Which Plain Anabaptists vote?

[Judas Maccabeus]

KMF's guidelines leave no room for voting. If you do so, you would not be in support of them, and therefor exclude yourself from fellowship, same as TV and wedding rings.

J.M.

Was it always that way? I know of a few that really got into local politics, even to the point of sitting on township boards and such.

KMF has moved significantly in this direction in the past 10 years. The late Min. Shenk was at the forefront of this. Back when he was in LMC (and so was all of KMF), he was quite active in Republican Lancaster Co. politics. He had a significant personal change of direction when he decided to go to York instead of pursuing a political career.

He changed my life and many others much more than yet another Republican Senator ever has.

To fill in dates, KMF for once and for all left the Lancaster Conference in 1999. Prior to that, voting would have been just fine, as the Lancaster conference permitted it. It would have come in sometime after that.

Other groups like the EPMC, and groups that came out of them would never have voted since their founding, in the early 60s.

I knew the brother of which Josh speaks well myself. Helped me by explaining how to give an invitation to discipleship without coming off "just say the prayer and you are a christian." He is missed.

J.M.

[steve-in-kville]

I'm still a bit foggy as to whether KMF allows its members to be involved in local politics, either holding a position or voting. Can someone verify this?

[Judas Maccabeus]

I'm still a bit foggy as to whether KMF allows its members to be involved in local politics, either holding a position or voting. Can someone verify this?

From KMF supplements to 1963 confession:

The Christian and the Kingdom of Christ
We believe that Christians are citizens of two kingdoms, yet are not to be a part of this world=s system. Jesus taught us to be servants in his eternal kingdom by preaching, teaching and obeying the gospel message. Since the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, the Christian should devote his time and energies to the eternal kingdom of Christ leaving the things of this earthly kingdom to others. Therefore, we should not be involved in the politics of this world, such as voting for political officers, or participating in jury duty, etc.

I don’t know how it could be more clear.

J.M.

[steve-in-kville]

I don’t know how it could be more clear.

J.M.

Thank you. I must have misunderstood something.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I don’t know how it could be more clear.

J.M.

Thank you. I must have misunderstood something.

KMF's statement of faith and practice is on their website. I would want it no other way.

J.M.

[Valerie]

On an Amosh A & A sight, I saw a post of a poster calling for an Amish Buggy parade in Fredericksburg OH, for President Trump. I had been messaged about it as well-
The post started a lot of people commenting on Amish voting, or not-
One commenter said she is Mennonite, & abstained from voting her whole life, but will be now.
In a case like that, is this a church member breaking a rule, or a change in church rules?

[aussieandy]

I saw a comment earlier about Nationwide voting. My understanding though is that in the Hartville Confession 1964 (which we signed) it specifically forbids voting. I question the source of this info that Nationwide members vote? It would actually go against that confession...

I spoke to the Bruderhof's Laura a few months back and found out that the Bruderhof do vote.

[Josh]

On an Amosh A & A sight, I saw a post of a poster calling for an Amish Buggy parade in Fredericksburg OH, for President Trump. I had been messaged about it as well-
The post started a lot of people commenting on Amish voting, or not-
One commenter said she is Mennonite, & abstained from voting her whole life, but will be now.
In a case like that, is this a church member breaking a rule, or a change in church rules?

People who are in Facebook do not represent conservative Anabaptism, since people getting on social media are, by definition, becoming more liberal. More conservative groups don’t allow social media use except maybe for business use.

[aussieandy]

I saw a comment earlier about Nationwide voting. My understanding though is that in the Hartville Confession 1964 (which we signed) it specifically forbids voting. I question the source of this info that Nationwide members vote? It would actually go against that confession...

This is an extract of that particular article of faith that Nationwide subscribes to (bold is my emphasis):

"The Scriptures teach that church and state are distinct and separate
(John 18:36; Romans 12 and 13), and so we believe that Christians
cannot participate in military service or politics, either by holding
public office, by voting, or in applying pressure upon the
government in the regulation of their affairs, but rather that we
should give ourselves to prayer on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
We further believe that we should keep aloof from all movements
which seek the reformation of society independent of the merits of
the death of Christ and the experience of the New Birth."

[Valerie]

On an Amosh A & A sight, I saw a post of a poster calling for an Amish Buggy parade in Fredericksburg OH, for President Trump. I had been messaged about it as well-
The post started a lot of people commenting on Amish voting, or not-
One commenter said she is Mennonite, & abstained from voting her whole life, but will be now.
In a case like that, is this a church member breaking a rule, or a change in church rules?

People who are in Facebook do not represent conservative Anabaptism, since people getting on social media are, by definition, becoming more liberal. More conservative groups don’t allow social media use except maybe for business use.

Well you'd probably be surprised, or maybe you, like myself, have witnessed how many OO Amish men are sitting on the computers in libraries in various Amish areas- I started seeing this about 13 years ago- actually because I personally knew an OO Amish (evangelical type) who was very capable, on the internet-
Also, when I was on the MAP Ministry discussion forum and supported that cause, there was an OO Amish man from PA that would post on there occasionally as he had questions.

Just saying, whether Amish or Mennonite, I have personally met/known/heard 'members' who don't agree with nor follow all the rules.