Pettisville Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church (Pettisville, Ohio, USA)

The Pettisville Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, was the oldest church in the conference at its demise. It had its beginning in 1863. Geographically, it was located in a rich agricultural and industrial community. Economically, due to its rich resources and ambitious membership, it flourished and prospered for a time.

Mark Seiler was the first member in 1863, and it was during the course of the same year that he was ordained to the ministry. He was the second person ordained in the newly organized Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. In 1865 the church hosted a meeting that established the rules and regulations for feetwashing as now practiced in the denomination. The first Lord's Supper was held on 6 November 1865, with 20 members. During this time, Peter Eicher and Christian Gearig Sr. (1831-1910) became the pastors. Peter Eicher's tenure ended with his death in 1892.

In 1910 Hiram J. Mininger (1870-1953) became the leader and pastor. After eight years of service, he and his family moved to another location.

Sunday school was organized and incorporated into the church in 1912.

Christian L. Gearig, Jr. (1874-1960) was ordained and became pastor in 1916 and served for many years.

Peter Seiler was the first deacon; he was ordained in 1915. After he died in 1938, the congregation was without a deacon until 1950, when Lloyd C. Gearig was ordained. He served until 1954, when he moved to Georgia with his family. In 1920 Harvey Fricke was ordained as a minister and served together with C. L. Gearig until 1948.

In 1948, the congregation purchased the vacant Lutheran church building in Pettisville and continued to meet there until the summer of 1980, when it sold the building and began meeting in homes. After the death of C. L. Gearig in 1960, the group operated under a committee for a time. Then a minister from the eastern district visited the congregation twice a month. In 1960 the membership was 25.

By 1975 the membership was 10 with a Sunday school enrollment of 12, as most families with children had moved to other congregations. By 1980 the membership was six. By 1990 the last members transferred to other congregations.

Bibliography

Histories of the congregations. 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 447-448.

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By C. L. Gearing. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 156. All rights reserved.

Pettisville Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church, located north of Pettisville, Fulton County, Ohio, was organized in 1863. The present building with a seating capacity of 150 was erected in 1909; until then, the services had been conducted in the homes. M. Seiler, born in Switzerland, was the first minister, followed by Christian Gearig and Peter Eicher, both of whom were ordained in 1872. In the late 1950s, the ministry was unsalaried. In 1957 the church had a membership of 24, with C. L. Gearig as a minister.

Author(s)	Samuel J Steiner
Date Published	February 2021

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Pettisville Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church (Pettisville, Ohio, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2021. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Pettisville_Church_of_God_in_Christ_Mennonite_Church_(Pettisville,_Ohio,_USA)&oldid=170155.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (February 2021). Pettisville Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church (Pettisville, Ohio, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Pettisville_Church_of_God_in_Christ_Mennonite_Church_(Pettisville,_Ohio,_USA)&oldid=170155.

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