The Beachy Amish Mennonites   

Mennonites   

Ministers’ Meeting 2009

The Beachy Amish Mennonites hold an annual three-day meeting of the constituency’s ministers to share in fellowship and exchange ideas, receive reports from Beachy agencies, and vote on constituency decisions if any are brought forward. Unlike a strong-knit conference or hierarchical denomination, the Beachys are a lose stitching of churches and therefore do not hand down administrative decisions applicable to all congregations. When constituency-wide decisions are reached, the only binding means of enforcement is disallowance of a church’s ministry from voting at meetings and from hosting major constituency-sponsored events. While two business meetings allow agencies to communicate with the constituency and vote on one or two, if any, policies or new board members, most of the meeting time is devoted to assigned sermons.

 

The 2009 meeting in March was held in Sarasota, Florida.

 

The 2010 meeting will be held in Goshen, Indiana.

 

The Maranatha Amish Mennonite, Berea Amish Mennonite, and Ambassadors Amish Mennonite subgroups all hold a separate ministers’ meeting, and very few if any would attend the Beachy Ministers’ Meeting. The ‘Old’ Beachy churches of Kentucky and Illinois do not hold a ministers’ meeting, but accomplish similar purposes through an annual school meeting. Maranatha, Berea, and Ambassadors groups may invite more conservative Beachy churches to participate in their meeting.

  Eighty-five years in God’s service: June 26, 1927 — 2012

Highlights from the 2009 Beachy Ministers’ Meeting

The Sunnyside Fellowship church hosted the meetings, assisted by their outreach Pleasant View and the Montezuma churches. Most ministers had quite a distance to travel, from as far as Kansas, Iowa, Ontario, Costa Rica, and Ireland. However, it was well attended, ranging from between 400 to 450 people during daytime sessions to exceeding 500 in the evening. Many ministers made the trip a vacation in Florida, renting a place in Pinecraft or staying with friends. Broadcasting it as a Beachy ministers meeting in Florida perhaps caused some confusion to casual vacationers driving by the Bahia Vista Mennonite Church.

Covering Styles for Ministers’ Wives

 

Three tallies were taken of women’s covering style. The counts were taken during daytime sessions when practically all present were ministers’ wives. What few non-Beachys present were excluded. The average of the three tallies demonstrates that a strong majority of ministers’ wives have chosen to wear the traditional Beachy covering over other styles considered.

Covering styles in Beachy subgroups:

 

Maranatha: Most congregations maintain the traditional covering. Two have changed to the hanging veil prior to joining Maranatha, and several make allowance for opaque coverings.

 

Ambassadors: All congregations maintain the traditional covering. The constitution states:  “The ‘cap type’ covering, with strings, is to be consistently worn and shall not be substituted with other patterns such as the black veiling, etc.”

 

Berea: Churches allow the traditional covering and/or the opaque covering similar to Midwest Amish groups.

 

‘Old’ Beachy: The opaque covering is accepted by all congregations.

Traditional Covering (cap style)

Black Veil

Veiling (Hanging veil)

Doily
(circular, laying flat on back of the head, somewhat transparent)

Opaque Covering

(cap style)

Formal Wear for Ministers

 

Three tallies were taken of men’s formal wear. The counts were taken during daytime sessions when practically all present were ministers’ wives. What few non-Beachys present were excluded. The average of the three tallies demonstrates that a strong majority of ministers chose to wear the plain suit coat during the meeting.

Ernest Hochstetler of South Carolina sharing about being “Faithful to the Call.”

Nathan Yoder of Virginia preaching “Cultivating the Gift.”

Ray Stutzman of Ohio preaching “The Minister as the Man of God.”

Ronald Miller of Kansas preaching “Digital Discipleship.”

From left to right, Paul L. Miller and David L. Miller, brothers from Kansas, the moderator, and Adin Troyer of Ohio. David L. Miller prepared the topic “Biblical Nonresistance & Nonconformity.” Because of throat troubles from a virus, his brother Paul read the message. In it, he asks: “Is it fair to ask how we are doing?”

 

To read David L. Miller’s topic, click here.

Philip Yoder of Costa Rica sharing about “The Ministry of Visitation.”

Adin Troyer of Ohio preaching “The Supremacy of the Word.”

Paul A. Miller of Ohio preaching “Pastoring Includes Counseling.”

Simon Schrock of Virginia gave two pre-sermon talks about “Get into the Word.” He encouraged congregations to complete a one-year Bible reading plan together.

David Yoder of Kansas spoke about “Proper Conduct in Administration.”

Ivan Beachy of Virginia spoke about “Developing Faithful Leaders.”

Sanford Yoder of Costa Rica shared on the subject, “Well Done, Thou Servant.”

Jason Kauffman of Australia preached, “Faithful to the End.”

Facts and Figures

Berea Amish Mennonite
Ministers’ Meeting

February 2009

Iowa

 

Eli Mast (MO): True Repentance and Its Fruit

Ernest Rissler (MO): Relating to Biblical Church Authority

Steve Miller (OH): The Abundance of God’s Grace

David Nissley (KY): Countering the Spirit of Apathy and Indifference

David Troyer: Take Heed unto Thyself and unto the Flock

Jason Byers (IN): The Sister’s Role and Blessing

Wayne Mullet (IL): God’s Presence with Those that Tremble at His Word

Paul Chupp (OH): Maintaining Proper Attitudes among the Brethren

Ernest Rissler (MO): Yea All of You Be Subject One to Another

Business Meetings

 

Two business meetings were held, one late Wednesday afternoon and one late Thursday afternoon. Beachy-sponsored agencies presented updates on work and challenges. Several votes were taken for new board members and/or policy considerations.

 

Click here to download minutes.

Unlike the emphasis among fundamentalist conservative Mennonites, no churches within the Beachy Amish Mennonite movement would push for the wearing of the suit coat to town in places where such formal wear is not observed by the rest of society.

 

Beachy: Fewer laymen wear the suit coat for all church services (hot weather excepting), especially among young men. Most ministers retain the wearing of the suit coat for services. Buttons have replaced hooks and eyes in some congregations, and some congregations have allowed outside pockets. Most members wear belts, with some wearing suspenders, especially more so in congregations with a more defined conscientiousness for outward separation.

 

Maranatha: Most congregations require hooks and eyes and no outside pockets. There is variation regarding the extent to which it is worn, some requesting it for most formal occasions and others only when a coat is needed for the weather. Many congregations require suspenders. Those that allow belts still have considerable numbers holding to suspenders.

 

Ambassadors: Suit coats without outside pockets to be worn for all church services, except in extremely hot weather. Belts or suspenders accepted, each having fair representation.

 

Berea: Suit coats without outside pockets and with hooks and eyes to be worn in all church services, except in  hot weather. Suspenders are worn, as no congregations have made allowance for belts.

 

‘Old’ Beachy: Same as Berea. Vests are generally accepted for warmer weather.