Community Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)
Photo by Jennifer Bolander; used with permission.
Source: Mennonite Archives of Virginia.
Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia was started in 1972 by persons related to Eastern Mennonite College with the vision of being a group located in the city in close relationship with Christ and each other. Out of this vision, small groups developed as the primary unit of congregational life and structure.
The congregation started in a vacated building that was the former Chicago Avenue Mennonite Church. In 1989 it swapped church buildings with the Church of God congregation on South High Street. This way it obtained a larger building while remaining in the same area of the city. It was initially part of the Virginia Mennonite Conference. In 2020 it affiliated with the Allegheny Mennonite Conference, still part of Mennonite Church USA.
In 2021 the congregation was served by Ministers Jennifer Davis Sensenig, Joyce Peachey Lind, and Jason Darin Gerlach.
Bibliography
Bishop, Jim. "Women in ministry: one woman’s view." Gospel Herald 78, no. 18 (30 April 1985): 300-301.
"Growing Virginia church swaps buildings with another church." Gospel Herald 82, no. 36 (5 September 1989): 642.
Hostetler, Virginia A. "Leadership in transition at Community, Harrisonburg." Gospel Herald 73, no. 42 (14 October 1980): 826.
Additional Information
Address: 70 S High Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801-3706
Phone: 540-433-2148
Website: Community Mennonite Church
Denominational Affiliation:
Allegheny Mennonite Conference
Pastoral Leaders at Community Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Owen Burkholder | 1972-1980 |
| Pastoral Team | 1981-1986 |
| Duane M. Sider | 1986-1990 |
| Julia Carey | 1986-1990? |
| David Boshart | 1986-1989 |
| Jane Hoober Peifer | 1989-1999 |
| Philip L. Kniss | 1991-1996 |
| Ray N. Hurst (Co-pastor) | 1998?-2008 |
| Margaret Wightman (Co-pastor) | 1999-2010 |
| Jason Gerlach (Associate) | 2005-present |
| Jennifer Davis Sensenig | 2008-present |
| Dayna Olson-Getty (Associate) | 2014-2019 |
| Joyce Peachey Lind (Associate) | 2020-present |
Community Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 26 |
| 1980 | 49 |
| 1990 | 85 |
| 2001 | 197 |
| 2007 | 225 |
| 2020 | 274 |
| Author(s) | Richard D. Thiessen |
|---|---|
| Samuel J. Steiner | |
| Date Published | September 2021 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Thiessen, Richard D. and Samuel J. Steiner. "Community Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 2021. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Community_Mennonite_Church_(Harrisonburg,_Virginia,_USA)&oldid=175434.
APA style
Thiessen, Richard D. and Samuel J. Steiner. (September 2021). Community Mennonite Church (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Community_Mennonite_Church_(Harrisonburg,_Virginia,_USA)&oldid=175434.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
[[Category:Allegheny Mennonite Conference Congregations