Congregation or Conference? The Development of Beachy Amish Polity and Identity

Mennonite Historical Bulletin

Anderson, Cory. 2011.

72(1):12-15.

Research Points
  • Beachy Amish-Mennonites originated from 1928 to 1940s as Old Order Amish splinter congregations permitting automobile ownership began fellowshipping.

  • Beachys maintained congregational autonomy like Old Orders but developed more bureaucracy through committees, beginning with the Amish-Mennonite Aid relief program in 1955.

  • In the 1960s, annual ministers’ meetings became a forum for leaders to share thoughts and preach sermons.

  • The 1991 annual meeting raised concerns about laxness in religious practices; a committee formed to address issues. A draft statement was produced on belief, faith and practice but faced resistance.

  • The committee attempted to get consensus issue-by-issue, but adoption was still difficult, suggesting competing tensions between desire for unity across churches and congregational independence.

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