Modern Mennonite Churches

[Sudsy]

There are a number of threads on 'Conservative' Mennonites of sorts and I was wondering which types of Mennonites would not fit into the 'conservative' category and what might be the traits that make them non-conservative.

In our city I think we likely have at least 3 that would not fit a 'conservative' category but I'm not sure where the 'conservative' line is crossed into, I guess, 'liberal' and/or 'modern'.

Some practises that our church does that I would not think are considered conservative. Right ?

1. Extensive use of the Internet - Facebook, Podcasts, Video sermons, etc.
2. Worship bands - guitars of sorts, electric keyboards, drums
3. Worship style - hand clapping, raising of hands during singing, light dancing, no hymn books
4. Open communion - any professing believer from wherever. Parents decide for their children
5. No dress rules - men wear shorts in summer, women wear women's slacks, modest dress left to individual
6. Extensive use of electronics - big sound system, videos in sermons, overhead screens for song words, etc
7. Headcoverings optional and not preached on
8. Cafe and drinks taken into worship services
9. D&R - marriage courses and counselling but belief in fresh starts without spouse dying first
10. Women in any role except lead pastor

Basically our sidewalk version statement of faith - http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/resourc ... k-edition/

[KingdomBuilder]

It's interesting to see "modern" Mennonite churches being more "modern" than many Protestant denominations

[Josh]

It's interesting to see "modern" Mennonite churches being more "modern" than many Protestant denominations

Anabaptists are notorious for following the trends on the outside except in a 10-year-delayed time warp, so if one hangs around moderate conservatives, you can hear them sing “Shine Jesus Shine” and play it on the guitar when the rest of Christendom quit singing that song a while ago.

[KingdomBuilder]

It's interesting to see "modern" Mennonite churches being more "modern" than many Protestant denominations

Anabaptists are notorious for following the trends on the outside except in a 10-year-delayed time warp, so if one hangs around moderate conservatives, you can hear them sing “Shine Jesus Shine” and play it on the guitar when the rest of Christendom quit singing that song a while ago.

I shouldn't have laughed, but I did. The imagery was just too spot on.

[Wade]

There are a number of threads on 'Conservative' Mennonites of sorts and I was wondering which types of Mennonites would not fit into the 'conservative' category and what might be the traits that make them non-conservative.

In our city I think we likely have at least 3 that would not fit a 'conservative' category but I'm not sure where the 'conservative' line is crossed into, I guess, 'liberal' and/or 'modern'.

Some practises that our church does that I would not think are considered conservative. Right ?

1. Extensive use of the Internet - Facebook, Podcasts, Video sermons, etc.
2. Worship bands - guitars of sorts, electric keyboards, drums
3. Worship style - hand clapping, raising of hands during singing, light dancing, no hymn books
4. Open communion - any professing believer from wherever. Parents decide for their children
5. No dress rules - men wear shorts in summer, women wear women's slacks, modest dress left to individual
6. Extensive use of electronics - big sound system, videos in sermons, overhead screens for song words, etc
7. Headcoverings optional and not preached on
8. Cafe and drinks taken into worship services
9. D&R - marriage courses and counselling but belief in fresh starts without spouse dying first
10. Women in any role except lead pastor

Basically our sidewalk version statement of faith - http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/resourc ... k-edition/

Do you think Menno Simons would be satisfied, since it is his name you are using?

[KingdomBuilder]

Do you think Menno Simons would be satisfied, since it is his name you are using?

Do you think Jesus is satisfied when we use names other than His as our identifier?

[Wade]

Do you think Menno Simons would be satisfied, since it is his name you are using?

Do you think Jesus is satisfied when we use names other than His as our identifier?

I was getting to that...

[Hats Off]

Well what Sudsy describes would not describe the local Wesleyan, Pentecostal, or any other local churches. This is outside of my definition of conservative Anabaptism or conservative anything.

[Josh]

What Sudsy describes I call “mainstream evangelical Mennonites”. It is essentially a transitional group that is shedding its Anabaptist identity.

[steve-in-kville]

1. Extensive use of the Internet - Facebook, Podcasts, Video sermons, etc.
2. Worship bands - guitars of sorts, electric keyboards, drums
3. Worship style - hand clapping, raising of hands during singing, light dancing, no hymn books
4. Open communion - any professing believer from wherever. Parents decide for their children
5. No dress rules - men wear shorts in summer, women wear women's slacks, modest dress left to individual
6. Extensive use of electronics - big sound system, videos in sermons, overhead screens for song words, etc
7. Headcoverings optional and not preached on
8. Cafe and drinks taken into worship services
9. D&R - marriage courses and counselling but belief in fresh starts without spouse dying first
10. Women in any role except lead pastor

Not exactly Mennonite, but we attend what I would consider "mid-stream" Church of the Brethren.

1- No podcasts, but we can live-stream services at home.
2- We have a Praise Team. Half the songs are congregational hyme singing, otherhalf is the Praise Team. It was something to get used to.
3- No dancing, no raised hands. We do applaud maybe once during the service. Again, something to get used to.
4- I think you need permission to take lovefeast/communion if you are not a member.
5- No written dress code, but modesty is preached/encouraged.
6- We have most of this.
7- Coverings are option and preached on.
8- I see a little of this in the Sunday School hour.
9- D&R is touchy. I think there is a chance for a D&R person can be a member, but there's a lot of hoops to jump through.
10- No women behind the pulpit, but we do have a woman song leader.

Flame on!