A century-long case study of a 20th century progressive-leaning Amish sect demonstrates how material, ideological, and institutional debates express tensions between decentralizing and centralizing forces.

The Beachy Amish-Mennonite (A-M) Church originated between 1910-1940 from splinter groups breaking away from the Old Order Amish.

The Beachys adopted some timely innovations such as meetinghouses, vehicles, and Sunday school but maintained a decentralized, congregational polity like the Old Orders.

Their religious beliefs shifted towards more evangelical Christianity starting in the 1950s, with different congregations adopting these changes at varying paces, adding to tensions.

In the 1960s-70s, significant variation developed among the churches on issues such as technology use, dress standards, youth activities, and missions/evangelical beliefs, resulting in tensions that eventually led to divisions such as the Mennonite Christian Fellowship and Old Beachys.

In 1991, sermons at an annual Beachy ministers’ meeting raised concerns about religious drift; moderators responded by proposing an investigation. An elected committee of conservative leaders was formed and proposed standards on issues such as media and divorce/remarriage. However, they faced passive opposition from leaders preferring autonomy. A guideline against radio and television was eventually adopted in 1999 after much debate.

Leaders disenchanted with the committee’s failure to implement more standards rallied into three new denominations, the Maranatha A-Ms, Ambassadors A-Ms, and Berea A-Ms.