DownloadJune 22, 2009 issue
Why are we so fragmented?
By John A. LappPage:
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On my desk are three Mennonite directories with similar names but little overlapping content — which says something about the fragmented character of Mennonites in the United States. The books are:
Lapp
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Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory 2009, updated by Brenda Hershberger, published by Sword and Trumpet, Harrisonburg, Va., 111 pages, $15.
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Mennonite Church Directory 2009, compiled by Christian Light Publications Inc., Harrisonburg, Va., 197 pages, $10.
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Mennonite Church USA 2009 Directory, edited by J. Ron Byler, published by Mennonite Publishing Network — Faith and Life Resources, Scottdale, Pa., and Waterloo, Ont., 2008, 280 pages, $19.99.
The Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory contains data on 18 groups that adhere to at least one of five Confessions of Faith listed in the front. These include Schleitheim (1527), Dortrect (1632) and Mennonite Church (1963). The publisher’s note asserts that this “will give the reader sufficient clarification of their ‘standing’ in the Anabaptist/Mennonite world.”
The groups in this book number nearly 25,000 members. Among them, only the Conservative Mennonites call themselves a “conference.” The others are alliances, networks, ministries or fellowships of churches.
Several have strong links to the Amish and Amish Mennonite tradition. Several have a strong Native American component. One senses the evangelical theme is strong in most of them. One group I had not heard of before is called Radical Restorations Ministries, located in Indiana and Illinois.
I wonder why this is called an “Anabaptist” directory when only one of the groups has this word in its name.
The Mennonite Church Directory lists 26 conferences, networks, fellowships and churches with at least 40,000 members. The publisher’s note says: “It is our desire to uphold the doctrines of the Scriptures as historically taught by the Mennonite Church, such as separation from the world, nonresistance, separation of church and state, permanence of marriage… .”
The largest groups in this directory are the Beachy Amish, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and a surprisingly large block of 106 unaffiliated congregations with more than 5,000 members. This directory focuses on those who cherish a traditional identity.
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