Mennonite groups that speak Plautdietsch and have a capella worship, but allow computer use and Bible language studies
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2026 3:27 pm
Hello, I am looking for a very specific type of "traditional" Old Order or Conservative Mennonite group that fall in that category, this question might weird, but I have a specific purpose for learning this.
From my limited (and obviously very flawed) internet research on this, is that the Sommerfelders in Paraguay appear to fit this bill the most:
1. Plautdietsch-speaking for daily life, the preservation and promotion of the Plautdietsch language is something that is highly valued
2. High German for the Luther Bible, worship services, and Anabaptist-related history literature
3. Worship is very traditional and strictly sung in a capella without any musical instruments
4. Electricity is allowed
5. Computers are allowed specifically for work and communication, but internet use is heavily restricted.
6. Bible study is allowed on computers, especially with Biblical software that does not relies on continuous internet use for it to run, such as the The SWORD Project, Logos Bible Software, STEP Bible, Xiphos, BibleTime, etc.
7. May or may not be horse-and-buggy, that is not my concern for this group I am looking for
Overall, does anyone in here knows if the Sommerfeld Mennonites in Paraguay, or another such "in-between" ("Conservorder"?) Old Order/Traditional Conservative Mennonite denomination allows its members to engage in overarching Bible study, such as the Biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, the basic historical background of the Bible and its surrounding cultures, the history of the Anabaptist movement, printing Bible tracts and illustrated Bible books for children, etc.?, especially since some OOs tend to avoid its members going deep into non-Mennonite scholarship and academia.
Regardless, are there any groups besides the Sommerfelders in Paraguay that also fit that bill?, I heard that the Kleine Gemeinde in Paraguay and Nova Scotia are very similar to this, but they still use instruments in worship, so therefore they are not listed here.
From my limited (and obviously very flawed) internet research on this, is that the Sommerfelders in Paraguay appear to fit this bill the most:
1. Plautdietsch-speaking for daily life, the preservation and promotion of the Plautdietsch language is something that is highly valued
2. High German for the Luther Bible, worship services, and Anabaptist-related history literature
3. Worship is very traditional and strictly sung in a capella without any musical instruments
4. Electricity is allowed
5. Computers are allowed specifically for work and communication, but internet use is heavily restricted.
6. Bible study is allowed on computers, especially with Biblical software that does not relies on continuous internet use for it to run, such as the The SWORD Project, Logos Bible Software, STEP Bible, Xiphos, BibleTime, etc.
7. May or may not be horse-and-buggy, that is not my concern for this group I am looking for
Overall, does anyone in here knows if the Sommerfeld Mennonites in Paraguay, or another such "in-between" ("Conservorder"?) Old Order/Traditional Conservative Mennonite denomination allows its members to engage in overarching Bible study, such as the Biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, the basic historical background of the Bible and its surrounding cultures, the history of the Anabaptist movement, printing Bible tracts and illustrated Bible books for children, etc.?, especially since some OOs tend to avoid its members going deep into non-Mennonite scholarship and academia.
Regardless, are there any groups besides the Sommerfelders in Paraguay that also fit that bill?, I heard that the Kleine Gemeinde in Paraguay and Nova Scotia are very similar to this, but they still use instruments in worship, so therefore they are not listed here.