First Mennonite Church (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
First Mennonite Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, began in 1958 when the Milford, West Fairview, and East Fairview churches purchased the former Vine Congregational Church for their members who lived in the city. A group began meeting in the facility on 13 April 1958. It held its charter service on 15 June 1958 with 22 members.
In 1964 the congregation voted to join the Iowa-Nebraska Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC). In 1987 it joined the Northern District of the General Conference Mennonite Church.
Some tension between members over issues like owning televisions and wearing wedding rings existed during the first years while visiting ministers, primarily from Milford, provided leadership.
In 1971, First Mennonite sold its building to the Christ's Temple Mission and purchased another building at 70th and Platte Street. In 1979, it purchased a building from the Knights of Columbus on Holdrege Street, its present (2023) location.
As part of the realignment of the Mennonite Church (MC) and General Conference Mennonite Church into Mennonite Church USA, First Mennonite was among the congregations that joined the new Central Plains Mennonite Conference in 2000.
In 2023 the congregation was part of the Central Plains Conference of Mennonite Church USA.
Bibliography
"A church building...." Gospel Herald 51, no. 21 (27 May 1958): 504.
Schmidt, Diena, ed. The Northern District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church 1891-1991. Freeman, S.D.: The Conference, 1991: 112-115.
Additional Information
Address: 7300 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68505
Phone: 402-467-1526
Website: https://www.fmclincoln.org/
Denominational Affiliations: Central Plains Mennonite Conference
Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Visiting ministers | 1958-1960 |
| Cloy M. Troyer (1929-2015) | 1960-1964 |
| Chester M. Helmick (1899-1988) | 1965-1969 |
| Lay leadership | 1969-1971 |
| Leland Oswald (1922-2008) | 1971-1983 |
| Janice Yordy Sutter (Interim) | 1983-1985 |
| Marvin Hostetler (Co-Pastor) | 1985-1992 |
| Donnita Hostetler (Co-Pastor) | 1985-1992 |
| Steven C. Ratzlaff | 1992-2003 |
| David E. Orr | 2005?-2014 |
| David J. Nickel | 2015- |
Membership at First Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1958 | 22 |
| 1960 | 24 |
| 1970 | 25 |
| 1980 | 30 |
| 1990 | 44 |
| 2000 | 81 |
| 2009 | 88 |
| 2020 | 100 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | May 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "First Mennonite Church (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2023. Web. 23 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Lincoln,_Nebraska,_USA)&oldid=175473.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (May 2023). First Mennonite Church (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Lincoln,_Nebraska,_USA)&oldid=175473.
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