The Beachy Amish Mennonites   

Mennonites   

Beachy Ministers’ Meeting 2016

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.

· The 2009 meeting was held in Sarasota, Florida. (meeting page)

· The 2010 meeting was held in Goshen, Indiana. (meeting page)

· The 2011 meeting was held in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (meeting page)

· The 2012 meeting was held in Plain City, Ohio (meeting page)

· The 2013 meeting was held in Holmes Co., OH (meeting page)

· The 2014 meeting was held in Yoder, KS

· The 2015 meeting was held in Northern Indiana

· The 2016 meeting was held in Lancaster County, PA 

· The 2017 meeting will be held in Arthur, IL

 

            

 

 

Facts, Figures, and For the Record

Covering Styles

for Ministers’ Wives

Five tallies were taken of women’s head covering styles and the average calculated. While the majority of ministers’ wives wear the Beachy-style cap—60%—a strong minority have switched to the veils—40%. In 2009, the proportion was 84% to 16%. This rapid change in the shape, style, and form of this Bible doctrine bespeaks of broader shifts in identity, view of church, and view of affiliation among the Beachys.

Business Session Highlights

 

(1) New Amish-Mennonite Constituency

The most significant event was the withdrawal of several Beachy Amish-Mennonite churches. These would be the self-dubbed “non-compliant” churches, that is, they do not forbid the radio. In 1999, the Beachy ministers voted to forbid the radio. In the past several years, some churches have either formally or by default permitted the radio, and they have made this known, but neither the ministerial body nor the bishop committee responded with definitive action one way or another. Consequently, the churches found themselves in an ambiguous state. In 2015, a proposal to define tangible boundaries for the Beachys (in addition to the radio) was defeated by a margin of just over 1%. Non-compliant churches viewed this defeat as doing nothing to clarify their ambiguous state. Not seeing a near-future resolve, several churches based in and near Holmes County (Bethel, Crosspointe, Antrim, Agape, and Shaloam, namely) instigated a new fellowship. A letter they prepared was read by the bishop committee. [See the minutes for a copy of the letter.]

 

Additional churches will likely join them in the next several years. How many? A low-end estimate would be 10 churches (including the founders) from Amish-Mennonite ranks. An upper-end estimate would be 29 churches; this assumes that some additional Beachy churches will acknowledge that they are “non-compliant” and also that some churches long on the progressive fringe of Amish-Mennonite and not in full fellowship with Beachy will take interest in joining.

 

(2) Sioux Lookout independence

The Sioux Lookout church in northwestern Ontario gained full autonomy from MIC January 1, 2016. Three board members were there at the time for a ceremony. The Red Lake church transition to autonomy is still underway.

 

(3) Hillcrest renovations

Hillcrest Home is currently working on Phase Two renovations. It will turn the home into a more residential-type layout, making it feel less institutional.

 

(4) Anabaptist HealthShare

A new health sharing program was introduced in response to Obama Care.

 

(5) New website for Calvary Messenger

Calvary Messenger has now launched a website. Articles and announcements are available there, as well as subscription information and changes. It will be expanded in the future. See www.calvarymessenger.org

 

(6)  New AMA secretary-treasurer

Ronald Miller of Cornerstone Mennonite (Oswego, KS) has been appointed the new AMA secretary-treasurer. His term began January 1, 2016.

 

(7) Amish-Mennonite archives in new wing

The Amish-Mennonite Historical Association archives is now in an expanded wing at the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin, OH.

 

(8) Education website under construction

The Conservative Anabaptist Education Committee is working on a website for educational materials.

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