East Peoria Mennonite Church (East Peoria, Illinois, USA)
The Highway Village Mennonite Church, East Peoria, Illinois, USA, began in 1937 as a Sunday school sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church. C. A. Magnuson headed the work until 1945. In 1951, the Illinois Mennonite Mission Board took over responsibility for the mission. Eventually, the congregation became independent.
Over the years, the membership was composed primarily of persons with no Mennonite background. Consequently, the congregation became flexible on policies like dress regulations, use of musical instruments, and nonresistance. The church taught nonresistance but did not make it a test of membership.
In about 1989, the congregation changed its name to East Peoria Mennonite Church.
Bibliography
Smith, Willard H. Mennonites in Illinois. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 213, 487.
Additional Information
Address: 125 North Norwood Place, East Peoria, Illinois 61611
Phone: 309-699-8713
Website: https://www.facebook.com/epmennonite/
Denominational Affiliations: Illinois Mennonite Conference
Pastoral Leaders at East Peoria Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Carl A. "C. A." Magnusen (1894-1975) | 1937-1945 |
| Wilfred D. Ulrich (1920-2015) | 1945-1947 |
| Paul A. Friesen (1923-2022) | 1947-1951 |
| Robert L. Harnish (1925-2022) | 1951-1973 |
| Clarence R. Sutter (1921-1998) | 1973-1982 |
| Maurice J. Yordy | 1983-2006? |
| John Gray | 2006?-2014? |
| Kimberly A. Litwiller | 2015-2021 |
| Lay Leadership | 2022- |
East Peoria Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 13 |
| 1960 | 49 |
| 1970 | 75 |
| 1980 | 73 |
| 1990 | 68 |
| 2000 | 89 |
| 2009 | 70 |
| 2020 | 50 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | January 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "East Peoria Mennonite Church (East Peoria, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2024. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=East_Peoria_Mennonite_Church_(East_Peoria,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178112.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (January 2024). East Peoria Mennonite Church (East Peoria, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=East_Peoria_Mennonite_Church_(East_Peoria,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178112.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.