New York Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)
1990 Article
In the late 1960s and early 1970s lay and pastoral leaders with intense desire to mobilize human resources for mission efforts formed a fellowship of 16 congregations from four different conferences, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (1), Lancaster Mennonite Conference (4), Mennonite Conference of Ontario [and Quebec] (1) Conservative Mennonite Conference (8), and two emerging house fellowships. Organizational structures established in 1973, were to facilitate fellowship and local mission projects while all other church polity questions remained with the established conferences.
The resources needed by newly emerging churches eventually encouraged the New York Mennonite Conference (known as the NYS Fellowship until the early 1990s)(to undertake all conference functions. (The State of New York prohibits the use of "New York State" in titles of non-government organizations; hence the name NYS Fellowship rather than New York State Fellowship.) In 1987 17 congregations with 1,007 members looked to the fellowship for all conference functions, and 6 conservative Mennonite congregations, (1,026 members), maintained dual affiliation. A delegate assembly with an executive committee is responsible for policies and direction. A ministerial committee was responsible for the credentials and nurture of pastoral leaders. An executive secretary carried out administrative tasks and served as a resource for affiliated congregations. In 2005 there were 1,304 members in 17 congregations.
2010 Update
In 2010 the following 15 congregations were members of the New York Mennonite Conference:
| Congregation | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Alden Mennonite Church | Alden | New York |
| Bethsaida Evangelical Church | Rochester | New York |
| Chenunda Creek Fellowship | Genesee | Pennsylvania |
| Clarence Center-Akron Mennonite Church | Akron | New York |
| Community Mennonite Fellowship of Corning | Corning | New York |
| Community of Faith | Williamson | New York |
| First Mennonite Church | Lowville | New York |
| Jesus Church | Avoca | New York |
| Lowville Mennonite Church | Lowville | New York |
| Pine Grove Mennonite Church | Castorland | New York |
| Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church | Hammondsport | New York |
| Rochester Area Mennonite Fellowship | Rochester | New York |
| Sojourners Mennonite Fellowship | Belfast | New York |
| Watertown Mennonite Church | Watertown | New York |
| Yorks Corners Mennonite Church | Wellsville | New York |
Bibliography
Horsch, James E., ed. Mennonite Yearbook and Directory. Scottdale: Mennonite Publishing House (1986-87): 75-76.
Mennonite Church USA. Directory (2005): 81-83.
| Author(s) | Menno Heinrichs |
|---|---|
| Date Published | July 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Heinrichs, Menno. "New York Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2010. Web. 18 Dec 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=New_York_Mennonite_Conference_(Mennonite_Church_USA)&oldid=116450.
APA style
Heinrichs, Menno. (July 2010). New York Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 December 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=New_York_Mennonite_Conference_(Mennonite_Church_USA)&oldid=116450.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 642. All rights reserved.
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