The transformation of two Mennonite denominations into one, the continued assimilation of Mennonites into the broader American culture, important regional differences among Mennonites and the growth of racial/ethnic congregations challenge efforts to provide answers to these questions.

In 1972, J. Howard Kauffman and Leland Harder launched Church Member Profile I, a comprehensive survey of five Anabaptist denominations in North America. Joined by Leo Driedger, they conducted a follow-up study in 1989. In 2006, Donald B. Kraybill of the Young Center of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College led a three-member team that conducted a profile of three denominations — Mennonite Church USA, the Church of the Brethren and the Brethren in Christ.

Following are initial findings from the study of MC USA. In these findings, the term “Mennonite” refers to members of MC USA.

Mennonite identity

When Mennonites in 2006 were asked to identify the two religious words that best described them, two-thirds chose “Mennonite” or “Anabaptist.” Eighty-four percent of pastors chose these two words, as did 41 percent of racial/ethnic members.

Congregational loyalty

Like other Americans, Mennonites are more committed to their congregation than to their denomination or area conference. Thirty-four percent of Mennonite members said they are “very strongly” committed to the denomination and 12 percent to their area conference. In comparison, 58 percent are “very strongly” committed to their local congregation.

At the same time, more members today (48 percent) than in 1972 (25 percent) said they will always want to remain a member of their denomination. This level of loyalty is slightly lower than for conservative Protestants (52 percent) in the United States, but higher than among mainline Protestants (37 percent).

More new members

A major shift among Mennonites over the past three decades has been the increase in members from other denominations. The percentage of “non-cradle” Mennonites — neither parent being Mennonite — has risen since 1972 from 17 percent to 26 percent, and the percentage who married a spouse from another denomination has risen from 25 percent to 39 percent in that same period.

Aging membership

The average age of Mennonite members today is 54 years, five years older than in 1989. More important, however, is the shifting age distribution of Mennonites. In 1972, 54 percent of Mennonites were between 18 and 45 years of age, within what demographers refer to as child-bearing age. This number declined to 45 percent in 1989 and is only 30 percent today.

This change has been more extreme for Mennonites than even for mainline Protestant denominations, which a recent study described as “literally dying out” because of similar changes in their age distribution. Among mainline Protestant denominations, 42 percent of members are under 45 years of age compared to 52 percent of conservative Protestants.

Regional differences

Mennonites differ in important ways depending on where they live. For example:

— Mennonites in the West are more likely to have come from other denominations — 38 percent baptized in an “other than Mennonite” congregation compared to 23 percent in the East and South, and 22 percent in the Midwest.

— Mennonites in the Midwest are most likely to be “cradle” Mennonites, with 72 percent having parents who were both Mennonite.

— Mennonites in the South are less mobile than other Mennonites, with 40 percent living in the same community for 30 years or more.

— Mennonites in the East are most rural. Only 13 percent live in cities of 50,000 or more residents compared to 71 percent of Westerners.

Growth among racial/ethnic congregations

The growth of racial/ethnic congregations is changing the face of MC USA. The term racial/ethnic is a self-designation by MC USA groups with members that include those who are African-American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, Asian and “other than Anglo.” In the past five years, 25 percent of the denomination’s new members have been racial/ethnic, compared to just 6 percent among those members who entered the denomination more than five years ago.

Increased assimilation

In 1972, 36 percent of Mennonites lived on a farm, compared to 12 percent today. While almost twice as many Mennonites reside in large cities with 250,000 or more residents, today as in 1972, this number still accounts for less than 10 percent of all Mennonites.

In their work, more Mennonites hold business and professional occupations compared with three decades ago — 41 percent today and 23 percent in 1972. And twice as many Mennonites have college degrees today (38 percent) as in 1972 (19 percent).

Greater political identification

In 1972, 37 percent of Mennonites claimed no political party identity, compared to only 11 percent today. Increases have occurred for both Republicans and Democrats. In 1972, 42 percent of Mennonites identified themselves as Republicans; 50 percent did so in 2006. During this same period, Democrats nearly doubled from 12 percent to 22 percent. But in the last presidential election, two-thirds of Mennonites who voted did so for President George W. Bush.

Changing church attendance

While the percentage of Mennonites who regularly attend church has remained about the same since 1972, church attendance for Mennonites has become largely a once-a-week event. The percentage who attend more than once a week dropped from 43 percent in 1972 to 8 percent today. In addition, the proportion who attend Sunday school has declined from 71 percent in 1972 to 53 percent today.

Conclusion

These early findings have important implications for Mennonite identity as well as for the future of MC USA. Among these implications are both challenges and opportunities:

— The growth of members from other-than-Mennonite backgrounds is good news for a denomination interested in becoming more missional — calling all people to a primary allegiance to Jesus Christ. Integrating these members into the denomination remains a challenge, however, because they are more ambivalent about an Anabaptist identity than other members.

— The shift in age among Mennonites is a critical issue for the denomination. Without a major influx of younger people, questions of Anabaptist identity will take a back seat to the question of mere survival.

— The findings about racial/ ethnic members are among the most encouraging of this study. Not only are these members younger on average, they also bring a rich spiritual diversity to MC USA.

— The shift to Sunday morning worship as the only religious service of the week, and the decline in Sunday school attendance, pose challenges for pastors and congregations seeking to influence members who are less engaged in church and increasingly more assimilated in the broader culture.

— The forces of modern and postmodern culture — professionalism, education, individualism and suburbanization — continue to shape Mennonites who are more assimilated in the broader culture than ever before.

— The increased political identification of Mennonites threatens to polarize members around controversial issues.

— Regional differences make for rich diversity but also challenge churchwide discernment efforts.

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Conrad L. Kanagy is Mennonite Member Profile 2006 director, associate professor of sociology at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and an ordained minister in Lancaster Mennonite Conference of MC USA. He is author of the forthcoming book, Road Signs and Guideposts, which provides an in-depth look at the issues addressed in the church member profile. The book will be accompanied by a set of congregational resources on DVD and CD.