Frequently Asked Questions

What (or who) are Mennonites?

First, and foremost, Mennonites are Christian. We share a number of the beliefs endorsed by the larger Christian tradition. For example, we believe that God inspired the writing of the scriptures. Further, we believe in the Trinity, sin, and salvation in Jesus Christ. . At the same time, Mennonites maintain that doctrines of the church mean little unless they are lived out in our daily lives (see below). Mennonite roots go back to the Reformation period, in the 16^th century, when Anabaptists felt the reformation fell short of the renewal the church needed to experience. Many Anabaptists were willing to follow the teachings of the Bible at any cost (including their lives). One of the early Anabaptist leaders was Menno Simons, for which the Mennonite church was later named.

While Mennonites affirm a number of the basic Christian beliefs, as mentioned above, there are also several key areas in which we are distinctly “Anabaptist/Mennonite” Christians. These include the following:

1. Only people who are old enough to understand and take responsibility for their own voluntary decision to follow Jesus Christ in life should be baptized and become members of the church. (During the Reformation baptizing babies was mandatory. Since adults that had already been baptized as babies were being re-baptized or again-baptized, they were referred to as “Anabaptists” by their opponents.)
2. Being a Christian and a church member is voluntary; hence, the church and state should be two separate entities (during the Reformation this was a radical departure from the norm). The church transcends political, racial, or other man-made barriers. Our primary allegiance is to Christ and the church; allegiance to the state is secondary.
3. Interpretation of scripture is to be done in community and not merely by a few select theologians or church leaders. The community’s understanding of scripture is illuminated by the teachings and life of Jesus and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
4. As followers of Jesus we strive to share our possessions with those in need, love our enemies, avoid perpetrating violence, and seek peace and justice. Thus, a call to arms creates conflict for Mennonites because we take seriously Jesus’ call to love our enemies.
5. As individuals and a faith community we seek to turn away from sin and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and become more like Him. Hence, a commitment is made to give and receive counsel within the faith community in regard to conduct and doctrine, as we endeavor to separate ourselves from evil and live holy lives for God.

For Further Reading :

Beliefs: Mennonite Faith and Practice by John D. Roth, Herald Press

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (See our Confession of Faith web page)

Shared Convictions adopted by Mennonite World Conference

How did Mennonites come to their peace stance, and to promote non-resistance?

Several links to web sites are provided below along with a brief description of the information provided by that web site.

In what ways are Mennonites similar to, or different from, the Amish?

The Thirdway web page ( http://www.thirdway.com/menno/glossary.asp?ID=6 ) provides a brief overview of the similarities and differences between Amish and Mennonites.

Are there other sources of information about Mennonites?

In addition to the above resources, the Third Way Café provides information about Mennonites. While the factual information about Anabaptists and Mennonites provided on this web site is believed to be accurate, the contemporary discussions do not necessarily reflect the positions or perspectives of the Springs Mennonite Church .

How do I become a member of the Springs Mennonite Church ?

Anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ, is committed to following Him, and is willing to participate in the life and work of the Springs Mennonite Church is eligible to become a member of the Springs congregation. An individual can become a member by believers’ baptism, transfer of church membership (via a qualified church letter), or by a personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Persons with any interest in considering church membership are encouraged to contact the pastor or a member of the Board of Elders. Typically, the pastor will meet with the individual or group of people wanting to join the church to provide additional background information and instruction, as well as answer questions people may have about church membership. Based on an interview the pastor (or an elder) has with the prospective member, the Board of Elders makes a recommendation to the congregation about receiving the individual into membership. New members are typically accepted into membership during a Sunday morning worship service. For additional details on membership, including duties and privileges of membership, please see lines 26 to 31 in the Constitution and lines 68 to 112 in the Plan of Organization.