Pilgrims Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)
The Pilgrims Mennonite Church in Akron, Pennsylvania, USA, began in 1977. Most of its members came from the Akron Mennonite Church with its blessing. They sought a looser church structure with no paid leadership. It wanted to be small and intimate enough that true accountability between members could be a reality. It joined the Lancaster Mennonite Conference.
Initially, the group met at the Akron Mennonite Church. By the late 1980s, it met at the West Earl Township Fire Hall. In the 1990s, it met in members' homes and the Dutch School Building in Akron. Finally, in the early 2000s, it moved to the Welcoming Place on the Mennonite Central Committee campus in Akron.
The group emphasized small groups within the congregation. Decision-making throughout the congregation's existence has been by consensus. The leadership team of elders included an Administrative Elder, Convener, Nurture Elder, Pastoral Elder, and Worship Elder. By the 2000s, the Pastoral Elder was a part-time paid position.
In 2016 Pilgrims transferred its membership to the Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA. This decision was taken after the Lancaster Mennonite Conference decided in 2015 to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA before the end of 2017.
Bibliography
"Frequently Asked Questions About Pilgrims Mennonite Church." Pilgrims Mennonite Church. January 2007. Web. 31 December 2021. https://www.pilgrimsmennonitechurch.org/sites/default/files/documents/pmc_faq.pdf.
Additional Information
Meeting Address: Welcoming Place, 21 South 12th Street, Akron, Pennsylvania 17501.
Phone: 717-859-2986
Website: https://www.pilgrimsmennonitechurch.org/
Denominational Affiliations: Atlantic Coast Conference
Pastoral Elders at Pilgrims Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Lay Leadership | 1977-2002 |
| Barry R. Kreider | 2002-2020 |
| Nelson S. Yoder | 2020-present |
Membership at Pilgrims Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 27 |
| 1990 | 40 |
| 2000 | 44 |
| 2007 | 65 |
| 2020 | 66 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | January 2022 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Pilgrims Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2022. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Pilgrims_Mennonite_Church_(Akron,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=176639.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (January 2022). Pilgrims Mennonite Church (Akron, Pennsylvania, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Pilgrims_Mennonite_Church_(Akron,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=176639.
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