Progressive Conservative Mennonite Churches

[Dan Z]

I think that most conservative Mennonite churches have bought into Fundamentalism and have legalism of one form or another. (This is something that saddens me and I would be glad to know of groups that prove I am mistaken.) Christocentric wouldn't really describe them. In fact, believing the right thing and checking their own type of catechism is a much better description.

I am hopeful! I think that is where this movement we have been talking about in this thread is making a difference. It is a corrective, a call back to the genius of early Anabaptism, which was a rediscovery of the genius of the early church - placing Jesus an his rightful place - back at the center of our understanding of faith and life.

[AnthonyMartin]

I think that most conservative Mennonite churches have bought into Fundamentalism and have legalism of one form or another. (This is something that saddens me and I would be glad to know of groups that prove I am mistaken.) Christocentric wouldn't really describe them. In fact, believing the right thing and checking their own type of catechism is a much better description.

I am hopeful! I think that is where this movement we have been talking about in this thread is making a difference. It is a corrective, a call back to the genius of early Anabaptism, which was a rediscovery of the genius of the early church - placing Jesus an his rightful place - back at the center of our understanding of faith and life.

I am hopeful, the ditches are ever present with a very strong pull. Everytime I hear or engage in discussions of preventing drift it always feels to me that we are simply pulling toward the other ditch. Discussions on shorts for men, details of covering size, some of the liberal polls on MN threads I shutter.

I realize much of this is a reaction to my past, and I probably see danger where it may not exist, but it is hard not to want to run at times.

[Dan Z]

I think that most conservative Mennonite churches have bought into Fundamentalism and have legalism of one form or another. (This is something that saddens me and I would be glad to know of groups that prove I am mistaken.) Christocentric wouldn't really describe them. In fact, believing the right thing and checking their own type of catechism is a much better description.

I am hopeful! I think that is where this movement we have been talking about in this thread is making a difference. It is a corrective, a call back to the genius of early Anabaptism, which was a rediscovery of the genius of the early church - placing Jesus an his rightful place - back at the center of our understanding of faith and life.

I am hopeful, the ditches are ever present with a very strong pull. Everytime I hear or engage in discussions of preventing drift it always feels to me that we are simply pulling toward the other ditch. Discussions on shorts for men, details of covering size, some of the liberal polls on MN threads I shutter.

I realize much of this is a reaction to my past, and I probably see danger where it may not exist, but it is hard not to want to run at times.

I think the key is that we work to cast a broader Christ-centered vision for who we are and how we live, one that helps keep us "out of the weeds" and focused on what is most important.

[Ms. Izzie]

I think that is where this movement we have been talking about in this thread is making a difference.

Do you see the movement as individuals within churches or is it a whole group moving that way?

[GaryK]

For many conservative-minded Mennos I think the way the Reformed folks like Piper and Begg handle and exegete scripture is appealing. They speak from a place of biblical authority, and that makes sense to us. However, the reformed folks use a very different core hermeneutic than Anabaptism, that was one of the points I was trying to make at the BMA convention.

DanZ, not to bunny trail this, but this coming Wednesday evening I'm planning (with permission from BMA) to share your talk with our small brotherhood. Excellent sermon!

[AnthonyMartin]

they like to think of themselves as sticking with fundamental Biblical values and don't like to have extra-biblical standards.

The dominant peer-pressure in a fundamental-conservative setting is to be Biblical and have church with no extra-biblical requirements.

How do you think these groups are doing with avoiding extra-biblical requirements? I expect this may be up for debate?

[joshuabgood]

they like to think of themselves as sticking with fundamental Biblical values and don't like to have extra-biblical standards.

The dominant peer-pressure in a fundamental-conservative setting is to be Biblical and have church with no extra-biblical requirements.

How do you think these groups are doing with avoiding extra-biblical requirements? I expect this may be up for debate?

That was the vision in the early BMA consortia, however, as more rightward leaning churches joined, it pulled the center right, and has been moving right since. Very few congregations in the conference would idealize no congregational expectations except what is specifically taught in the Bible.

As a result, recently as the latest Martindale District was exploring options, and for whom BMA would seem like an obvious choice, it didn't happen, partly at least because of BMA moving "right" around issues like men's shorts.

Shorts are forbidden conference wide for any new congregations. Congregations, most of the original ones that permitted shorts (FJMC, United Bethel, etc) are "grand-fathered" in...and still don't forbid shorts.

[RZehr]

Does Progress Conservative Mennonite Churches move families geographically in order to start new churches? Or do they tend not to do this? Or instead of the church doing it, is it families that do it?

[HondurasKeiser]

Could someone, perhaps Josh or JBG, fill me in on the Martindale District leaving LMC? I’ve been out of the loop I suppose and I completely missed it. I checked out LMC’s website but they still have Martindale listed as an affiliated district with Daryl Weaver as their Bishop. What’s going on?

[HondurasKeiser]

Could someone, perhaps Josh or JBG, fill me in on the Martindale District leaving LMC? I’ve been out of the loop I suppose and I completely missed it. I checked out LMC’s website but they still have Martindale listed as an affiliated district with Daryl Weaver as their Bishop. What’s going on?

Bumping this from 3 years ago…still waiting for that response, Josh.