Conservative Anabaptism

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Anabaptism
A 1685 illustration by Jan Luyken, published in Martyrs Mirror, of Dirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near Asperen in the present-day Netherlands
A 1685 illustration by Jan Luyken, published in Martyrs Mirror, of Dirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near Asperen in the present-day Netherlands
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Conservative Anabaptism includes theologically conservative Anabaptist denominations, both in doctrine and practice.[1] Conservative Anabaptists, along with Old Order Anabaptists and assimilated mainline Anabaptists, are a subset of the Anabaptist branch of Christianity.[1][2]

Conservative Anabaptists adhere to Anabaptist doctrine, such as the belief in nonresistance and the observance of plain dress (including the headcovering), while making judicious use of modern technology.[1] Ordinances commonly observed in many Conservative Anabaptist churches include "baptism, communion, footwashing, marriage, anointing with oil, the holy kiss, and the prayer covering."[3]

Conservative Anabaptists may have Sunday school, hold revival meetings, or operate their own Christian schools (parochial schools).[1][4] Additionally, Conservative Anabaptist fellowships are often engaged in evangelism and missionary work; a 1993 report showed that Conservative Anabaptist denominations in general grew by fifty percent overall within the previous fifteen years.[5]

Among Conservative Anabaptists are the Dunkard Brethren Church, Conservative Mennonites, and Beachy Amish, as well as the Bruderhof Communities, Apostolic Christian Church and the Charity Christian Fellowship.[6] Conservative Anabaptists form 15% of Anabaptist Christianity as a whole.[1]

In response to a perceived laxity in adherence to Anabaptist doctrine and practice, certain Conservative Anabaptist denominations, such as the Biblical Mennonite Alliance and the Dunkard Brethren Church, were formed after adherents separated from their parent (usually mainline Anabaptist) bodies;[7][8] on the other hand, the Beachy Mennonites are composed of individuals who left Old Order Anabaptist groups and "were deeply committed to evangelism and mission work."[9] Other Conservative Anabaptist denominations, such as Charity Christian Fellowship, have been organized by people from diverse backgrounds.[10]

Various congregations lend support to Christian Aid Ministries, a Conservative Anabaptist missionary and relief organization.[11] Beside The Still Waters is a daily devotional widely used by Conservative Anabaptists.[12]

  1. ^ a b c d e Weaver-Zercher, David (15 March 2016). Martyrs Mirror: A Social History. JHU Press. pp. 222–223. ISBN 978-1-4214-1882-7.
  2. ^ Anderson, Cory; Anderson, Jennifer (2019). Fitted to Holiness: How Modesty is Achieved and Compromised among the Plain People. Millersburg: Acorn Publishing. pp. 210–211.
  3. ^ Hartzler, Rachel Nafziger (30 April 2013). No Strings Attached: Boundary Lines in Pleasant Places: A History of Warren Street / Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-62189-635-7.
  4. ^ Bronner, Simon J. (4 March 2015). Encyclopedia of American Folklife. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-47194-3.
  5. ^ Myers, Tim. "Why I Am a Conservative Mennonite". Pilgrim Mennonite Conference. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  6. ^ Brunn, Stanley D. (3 February 2015). The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics. Springer. p. 365. ISBN 978-94-017-9376-6.
  7. ^ Kraybill, Donald B. (1 November 2010). Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites. JHU Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-8018-9911-9.
  8. ^ Lewis, James R. (March 2001). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-61592-738-8.
  9. ^ Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-4422-4432-0.
  10. ^ "About Us". Charity Christian Fellowship. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  11. ^ Hurst, Charles E.; McConnell, David L. (5 April 2010). An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World's Largest Amish Community. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-9790-0.
  12. ^ Roth, John D. (24 November 2014). "Devoted nonconformity". Anabaptist World. Retrieved 16 May 2022.