Mainline/Mainstream Anabaptists

[JohnH]

The mainline Anabaptists were certainly very interested in confessions. General Conference Mennonites simply continued with the old Schleitheim and Dordrecht confessions. Some individual congregations did things like adopt the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith. The Mennonite Church (Old MC) was also interested in confessions, including the 1921 one as a whole; the Lancaster Conference pushed for a 1963 rewrite, which groups like Keystone still use to this day.

For whatever reason, the present-day mainline Anabaptists seem to refuse to rewrite their confessions to say what they actually believe, but it is quite suspect for them to hide behind the idea they are somehow non-creedal.

[Ken]

The mainline Anabaptists were certainly very interested in confessions. General Conference Mennonites simply continued with the old Schleitheim and Dordrecht confessions. Some individual congregations did things like adopt the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith. The Mennonite Church (Old MC) was also interested in confessions, including the 1921 one as a whole; the Lancaster Conference pushed for a 1963 rewrite, which groups like Keystone still use to this day.

For whatever reason, the present-day mainline Anabaptists seem to refuse to rewrite their confessions to say what they actually believe, but it is quite suspect for them to hide behind the idea they are somehow non-creedal.

More likely they know there would not be consensus in attempting to do so at this point. And so don't see the value in engaging in an exercise that would predictably just lead to more public division. And I suspect they are right about that.

[JohnL]

At least half the COB churches in our area have left the conference. There are three that still rely on a free ministry. Another has paid leadership, song leaders, and the like. Some changed their names, most kept it and just took the COB part out. All had to pay the conference to leave, based on number of people on the roll.

I'm hearing about that too. Most of the former COB churches that moved went to Covenant Brethren Church to be able to associate with others who follow the Bible instead of gender bending trends.

[JohnH]

At least half the COB churches in our area have left the conference. There are three that still rely on a free ministry. Another has paid leadership, song leaders, and the like. Some changed their names, most kept it and just took the COB part out. All had to pay the conference to leave, based on number of people on the roll.

I'm hearing about that too. Most of the former COB churches that moved went to Covenant Brethren Church to be able to associate with others who follow the Bible instead of gender bending trends.

Do you hear a lot about goings-on in the Church of the Brethren?

[JohnH]

The mainline Anabaptists were certainly very interested in confessions. General Conference Mennonites simply continued with the old Schleitheim and Dordrecht confessions. Some individual congregations did things like adopt the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith. The Mennonite Church (Old MC) was also interested in confessions, including the 1921 one as a whole; the Lancaster Conference pushed for a 1963 rewrite, which groups like Keystone still use to this day.

For whatever reason, the present-day mainline Anabaptists seem to refuse to rewrite their confessions to say what they actually believe, but it is quite suspect for them to hide behind the idea they are somehow non-creedal.

More likely they know there would not be consensus in attempting to do so at this point. And so don't see the value in engaging in an exercise that would predictably just lead to more public division. And I suspect they are right about that.

Then they should abandon the 1995 COF and say they no longer affirm it.

[ohio jones]

The mainline Anabaptists were certainly very interested in confessions. General Conference Mennonites simply continued with the old Schleitheim and Dordrecht confessions. Some individual congregations did things like adopt the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith. The Mennonite Church (Old MC) was also interested in confessions, including the 1921 one as a whole; the Lancaster Conference pushed for a 1963 rewrite, which groups like Keystone still use to this day.

For whatever reason, the present-day mainline Anabaptists seem to refuse to rewrite their confessions to say what they actually believe, but it is quite suspect for them to hide behind the idea they are somehow non-creedal.

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

[JohnL]

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

So are you saying they will change their confessions every 20-30 years? Why do they do that? Is it to clarify outdated language? To keep up with trends? Go along with the leadership agendas?

[ohio jones]

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

So are you saying they will change their confessions every 20-30 years? Why do they do that? Is it to clarify outdated language? To keep up with trends? Go along with the leadership agendas?

If you do the basic research suggested in the other thread, you will see how often the confessions have been changed.

[Pelerin]

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

You tend to officially confess things there might be some question about.

[JohnL]

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

You tend to officially confess things there might be some question about.

Okaaaaaay; I guess that’s a different perspective than the one I’m used to.

The pattern seems to be to include things in the statement of faith that are soon to be abandoned, perhaps so the statement can be pointed to as "proof" that they still believe it. For example, the 1963 Confession addresses the covering, which the MC began to drop within the next decade or so.

So are you saying they will change their confessions every 20-30 years? Why do they do that? Is it to clarify outdated language? To keep up with trends? Go along with the leadership agendas?

If you do the basic research suggested in the other thread, you will see how often the confessions have been changed.

Which other thread?