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| − | + | __TOC__ | |
| + | = 1955 Article = | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference was brought into being in 1910 at the invitation of the ministers of the [[Pigeon River Mennonite Church (Pigeon, Michigan, USA)|Pigeon River congregation]], near Pigeon, Michigan, who invited ministers of other similar churches to gather with them in a ministers meeting. The meeting was held 24-25 November 1910 (an error in the official report of this meeting sets the date as 24-25 November 1911.) | ||
At this preliminary meeting, five ordained men were present: Bishop S. J. Swartzendruber and [[Zehr, Michael S. (1872-1944)|M. S. Zehr]] of the host congregation; Bishop Joshua King, Hartville, Ohio; Bishop John L. Mast. and Jonas D. Yoder of the [[Locust Grove Mennonite Church (Belleville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Locust Grove]] congregation, near [[Belleville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Belleville]], Pennsylvania. | At this preliminary meeting, five ordained men were present: Bishop S. J. Swartzendruber and [[Zehr, Michael S. (1872-1944)|M. S. Zehr]] of the host congregation; Bishop Joshua King, Hartville, Ohio; Bishop John L. Mast. and Jonas D. Yoder of the [[Locust Grove Mennonite Church (Belleville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Locust Grove]] congregation, near [[Belleville (Pennsylvania, USA)|Belleville]], Pennsylvania. | ||
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The name Conservative Amish Mennonite had been brought into use at the turn of the century by [[Steiner, Menno Simon (1866-1911)|M. S. Steiner]], compiler of Mennonite statistics, to distinguish these churches from the more progressive [[Amish Mennonites|Amish Mennonite]] conferences on the one hand, and the more conservative [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] churches on the other. | The name Conservative Amish Mennonite had been brought into use at the turn of the century by [[Steiner, Menno Simon (1866-1911)|M. S. Steiner]], compiler of Mennonite statistics, to distinguish these churches from the more progressive [[Amish Mennonites|Amish Mennonite]] conferences on the one hand, and the more conservative [[Old Order Amish|Old Order Amish]] churches on the other. | ||
| − | The second meeting was held with the Maple Glen congregation, near Grantsville, Maryland, 27-28 May 1912. With this session the meeting became established as an annual conference, which it continued to be at this writing. Attending were 16 ordained men from [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio ( | + | The second meeting was held with the Maple Glen congregation, near Grantsville, Maryland, 27-28 May 1912. With this session the meeting became established as an annual conference, which it continued to be at this writing. Attending were 16 ordained men from [[Maryland (USA)|Maryland]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio (USA)|Ohio]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], [[Michigan (USA)|Michigan]], [[Iowa (USA)|Iowa]], and [[Missouri (USA)|Missouri]]. For the most part, those participating in this conference session represented congregations which, as the name of the conference indicates, felt that the established conferences of that day came short of certain Scriptural requirements, and that a more conservative emphasis was needed in the application of the Word of God than these afforded. On the other hand, it was felt that the Old Order Amish churches left certain things to be desired in the way of an aggressive church program. Most of the congregations interested in this new conference movement stemmed from this latter group and had never been affiliated with any conference, while in several cases their background included contacts with the district Amish Mennonite conferences. |
| − | + | [[File:ME1 701 (corrected).jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Conservative Amish Mennonite Congregations (with key) <br> | |
| − | [[File: | + | Source: Mennonite Encyclopedia, v. 1, p. 701.'']] |
| − | |||
| − | Mennonite Encyclopedia, v. 1, p. 701. | ||
| − | + | As the conference met year after year and its policies became more clearly outlined, other congregations applied for membership, while a few which had been represented at the first meetings withdrew. In this early stage of development, the conference functioned in a very informal way. It had no written constitution and bylaws to guide it in its work. In fact it did not adopt one until 1945. (Complete text of constitution and by-laws appears in conference report of that year.) | |
From its beginning, the conference accepted the 18 articles of the [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession of Faith]] as an official statement of its belief. It insisted on separation from the world for its membership in personal, social, and economic life, including such details as fashionable attire, use of [[Tobacco|tobacco]] and intoxicants, participation in war in any form, worldly business associations, [[Secret Societies|secret societies]], life insurance, and holding of government offices. Correspondingly it sought to promote a positive Christian testimony through evangelism, benevolence, and personal sanctification. | From its beginning, the conference accepted the 18 articles of the [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession of Faith]] as an official statement of its belief. It insisted on separation from the world for its membership in personal, social, and economic life, including such details as fashionable attire, use of [[Tobacco|tobacco]] and intoxicants, participation in war in any form, worldly business associations, [[Secret Societies|secret societies]], life insurance, and holding of government offices. Correspondingly it sought to promote a positive Christian testimony through evangelism, benevolence, and personal sanctification. | ||
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In 1912 the conference approved a plan for systematic, yearly visitation of all its congregations by ministers appointed for that purpose, who were to preach a number of sermons for each congregation. By 1918, through conference sanction, some of these efforts took on the form of Bible instruction meetings, which were carried on in varied form and frequency since, in most of the congregations. | In 1912 the conference approved a plan for systematic, yearly visitation of all its congregations by ministers appointed for that purpose, who were to preach a number of sermons for each congregation. By 1918, through conference sanction, some of these efforts took on the form of Bible instruction meetings, which were carried on in varied form and frequency since, in most of the congregations. | ||
| − | In 1917 the conference assumed joint responsibility for the publication of the [[Herold der Wahrheit (1912- ) (Periodical)| | + | In 1917 the conference assumed joint responsibility for the publication of the <em>[[Herold der Wahrheit (1912- ) (Periodical)|Herold der Wahrheit]]</em>, a German-English semimonthly periodical, launched in 1912 by a number of interested persons in the Old Order Amish churches. |
| − | In the same year the first definite action was taken in mission work, when it was decided that M. S. Zehr should go to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri to preach there if opportunity afforded and investigate the possibility of opening mission work. By 1919 a mission board was appointed by the conference. Besides numerous missionary efforts carried on locally by individual congregations, the conference established under its general mission board in 1929 a city mission at 2124 E. Williamson St., Flint, Michigan, and in 1946 a rural mission on [[Turner's Creek Mennonite Church (Talbert, Kentucky, USA)|Turner's Creek]], near Talbert, Kentucky, with a branch station on Bowling's Creek, near Beech, KY, about one year later. In 1948 the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]] invited the conference to appoint representatives to its board, and after that time it had two representatives on this board. In 1950 the conference appointed its first foreign missionaries, a couple to serve under the Eastern ([[ | + | In the same year the first definite action was taken in mission work, when it was decided that M. S. Zehr should go to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri to preach there if opportunity afforded and investigate the possibility of opening mission work. By 1919 a mission board was appointed by the conference. Besides numerous missionary efforts carried on locally by individual congregations, the conference established under its general mission board in 1929 a city mission at 2124 E. Williamson St., Flint, Michigan, and in 1946 a rural mission on [[Turner's Creek Mennonite Church (Talbert, Kentucky, USA)|Turner's Creek]], near Talbert, Kentucky, with a branch station on Bowling's Creek, near Beech, KY, about one year later. In 1948 the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]] invited the conference to appoint representatives to its board, and after that time it had two representatives on this board. In 1950 the conference appointed its first foreign missionaries, a couple to serve under the Eastern ([[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster]]) Mennonite Board in [[Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], and established its own work in [[Espelkamp (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)|Espelkamp]], [[Germany|Germany]]. In the 1950s the following additional home missions were established: Austin, Indiana, Gays Creek, Kentucky, Mount Morris, Michigan, and Blountstown, Florida. |
In 1937 the conference elected a representative on the Peace Problems Committee of the [[Mennonite Church General Conference|Mennonite General Conference (MC)]]. In 1941 it appointed a representative on the [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]]. In co-operation with this committee it contributed material aid and personnel for relief after World War I and during and after the last war, as well as participating in the [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] program. | In 1937 the conference elected a representative on the Peace Problems Committee of the [[Mennonite Church General Conference|Mennonite General Conference (MC)]]. In 1941 it appointed a representative on the [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]]. In co-operation with this committee it contributed material aid and personnel for relief after World War I and during and after the last war, as well as participating in the [[Civilian Public Service|Civilian Public Service]] program. | ||
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In 1954 the total membership of the conference was 4,259. There were 36 congregations, of which five were in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and Maryland, two in [[Delaware (USA)|Delaware]], four in [[New York (USA)|New York]], one in [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], three in [[Kentucky (USA)|Kentucky]], six in Michigan, seven in Ohio, four in Indiana, one in Illinois, two in Iowa, and one in [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]]. Fourteen bishops, 42 ministers, and 8 deacons served in these congregations. -- <em>Ivan J. Miller</em> | In 1954 the total membership of the conference was 4,259. There were 36 congregations, of which five were in [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and Maryland, two in [[Delaware (USA)|Delaware]], four in [[New York (USA)|New York]], one in [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], three in [[Kentucky (USA)|Kentucky]], six in Michigan, seven in Ohio, four in Indiana, one in Illinois, two in Iowa, and one in [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]]. Fourteen bishops, 42 ministers, and 8 deacons served in these congregations. -- <em>Ivan J. Miller</em> | ||
| − | + | = 1990 Update = | |
| + | |||
| + | The Conservative Mennonite Conference was organized in 1910 as the Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference. The word Amish was dropped from the name with the adoption of a revised constitution in 1957. The [[Amish Mennonites|Amish Mennonites]] were that segment of the Swiss Brethren who followed [[Ammann, Jakob (17th/18th century) |Jakob Ammann]] in the Amish division of 1693-97, in part under influence of the strict discipline of North German and Dutch Mennonites. From their first American settlement in [[Berks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Berks County]], Pennsylvania (1710-20), and strengthened by later immigration, they moved westward with the North American frontier so that by mid-century they were scattered in autonomous congregations from eastern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] to [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] and [[Iowa (USA)|Iowa]]. To unify these scattered churches, Amish Mennonite ministers' conferences were held in 1862-78. After 1878 these meetings were discontinued, and three district Amish Mennonite conferences were formed: Eastern Amish Mennonite, Indiana-Michigan Amish Mennonite, and [[Western District Amish Mennonite Conference|Western Amish Mennonite]]. Some Amish Mennonite congregations did not join the conference movement, and others withdrew during the ministers' meetings or after their termination. These nonconference churches met for worship in private homes, held to former worship patterns, including the German language, and generally tended to reject innovations. They came to be known as Old Order Amish, Mennonites and finally as Old Order Amish. The term Amish has come to refer nearly exclusively to Old Order Amish as the conference Amish Mennonites merged with Mennonite groups, primarily the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]]. | ||
Between the Old Order Amish Mennonites and the conference Amish Mennonites were some congregations, interested in missions and social service, publication, use of meetinghouses, Sunday schools, etc., that had not joined the Amish Mennonite conferences. In the early 1900s the <em>[[Mennonite Yearbook and Directory|Mennonite Yearbook]]</em> (MC) began listing these churches as Conservative Amish Mennonite. When these congregations met in their first conference in 1910 they adopted the name as their own. | Between the Old Order Amish Mennonites and the conference Amish Mennonites were some congregations, interested in missions and social service, publication, use of meetinghouses, Sunday schools, etc., that had not joined the Amish Mennonite conferences. In the early 1900s the <em>[[Mennonite Yearbook and Directory|Mennonite Yearbook]]</em> (MC) began listing these churches as Conservative Amish Mennonite. When these congregations met in their first conference in 1910 they adopted the name as their own. | ||
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In 1961 Rosedale Mennonite Mission opened mission work in Costa Rica. By 1974 the Costa Rica Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Costa Rica conference in 1986 had 1,053 members in 19 congregations with 20 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1968 mission work was opened in [[Nicaragua|Nicaragua]]. By 1977 the Nicaragua Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Nicaragua conference in 1986 had 723 members in 30 congregations with 21 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1982 mission work was opened in [[Ecuador|Ecuador]]. There were 27 members in 1986. The conference launched the <em>Brotherhood Beacon</em>, an official monthly periodical in 1971. -- <em>Ivan J. Miller</em> | In 1961 Rosedale Mennonite Mission opened mission work in Costa Rica. By 1974 the Costa Rica Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Costa Rica conference in 1986 had 1,053 members in 19 congregations with 20 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1968 mission work was opened in [[Nicaragua|Nicaragua]]. By 1977 the Nicaragua Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Nicaragua conference in 1986 had 723 members in 30 congregations with 21 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1982 mission work was opened in [[Ecuador|Ecuador]]. There were 27 members in 1986. The conference launched the <em>Brotherhood Beacon</em>, an official monthly periodical in 1971. -- <em>Ivan J. Miller</em> | ||
| − | + | = 2010 Update = | |
| − | + | In 2010 the conference had 104 congregations with 11,141 members: | |
| − | </ | + | <div align="center"> |
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | ! Congregation !! City !! State !! Founded !! Members | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Abundant Life Christian Church (San Antonio, Texas, USA)|Abundant Life Christian Church]] || San Antonio || Texas || align="right" | 1985 || align="right" | 29 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Abundant Life Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Abundant Life Church]] || Sarasota || Florida || align="right" | 1999 || align="right" | 208 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Agape Community Fellowship of Hilliard (Hilliard, Ohio, USA)|Agape Community Fellowship of Hilliard]] || Hilliard || Ohio || align="right" | 1988 || align="right" | 128 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Agape Community Fellowship of Marysville (Marysville, Ohio, USA)|Agape Community Fellowship of Marysville]] || Marysville || Ohio || align="right" | 2005 || align="right" | 38 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Allensville Mennonite Church (Allensville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Allensville Mennonite Church]] || Allensville || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1861 || align="right" | 235 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bean Blossom Community Church (Morgantown, Indiana, USA)|Bean Blossom Community Church]] || Morgantown || Indiana || align="right" | 1945 || align="right" | 49 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Berea Mennonite Church (Cannelburg, Indiana, USA)|Berea Mennonite Church]] || Cannelburg || Indiana || align="right" | 1921 || align="right" | 290 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Berean Mennonite Christian Fellowship || Tallahassee || Florida || align="right" | 1964 || align="right" | 58 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bethany Mennonite Church (Hartville, Ohio, USA)|Bethany Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Hartville || Ohio || align="right" | 1972 || align="right" | 160 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bethel Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Bethel Mennonite Church]] || Sarasota || Florida || align="right" | 1975 || align="right" | 318 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bethel Springs Mennonite Church (Calico Rock, Arkansas, USA)|Bethel Springs Mennonite Church]] || Calico Rock || Arizona || align="right" | 1938 || align="right" | 25 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bowlings Creek Mennonite Church (Buckhorn, Kentucky, USA)|Bowlings Creek Mennonite Church]] || Altro || Kentucky || align="right" | 1947 || align="right" | 26 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Bowne Mennonite Church (Clarksville, Michigan, USA)|Bowne Mennonite Church]] || Clarksville || Michigan || align="right" | 1866 || align="right" | 40 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Boyer Mennonite Church (Middleburg, Pennsylvania, USA)|Boyer Mennonite Church]] || Middleburg || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1954 || align="right" | 72 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Little Buckhorn Creek Mennonite Church (Clayhole, Kentucky, USA)|Buckhorn Creek Mennonite Church]] || Rowdy || Kentucky || align="right" | 1958 || align="right" | 40 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Caney Creek Mennonite Church (Lost Creek, Kentucky, USA)|Caney Creek Mennonite Church]] || Lost Creek || Kentucky || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | 37 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Cannon Mennonite Church (Bridgeville, Delaware, USA)|Cannon Mennonite Church]] || Bridgeville || Delaware || align="right" | 1977 || align="right" | 200 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Carthage Mennonite Church (Carthage, New York, USA)|Carthage Mennonite Church]] || Carthage || New York || align="right" | 1957 || align="right" | 43 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Casselman River Conservative Amish Mennonite Congregation (Maryland/Pennsylvania, USA)|Cherry Glade Mennonite Church]] || Accident || Maryland || align="right" | 1881 || align="right" | 358 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Cloverdale Conservative Mennonite Church (Nashwauk, Minnesota, USA)|Cloverdale Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Nashwauk || Minnesota || align="right" | 1950 || align="right" | 40 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Cornerstone Mennonite Church (Hartville, Ohio, USA)|Cornerstone Mennonite Church]] || Hartville || Ohio || align="right" | 1955 || align="right" | 111 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Covenant Fellowship (West Liberty, Ohio, USA)|Covenant Fellowship]] || West Liberty || Ohio || align="right" | 1997 || align="right" | 18 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Crenshaw Community Church (Brockway, Pennsylvania, USA)|Crenshaw Community Church]] || Brockway || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | 6 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Croghan Mennonite Church (Croghan, New York, USA)|Croghan Mennonite Church]] || Croghan || New York || align="right" | 1833 || align="right" | 178 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Crossroads Christian Fellowship (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)|Crossroads Christian Fellowship]] || Phoenix || Arizona || align="right" | 1997 || align="right" | 27 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Dayspring Community Mennonite Church (Salley, South Carolina, USA)|Dayspring Community Mennonite Church ]] || Salley || South Carolina || align="right" | 1998 || align="right" | 18 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Dayspring Mennonite Church (Midland, Virginia, USA)|Dayspring Mennonite Church]] || Midland || Virginia || align="right" | 1996 || align="right" | 46 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Fairhaven Community Church (Bay Port, Michigan, USA)|Fairhaven Community Church]] || Bay Port || Michigan || align="right" | 1965 || align="right" | 103 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Fairlawn Mennonite Church (Apple Creek, Ohio, USA)|Fairlawn Mennonite Church]] || Apple Creek || Ohio || align="right" | 1949 || align="right" | 161 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Fairview Mennonite Church (Kalona, Iowa, USA)|Fairview Mennonite Church]] || Kalona || Iowa || align="right" | 1936 || align="right" | 180 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Fairview Mennonite Church (Albany, Oregon, USA)|Fairview Mennonite Church]] || Albany || Oregon || align="right" | 1894 || align="right" | 193 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Faith Community Church (El Dorado, Arkansas, USA)|Faith Community Church]] || El Dorado || Arkansas || align="right" | 1968 || align="right" | 40 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[First Mennonite Church (Montgomery, Indiana, USA)|First Mennonite Church]] || Montgomery || Indiana || align="right" | 1980 || align="right" | 200 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) || San Antonio || Texas || align="right" | 1991 || align="right" | 82 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Grace Christian Fellowship (Flint, Michigan, USA)|Grace Christian Fellowship of Flint]] || Flint || Michigan || align="right" | 1928 || align="right" | 21 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Grace Mennonite Church (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)|Grace Mennonite Church]] || Phoenix || Arizona || align="right" | 1969 || align="right" | 50 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Grace Mennonite Church (Berlin, Ohio, USA)|Grace Mennonite Church]] || Berlin || Ohio || align="right" | 1981 || align="right" | 234 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Greenwood Mennonite Church (Greenwood, Delaware, USA)|Greenwood Mennonite Church]] || Greenwood || Delaware || align="right" | 1914 || align="right" | 213 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Hicksville Mennonite Church (Hicksville, Ohio, USA)|Hicksville Mennonite Church]] || Hicksville || Ohio || align="right" | 1961 || align="right" | 151 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Iglesia Cristiana Dios Con Nosotros (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Dios Con Nosotros (God With Us Christian Church)]] || Phoenix || Arizona || align="right" | 1994 || align="right" | 23 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Iglesia Cristiana Hispana (Hilliard, Ohio, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Hispana (Hispanic Christian Church)]] || Hilliard || Ohio || align="right" | 2001 || align="right" | 55 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Iglesia Cristiana Vida Abundante (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)|Iglesia Cristiana Vida Abundante (Abundant Life Christian Outreach)]] || Albuquerque || New Mexico || align="right" | 1987 || align="right" | 55 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Johnsville Conservative Mennonite Church (Johnsville, Ohio, USA)|Johnsville Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Johnsville (Shauck) || Ohio || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | 56 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Light-in-the-Valley Chapel (Sugarcreek, Ohio, USA)|Light-in-the-Valley Chapel]] || Sugarcreek || Ohio || align="right" | 1959 || align="right" | 150 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Living Word Christian Outreach (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA)|Living Word Christian Outreach]] || Albuquerque || New Mexico || align="right" | 1983 || align="right" | 20 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Locust Grove Mennonite Church (Belleville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Locust Grove Mennonite Church]] || Belleville || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1898 || align="right" | 446 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[London Christian Fellowship (London, Ohio, USA)|London Christian Fellowship]] || London || Ohio || align="right" | 1984 || align="right" | 60 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Lowville Mennonite Church (Lowville, New York, USA)|Lowville Mennonite Church]] || Lowville || New York || align="right" | 1913 || align="right" | 186 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Manbeck Mennonite Church (Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania, USA)|Manbeck Mennonite Church]] || Beaver Springs || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1960 || align="right" | 43 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maple City Chapel (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Maple City Chapel]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 563 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Casselman River Conservative Amish Mennonite Congregation (Maryland/Pennsylvania, USA)|Maple Glen Mennonite Church]] || Grantsville || Maryland || align="right" | 1877 || align="right" | 121 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maple Grove Community Church Mennonite (Gulliver, Michigan, USA)|Maple Grove Community Church Mennonite]] || Gulliver || Michigan || align="right" | 1942 || align="right" | 21 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maple Grove Mennonite Church (Hartville, Ohio, USA)|Maple Grove Mennonite Church]] || Hartville || Ohio || align="right" | 1922 || align="right" | 221 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maple View Mennonite Church (Burton, Ohio, USA)|Maple View Mennonite Church]] || Burton || Ohio || align="right" | 1945 || align="right" | 115 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maranatha Community Fellowship (Plain City, Ohio, USA)|Maranatha Community Fellowship]] || Plain City || Ohio || align="right" | 1969 || align="right" | 120 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maranatha Fellowship (Dover, Delaware, USA)|Maranatha Fellowship]] || Dover || Delaware || align="right" | 1997 || align="right" | 63 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Maranatha Mennonite Church (Hutchinson, Kansas, USA)|Maranatha Mennonite Church]] || Hutchinson || Kansas || align="right" | 1978 || align="right" | 85 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mattawana Mennonite Church (Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mattawana Mennonite Church]] || Lewistown || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1818 || align="right" | 60 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mechanicsburg Christian Fellowship (Mechanicsburg, Ohio, USA)|Mechanicsburg Christian Fellowship]] || Mechanicsburg || Ohio || align="right" | 1978 || align="right" | 177 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mennonite Christian Assembly (Fredericksburg, Ohio, USA)|Mennonite Christian Assembly]] || Fredericksburg || Ohio || align="right" | 1987 || align="right" | 228 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Ministerio Manantiales de Vida (El Paso, Texas, USA)|Ministerio Manantiales de Vida (Springs of Life Ministry)]] || El Paso || Texas || align="right" | 2003 || align="right" | 16 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mision Iglesia Cristiana Siloé (Los Angeles, California, USA)|Mision Iglesia Cristiana Siloé (Siloam Christian Mission Church) (Los Angelos)]] || Los Angeles || California || align="right" | 1979 || align="right" | 65 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mountain View Mennonite Chapel (Reedsville, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mountain View Mennonite Chapel]] || Reedsville || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 88 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mount Joy Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Mt. Joy Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1961 || align="right" | 58 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Mount Zion Mennonite Chapel (Leon, Iowa, USA)|Mt. Zion Mennonite Chapel]] || Leon || Iowa || align="right" | 1982 || align="right" | 18 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[National City Mennonite Church (National City, Michigan, USA)|National City Mennonite Church]] || National City || Michigan || align="right" | 1945 || align="right" | 15 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Naumburg Conservative Mennonite Church (Castorland, New York, USA)|Naumburg Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Castorland || New York || align="right" | 1964 || align="right" | 491 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[New Beginnings Fellowship (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)|New Beginnings Fellowship]] || Cincinnati || Ohio || align="right" | 1978 || align="right" | 23 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[New Boston Mennonite Church (Donnellson, Iowa, USA)|New Boston Mennonite Church]] || Donnellson || Iowa || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 20 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[New Life Community Outreach (Cuthbert, Georgia, USA)|New Life Community Outreach]] || Cuthbert || Georgia || align="right" | 1999 || align="right" | 21 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[North Wayne Mennonite Church (Dowagiac, Michigan, USA)|North Wayne Mennonite Church]] || Dowagiac || Michigan || align="right" | 1974 || align="right" | 23 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Oak Dale Mennonite Church (Salisbury, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA)|Oak Dale Mennonite Church]] || Salisbury || Pennsylvania || align="right" | 1966 || align="right" | 170 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Oak Grove Mennonite Church (Adair, Mayes County, Oklahoma, USA)|Oak Grove Mennonite Church]] || Adair || Oklahoma || align="right" | 1927 || align="right" | 30 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Oasis Community Church (Lexington, Kentucky, USA)|Oasis Community Church]] || Lexington || Kentucky || align="right" | 1985 || align="right" | 33 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Palm Grove Mennonite Church]] || Sarasota || Florida || align="right" | 1953 || align="right" | 127 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Panco Community Fellowship (Oneida, Kentucky, USA)|Panco Community Fellowship]] || Oneida || Kentucky || align="right" | || align="right" | 28 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Paradise Valley Mennonite Church (Phoenix, Arizona, USA)|Paradise Valley Mennonite Church]] || Phoenix || Arizona || align="right" | 1960 || align="right" | 32 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Pigeon River Mennonite Church (Pigeon, Michigan, USA)|Pigeon River Mennonite Church]] || Pigeon || Michigan || align="right" | 1904 || align="right" | 190 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Pine Grove Community Church (Castorland, New York, USA)|Pine Grove Community Church]] || Castorland || New York || align="right" | 1949 || align="right" | 50 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Pineview Mennonite Church (Vassar, Michigan, USA)|Pineview Mennonite Church]] || Vassar || Michigan || align="right" | 1938 || align="right" | 44 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Plainview Conservative Mennonite Church (Hutchinson, Kansas, USA)|Plainview Conservative Mennonite Church]] || Hutchinson || Kansas || align="right" | 1948 || align="right" | 136 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Pleasant View Mennonite Church (Millersburg, Ohio, USA)|Pleasant View Mennonite Church]] || Millersburg || Ohio || align="right" | 1912 || align="right" | 182 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Providence Mennonite Church (Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA)|Providence Mennonite Church]] || Virginia Beach || Virginia || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | 34 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Red Lake Mennonite Church (Red Lake, Ontario, Canada)|Red Lake Mennonite Church]] || Red Lake || Ontario, Canada || align="right" | 1959 || align="right" | 56 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Riverside Mennonite Church (Au Gres, Michigan, USA)|Riverside Mennonite Church]] || Au Gres || Michigan || align="right" | 1911 || align="right" | 103 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Riverview Christian Fellowship (White Pigeon, Michigan, USA)|Riverview Christian Fellowship]] || White Pigeon || Michigan || align="right" | 1952 || align="right" | 53 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Shiloh Mennonite Church (London, Ohio, USA)|Shiloh Mennonite Church]] || London || Ohio || align="right" | 1972 || align="right" | 191 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Siloam Fellowship (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Siloam Fellowship]] || Goshen || Indiana || align="right" | 1998 || align="right" | 140 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Southmost Mennonite Church (Florida City, Florida, USA)|Southmost Mennonite Church]] || Florida City || Florida || align="right" | 1965 || align="right" | 13 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Arthur, Illinois, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Arthur || Illinois || align="right" | 1945 || align="right" | 125 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Sunnyside Mennonite Church (Kalona, Iowa, USA)|Sunnyside Mennonite Church]] || Kalona || Iowa || align="right" | 1957 || align="right" | 147 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Sunrise Chapel Mennonite Church (Harlan, Indiana, USA)|Sunrise Chapel Mennonite Church]] || Harlan || Indiana || align="right" | 1982 || align="right" | 125 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Templo Cristiano Camino a Jesus (San Antonio, Texas, USA)|Templo Cristiano Camino a Jesus (The Way to Jesus)]] || San Antonio || Texas || align="right" | || align="right" | 40 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Templo Vida Abundante (Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico)|Templo Vida Abundante (Abundant Life Church)]] || Ciudad Juarez || Chihuahua, Mexico || align="right" | 1993 || align="right" | 32 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[River's Edge Community Church, The (Caseville, Michigan, USA)|The River's Edge Community Church]] || Pigeon || Michigan || align="right" | 1999 || align="right" | 164 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Townline Mennonite Church (Shipshewana, Indiana, USA)|Townline Mennonite Church]] || Shipshewana || Indiana || align="right" | 1876 || align="right" | 64 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Trinity Chapel (Tavares, Florida, USA)|Trinity Chapel]] || Tavares || Florida || align="right" | 1982 || align="right" | 45 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Trinity Christian Fellowship (Millersburg, Ohio, USA)|Trinity Christian Fellowship]] || Millersburg || Ohio || align="right" | 1998 || align="right" | 67 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Trinity Mennonite Church (Farmville, Virginia, USA)|Trinity Mennonite Church]] || Prospect || Virginia || align="right" | 2002 || align="right" | 50 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Turkey Run Mennonite Church (Bremen, Ohio, USA)|Turkey Run Mennonite Church]] || Logan || Ohio || align="right" | 1803 || align="right" | 51 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Turner's Creek Mennonite Church (Talbert, Kentucky, USA)|Turners Creek Mennonite Church]] || Talbert || Kentucky || align="right" | 1947 || align="right" | 45 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[United Dayspring Mennonite Church (Berlin, Ohio, USA)|United Dayspring Mennonite Church]] || Berlin || Ohio || align="right" | 1988 || align="right" | 211 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church (Wellman, Iowa, USA)|Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church]] || Wellman || Iowa || align="right" | 1877 || align="right" | 100 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Zion Mennonite Church (Pryor, Oklahoma, USA)|Zion Mennonite Church]] || Pryor || Oklahoma || align="right" | 1911 || align="right" | 131 | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | <strong>Total </strong> || <strong></strong> || <strong></strong> || || align="right" | <strong>11,141 </strong> | ||
| + | |} </div> | ||
| − | + | = 2023 Update = | |
| + | In July 2018 the ministers of the Conservative Mennonite Conference voted to change the legal name of the denomination to: Conservative Mennonite Conference doing business as CMC. | ||
| − | + | In a 2017 interview, CMC executive director Brian Hershberger expressed concern with the name "conservative," due to its connotations of political conservatism or plain dress. At the July 2017 meeting, other ministers said "Mennonite" associated them with [[Mennonite Church USA]]. | |
| − | + | On 23 February 2023 the conference made a more permanent name change to Rosedale Network of Churches--a global family of Anabaptists. | |
| − | + | = Bibliography = | |
| − | + | ''Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory 2011''. Harrisonburg, VA: The Sword and Trumpet, 2011: 45-56. | |
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| − | + | Conservative Mennonite Conference. ''Conservative Conference Reports.'' Irwin, Ohio, 1910-86. | |
| − | + | Huber, Tim. "CMC becomes Rosedale Network" ''Anabaptist World'' 15 March 2023. Web. 19 March 2023. https://anabaptistworld.org/cmc-becomes-rosedale-network/. | |
| − | + | ''Mennonite Directory'' (1999). | |
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| − | + | ''Mennonite Yearbook'' (1988-89): 49-52. | |
| − | + | Miller, Ivan J. ''History of the Conservative Mennonite Conference.'' Grantsville, MD: the author, 1985. | |
| − | + | Stella, Rachel. "Conservative Conference rebrands with initials." ''Mennonite World Review'' 30 July 2018. Web. 21 February 2022. https://anabaptistworld.org/conservative-conference-rebrands-with-initials/. | |
| − | |||
= Additional Information = | = Additional Information = | ||
| − | + | [https://rosedalenetwork.org/ Rosedale Network of Churches] | |
| − | Conservative Mennonite Conference [ | + | Conservative Mennonite Conference [http://www.anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php/Statement_of_Doctrine_(Conservative_Mennonite_Conference,_1991) Statement of Doctrine] |
| − | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, pp. 700-702; vol. 5, p. 192|date= | + | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, pp. 700-702; vol. 5, p. 192|date=March 2023|a1_last=Miller|a1_first=Ivan J|a2_last= |a2_first= }} |
| + | [[Category:Denominations]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:12, 26 June 2024
1955 Article
The Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference was brought into being in 1910 at the invitation of the ministers of the Pigeon River congregation, near Pigeon, Michigan, who invited ministers of other similar churches to gather with them in a ministers meeting. The meeting was held 24-25 November 1910 (an error in the official report of this meeting sets the date as 24-25 November 1911.)
At this preliminary meeting, five ordained men were present: Bishop S. J. Swartzendruber and M. S. Zehr of the host congregation; Bishop Joshua King, Hartville, Ohio; Bishop John L. Mast. and Jonas D. Yoder of the Locust Grove congregation, near Belleville, Pennsylvania.
The purpose of the meeting was set forth in the first resolution: "That we stand more closely together in the work of the Lord, to maintain peace and unity in the so-called Conservative Amish Mennonite churches."
The name Conservative Amish Mennonite had been brought into use at the turn of the century by M. S. Steiner, compiler of Mennonite statistics, to distinguish these churches from the more progressive Amish Mennonite conferences on the one hand, and the more conservative Old Order Amish churches on the other.
The second meeting was held with the Maple Glen congregation, near Grantsville, Maryland, 27-28 May 1912. With this session the meeting became established as an annual conference, which it continued to be at this writing. Attending were 16 ordained men from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri. For the most part, those participating in this conference session represented congregations which, as the name of the conference indicates, felt that the established conferences of that day came short of certain Scriptural requirements, and that a more conservative emphasis was needed in the application of the Word of God than these afforded. On the other hand, it was felt that the Old Order Amish churches left certain things to be desired in the way of an aggressive church program. Most of the congregations interested in this new conference movement stemmed from this latter group and had never been affiliated with any conference, while in several cases their background included contacts with the district Amish Mennonite conferences.
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As the conference met year after year and its policies became more clearly outlined, other congregations applied for membership, while a few which had been represented at the first meetings withdrew. In this early stage of development, the conference functioned in a very informal way. It had no written constitution and bylaws to guide it in its work. In fact it did not adopt one until 1945. (Complete text of constitution and by-laws appears in conference report of that year.)
From its beginning, the conference accepted the 18 articles of the Dordrecht Confession of Faith as an official statement of its belief. It insisted on separation from the world for its membership in personal, social, and economic life, including such details as fashionable attire, use of tobacco and intoxicants, participation in war in any form, worldly business associations, secret societies, life insurance, and holding of government offices. Correspondingly it sought to promote a positive Christian testimony through evangelism, benevolence, and personal sanctification.
At its second meeting, in 1912, the conference took steps toward establishing an orphans' home, which plans materialized by 1914 in the Amish Mennonite Children's Home, near Grantsville, MD, an institution which cared for many destitute children until it was closed in 1938 because of state restrictions, which among other things made interstate placement of children impossible.
At this same 1912 session a Sunday-school conference followed the church conference sessions and has remained an annual feature for the promotion of Sunday-school work throughout the congregations.
In 1912 the conference approved a plan for systematic, yearly visitation of all its congregations by ministers appointed for that purpose, who were to preach a number of sermons for each congregation. By 1918, through conference sanction, some of these efforts took on the form of Bible instruction meetings, which were carried on in varied form and frequency since, in most of the congregations.
In 1917 the conference assumed joint responsibility for the publication of the Herold der Wahrheit, a German-English semimonthly periodical, launched in 1912 by a number of interested persons in the Old Order Amish churches.
In the same year the first definite action was taken in mission work, when it was decided that M. S. Zehr should go to the Ozark Mountains of Missouri to preach there if opportunity afforded and investigate the possibility of opening mission work. By 1919 a mission board was appointed by the conference. Besides numerous missionary efforts carried on locally by individual congregations, the conference established under its general mission board in 1929 a city mission at 2124 E. Williamson St., Flint, Michigan, and in 1946 a rural mission on Turner's Creek, near Talbert, Kentucky, with a branch station on Bowling's Creek, near Beech, KY, about one year later. In 1948 the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities invited the conference to appoint representatives to its board, and after that time it had two representatives on this board. In 1950 the conference appointed its first foreign missionaries, a couple to serve under the Eastern (Lancaster) Mennonite Board in Luxembourg, and established its own work in Espelkamp, Germany. In the 1950s the following additional home missions were established: Austin, Indiana, Gays Creek, Kentucky, Mount Morris, Michigan, and Blountstown, Florida.
In 1937 the conference elected a representative on the Peace Problems Committee of the Mennonite General Conference (MC). In 1941 it appointed a representative on the Mennonite Central Committee. In co-operation with this committee it contributed material aid and personnel for relief after World War I and during and after the last war, as well as participating in the Civilian Public Service program.
In 1948 a ministers' Bible study-discussion meeting was held which became a regular annual feature.
Not officially affiliated with the conference, but working with it in matters of mutual interest such as relief and the recent CPS program, were a number of congregations generally known as "Conservative Amish Mennonite—Not under Conference," which were usually listed with this conference in Mennonite statistics. These congregations in 1954 numbered 1,664 members.
The conference ministers were almost always drawn from among the brotherhood of the congregations which they were to serve. Most of the ministers were ordained through the lot, but this practice has changed considerably by the 1950s..
Among the founders and earliest supporters of the conference, the following bishops may be named: S. J. Swartzendruber of Pigeon, Michigan, who proposed and guided the first meeting; Joel J. Miller of Grantsville, Md., in whose congregation the first general public conference was held, as a result of the preliminary meeting in Michigan; C. M. Nafziger of Lowville, New York; Jonathan Troyer of Indiana; John L. Mast of Belleville, Pennsylvania; Joshua King of Ohio; and the ministers, M. S. Zehr of Pigeon, Michigan; Jacob S. Miller and Jonas B. Miller of Grantsville, Maryland; Jonas D. Yoder of Pennsylvania, and Gideon A. Yoder of Iowa.
Among those who later entered the service of the conference only a few may be named here: Elmer G. Swartzendruber and Amos Swartzendruber of Iowa; Emanuel Swartzendruber, Peter Swartz, and Earl Maust of Michigan; Sam T. Eash and Edwin Albrecht of Indiana; Roman Miller, Harry Stutz-man, John Swartzentruber, and M. J. Swartzentruber of Ohio; Christian Roggie, Joseph Lehman,and Joseph J. Zehr of New York; C. W. Bender, Emanuel B. Peachey, Sam T. Yoder, and Shem Peachey of Pennsylvania; Noah Brenneman of Maryland; and Nevin Bender and Eli Swartzentruber of Delaware.
In 1954 the total membership of the conference was 4,259. There were 36 congregations, of which five were in Pennsylvania and Maryland, two in Delaware, four in New York, one in Virginia, three in Kentucky, six in Michigan, seven in Ohio, four in Indiana, one in Illinois, two in Iowa, and one in Kansas. Fourteen bishops, 42 ministers, and 8 deacons served in these congregations. -- Ivan J. Miller
1990 Update
The Conservative Mennonite Conference was organized in 1910 as the Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference. The word Amish was dropped from the name with the adoption of a revised constitution in 1957. The Amish Mennonites were that segment of the Swiss Brethren who followed Jakob Ammann in the Amish division of 1693-97, in part under influence of the strict discipline of North German and Dutch Mennonites. From their first American settlement in Berks County, Pennsylvania (1710-20), and strengthened by later immigration, they moved westward with the North American frontier so that by mid-century they were scattered in autonomous congregations from eastern Pennsylvania to Ontario and Iowa. To unify these scattered churches, Amish Mennonite ministers' conferences were held in 1862-78. After 1878 these meetings were discontinued, and three district Amish Mennonite conferences were formed: Eastern Amish Mennonite, Indiana-Michigan Amish Mennonite, and Western Amish Mennonite. Some Amish Mennonite congregations did not join the conference movement, and others withdrew during the ministers' meetings or after their termination. These nonconference churches met for worship in private homes, held to former worship patterns, including the German language, and generally tended to reject innovations. They came to be known as Old Order Amish, Mennonites and finally as Old Order Amish. The term Amish has come to refer nearly exclusively to Old Order Amish as the conference Amish Mennonites merged with Mennonite groups, primarily the Mennonite Church (MC).
Between the Old Order Amish Mennonites and the conference Amish Mennonites were some congregations, interested in missions and social service, publication, use of meetinghouses, Sunday schools, etc., that had not joined the Amish Mennonite conferences. In the early 1900s the Mennonite Yearbook (MC) began listing these churches as Conservative Amish Mennonite. When these congregations met in their first conference in 1910 they adopted the name as their own.
Since 1950 the Conservative Mennonite Conference has representatives on the major boards of the Mennonite Church (MC) but has declined to be organically affiliated, thus maintaining a rather loose, fraternal relationship with the Mennonite Church (MC) General Assembly.
In 1964 the Conservative Mennonite Bible School was moved from the Pleasant View meetinghouse near Berlin, Ohio, to the village of Rosedale on Rosedale Road, Irwin, Ohio. Known as Rosedale Bible College (formerly Rosedale Bible Institute), the school offers courses in Bible, theology, evangelism, teacher training, music, and related subjects on both high school and college levels. Credits are transferable to various colleges and seminaries. The conference missions and service offices, known as Rosedale Mennonite Missions (also known as Conservative Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities), are located on the same campus. So also are the conference archives.
In 1961 Rosedale Mennonite Mission opened mission work in Costa Rica. By 1974 the Costa Rica Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Costa Rica conference in 1986 had 1,053 members in 19 congregations with 20 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1968 mission work was opened in Nicaragua. By 1977 the Nicaragua Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. The Nicaragua conference in 1986 had 723 members in 30 congregations with 21 ordained or licensed ministers. In 1982 mission work was opened in Ecuador. There were 27 members in 1986. The conference launched the Brotherhood Beacon, an official monthly periodical in 1971. -- Ivan J. Miller
2010 Update
In 2010 the conference had 104 congregations with 11,141 members:
2023 Update
In July 2018 the ministers of the Conservative Mennonite Conference voted to change the legal name of the denomination to: Conservative Mennonite Conference doing business as CMC.
In a 2017 interview, CMC executive director Brian Hershberger expressed concern with the name "conservative," due to its connotations of political conservatism or plain dress. At the July 2017 meeting, other ministers said "Mennonite" associated them with Mennonite Church USA.
On 23 February 2023 the conference made a more permanent name change to Rosedale Network of Churches--a global family of Anabaptists.
Bibliography
Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory 2011. Harrisonburg, VA: The Sword and Trumpet, 2011: 45-56.
Conservative Mennonite Conference. Conservative Conference Reports. Irwin, Ohio, 1910-86.
Huber, Tim. "CMC becomes Rosedale Network" Anabaptist World 15 March 2023. Web. 19 March 2023. https://anabaptistworld.org/cmc-becomes-rosedale-network/.
Mennonite Directory (1999).
Mennonite Yearbook (1988-89): 49-52.
Miller, Ivan J. History of the Conservative Mennonite Conference. Grantsville, MD: the author, 1985.
Stella, Rachel. "Conservative Conference rebrands with initials." Mennonite World Review 30 July 2018. Web. 21 February 2022. https://anabaptistworld.org/conservative-conference-rebrands-with-initials/.
Additional Information
Conservative Mennonite Conference Statement of Doctrine
| Author(s) | Ivan J Miller |
|---|---|
| Date Published | March 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Miller, Ivan J. "Rosedale Network of Churches." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2023. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rosedale_Network_of_Churches&oldid=179199.
APA style
Miller, Ivan J. (March 2023). Rosedale Network of Churches. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rosedale_Network_of_Churches&oldid=179199.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 700-702; vol. 5, p. 192. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.