Mennonite Distinctives

EVANGELICAL. Mennonites join evangelical Christians everywhere in saying that the Bible is inspired by God and authoritative and that salvation is only through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But there are some of Christ's commands and some aspects of church life which the Mennonite Church has tended to emphasize more than other churches.

SERVICE. Jesus was one who served others, who went about doing good (Mark 10:42-45; Acts 10:38). And he commanded his followers to help others in times of need (Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 25:31-46).

Though all churches serve others, the Mennonite Church has been especially marked by service.

PEACE. Jesus calls his followers to love all people (even enemies) rather than hate (Matthew 5:43-45; Luke 6:27-36). When someone attacks us, we are to still love them and to respond with the firm gentleness of a potential healer, not the rigid fear of a potential victim. He calls us to peace...even though when we love our enemies they may turn on us.

Common sense says there are times we should try to destroy evil-doers. But Jesus asks us to do good to them. So do Paul and Peter (Romans 12:19-21; 1 Peter 2:20a- 23; 3:8,9).

Therefore the Mennonite Church has been known as a "peace church" and members have been conscientious objectors to war--unable to see how shooting someone is doing good to them.

We acknowledge that the issue is not simple: police action is in the service of God (Romans 13:4). But we ourselves choose to be marked by the teaching and spirit of Jesus.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP. Jesus told his disciples that the leaders among them must lead as servants, not as lords (Matthew 20:25-27; 1 Peter 5:2- 3). Therefore Mennonites have typically avoided church hierarchy. Mennonite church leaders try not to force their convictions on the others but to lead by consensus.

A cluster of 3-6 churches will have an "overseer". The overseer is seen not as an authority figure but as a resource person to work with congregational leaders or to help them when they need to call a pastor. The clusters of churches in a geographical area gather together as a "conference". (The churches in upstate New York form New York Mennonite Conference.) As a conference they work at common missions and help each other face common problems. The churches value each other's counsel so much that only the conference leaders are given authority to grant credentials to a pastor.


TO READ MORE: a brief history of the Mennonites; a Mennonite dream.