Difference between revisions of "Rexton Mennonite Church (Rexton, Michigan USA)"

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The Rexton Mennonite Church in Rexton, [[Michigan (USA)|Michigan]], began in 1948 as a church plant of the [[Naubinway Christian Fellowship (Naubinway, Michigan, USA)|Naubinway Mennonite Church]] and the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]] after hold two [[Summer Bible School|Summer Bible Schools]] in Rexton in 1947 and 1948. Initially, the group met on Friday meetings. The group also met in the town hall for several years.
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Joseph J. Swartz, Jr., was ordained and provided pastoral leadership beginning in 1949. Swartz also operated a sawmill. In 1951, the congregation moved a former Methodist church building to Rexton from Lakeside, Michigan. After remodeling, it was dedicated on 2 December 1951.
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In 2015, the Rexton congregation withdrew from the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]]. This move was part of a larger realignment of Mennonite congregations in the 2010s that were formerly part of [[Mennonite Church USA]]. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.
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The nearby [[Naubinway Christian Fellowship (Naubinway, Michigan, USA)|Naubinway Christian Fellowship]] also withdrew from the conference in 2015. In 2016, the two churches agreed to "meld," and in 2017, they began operating as the Christian Fellowship Churches of Mackinac County, with two locations. They considered themselves to be a non-denominational church. By 2024, the Rexton location was closed.
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= Bibliography =
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"About Us." Christian Fellowship Churches of Mackinac County. 2017. Web. 5 July 2024. https://www.cfcmi.com/about-us.
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"Dedication services were held...." ''Gospel Herald'' 44, no. 50 (11 December 1951): 1204.
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Kauffman, Freda Kurtz. "Visit Upper Michigan." 48, no. 45 (8 November 1955): 1071.
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Lapp, George J. "Touring the Northern Peninsula." ''Gospel Herald'' 43, no. 44 (31 October 1950): 1078.
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"A new work was begun at Rexton,..." ''Gospel Herald'' 41, no. 48 (30 November 1948): 1141.
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Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 183, 311, 367.
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"Rexton." ''Gospel Herald'' 59, no. 10 (15 March 1966): 228.
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Wenger, John Christian. ''The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 253-254.
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= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': N7970 Church St., Rexton, Michigan
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'''Telephone''':
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'''Website''':
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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[https://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference] (Until 2015)
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[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2015)
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== Pastoral Leaders at Rexton 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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| Ora C. Wyse (1919-1999) || 1948-1949
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|-
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| Joseph J. Swartz (1917-2011) || 1949-1966
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|-
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| Thruman L. Miller (1923-2009) || 1968-1977
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|-
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| Keith R. Swartz  || 1977-1982
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|-
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| Lay Leadership || 1982-1990
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|-
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| Craig Lambright || 1991-1997
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|-
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| Timothy O. Miller || 1998-
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|}
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== Rexton Mennonite Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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| 1950 || 8
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|-
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| 1960 || 25
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|-
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| 1970 || 30
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|-
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| 1980 || 17
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|-
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| 1990 || 26
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|-
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| 2000 || 38
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|-
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| 2009 || 44
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By [[Gingerich, Melvin (1902-1975)|Melvin Gingerich]]. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 312. All rights reserved.
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Rexton Mennonite Church, Rexton, Michigan, was established in 1947 under the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]]. The membership was 34 in 1957, with Joe Swartz as pastor.
 
Rexton Mennonite Church, Rexton, Michigan, was established in 1947 under the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board]]. The membership was 34 in 1957, with Joe Swartz as pastor.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 312|date=1959|a1_last=Gingerich|a1_first=Melvin|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=July 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Independent Community Congregations]]
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[[Category:Extinct Congregations]]
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[[Category:Michigan Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 18:24, 31 July 2024

The Rexton Mennonite Church in Rexton, Michigan, began in 1948 as a church plant of the Naubinway Mennonite Church and the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board after hold two Summer Bible Schools in Rexton in 1947 and 1948. Initially, the group met on Friday meetings. The group also met in the town hall for several years.

Joseph J. Swartz, Jr., was ordained and provided pastoral leadership beginning in 1949. Swartz also operated a sawmill. In 1951, the congregation moved a former Methodist church building to Rexton from Lakeside, Michigan. After remodeling, it was dedicated on 2 December 1951.

In 2015, the Rexton congregation withdrew from the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. This move was part of a larger realignment of Mennonite congregations in the 2010s that were formerly part of Mennonite Church USA. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

The nearby Naubinway Christian Fellowship also withdrew from the conference in 2015. In 2016, the two churches agreed to "meld," and in 2017, they began operating as the Christian Fellowship Churches of Mackinac County, with two locations. They considered themselves to be a non-denominational church. By 2024, the Rexton location was closed.

Bibliography

"About Us." Christian Fellowship Churches of Mackinac County. 2017. Web. 5 July 2024. https://www.cfcmi.com/about-us.

"Dedication services were held...." Gospel Herald 44, no. 50 (11 December 1951): 1204.

Kauffman, Freda Kurtz. "Visit Upper Michigan." 48, no. 45 (8 November 1955): 1071.

Lapp, George J. "Touring the Northern Peninsula." Gospel Herald 43, no. 44 (31 October 1950): 1078.

"A new work was begun at Rexton,..." Gospel Herald 41, no. 48 (30 November 1948): 1141.

Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 183, 311, 367.

"Rexton." Gospel Herald 59, no. 10 (15 March 1966): 228.

Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 253-254.

Additional Information

Address: N7970 Church St., Rexton, Michigan

Telephone:

Website:

Denominational Affiliations:

Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Until 2015)

Mennonite Church USA (Until 2015)

Pastoral Leaders at Rexton Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Ora C. Wyse (1919-1999) 1948-1949
Joseph J. Swartz (1917-2011) 1949-1966
Thruman L. Miller (1923-2009) 1968-1977
Keith R. Swartz 1977-1982
Lay Leadership 1982-1990
Craig Lambright 1991-1997
Timothy O. Miller 1998-

Rexton Mennonite Church Membership

1950 8
1960 25
1970 30
1980 17
1990 26
2000 38
2009 44

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Melvin Gingerich. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 312. All rights reserved.

Rexton Mennonite Church, Rexton, Michigan, was established in 1947 under the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Mission Board. The membership was 34 in 1957, with Joe Swartz as pastor.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published July 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Rexton Mennonite Church (Rexton, Michigan USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2024. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rexton_Mennonite_Church_(Rexton,_Michigan_USA)&oldid=179365.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (July 2024). Rexton Mennonite Church (Rexton, Michigan USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rexton_Mennonite_Church_(Rexton,_Michigan_USA)&oldid=179365.



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

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