Southside Fellowship (Elkhart, Indiana, USA)
The Southside Fellowship, Elkhart, Indiana, USA, began as an outreach of the Belmont Mennonite Church when its facilities were beginning to be overcrowded. Twelve families launched the new group that met first on 14 November 1965 in the Concord West Side School gymnasium. It committed to forming a congregation on 9 January 1966. J. Richard Burkholder was the most regular preacher in the group's first year. The new group hoped to increase small-group experience and explore new forms of worship and outreach.
In about 1970, the congregation moved to the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount located on the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries campus.
In 1987 Southside declared itself to be a sanctuary for undocumented aliens. In 1992 a gay man in a committed relationship asked for membership in the congregation. After a period of discernment, Southside Fellowship granted his request. This led to conflict with the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference and the suspension of Southside from the conference for a period of six years. Southside was also affiliated with the Central District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church. That conference did not take action against Southside. For a time, Southside was also a member congregation of the Church of the Brethren.
In about 2005, Southside Fellowship ended its affiliation with the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference.
In 2022 the congregation was part of the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA.
Bibliography
Benner, Richard. "New adventure." Gospel Herald 59, no. 9 (8 March 1966): 218.
Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History Series, 50. Harrisonburg, Virginia: Herald Press, 2016: 232, 270-272.
Rich, Elaine Sommers, ed. Walking Together in Faith: The Central District Conference, 1957-1990. Bluffton, Ohio: The Conference, 2003: 78.
"Three Mennonite congregations in Elkhart County, Ind." Gospel Herald 80, no. 28 (14 July 1987): 508.
Weaver, Valerie. "Two churches have voting rights revoked in debate over homosexuality." Gospel Herald 90, no. 26 (1 July 1997): 10.
Additional Information
Meeting Address: 3003 Benham Avenue, Elkhart, Indiana 46516
Office Address: 140 West Mishawaka Road, Elkhart, Indiana 46517
Phone: 574-293-2825
Website: https://southsidefellowship.net/
Denominational Affiliations: Central District Conference
Ordained or Licensed Pastoral Leaders at Southside Fellowship
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Visiting ministers and Lay Leadership |
1965-1969 |
| Earl R. Sears (1935-2018) | 1969-1987 |
| Mary Kauffmann-Kennel | 1987-1990? |
| Willard E. Roth | 1990-1997 |
| Pam Dintaman | 1990-1993? |
| Arlen W. Epp | 1990-1994? |
| Charlotte Glick | 1993?-1994? |
| Jeni Hiett Umble | 1995-2001? |
| Willis L. Breckbill (1926-2011)(Interim) | 1998-2000 |
| Rhoda M. Schrag | 2001?-2004? |
| Jonathan Neufeld | 2004? |
| David P. Moser | 2005- |
| Debbie Bledsoe | 2022- |
Membership at Southside Fellowship
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 32 |
| 1970 | 32 |
| 1980 | 92 |
| 1990 | 119 |
| 2000 | 95 |
| 2009 | 64 |
| 2020 | 120 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2022 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Southside Fellowship (Elkhart, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2022. Web. 26 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Southside_Fellowship_(Elkhart,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=174437.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (December 2022). Southside Fellowship (Elkhart, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Southside_Fellowship_(Elkhart,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=174437.
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