Mennonites
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptists named after Menno Simons (1496–1561). His teachings were a relatively minor influence on the group, though. They are of the historic peace churches. Mennonites are committed to nonviolence, nonviolent resistance/reconciliation, and pacifism.
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,100,000[1] | |
| Founder | |
| Menno Simons | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Africa | 735,000 |
| North America | 672,000 |
| Asia and Pacific | 420,000 |
| Latin America and Caribbean | 270,000 |
| Europe | 63,000 |
| Religions | |
| Anabaptist | |
| Scriptures | |
| The Bible | |
| Known for commitment to pacifism and believer's baptism | |
There are about 1.5 million Mennonites worldwide as of 2006.[2] There are many different types of mennonite communities in the world. There are those that dress in old-fashioned ways, and others which are hard to tell apart from other people leading a modern lifestyle. Most Mennonites are in the United States and Democratic Republic of Congo, but Mennonites can also be found in tight-knit communities in at least 51 countries on six continents or scattered amongst the populace of those countries.
Mennonites have an international distinction among Christian denominations in disaster relief. They also place a strong theological emphasis on voluntary service. Mennonite Disaster Service,[3] based in North America, provides both immediate and long-term responses to hurricanes, floods, and other disasters. Mennonite Central Committee provides disaster relief around the world alongside their long-term international development programs. Other programs offer a variety of relief efforts and services throughout the world.
In the last few decades some Mennonite groups have also become more actively involved with peace and social justice issues, helping to found Christian Peacemaker Teams and Mennonite Conciliation Service.[4]
Mennonites Media
Spread of the early Anabaptists, 1525–1550
Evangelical Mennonite Church in Altkirch, Association of Evangelical Mennonite Churches of France.
Praise team at The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
Old Order Mennonite horse and carriage
Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, built 1770
Ten Thousand Villages Store in New Hamburg, Ontario
Valparaiso Mennonite Church, in Valparaiso, Indiana in the United States.
The Goshen College Music Center in Goshen, Indiana, Mennonite Church USA.
References
- ↑ "Global Statistics – 2015 Directory; Mennonite World Conference". Mwc-cmm.org. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
- ↑ 2006 Mennonite & Brethren in Christ World Membership Archived 2008-06-26 at the Wayback Machine - Mennonite World Conference
- ↑ "Mennonite Disaster Service". Archived from the original on 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
- ↑ "Mennonite Conciliation Service". Archived from the original on 2007-05-13. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
