Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Encyclopedia
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite is a 19th century offshoot of the Mennonite
Church. They are also known as Holdeman Mennonites, after a leader, John Holdeman, who saw the decay in the Old Mennonite Church and having tried his best to reach all the mennonites in the US and Canada, and make them aware of his concern, became the first minister in the new group of believers that followed him in the revival of the Church of God.
of the 16th century. In doctrine and practice they profess to carry on the faith of Jesus and His apostles. Holdeman Mennonites also recognize the faith of the Waldenses and other nonconformist groups of the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual heritage. They believe that "Christ established one true, visible Church, and through her He has preserved His faith and doctrine through the ages."
Under the influential work of Menno Simons
, many of the Anabaptists became known as Mennonites. The earliest permanent settlement of Mennonites in America was at Germantown, Pennsylvania
, in 1683. In the mid 19th century some American Mennonites believed they saw in their church a spiritual decline and drift away from sound doctrine, and sought to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". Among these was John Holdeman (1832–1900), who was born in Wayne County, Ohio
to Mennonite parents. John's father, Amos Holdeman, was interested in the revivalist movement of John Winebrenner
. John Holdeman became both an evangelist and a reformer. Issues he believed needed reform included the baptism of persons not giving sufficient evidence of conversion, less than diligent child training, and laxity of church discipline
.
Holdeman and other concerned individuals began holding separate meetings in April 1859, resulting in a permanent separation from the Mennonite church and the eventual organization of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Holdeman wrote extensively and traveled widely, and new congregations were formed in the United States
and Canada
. Growth among the Mennonites and Amish was minimal until the arrival of Mennonite immigrants from Prussia
, who settled in McPherson County, Kansas
in 1875. In 1878, Holdeman baptized 78 of members of that group. In 1881, he baptized 118 Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites
in Manitoba
. They had migrated to North America
from Russia
. With this group came their leader, Peter Toews. From a small beginning to a membership of around 750 at the time of Holdeman's death, the church experienced slow but steady growth until the mid 1970s. During the later 1970s the growth slowed, then continued. Numerous new churches have been started because of the growth as members have sought opportunity in new locations, and churches have been planted in new states and provinces.
is observed by pouring water on the believer's head; closed communion
is held with bread and unfermented fruit of the vine; and feet washing
is observed with the ministers washing the men's feet and the wives of ministers and/or deacons washing the women's feet. Non-resistance is standard practice, whether among individuals, regarding suits at law, or concerning warfare among nations. Holdeman Mennonites do not vote, serve in the military or in law enforcement. In denying that Jesus was made from the seed of Mary, the Christology
of this church is closer to the teachings of Menno Simons
and Melchior Hoffman
than any other Mennonite group.
Holdeman's teachings on salvation and the Bible probably reflect more evangelical Protestant (and probably pietist) influence. They believe that a person can lose his or her salvation, and leaving or excommunication from the Holdeman Mennonite church is usually considered equal to a loss of salvation, but they do not believe that nobody can be saved outside of the Church. Excommunication from the Holdeman Mennonite church is the only accepted way to leave it. The Holdeman Mennonites practice the avoidance on former members in a biblical way, by not eating at the same table with them, shaking hands with them, or having any business partnerships with them. The new birth is described as an experience involving "faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, repentance, confessing and forsaking our sins, and a resulting change of life from sin to serving Christ." Outstanding beliefs include nonconformity to the world, which includes the banning of music, television, movies, excessive recreational activities, and an unwritten dress code that is most noticeable with the women. This includes the wearing of a plain one-piece dress. The men do not wear any type of necktie in formal dress, and their appearance would fit the look of most other conservative Christian cultures. The members largely pattern their lives after their beliefs in integrity in personal dealings and business, non-involvement in government, loving their neighbours, keeping the avoidance with love, inviting the sinner to repent, and emphasis on voluntary service.
Congregations meet weekly on Sunday mornings for Sunday school and worship. Each congregation has their own schedule for other types of meetings such as teaching, fellowship, bible study, and singing. Most congregations also hold summer vacation Bible school classes during the summer school holidays. These are also open to any children, member or non-member in their communities. Their ministers are chosen from within their own ranks; formal training is not required. Formal education beyond eighth grade is only reluctantly allowed in the congregations in the states of California and Florida (to the tenth grade to comply with compulsory school attendance laws in these cases where religious exemption has not been made) and in the case of job training such as carpentry, nursing, etc. Congregations in Canada teach grades K-9. All schools are tested and meet the education standards of the areas in which they are located. The schools teach young earth creation science, and they use curriculum viewed as Bible-based.
There are only two positions of office in the church, and only men are eligible. Ministers and deacons from each congregation are chosen by the local membership by first asking a series of questions regarding a need for more staff, whether there is a gift for the position, and whether the members feel that it is the right time to elect a staff member. These questions are by show of hands and only if they all pass with a significant majority does a secret ballot vote take place. The vote is one ballot per member and there is no nomination process. The ballots are counted by the ministers already in office and, if a high enough percentage of the congregation votes for the same individual, he is elected. There are no salaried ministers, and they seldom use prepared notes, but rather preach extemporaneously.
They worship in modest buildings and use no musical instruments. Singing is a cappella
and in four-part harmony.
A General Conference, made up of ministers, deacons, and other delegates, meets every five or ten years (more often if necessary) for decision-making. An annual meeting is held yearly to provide a formal meeting for all business and corporate activities. The General Conference and Annual meeting is open to any members to attend. At each annual meeting a minister's and deacon's meeting is also held to discuss matters pertaining to spiritual life and practical issues and is sometimes, but not always a closed meeting to laymembers.
Nearly all congregations have their own private schools. The majority of their teachers are unmarried women aged eighteen and up. These teachers have some basic formal training in education, and their secondary education varies from completion of a high school curriculum through correspondence to no further education than what they received within their private schools. The main requirement to teach is a solid standing as a member in the church and a reasonable skill set to be able to handle the grade that they will be teaching. This is determined in consultation with the applicant's minister and local elected school board.
. Canadian offices are located in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada. In addition to the United States and Canada, the Church of God has established congregations and mission work in various countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. In 2009, there were 14,672 members and 138 congregations in the United States. Kansas continues to contain the largest population of the denomination, with over 4,000 members. In Canada, the church had 5,053 members, and worldwide membership was 22,565. Current membership still greatly reflects the growth of the church through the Swiss-German ancestry of those such as Holdeman, the Kansas-Prussian ancestry, and the Manitoba-Russian ancestry. Yet, in some regions, like Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Eastern Ontario, there is is a high percentage of believers who have recently joined the Church and do not have the same roots as the majority of the holdemans in North America.
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
Church. They are also known as Holdeman Mennonites, after a leader, John Holdeman, who saw the decay in the Old Mennonite Church and having tried his best to reach all the mennonites in the US and Canada, and make them aware of his concern, became the first minister in the new group of believers that followed him in the revival of the Church of God.
History
The congregations of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite are descendants of the Anabaptists of the Radical ReformationRadical Reformation
The Radical Reformation was a 16th century response to what was believed to be both the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church and the expanding Magisterial Protestant movement led by Martin Luther and many others. Beginning in Germany and Switzerland, the Radical Reformation birthed many radical...
of the 16th century. In doctrine and practice they profess to carry on the faith of Jesus and His apostles. Holdeman Mennonites also recognize the faith of the Waldenses and other nonconformist groups of the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual heritage. They believe that "Christ established one true, visible Church, and through her He has preserved His faith and doctrine through the ages."
Under the influential work of Menno Simons
Menno Simons
Menno Simons was an Anabaptist religious leader from the Friesland region of the Low Countries. Simons was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and his followers became known as Mennonites...
, many of the Anabaptists became known as Mennonites. The earliest permanent settlement of Mennonites in America was at Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
, in 1683. In the mid 19th century some American Mennonites believed they saw in their church a spiritual decline and drift away from sound doctrine, and sought to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". Among these was John Holdeman (1832–1900), who was born in Wayne County, Ohio
Wayne County, Ohio
Wayne County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, and is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. As of the 2010 census, the population was 114,520. Its county seat is Wooster....
to Mennonite parents. John's father, Amos Holdeman, was interested in the revivalist movement of John Winebrenner
John Winebrenner
John Winebrenner , founded the Churches of God General Conference.He studied at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was ordained in the German Reformed Church in 1820...
. John Holdeman became both an evangelist and a reformer. Issues he believed needed reform included the baptism of persons not giving sufficient evidence of conversion, less than diligent child training, and laxity of church discipline
Church discipline
Church discipline comes in two types: formative and corrective. Formative discipline, or discipleship, seeks to help form the character and life of the believer. In this sense, every church disciplines it members. Jonathan Leeman has noted that "every church disciplines its members formally...
.
Holdeman and other concerned individuals began holding separate meetings in April 1859, resulting in a permanent separation from the Mennonite church and the eventual organization of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Holdeman wrote extensively and traveled widely, and new congregations were formed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Growth among the Mennonites and Amish was minimal until the arrival of Mennonite immigrants from Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, who settled in McPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson...
in 1875. In 1878, Holdeman baptized 78 of members of that group. In 1881, he baptized 118 Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is a Canadian Mennonite body of evangelical Christians.-Background:The Evangelical Mennonite Conference began in 1812 in the Molotschna settlement of southern Russia as the Kleine Gemeinde a group of Low German-speaking Mennonites of Dutch-German-Russian...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. They had migrated to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. With this group came their leader, Peter Toews. From a small beginning to a membership of around 750 at the time of Holdeman's death, the church experienced slow but steady growth until the mid 1970s. During the later 1970s the growth slowed, then continued. Numerous new churches have been started because of the growth as members have sought opportunity in new locations, and churches have been planted in new states and provinces.
Faith and practice
The church holds a strong Mennonite doctrinal heritage. Simplicity and modesty in clothing, homes and personal possessions is held as an ideal. Men wear beards, and women wear a head covering. BaptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
is observed by pouring water on the believer's head; closed communion
Closed communion
Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of Holy Communion to those who are members of a particular church, denomination, sect, or congregation...
is held with bread and unfermented fruit of the vine; and feet washing
Feet washing
Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
is observed with the ministers washing the men's feet and the wives of ministers and/or deacons washing the women's feet. Non-resistance is standard practice, whether among individuals, regarding suits at law, or concerning warfare among nations. Holdeman Mennonites do not vote, serve in the military or in law enforcement. In denying that Jesus was made from the seed of Mary, the Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
of this church is closer to the teachings of Menno Simons
Menno Simons
Menno Simons was an Anabaptist religious leader from the Friesland region of the Low Countries. Simons was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and his followers became known as Mennonites...
and Melchior Hoffman
Melchior Hoffman
Melchior Hoffman was an Anabaptist prophet and a visionary leader in northern Germany and the Netherlands.-Life:Hoffman was born at Schwäbisch Hall in Franconia before 1500...
than any other Mennonite group.
Holdeman's teachings on salvation and the Bible probably reflect more evangelical Protestant (and probably pietist) influence. They believe that a person can lose his or her salvation, and leaving or excommunication from the Holdeman Mennonite church is usually considered equal to a loss of salvation, but they do not believe that nobody can be saved outside of the Church. Excommunication from the Holdeman Mennonite church is the only accepted way to leave it. The Holdeman Mennonites practice the avoidance on former members in a biblical way, by not eating at the same table with them, shaking hands with them, or having any business partnerships with them. The new birth is described as an experience involving "faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, repentance, confessing and forsaking our sins, and a resulting change of life from sin to serving Christ." Outstanding beliefs include nonconformity to the world, which includes the banning of music, television, movies, excessive recreational activities, and an unwritten dress code that is most noticeable with the women. This includes the wearing of a plain one-piece dress. The men do not wear any type of necktie in formal dress, and their appearance would fit the look of most other conservative Christian cultures. The members largely pattern their lives after their beliefs in integrity in personal dealings and business, non-involvement in government, loving their neighbours, keeping the avoidance with love, inviting the sinner to repent, and emphasis on voluntary service.
Congregations meet weekly on Sunday mornings for Sunday school and worship. Each congregation has their own schedule for other types of meetings such as teaching, fellowship, bible study, and singing. Most congregations also hold summer vacation Bible school classes during the summer school holidays. These are also open to any children, member or non-member in their communities. Their ministers are chosen from within their own ranks; formal training is not required. Formal education beyond eighth grade is only reluctantly allowed in the congregations in the states of California and Florida (to the tenth grade to comply with compulsory school attendance laws in these cases where religious exemption has not been made) and in the case of job training such as carpentry, nursing, etc. Congregations in Canada teach grades K-9. All schools are tested and meet the education standards of the areas in which they are located. The schools teach young earth creation science, and they use curriculum viewed as Bible-based.
There are only two positions of office in the church, and only men are eligible. Ministers and deacons from each congregation are chosen by the local membership by first asking a series of questions regarding a need for more staff, whether there is a gift for the position, and whether the members feel that it is the right time to elect a staff member. These questions are by show of hands and only if they all pass with a significant majority does a secret ballot vote take place. The vote is one ballot per member and there is no nomination process. The ballots are counted by the ministers already in office and, if a high enough percentage of the congregation votes for the same individual, he is elected. There are no salaried ministers, and they seldom use prepared notes, but rather preach extemporaneously.
They worship in modest buildings and use no musical instruments. Singing is a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
and in four-part harmony.
A General Conference, made up of ministers, deacons, and other delegates, meets every five or ten years (more often if necessary) for decision-making. An annual meeting is held yearly to provide a formal meeting for all business and corporate activities. The General Conference and Annual meeting is open to any members to attend. At each annual meeting a minister's and deacon's meeting is also held to discuss matters pertaining to spiritual life and practical issues and is sometimes, but not always a closed meeting to laymembers.
Nearly all congregations have their own private schools. The majority of their teachers are unmarried women aged eighteen and up. These teachers have some basic formal training in education, and their secondary education varies from completion of a high school curriculum through correspondence to no further education than what they received within their private schools. The main requirement to teach is a solid standing as a member in the church and a reasonable skill set to be able to handle the grade that they will be teaching. This is determined in consultation with the applicant's minister and local elected school board.
Status
The Messenger of Truth, which was begun in the early 20th century, is issued bi-weekly from the church headquarters in Moundridge, KansasMoundridge, Kansas
Moundridge is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,737. The city is named for the settlement that became the incorporated city in 1887 located in Mound Township.-History:...
. Canadian offices are located in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada. In addition to the United States and Canada, the Church of God has established congregations and mission work in various countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. In 2009, there were 14,672 members and 138 congregations in the United States. Kansas continues to contain the largest population of the denomination, with over 4,000 members. In Canada, the church had 5,053 members, and worldwide membership was 22,565. Current membership still greatly reflects the growth of the church through the Swiss-German ancestry of those such as Holdeman, the Kansas-Prussian ancestry, and the Manitoba-Russian ancestry. Yet, in some regions, like Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Eastern Ontario, there is is a high percentage of believers who have recently joined the Church and do not have the same roots as the majority of the holdemans in North America.
External links
- Official website
- Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
- Basic information
- Additional links