Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
Palm Grove Mennonite Church (formerly Palm Grove Conservative Mennonite Church), located at Sarasota, Florida, originally a member of the Conservative Mennonite Conference, was organized 3 May 1953, with 19 charter members. They worshiped in the Pinecraft Mennonite Church until 29 November 1953, at which time they met in the Pinecraft school. A church building searing 400 was dedicated 14 February 1954. During the winter tourists from as far as California and western Canada worship with the congregation, raising the attendance to 250. Menno M. Coblentz was bishop and Joseph F. Baer pastor until 1956, when Bishop Andrew Jantzi succeeded them. In 1957 there were 33 members.
In 1962-1963 the congregation experienced great tension during an ordination process. Elmer Jantzi of Michigan provided some valuable assistance at that time.
In the 1980s the congregation sponsored a mission outreach in Haiti.
The church joined the Biblical Mennonite Alliance in February 2011. In 2019 the leading minister was J. R. Weaver and the associate pastors were David R. Miller and Pete Weaver. The congregational membership was 115 and the average weekly attendance was 200.
Bibliography
Biblical Mennonite Alliance. Directory (August 2015); (2019): 39.
Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory 2011. Harrisonburg, VA: The Sword and Trumpet, 2011: 53.
Biblical Mennonite Alliance. "BMA Directory 2012." Web. 15 May 2012. http://www.biblicalmennonite.com/support-files/2012-bma-directory-updated-mar-12-for-web.pdf.
Miller, Ivan J. History of the Conservative Mennonite Conference, 1910-1985. Grantsville, Md: I. J. Miller, 1985: 88-90.
Yoder, Nathan E. Together in the Work of the Lord: a History of the Conservative Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2014: 316.
Additional Information
Address: 1087 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL 34278
Phone: 941-957-1710
Website: Palm Grove Mennonite Church
Denominational Affiliation:
Conservative Mennonite Conference (1953-2010)
Biblical Mennonite Alliance (2011-present)
Ordained Pastors at Palm Grove Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Joseph Baer | 1953-1956 |
| Menno Coblentz (Bishop) | 1953-1956 |
| Andrew Jantzi (Bishop) | 1956-1963 |
| Noah D. Miller | 1959-1964 |
| Elmer Jantzi (Interim) | 1963 |
| Orie Kauffman | 1963-1971 |
| Levi B. Sommers (Bishop) |
1970-1981 1981-1994? |
| David R. Miller | 1973-2010s |
| Ricky A. Beachy | 1986-1991? |
| Reuben Beachy | 1994-2000s |
| Peter Weaver | 1994-2017? |
| J. R. Weaver | 2002-present |
| Todd Webb | 2017-present |
Membership at Palm Grove Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1953 | 19 |
| 1960 | 40 |
| 1965 | 72 |
| 1970 | 122 |
| 1975 | 106 |
| 1980 | 144 |
| 1985 | 174 |
| 1990 | 207 |
| 1995 | 213 |
| 2000 | 183 |
| 2007 | 126 |
| 2011 | 127 |
| 2015 | 115 |
| 2019 | 115 |
Map
Map:Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
| Author(s) | Joseph F. Baer |
|---|---|
| Samuel J. Steiner | |
| Date Published | June 2019 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Baer, Joseph F. and Samuel J. Steiner. "Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2019. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Palm_Grove_Mennonite_Church_(Sarasota,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=165921.
APA style
Baer, Joseph F. and Samuel J. Steiner. (June 2019). Palm Grove Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Palm_Grove_Mennonite_Church_(Sarasota,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=165921.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 113. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.