, and took charge of the work. In the spring of 1948 Richard Yordy and wife came to assist in the work. The group was organized into a congregation in the Illinois Conference of the Mennonite Church on 15 September 1940, by Bishops C. A. Hartzler and J. A. Heiser, with a charter membership of fifty-six. The 1953 membership was 241. A new church was dedicated in May 1949. The group at that time was almost entirely of Old Order Amish background and drawn from the neighboring Amish community.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published March 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Arthur Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2024. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Arthur_Mennonite_Church_(Arthur,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=179675.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (March 2024). Arthur Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Arthur_Mennonite_Church_(Arthur,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=179675.



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

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