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Salem Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), located one-half mile south and 5 miles west of New Paris, Elkhart County, Indiana, was originally a member of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]]. The church was organized by R. J. Smid (1814-1893) in 1889. About one half of the charter members were Mennonite immigrants from [[Balk (Friesland, Netherlands)|Balk]], [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]], [[Netherlands|Netherlands]], who had arrived in 1853 and had held Dutch services in homes and schoolhouses, and also attended German services in the Christophel Mennonite church, an alternate meeting place for the [[Yellow Creek Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Yellow Creek Mennonite Church]]. The meetinghouse was built in 1889 and enlarged in 1919.
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Fifty-two Frisian Mennonites and non-Mennonites from [[Balk (Friesland, Netherlands)|Balk]], [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]], settled in [[Elkhart County (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart County]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]] in 1853. The group included Minister R. J. Sijmensma and Bishop R. J. Smid. They worshiped in Frisian every four weeks in homes, schoolhouses, and sometimes in the Christophel meetinghouse of the [[Yellow Creek Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Yellow Creek Mennonite Church]] because they had been assisted by Minister Jacob Christophel (1782-1868) of that congregation. They also sometimes worshiped jointly with the Christophel German-speaking Mennonites.
  
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Ministers of the congregation have been R. J. Smid (Schmidt), J. H. Bare (ordained 1906), Ray F. Yoder, (ordained 1918), Francis E. Freed (ordained 1939), and Harold D. Myers. The membership in the late 1950s was 166.
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The "Holland" Mennonites built their own meetinghouse in 1889 and opened it on 28 July 1889. After its erection, the congregation was composed of Mennonites both of Frisian and Ekhart County "Old" Mennonites. The congregation enlarged the church in 1919 and added a basement. In 1940 it also added Sunday school rooms.
  
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In 2014 the church was an independent Mennonite congregation with 150 members. The congregation was led by Bishop G. Terrill Yoder, Ministers Jerry A. Helmuth, DeWayne Martin, and Kevin Martin, and Deacon Owen Martin.
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A distinguishing characteristic of the Salem congregation was the baptism of new members in streams. The church initiated [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] immediately after completing its 1889 building. In 1908, the congregation began to meet for church and Sunday school every week. [[Young People's Bible Meeting|Young People's Bible Meetings]] began around 1912, and a women's sewing circle began about 1910.
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During World War II, the Salem congregation generously supported its men serving in [[Civilian Public Service]]. It gave them $180 per month, plus $6 per month served when they returned home.
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In 1961, five members of the Salem Mennonite Church withdrew over concerns about the use of television, higher education, competitive athletics, and other topics.
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When the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]] approved the ordination of women in 1981, Salem Mennonite Church and its daughter congregations, [[Toto Mennonite Church (North Judson, Indiana, USA)|Toto Mennonite]] and [[Milford Chapel (Milford, Indiana, USA)|Milford Chapel]], withdrew from the conference. Salem Mennonite then became an independent Mennonite congregation. It had already declined receipt of the conference periodical in the 1970s and no longer supported the Indiana Mennonite Relief Sale.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
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''Mennonite Church Directory 2014''. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, Inc., 2014: 135.
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Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 32, 151-152, 169, 259-261, 311.
  
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Yoder, Marie. "The Balk Dutch Settlement near Goshen, Indiana, 1853-1889." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Quarterly Review</em> 30 (1936): 32-43.
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Wenger, John Christian. ''The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 97-100.
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 +
Yoder, Marie. "The Balk Dutch Settlement near Goshen, Indiana, 1853-1889." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' 30 (1936): 32-43.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': 23984 CR 46, New Paris, Indiana
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'''Address''': 23984 County Road 46, New Paris, Indiana 46553
  
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'''Phone''': 574-831-2803
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'''Telephone''': 574-831-2803
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 405|date=1959|a1_last=Yoder|a1_first=Ray F|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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'''Website''': https://salemmennonite.church/
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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[https://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference] (Until 1981)
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[[Mennonite Church (MC)]] (Until 1981)
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== Pastoral Leaders at Salem 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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| Ruurd Jacobs Sijmensma (1816-1854) || 1853-1854
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|-
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| Ruurd J. Smid (1816-1893)(Bishop) || 1853-1893
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|-
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| Yellow Creek ministers || 1893-1905
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|-
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| John H. Bare (1869-1930) || 1905-1930
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|-
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| Ray F. Yoder (1893-1963)<br />(Bishop) || 1918-1947<br />1947-1960
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|-
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| Francis E. Freed (1893-1977) || 1939-1961
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|-
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| William R. McGrath (1931-2015) || 1954
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|-
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| Harold D. Myers (1914-1974)<br />(Bishop) || 1957-1960<br />1960-1974
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|-
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| Floyd L. Stutzman (1931-1983) || 1970-1983
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|-
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| William E. Yoder<br />(Bishop) || 1975-1977<br />1977-2006
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|-
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| Naaman S. Martin (1925-2018) || 1975-1993
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|-
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| Jerry A. Helmuth || 1994-2013
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|-
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| G. Terrill Yoder<br />(Bishop) || 1998-2006<br />2006-
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|-
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| DeWayne Martin || 2007-2022
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|-
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| Kevin Martin || 2013-
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|-
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| Gary Martin || 2022-
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|}
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== Salem 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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| 1885 || 65
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|-
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| 1905 || 75
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|-
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| 1913 || 70
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|-
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| 1920 || 62
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|-
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| 1930 || 89
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|-
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| 1940 || 147
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|-
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| 1950 || 145
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|-
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| 1960 || 182
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|-
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| 1970 || 243
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|-
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| 1980 || 274
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|-
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| 1990 || 217
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|-
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| 1997 || 222
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|-
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| 2007 || 145
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|-
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| 2024 || 155
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By Ray F. Yoder. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 405. All rights reserved.
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Salem Mennonite Church ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]), located one-half mile south and five miles west of New Paris, Elkhart County, Indiana, a member of the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]], was organized by R. J. Smid (1814-1893) in 1889. About one-half of the charter members were Mennonite immigrants from [[Balk (Friesland, Netherlands)|Balk]], [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]], [[Netherlands]], who had arrived in 1853 and had held Dutch services in homes and schoolhouses, and also attended German services in the Christophel Mennonite church, an alternate meeting place for the [[Yellow Creek Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Yellow Creek Mennonite Church]]. The meetinghouse was built in 1889 and enlarged in 1919.
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Ministers of the congregation have been R. J. Smid (Schmidt), J. H. Bare (ordained 1906), Ray F. Yoder, the present bishop (ordained 1918), Francis E. Freed (ordained 1939), and Harold D. Myers, the present ministers (1958). The membership is 166.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=August 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Independent Mennonite Congregations]]
 
 
[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[Category:Independent Mennonite Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
 
[[Category:United States Congregations]]
 
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 14:16, 4 August 2024

Fifty-two Frisian Mennonites and non-Mennonites from Balk, Friesland, settled in Elkhart County, Indiana in 1853. The group included Minister R. J. Sijmensma and Bishop R. J. Smid. They worshiped in Frisian every four weeks in homes, schoolhouses, and sometimes in the Christophel meetinghouse of the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church because they had been assisted by Minister Jacob Christophel (1782-1868) of that congregation. They also sometimes worshiped jointly with the Christophel German-speaking Mennonites.

The "Holland" Mennonites built their own meetinghouse in 1889 and opened it on 28 July 1889. After its erection, the congregation was composed of Mennonites both of Frisian and Ekhart County "Old" Mennonites. The congregation enlarged the church in 1919 and added a basement. In 1940 it also added Sunday school rooms.

A distinguishing characteristic of the Salem congregation was the baptism of new members in streams. The church initiated Sunday school immediately after completing its 1889 building. In 1908, the congregation began to meet for church and Sunday school every week. Young People's Bible Meetings began around 1912, and a women's sewing circle began about 1910.

During World War II, the Salem congregation generously supported its men serving in Civilian Public Service. It gave them $180 per month, plus $6 per month served when they returned home.

In 1961, five members of the Salem Mennonite Church withdrew over concerns about the use of television, higher education, competitive athletics, and other topics.

When the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference approved the ordination of women in 1981, Salem Mennonite Church and its daughter congregations, Toto Mennonite and Milford Chapel, withdrew from the conference. Salem Mennonite then became an independent Mennonite congregation. It had already declined receipt of the conference periodical in the 1970s and no longer supported the Indiana Mennonite Relief Sale.

Bibliography

Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 32, 151-152, 169, 259-261, 311.

Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 97-100.

Yoder, Marie. "The Balk Dutch Settlement near Goshen, Indiana, 1853-1889." Mennonite Quarterly Review 30 (1936): 32-43.

Additional Information

Address: 23984 County Road 46, New Paris, Indiana 46553

Telephone: 574-831-2803

Website: https://salemmennonite.church/

Denominational Affiliations:

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Until 1981)

Mennonite Church (MC) (Until 1981)

Pastoral Leaders at Salem Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Ruurd Jacobs Sijmensma (1816-1854) 1853-1854
Ruurd J. Smid (1816-1893)(Bishop) 1853-1893
Yellow Creek ministers 1893-1905
John H. Bare (1869-1930) 1905-1930
Ray F. Yoder (1893-1963)
(Bishop)		 1918-1947
1947-1960
Francis E. Freed (1893-1977) 1939-1961
William R. McGrath (1931-2015) 1954
Harold D. Myers (1914-1974)
(Bishop)		 1957-1960
1960-1974
Floyd L. Stutzman (1931-1983) 1970-1983
William E. Yoder
(Bishop)		 1975-1977
1977-2006
Naaman S. Martin (1925-2018) 1975-1993
Jerry A. Helmuth 1994-2013
G. Terrill Yoder
(Bishop)		 1998-2006
2006-
DeWayne Martin 2007-2022
Kevin Martin 2013-
Gary Martin 2022-

Salem Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1885 65
1905 75
1913 70
1920 62
1930 89
1940 147
1950 145
1960 182
1970 243
1980 274
1990 217
1997 222
2007 145
2024 155

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Ray F. Yoder. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 405. All rights reserved.

Salem Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), located one-half mile south and five miles west of New Paris, Elkhart County, Indiana, a member of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference, was organized by R. J. Smid (1814-1893) in 1889. About one-half of the charter members were Mennonite immigrants from Balk, Friesland, Netherlands, who had arrived in 1853 and had held Dutch services in homes and schoolhouses, and also attended German services in the Christophel Mennonite church, an alternate meeting place for the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church. The meetinghouse was built in 1889 and enlarged in 1919.

Ministers of the congregation have been R. J. Smid (Schmidt), J. H. Bare (ordained 1906), Ray F. Yoder, the present bishop (ordained 1918), Francis E. Freed (ordained 1939), and Harold D. Myers, the present ministers (1958). The membership is 166.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published August 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Salem Mennonite Church (New Paris, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2024. Web. 4 Aug 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Salem_Mennonite_Church_(New_Paris,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=179394.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (August 2024). Salem Mennonite Church (New Paris, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 4 August 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Salem_Mennonite_Church_(New_Paris,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=179394.



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

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