Features of Lancaster Mennonite Conference that transmitted to Conservative Spin-offs

[mike]

We've had various references to Lancaster Mennonite Conference when it comes to discussing certain features of conservative Mennonite spin-offs. Many of the current conservative Mennonite conferences & churches trace their recent origin to LMC. So I've been wanting to start a thread specifically to list the practices, rules, customs, beliefs, & values of conservative Mennonites that they brought along with them from LMC. For example Josh mentioned top-down episcopal style of church governance.

So, what are some of the unique features of LMC, as it was in the 1960s, that are still to be found in today's conservative Mennonite groups?

[mike]

My own background is Amish, although I'm a transplant in a CM conference church these days. So I have to look around me and wonder how much of what I'm seeing is a relic from LMC. For example is the typical CM position on facial hair (mostly they either outright forbid it, discourage it, or shy away from it, or if they do allow it they forbid a full beard) a LMC holdover?

[steve-in-kville]

Does anyone have access to a "flow chart" that shows the various splits and divisions? That would be interesting to see.

[Ernie]

My own background is Amish, although I'm a transplant in a CM conference church these days. So I have to look around me and wonder how much of what I'm seeing is a relic from LMC. For example is the typical CM position on facial hair (mostly they either outright forbid it, discourage it, or shy away from it, or if they do allow it they forbid a full beard) a LMC holdover?

This is a Mennonite thing. Mennonites have always tended to be somewhat trendy, as compared with Amish. So when men in society started shaving, the younger generation did also until only a few old men still had beards at the turn of the 20th century. The same thing happened with tapered haircuts until everyone had them.

Washington/Franklin/Eastern froze the hats of the 1910's, and the tapered haircuts of 1910-1940's. Old Order Mennonite ministers and the older generation, still keep their hair cut similar to how men in society did in the early 1800's.

[Ernie]

Does anyone have access to a "flow chart" that shows the various splits and divisions? That would be interesting to see.

https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... 3-2012.pdf

This is out of date. I'm looking for someone to update it if anyone likes design.

[steve-in-kville]

Does anyone have access to a "flow chart" that shows the various splits and divisions? That would be interesting to see.

https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... 3-2012.pdf

This is out of date. I'm looking for someone to update it if anyone likes design.

That's the one I was thinking of.

[Josh]

One LMC thing in the 1950s was a passion for domestic evangelism and church planting, which led to outposts like the church in York. There is still some of that passion lurking in institutions like KMF.

[mike]

One LMC thing in the 1950s was a passion for domestic evangelism and church planting, which led to outposts like the church in York. There is still some of that passion lurking in institutions like KMF.

I think some of those outposts are/were in our area (rural western PA) as well, although they seem to have all either died off or turned into small nondenominational community churches. Our congregation actually bought one of those defunct church buildings from a Mennonite church that had closed, and the older couple who thought they were the owners found out that it was actually still owned by LMC.

[steve-in-kville]

One feature I noticed is how individual congregations within the same district can have different (unwritten) rules and standards. Like cars, music and attire. I often wondered if someone failed to comply with an unwritten standard, will they face discipline?

[HondurasKeiser]

One LMC thing in the 1950s was a passion for domestic evangelism and church planting, which led to outposts like the church in York. There is still some of that passion lurking in institutions like KMF.

That wasn't just LMC. Franconia and East District also had real passions for domestic evangelism/church planting. I suspect that most of the Old MC conferences were of a similar disposition 100 years ago.