FAQ about Mennonites

A top 10 list of questions that answers… who are the Mennonites?

FAQ about MC USA

Who are the Mennonites? What is a Mennonite?

Mennonites are Anabaptists, which is a faith stream within Christianity. Anabaptism grew out of the 16th-century Radical Reformation (which followed the Protestant Reformation). Technically, Anabaptists are neither Catholic nor Protestant, although they do share some beliefs of both.

The first Anabaptists separated from the state church when they began re-baptizing adults and refusing to baptize infants until they could make an adult decision to follow Christ. Anabaptism literally means to re-baptize. At that time, infant baptism was not only an accepted practice, but it also bestowed citizenship. These early Anabaptist Christians were the forerunners of today’s Anabaptist/Mennonite Christians and many others in the “Free Church” tradition that sought the separation of church and state.

Mennonites are named for Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Dutch priest who embraced Anabaptist theology as an alternative to Catholicism. As an influential Anabaptist leader, he consolidated the work initiated by moderate Anabaptist leaders.

 

What is the relationship between the terms “Anabaptist” and “Mennonite”?

All Mennonites are Anabaptists (See question #1). Not all Anabaptists are Mennonite, however, as there are numerous Anabaptist denominations today (See question #5.)

For more information, read “What is an Anabaptist Christian?” by Palmer Becker here: https://www.mennonitemission.net/Downloads/DL.MissioDei18.E.pdf 

 

What do Mennonites believe?

Anabaptist/Mennonite Christians tend to shape beliefs around these core values:

  1. Jesus is the center of our faith.
  2. Community is the center of our lives.
  3. Reconciliation is the center of our work.

For more information, please see the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995).

Also see our Mennonite Church USA confessions and resolutions in our online resource center.

 

What is the difference between Mennonites and Amish?

Mennonites and Amish are both Anabaptists and share common historical roots. While the groups agree on basic Christian doctrine, their differences come in interpreting how those practices should be lived out.

The original difference in opinion came in 1693, when Jacob Ammann, a Swiss Anabaptist leader, felt that the church leaders were not holding to strict separation from the world and that spiritual renewal was needed. Ammann did not believe that the ban, or shunning, was being practiced as it should be. He separated from the Swiss Brethren segment of the Anabaptists over this issue and his followers were nicknamed “Amish.”

Ammann enforced more separatist ways upon his followers, and today some practices among the Amish include: untrimmed beards and hooks and eyes in place of buttons on outer garments of the men; horse and buggy transportation; horse-drawn implements for farming; plain and distinctive dress patterns; no electricity in homes.

However, most contemporary Mennonites are not outwardly that different from any person you meet on the street, and in fact live in countries around the world with a wide variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds. Mennonites believe in simple living but express that simplicity in a spirit of stewardship and awareness of the needs of others rather than completely separating from society as the Amish continue to do.

The above information was gathered from Anabaptist World USA and other resources. See the MennoMedia store for a booklet called The Amish by John Hostetler, and The Amish: Why They Enchant Us, by Donald B. Kraybill. Author and professor Steve Nolt’s book, “The Amish: A Concise Introduction,” is also a good resource. The Amish in Northern Indiana site provides additional information about the Amish.  The web site, How Stuff Works, also has a section on the Amish.

For more information, visit our history page (coming soon).

 

Are all Mennonites the same?

Mennonite Church USA is one of about 40 different Mennonite/Anabaptist groups in the United States. While these groups share a common Anabaptist faith ancestry, they may vary in the way they dress, worship and practice their beliefs.

Some of the largest Mennonite/Anabaptist groups in North America are:

  • Midwest Mennonite Fellowship (No website*)
  • Nationwide Fellowship Churches (No website*)
  • New Order Amish (No website*)
  • Old Colony Mennonites (No website*)
  • Old Order Amish (No website*)
  • Old Order Mennonites – (Among these, there are further sub-groups such as Groffdale Conference, Weaverland, Stauffer, Wisler, Markham-Waterloo, Orthodox, David Martin and many more. These groups do not have websites.*)
  • Old Order River Brethren (No website*)
  • Pilgrim Mennonite Conference 

Could you tell me about Mennonite culture? (Also, What do Mennonite women wear?)

Just as there are many different groups within the North American Mennonite Church (See #5), there also are a variety of customs. However, there are some common threads.

Mennonites have a strong sense of community. In the past, Mennonite “community” probably had more of an ethnic or family feel (German, Dutch, Russian). Today, Mennonites in North America and around the world come from many different racial/ethnic groups, so the idea of community tends to be shaped around local congregations and contexts. Mennonite congregations strive to make all feel welcome and a part of the group. A church community often offers love and support in tangible ways, especially during times of crisis, through mutual aid and by providing food, transportation, babysitting and other types of assistance. On a broader scale, Mennonites often feel called to serve God by volunteering and supporting ministries that help others at home and abroad.

Food plays an important part in Mennonite celebrations. In the past, Mennonite cooking had a decidedly German or Russian flavor, with many North American Mennonites being of German, Swiss or Dutch descent. Today, the Mennonite church continues to grow and includes people of many racial/ethnic backgrounds. A Mennonite potluck may now include food from many cultures and countries.

Mennonite women used to wear coverings or prayer veils on their heads all the time and dressed plainly, wearing conservative clothing and no make-up or jewelry. Men also dressed plainly, and ministers often wore a plain coat and collarless shirt. Today only the most conservative Mennonites do this; most Mennonites look like anyone else you meet on the street.

Traditionally, the Mennonite church is best known for its four-part a cappella singing. As with traditional foods, however, music has become more varied and reflects the growing diversity among Mennonites.

Mennonites participate in the same leisure time activities as other North Americans. Some Mennonites may choose not to attend movies or have television in their homes, and some may abstain from smoking, drinking, dancing and gambling

 

Do Mennonites vote? (Do Mennonites participate in government and politics?)

Mennonite/Anabaptist doctrine holds allegiance to God above nationalism. This position influences Mennonite engagement with governmental and politics.

Traditionally, Mennonites did not vote or participate in political processes. This changed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, which saw greater involvement among Mennonites.

Today, voting is widely accepted among contemporary Mennonites. Many view it as a matter of deep personal discernment, and many consider the way that national policies impact people who are the most vulnerable.

There is a history, especially in Canada, of Mennonites running for public office at the provincial and national level. Members of Mennonite Church Canada have served as members of Canada’s parliament. This has been less common among Mennonites in the United States, especially among more conservative groups. The traditional Mennonite approach to political involvement was to petition the government on issues related directly to Mennonite concerns, whether they be immigration issues, avoiding service in the military or seeking the privilege of privately educating their children. However, beginning in the 1960s, the more assimilated Mennonite denominations began to address their national governments on a wide variety of social justice issues.

These have included capital punishment, climate justice, immigration policies, health care in the United States, protection of children, military tax withholding and peacemaking in Korea, Israel-Palestine and Iran. For additional statements and resolutions, visit our online resource section.

In addition, Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada have supported the creation of Mennonite Central Committee offices in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, Canada. These offices provide services for Mennonites relating to government and in interpreting Mennonite concerns about national policies to government leaders.

For more information, see Article 23 of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995) on government and society.

Also, see articles in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on Politics, Government and Sociopolitical Activism and the article by Kyle Kopko of Elizabethtown College, entitled Religious Identity and Political Parcipitation in the Mennonite Church USA.

 

Do Mennonites pay taxes?

Historically, Mennonites have resisted war based on Jesus’ teaching of nonviolence and instruction to love our enemies. To protest government military spending, some Mennonites withhold all or a portion of their federal income taxes in an act of faithful civil disobedience.

In 1983, congregational delegates of General Conference Mennonite Church (a predecessor of Mennonite Church USA) passed A Resolution on Faithful Action Toward Tax Withholding. That resolution states that “we accept our obligation to pay taxes. However, we must witness to governments our conviction that war and preparation for war do wrong to our neighbors and are contrary to the will of God, as revealed in the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

In 2020, MC USA reaffirmed this resolution through the promotion of the Church Peace Tax Fund, which allows members to protest military spending by contributing to peace education and initiatives.

 

How can I find a Mennonite church near me?

To find a Mennonite Church USA congregation near you, click here to use our interactive search tool.

 

What is worship like in a Mennonite church?

In North American Mennonite churches, styles of worship vary. Some Mennonite churches follow the liturgical calendar; others do not. Worship services may be similar to other Protestant services, with a worship leader and minister guiding worship. Lay leaders also tend to play important roles in leading Mennonite services. As a result of the emphasis on the importance of the community of believers, time for people to share experiences from their lives and stories for children are often incorporated into the worship service.

Four-part singing has been a long-standing tradition in the Mennonite church, and for many years this was only a cappella singing. Now many congregations use organ, piano, drums or other instruments as accompaniment. Worship services reflect the racial and ethnic cultural context of the particular congregation. With congregational singing playing such an important part in worship, many Mennonite churches use a song leader to lead the singing.

Most Mennonite churches have Sunday school classes for both children and adults either before or after the morning worship.

Mennonite churches seek to be friendly, welcoming places for visitors.

While specific worship services in Mennonite churches vary greatly, here are some common themes and components:

Worship as an alternative community

  • Everyone welcome
  • Each person’s gifts valued
  • Wide participation of lay persons

Christ’s kingdom extends beyond national borders

  • Hymns and resources reflect the wider nature of the church, using hymns and music from around the world, in whatever style and format the congregation enjoys

People of the Bible

  • Emphasis on reading and knowing the Bible
  • Readings from both the Old Testament and New Testament in most services
  • Space and time allowed in most services for silence and reflection (God still speaks in worship today)

Engaged with the world

  • Prayers for the needs of others (both within the congregation and beyond)
  • One segment of worship given to helping people think about how they carry out their worship through the week: “moments for mission,” announcements of service or advocacy opportunities, benedictions that send persons out to be God’s people in the world

Worship Resources