Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)
The Blumenort Mennonite congregation near Rosetown (previously known as Rosenort), Manitoba traces its origins to the Mennonites who came to Manitoba in the 1920s. These immigrants settled in villages on the Mennonite West Reserve filling the vacant farms the Reinländer Mennonite Church members left when they immigrated to Mexico. Under the leadership of Jacob J. Klassen, these Russian Mennonites, began meeting in homes for worship services in September of 1923. In 1926 the Blumenort Mennonite Church, at Reinland, was officially formed and operated as a separate congregation until September 1968 when they joined the Rosenort (Rosetown) congregation.
The church is located on Government Road Allowance West. In 1950 there were 337 members; in 1965, 393; in 1975, 262; in 1985, 247; in 1995, 228; in 2000, 214; in 2009, 221. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1926-) and General Conference Mennonite Church (1927-1999). The language of worship is English and German.
Johann P. Bueckert was the elder from 1928 until 1954 followed by Paul J. Schaefer 1954-1969. Other ministers who were called to minister in the Blumenort Mennonite Church include: A. A. Teichroeb 1970-1974, C. C Thiessen 1975-1982, and Peter D. Zacharias 1983-2006). The pastor in 2009 was Rudy Franz.
During the early years the Blumenort church had 10 centers of worship. Most of these dissolved gradually and the church was centralized at one meeting place in 1958.
In March 2017 the congregation voted to leave Mennonite Church Manitoba and Mennonite Church Canada. The decision was primarily a response to a resolution passed in July 2016 by Mennonite Church Canada related to same-sex matters.
See also Blumenort Mennonite Church (Manitoba, Canada)
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (24 January 1958): 8.
Mennonite Reporter (15 May 1978): 11; (15 June 1992): B1.
Ens, Adolf. "A Contribution to the History of the Blumenort Mennonite Church, Gretna, Manitoba." Research paper, Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1962, 26 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
"Two More Manitoba Churches Leave MC Canada." Canadian Mennonite (3 July 2017): 21, no. 14: 16.
Zacharias, Peter D. Footprints of a Pilgrim People: Story of the Blumenort Mennonite Church. Gretna: Blumenort Mennonite Church, 1985, 291 pp.
Archival Records
Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, MB: Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Additional Information
Address: Box 457, Gretna, Manitoba
Phone: 204-327-5208
Denominational Affiliation:
Mennonite Church Manitoba (Until 2017)
Mennonite Church Canada (Until 2017)
| Author(s) | Marlene Epp |
|---|---|
| Date Published | July 2017 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, Marlene. "Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2017. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Blumenort_Mennonite_Church_(Gretna,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=149095.
APA style
Epp, Marlene. (July 2017). Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Blumenort_Mennonite_Church_(Gretna,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=149095.
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