Why do Swiss Anabaptists practice ethnic separatism from other Anabaptists?

[JohnH]

One of the less-stellar behaviours of Swiss background Anabaptists is their general exclusion of Russian Mennonites, Eastern European Apostolic Christians, Austrian Hutterites and so forth.

For example, churchindex.org is almost universally Swiss background. Russian Mennonites groups as a general rule are excluded. So are Apostolic Christians.

Something I often hear is that they aren’t “real” Anabaptists or “real” Mennonites, or even not good Christians. However, I don’t see the same stringent measures and condemnation placed in Swiss background groups that have engaged in sordid activity.

Upon further study, this seems to be an aspect of Swiss culture in general, particularly German-speaking Swiss culture. There is a strong air of ethnic seclusion and superiority. One should question why these traits followed them across the Atlantic and eventually became theologically embedded.

[Swiss Brah]

Bro you‘re making sweeping statements about ethnic groups. How many Swiss Germans do you even know. That aside you might be onto something, lol.

[JohnH]

Bro you‘re making sweeping statements about ethnic groups. How many Swiss Germans do you even know. That aside you might be onto something, lol.

When working with Swiss clients and spending time with the our salesman who covered the Swiss region, it was very eye opening how many similarities there were to doing business with plain people in Holmes County.

It made me start to question a lot of things. Incidentally it’s fine for Swiss people to be that way. What isn’t fine is to confuse being a Christian and following Jesus with being Swiss.

[R7ehr]

One of the less-stellar behaviours of Swiss background Anabaptists is their general exclusion of Russian Mennonites, Eastern European Apostolic Christians, Austrian Hutterites and so forth.

For example, churchindex.org is almost universally Swiss background. Russian Mennonites groups as a general rule are excluded. So are Apostolic Christians.

Something I often hear is that they aren’t “real” Anabaptists or “real” Mennonites, or even not good Christians. However, I don’t see the same stringent measures and condemnation placed in Swiss background groups that have engaged in sordid activity.

Upon further study, this seems to be an aspect of Swiss culture in general, particularly German-speaking Swiss culture. There is a strong air of ethnic seclusion and superiority. One should question why these traits followed them across the Atlantic and eventually became theologically embedded.

I’m not sure that the Holdemans are in a great position lecture is on the topic of Anabaptist exclusion or exclusivity. Same goes for the Apostolic Christians.

Last I checked the Swiss do not hold to the notion that they are the One True Church.

Conversely, last I knew, both the Holdemans (large numbers of Russian Mennonite descent) and the Apostolic Christians of Eastern European descent, both hold strongly to the notion that they each are the One True Church.

[Neto]

....
Last I checked the Swiss do not hold to the notion that they are the One True Church.

Conversely, last I knew, both the Holdemans (large numbers of Russian Mennonite descent) and the Apostolic Christians of Eastern European descent, both hold strongly to the notion that they each are the One True Church.

It would be interesting to see a list of all of the "One True Churches".... (Bride of Christ Baptist is one I know of.)

[Ernie]

I’m not sure that the Holdemans are in a great position [to] lecture [us] on the topic of Anabaptist exclusion or exclusivity. Same goes for the Apostolic Christians.

Last I checked the Swiss do not hold to the notion that they are the One True Church.

Conversely, last I knew, both the Holdemans (large numbers of Russian Mennonite descent) and the Apostolic Christians of Eastern European descent, both hold strongly to the notion that they each are the One True Church.

So much so that Apostolics will not even share pulpits with different segments of Apostolics.

In the Swiss/German groups, there is a lot of pulpit sharing between different groups. Swiss/German Anabaptists even ask Russian Mennonites, and Hutterites to preach in their churches, along with German Baptists and other Brethren from a different lineage.

Apostolics regularly help with newsletter stuffing at Christian Aid Ministries and they are welcomed.

I'm not aware that The Church of God in Christ Mennonite (Holdemans) share pulpits with anyone outside their denomination.

So I really question the assumption of the OP.

[JohnH]

There are a lot of Russian Mennonites who aren’t Holdemans.

[Soloist]

Wife: to be fair, whichever website is ran by Cory Anderson ended up pointing us initially to an Apostolic church in Oregon because that was closer to us than the Mennonite churches, and we showed up, Soloist went in and saw all the men in suits kissing each other, and we made a run for it.

Now, it was one of the more liberal apostolics, because the other more conservative one down the street from there that helped with the CAM packings believed in practicing the Permaban. I don’t think that one was listed, so maybe that’s why Corey Anderson didn’t list them. He also didn’t list the Holdeman church, but I doubt they list any of his churches either…

On the other hand, Christian Aid Ministries didn’t mind working with the conservative apostolics. There were also a lot of German Baptist’s, which I don’t know their ethnic roots. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were listed on Cory’s website as well, but they were even farther from us than the Mennonites, so I never found out.

Out of curiosity, how many Holdeman or apostolic churches advertise any Swiss anabaptist churches on their churchfinder websites or books? It seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

[JohnH]

Wife: to be fair, whichever website is ran by Cory Anderson ended up pointing us initially to an Apostolic church in Oregon because that was closer to us than the Mennonite churches, and we showed up, Soloist went in and saw all the men in suits kissing each other, and we made a run for it.

Well, that would be the case in any plain Anabaptist congregation that still practices the holy kiss. I guess one could publish Anabaptist church directories and exclude any groups that might practice the holy kiss.

Out of curiosity, how many Holdeman or apostolic churches advertise any Swiss anabaptist churches on their churchfinder websites or books? It seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

Holdemans don't have a churchfinder website or book. Holdemans and Apostolics don't claim to publish directories of all Anabaptist churches. They just publish ones of their own specific groups and don't claim anything else.

In any case, the original topic was Russian Mennonites, not Holdemans (along with all the other non-Swiss groups). Most Russian Mennonites aren't Holdemans.

But groups like churchindex.org make this claim:

"A map-index of Anabaptist and similar churches."

When in reality it is not so. It should better be called "A map-index of Anabaptist churches which are primarily composed of people of Swiss Brethren background, and excluding churches that do not have this ethnic background."

[Ernie]

There are a lot of Russian Mennonites who aren’t Holdemans.

Church Index lists Russian Mennonite churches that fit the criteria and is adding more all the time.
There are more Swiss/German Anabaptists not represented on Church Index than Swiss/German Anabaptists that are.