Difference between revisions of "Wellesley Orthodox Mennonites"
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=== The Division of 1974 === | === The Division of 1974 === | ||
| − | For some time there was peace in the church. As the church took in new members, however, some things began to change, a little too quickly for many of the more traditional members. One of the issues that came to a head was the issue of beard wearing for men, which caused disunity. Also, "the fact that Elam began to accept the David Martin group's (looser) interpretation of the ban ultimately resulted in a division between Anson Hoover and Elam Martin in March 1974."<ref> Donald Martin: Old Order Mennonites of Ontario, page 180 </ref> | + | For some time there was peace in the church. As the church took in new members, however, some things began to change, a little too quickly for many of the more traditional members. One of the issues that came to a head was the issue of beard wearing for men, which caused disunity. Also, "the fact that Elam began to accept the David Martin group's (looser) interpretation of the ban ultimately resulted in a division between Anson Hoover and Elam Martin in March 1974."<ref> Donald Martin: Old Order Mennonites of Ontario, page 180.</ref> |
Revision as of 19:50, 9 December 2016
The Wellesley Orthodox Mennonites are a group of Old Order Mennonites located in Wellesley and Mapleton Townships in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The church was formally registered as the "Orthodox Mennonite Church of Wellesley Township" in 1962.[1] The group, originally known as the Elam Martin Mennonites, celebrated their first communion together on April 6, 1958, after several families left the David Martin Mennonite Church (today legally known as Independent Old Order Mennonite Church) in Waterloo County, Ontario in the late 1950s, "on account of serious disagreements within the church".[2]Evidence shows that the families who left were concerned about modernization in their previous church, including the usage of power tools and welders. [3] From that time, the Orthodox Mennonites have focused on remaining very separate from modern technology, including electricity, telephones and computers. They use horses for farming instead of tractors, and their dress is very plain. Their Sunday service practices are centuries old and in German, although English may be used when visitors are present. The Wellesley Orthodox Mennonites consider themselves the true descendants of the apostolic Church, in their area[4], in accordance with their understanding of lineage as presented in the Martyrs Mirror. Their beliefs center on the Bible, the Dordrecht Confession of 1632, and the Martyrs Mirror.
Genesis of the Wellesley Orthodox Mennonites
On March 11, 1956,[5]Minister Elam S. Martin was excommunicated a second time from the David Martin Mennonite Church, due to disagreements over the interpretation of Matthew chapter 18 in the New Testament.[6] Elam Martin (1907-1987), ordained a minister in the David Martin Church in 1934[7] decided eventually to unite with several others who left the David Martins, and became the Bishop ("by circumstance") of the group, which at their first communion in 1958 included 20 married couples plus 17 single members. [8] This new Elam Martin Mennonite Church held their first worship service at their newly completed 13th Line (WellesleyTownship) meetinghouse on June 24, 1962. It was during that time that the church legally registered with the name of "Orthodox Mennonite Church of Wellesley Township".[9]
The Division of 1974
For some time there was peace in the church. As the church took in new members, however, some things began to change, a little too quickly for many of the more traditional members. One of the issues that came to a head was the issue of beard wearing for men, which caused disunity. Also, "the fact that Elam began to accept the David Martin group's (looser) interpretation of the ban ultimately resulted in a division between Anson Hoover and Elam Martin in March 1974."[10]
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Amos Sherk: Unpublished history of the Orthodox and David Martin Mennonites (Primary Source), no date, page 18.
- ↑ Royden Loewen: Horse-and-Buggy Genius: Listening to Mennonites Contest the Modern World, University of Manitoba Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2016, page 56.
- ↑ David E.M. Martin: A Confession and Explanation of the Primary Reason why I am in Unity with the Orthodox Mennonite Church and why I am not in Unity with the Other Churches (Primary Source, unpublished), January 20, 2013, 48 pages.
- ↑ Amos Sherk: Unpublished history, page 16.
- ↑ Donald Martin: Old Order Mennonites of Ontario: Gelassenheit, Discipleship, Brotherhood, Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario, 2003, page 179.
- ↑ Amos Sherk, Unpublished history, page 8.
- ↑ Ibid, pages 18-19.
- ↑ Ibid, page 21.
- ↑ Donald Martin: Old Order Mennonites of Ontario, page 180.
