The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is a Canadian Mennonite body of evangelical Christians. The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (see Hebrews 8:6). ...

Background

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference began in 1814 in the Molotschna settlement of southern Russia as the Kleine Gemeinde,^[1] a group of Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites. Klaas Reimer (1770-1837), a Mennonite minister from Gdansk, settled in Molotschna in 1805 Reimer felt the Mennonites of the area were too lax in doctrine and piety, and began to hold meetings in homes in 1812. He was joined by another minister, Cornelius Janzen, and eighteen members, who together recognized themselves as a separate church body in 1814. Molotschna Colony is a former Russian Mennonite settlement in what is now Zaporizhia Oblast in the Ukraine. ... Plautdietsch, or Mennonite Low German, is a language spoken by the Mennonites, who are ethnically Dutch, but who adopted an East Low German dialect while they were refugees in the Vistula delta area of Royal Prussia (later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth), beginning in the early-to-mid 1500s. ... Klaas Reimer (1770-1837) was the founder of the Kleine Gemeinde, a Mennonite denomination now called the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. ...

An 1838 pamphlet addresses five disputes with the main Mennonite body. The primary complaint was that Mennonite leaders were straying from their traditional nonresistant stance when they turned lawbreakers over the government for punishment while at the same time church leaders became more lax in enforcing spiritual discipline. An increased use of alcohol and other vices were cited as evidence. The second problem was inconsistent application of discipline for minor offenses; while the breakaway group was banned, other types of offenses were ignored. To a disloyalty charge, they reaffirmed their submission to the government while maintaining a stance against any involvement with detaining or punishing offenders. They did not approve of attending weddings, which had become worldly in their view. The final criticism was aimed at sermons and eulogies at funerals, a practice that had recently been adopted from Catholics and Lutherans.^[2] Nonresistance (or non-resistance) discourages physical resistance to an enemy and is a subdivision of nonviolence. ...

In 1860 a portion of this group migrated to Crimea under the leadership of Jakob Wiebe. This group adopted baptism by immersion. After migrated In 1874 to Kansas, they became known as the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren.^[3] Motto: Процветание в единстве - Prosperity in unity Anthem: Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина - Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) on the map of Ukraine. ... The US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (USMB) is an association of Mennonite Christians with origins in southern Russia. ...

In 1870 the Russian government issued a proclamation stating the intention to end all special privileges granted to German colonists by 1880. Alarmed at the possibility of losing control of their schools and military exemption, a delegation of Mennonite and Hutterite leaders, including Cornelius Toews and David Claassen of the Kleine Gemeinde, visited North America in 1873 to investigate resettlement possibilities. The In 1874, the main group proceeded to migrated to North America, settling in Manitoba and near Jansen, Nebraska in Jefferson County. The Jansen group moved to Kansas and eventually ceased to be part of the Kleine Gemeinde. A number of the Kleine Gemeinde went into the movement of Elder John Holdeman (Church of God in Christ, Mennonite). In 1952, the Kleine Gemeinde changed its name to the Evangelical Mennonite Church, and then to the Evangelical Mennonite Conference in 1959. Hutterite women at work Hutterites are a communal branch of Anabaptists who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) Official languages English and French, per mandate of the Constitution Act 1982 Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 14 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)  Ranked 8th 647... Jansen is a village located in Jefferson County, Nebraska. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Church of God in Christ, Mennonite is a Christian group of Anabaptist heritage; a 19th century offshot of the Old Order Mennonite Church. ...

Doctrine

Doctrines of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference are presented in the EMC Constitution, adopted in 1994. The constitution reveals conservative evangelical Christian teachings such as the Trinity, the depravity of man, salvation through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, the assurance of present salvation (distinct from the doctrine of "eternal security" which also offers the assurance of future salvation), and the supreme and final authority and infallibility of Scripture. Mennonite distinctives such as non-conformity to the world, mutual accountability, church discipline, congregational governance, and non-resistance are maintained. Along with other evangelicals and orthodox Mennonites, the EMC takes a complementarian stance and does not ordain women into the ministry. Three ordinances are held — believers' baptism, the Lord's supper, and feet washing. For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ... In theology, salvation can mean three related things: freed forever from the punishment of sin Revelation 1:5-6 NRSV - also called deliverance;[1] being saved for something, such as an afterlife or participating in the Reign of God Revelation 1:6 NRSV - also called redemption;[2]) and a process... Substitutionary atonement is the act of restoring balances by substitution. ... Perseverance of the saints (or preservation of the saints or eternal security) is a controversial Christian doctrine which maintains that none who are truly saved can be condemned for their sins or finally fall away from the faith. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In English history, a non-conformist is any member of a Protestant congregation not affiliated with the Church of England. ... The concept of Non-resistance is based on a reading of the first half of Matthew 5:39, part of the Sermon on the Mount, which says, But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. ... Complementarianism is a view of the relationship between the genders that differs from Gender egalitarianism in that it believes that each gender is distinct and has, at least in some setting, different yet complementary roles. ... Believers baptism (also called credobaptism) is the Christian ritual of baptism as given only to adults and children who have made a declaration of faith in Jesus as their personal savior, because he died for their sins, and was resurrected by the power of God the Father. ... The Lords Supper is a variation of the name and the service of The Last Supper or Eucharist. ... Feet washing is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. ...

Status

The churches of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference are located in five Canadian provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. In 2006 there were over 7000 members in 57 churches, with roughly 150 ministers serving the churches.^[4] The congregations are organized into nine regional conferences. Foreign mission work is established in 25 countries. A general conference council meets twice a year. The Evangelical Mennonite Conference archives, offices, Steinbach Christian High School and Steinbach Bible College are located in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. The Messenger, an official publication of the conference, is printed 22 times per year. Motto: Fortis et liber (Latin: Strong and free) Official languages English (see below) Flower   Wild rose Tree Lodgepole Pine Bird Great Horned Owl Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 28 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 925,186 km² 19,549 km... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) Official languages English and French, per mandate of the Constitution Act 1982 Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 14 6 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)  Ranked 8th 647... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (de facto) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 106 24 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)  Ranked 4th 1,076... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples strength) Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart - Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (Split from NWT) (9th (province)) Area Ranked 7th... Coordinates: Country Canada Province Manitoba Region Eastman Established 1874  - City Mayor Chris Goertzen  - Governing Body Steinbach City Council  - MP (Provencher) Vic Toews  - MLA (Steinbach) Kelvin Goertzen Area    - City 25. ...

Since an evangelical revival in the EMC led by Rev. Ben D. Reimer and others in the 1940s, the defining mark of the EMC in recent years has been its missions emphasis. Currently, over 70% of the Conference's national budget goes to missions activity.^[5] More recently, much emphasis has also been placed on church planting within Canada.

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is a member of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Mennonite World Conference. The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is a body that attempts to bring fellowship and communication to diverse Anabaptist bodies across the world. ...

Notes

1. ^ In Plautdietsch, De Kleen-gemeenta (both meaning little church).
2. ^ Smith, pp. 275-6.
3. ^ Smith, p. 276-7.
4. ^ 2006 EMC Yearbook
5. ^ 2006 EMC Conference Budget

References

• Dyck, Cornelius J., Martin, Dennis D., et al., editors, Mennonite Encyclopedia
• Plett, Delbert, Saints and Sinners
• Smith, C. Henry (1981). Smith's Story of the Mennonites. Newton, Kansas: Faith and Life Press, 249-356. ISBN 0-87303-069-9. 
• Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches (2001), National Council of Churches

External links

• Evangelical Mennonite Conference - official Web Site
• Adherents.com
• Steinbach Bible College