Beachy Amish Mennonites
"The Beachy Amish Mennonite constituency is a loose association of Anabaptist churches appropriately called a "fellowship," which is in contrast to a more hierarchical conference structure common amongst similar conservative Mennonite constituencies. Beachys are neither Amish nor Mennonite, but "Amish Mennonite". The influences of both the Amish and Mennonites are distinguishable, yet the Beachys affiliate with neither group. Because of the fellowship structure, few common characteristics are shared by all Beachy congregations. Some similarities include adhering to the Dordrecht Confession of Faith and practice varying degrees of orthodox Anabaptist practice, such as nonresistance, separation from the state, and adult baptism.
History
The Beachy Amish church arose from a 1927 division in the (Casselman) River Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Bishop Moses M. Beachy led the congregation during that time and, though he objected for the sake of humility, his name became associated with the faction. The Beachy Amish favored a milder discipline for members whose only offense was transferring membership to other Anabaptist churches, specifically the conservative Amish Mennonite congregation that broke from Moses Beachy's congregation (then not under Beachy's leadership) in 1895.
Distinctives
Until the 1950s, the Beachy Amish Mennonites resembled the Old Order Amish, but accepted some adaptations in technology and discipline. In contrast to the Old Order Amish, the Beachys have meetinghouses, Sunday School, and a Bible School for young adults, and most also support missionary work. Excommunication is used less frequently and accompanying bans are even more rare.
Most Beachy Amish churches today more closely resemble the conservative Mennonite groups rather than the Old Order Amish. The practices and lifestyle still similar to the Old Order Amish include:
* Holy kiss in church services
* Feet washing as part of the communion service
* Women wear head covering and homemade cape dresses
* Married men wear close-cropped beards in most congregations
* Television and radio is forbidden
Practices that distinguish the Beachy Amish church from the Old Order Amish include:
* Filtered Internet is permitted by many congregations
* Men wear ready made clothing
* Assurance of salvation is encouraged, unlike the Old Order Amish Church.
* General decline of the Pennsylvania German language among many congregations or congregants
While Beachys are the largest Amish Mennonite group, other affiliations include the Mennonite Christian Fellowship and the Maranatha Amish Mennonites (a subgroup of Beachys) as well as a handful of unaffiliated Amish Mennonite churches. The group now known as the "Conservative Mennonite Conference" was the largest Amish Mennonite group for a couple decades prior to the growth of the broader Beachy church in the 1950s."
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachy_Amish_Mennonite)
From a different website we find the following:
"The Beachy Amish Mennonites are an evangelical, fundamentalist Christian group with an Anabaptist heritage and a conservative practice. Some distinctive beliefs include:
· Baptism only upon confession of Jesus Christ by a person who has reached an age of accountability.
· Nonresistance, that is, returning good for evil and not resisting a persecutor. This includes non-involvement in combat, though alternative service is acceptable.
· Emphasis on the essential role of church community as a supporting organism for individual spiritual growth and fellowship.
· An extent of practical everyday separation from mainstream society, especially in areas of social and recreational activities, personal adornment, amusement, speech, gender roles, and schooling.
· A covering for women in obedience to 1 Cor. 11:1-16.
· Godly judgment is to take place within the church. The church is not responsible for judging the Christian devotion of those outside the immediate church and constituency, but rather to tend to the flock.
· This is paralleled by an outreach program to offer the Word of God to the world and encouragement of devotion to Him."
(Source: http://www.beachyam.org/doctrine.htm)
Please click on the source link above for much more information on the Beachy Amish Mennonites
The following information is quoted from:
http://www.beachyam.org/FAQs.htm
"Who was "Beachy"?
Moses Beachy was the bishop of an Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, PA, in the 1920s. He led part of the congregation to start a new Amish Mennonite group. The group went by his name, Beachy. Beachy churches do not look to him today as the affiliation's leader or single man of inspiration or a holder of special, unique doctrine or influence, but rather carry the name "Beachy" from what was once a way to distinguish Beachy's Amish from the other Amish in the community.
What is the difference between the Amish and the Beachys?
The Beachys come from the Old Order Amish originally. The Beachys carry on many Amish practices and traditions, but have adopted some modern conveniences and a more rigorous evangelization effort. The Beachys are not as "strict" as the Old Order Amish in practice. However, both groups emphasize love for the congregation and looking out for the brotherhood.
What is the difference between the Mennonites and the Beachys?
Mennonite groups vary, but many of the conservative Mennonite groups share similar practices and beliefs as the Beachys. Beachys feel at home in a Mennonite church service, and likewise Mennonites feel at home in a Beachy church service. However, many Mennonite groups are arranged in conferences. This means that the churches all share a similar practice of application. Beachy churches are autonomous are only loosely affiliated."
"The Beachy Amish Mennonite constituency is a loose association of Anabaptist churches appropriately called a "fellowship," which is in contrast to a more hierarchical conference structure common amongst similar conservative Mennonite constituencies. Beachys are neither Amish nor Mennonite, but "Amish Mennonite". The influences of both the Amish and Mennonites are distinguishable, yet the Beachys affiliate with neither group. Because of the fellowship structure, few common characteristics are shared by all Beachy congregations. Some similarities include adhering to the Dordrecht Confession of Faith and practice varying degrees of orthodox Anabaptist practice, such as nonresistance, separation from the state, and adult baptism.
History
The Beachy Amish church arose from a 1927 division in the (Casselman) River Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Bishop Moses M. Beachy led the congregation during that time and, though he objected for the sake of humility, his name became associated with the faction. The Beachy Amish favored a milder discipline for members whose only offense was transferring membership to other Anabaptist churches, specifically the conservative Amish Mennonite congregation that broke from Moses Beachy's congregation (then not under Beachy's leadership) in 1895.
Distinctives
Until the 1950s, the Beachy Amish Mennonites resembled the Old Order Amish, but accepted some adaptations in technology and discipline. In contrast to the Old Order Amish, the Beachys have meetinghouses, Sunday School, and a Bible School for young adults, and most also support missionary work. Excommunication is used less frequently and accompanying bans are even more rare.
Most Beachy Amish churches today more closely resemble the conservative Mennonite groups rather than the Old Order Amish. The practices and lifestyle still similar to the Old Order Amish include:
* Holy kiss in church services
* Feet washing as part of the communion service
* Women wear head covering and homemade cape dresses
* Married men wear close-cropped beards in most congregations
* Television and radio is forbidden
Practices that distinguish the Beachy Amish church from the Old Order Amish include:
* Filtered Internet is permitted by many congregations
* Men wear ready made clothing
* Assurance of salvation is encouraged, unlike the Old Order Amish Church.
* General decline of the Pennsylvania German language among many congregations or congregants
While Beachys are the largest Amish Mennonite group, other affiliations include the Mennonite Christian Fellowship and the Maranatha Amish Mennonites (a subgroup of Beachys) as well as a handful of unaffiliated Amish Mennonite churches. The group now known as the "Conservative Mennonite Conference" was the largest Amish Mennonite group for a couple decades prior to the growth of the broader Beachy church in the 1950s."
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachy_Amish_Mennonite)
From a different website we find the following:
"The Beachy Amish Mennonites are an evangelical, fundamentalist Christian group with an Anabaptist heritage and a conservative practice. Some distinctive beliefs include:
· Baptism only upon confession of Jesus Christ by a person who has reached an age of accountability.
· Nonresistance, that is, returning good for evil and not resisting a persecutor. This includes non-involvement in combat, though alternative service is acceptable.
· Emphasis on the essential role of church community as a supporting organism for individual spiritual growth and fellowship.
· An extent of practical everyday separation from mainstream society, especially in areas of social and recreational activities, personal adornment, amusement, speech, gender roles, and schooling.
· A covering for women in obedience to 1 Cor. 11:1-16.
· Godly judgment is to take place within the church. The church is not responsible for judging the Christian devotion of those outside the immediate church and constituency, but rather to tend to the flock.
· This is paralleled by an outreach program to offer the Word of God to the world and encouragement of devotion to Him."
(Source: http://www.beachyam.org/doctrine.htm)
Please click on the source link above for much more information on the Beachy Amish Mennonites
The following information is quoted from:
http://www.beachyam.org/FAQs.htm
"Who was "Beachy"?
Moses Beachy was the bishop of an Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, PA, in the 1920s. He led part of the congregation to start a new Amish Mennonite group. The group went by his name, Beachy. Beachy churches do not look to him today as the affiliation's leader or single man of inspiration or a holder of special, unique doctrine or influence, but rather carry the name "Beachy" from what was once a way to distinguish Beachy's Amish from the other Amish in the community.
What is the difference between the Amish and the Beachys?
The Beachys come from the Old Order Amish originally. The Beachys carry on many Amish practices and traditions, but have adopted some modern conveniences and a more rigorous evangelization effort. The Beachys are not as "strict" as the Old Order Amish in practice. However, both groups emphasize love for the congregation and looking out for the brotherhood.
What is the difference between the Mennonites and the Beachys?
Mennonite groups vary, but many of the conservative Mennonite groups share similar practices and beliefs as the Beachys. Beachys feel at home in a Mennonite church service, and likewise Mennonites feel at home in a Beachy church service. However, many Mennonite groups are arranged in conferences. This means that the churches all share a similar practice of application. Beachy churches are autonomous are only loosely affiliated."