Often considered a product of the Protestant Reformation, the Anabaptists came about at the same time as the Protestant churches, but its early leaders came from Catholicism, not Protestantism. The Anabaptists rejoiced in the work being done by early Protestant leaders but considered theirs to be a halfway reformation. In actuality, the Anabaptists were the product of the Radical Reformation, which came about at the same time, and for the same reasons as the Protestant Reformation, and Anabaptists were persecuted by Catholics and Protestants alike. The Anabaptist movement began in three different communities. The oldest of these is the Swiss Brethren, who began in 1525, and stressed unity within the group, the need for believer's baptism, and noncomfority. Persecution kept this group small. The Swiss Brethren remain today, but most of its members later joined the Mennonites. The second group began when some of the Swiss Brethren began preaching in Germany. Three groups of these Anabaptists eventually developed along cultural lines. These were the Dutch, Frisian, and Flemish. These groups became the Mennonites in the 1530s, due to the popularity of Menno Simons, who was actually rather late to Anabaptism. The third group is the Hutterian Brethren, named for Hans Hut, who preached in Germany around 1528. This group shared much of the theology of the Swiss Brethren and Anabaptists, but also emphasized the need for communal living and holding all property in common, a practice that would later catch on with other Anabaptist groups. The Hutterian Brethren has not undergone division, other than the Bruderhof, who joined them briefly on two occasions. The first significant division among Anabaptists came about in 1697, when Jacob Amman left the Swiss Brethren due to his belief in stronger church discipline. Those who followed him became the Amish. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there were several divisions, particularly among the Mennonites.
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Feature Article
The Anabaptist Origins of the Baptist Church
Acknowledged as the founder of the Baptist
denomination, John
Smyth's connection with the Anabaptists
may not be as well known. In 1594, John Smyth was ordained by Bishop
Wickham, having received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at
Christ's College in Cambridge,
and selected as a fellow of Christ's College, a position he held until 1598.
During his time at Cambridge, he became identified with the Puritan
majority at the University.
From Cambridge, Smyth was appointed as city preacher in Lincoln, a more
highly esteemed position than the vicarship of a local parish. After two
years as city preacher, he was declared city lecturer for life, yet only
five weeks later, this action was revoked. Coming out on the wrong side of
a political struggle, Smyth was relieved of his duties on October 13,
1602. At this time, he had not become a Separatist, but was a Puritan who
was intolerant of other beliefs.
Following his dismissal, he moved to Gainsborough, where he supported
himself and his family by practicing medicine. However, observing that the
local vicar was receiving an income but not discharging his duties, Smyth
stepped in to fill the gap. However, as he had not obtained a license from
the Anglican bishop, he was severely reprimanded, and it was this
reprimand that seemingly led him along the path of Separatism.
After nine months of deliberation, Smyth, along with a group of friends,
with whom he consulted, created a new church, with two congregations: one
at Gainsborough, under the leadership of Smyth, and the other at Scrooby,
under the leadership of John Robinson, a former Puritan minister. Only a
couple of years later, in 1608, the church sought refuge from persecution
in Holland.
Prior to his arrival in Amsterdam,
Smyth's ideas differed little from that of the Puritans, yet within a year
he would introduce a revolutionary change. In late 1608 or early 1609,
Smyth and his congregation reconstituted the church on the basis of
believer's baptism, a step that was not taken by other Separatist groups.
What brought him to lead his new congregation to take such a drastic step?
Well, it seems that Holland also served as a refuge for Anabaptists, and
John Smyth made their acquaintance soon after his arrival. His small
congregation was surrounded by at least three Anabaptist churches: the
Flemish, the Frisons, and the Waterlanders, and he is known to have had
significant contact with the latter. After some members of his flock had
defected to the Anabaptists, Smyth was prompted to search the Scriptures
and to reconsider his positions. As a result, his church was reconstituted
on the basis of personal confessions of faith and on the baptism of
believers, which were Anabaptist positions. He wrote that infants were not
to be baptized because there was no example to be found in the Scriptures
that infants had been baptized either by John the Baptist or Christ's
disciples. As did the Anabaptists, he also cited the Great Commission as a
basis for denying infant baptism. His arguments against infant baptism
were identical to those offered by Anabaptists since 1524.
The influence of the Anabaptists is undeniable. In England,
he had led his Separatist group to follow the Old Testament in forming his
church on the basis of a covenant, which was the pattern of the
Separatists. In Holland, on the basis of the New Testament, he rejected
the covenant and reconstituted his church on the basis of believer's
baptism, following the Anabaptist pattern.
While he initially based his actions on the authority of the New Testament
rather than on Anabaptist practice, he later petitioned the Waterlander
Anabaptists for admission into their fellowship, declaring his own baptism
to be invalid, asking to be baptized as an Anabaptist. Most of his church
accepted his lead in this, but the Waterlanders declined his petition. Led
by Thomas Helwys and John Murton, a minority of Smyth's church
excommunicated Smyth and the majority in 1610. This group, numbering no
more than ten members, established the church from which the General
Baptists of England trace their heritage. From them came the other Baptist
congregations.
Recommended Resources
Consisting of Anabaptist Financial, Anabaptist Foundation, and Anabaptist Financial Solutions, AF Web serves Amish, Mennonite and Brethren communities throughout the United States, with participation limited to those who adhere to the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith or earlier similar confessions. The organizational structure, services, and programs of each of its stewardship organizations are put forward.
http://www.afweb.org/
This educational site provides its readers with material to assist them in their Bible studies, which may be accessed by key word, author, Scripture reference, or subject. Available resources are geared toward Anabaptist readers, and include a Bible commentary, sermon outlines, church bulletin material, Bible study outlines, personal devotional material, visual aids, outreach material, and lists of useful books.
http://www.anabaptist.com/
Anabaptist Communicators has its origins in the Inter-Mennonite Media Group, which was active in the 1970s and early 1980s, and in the Council on Church and Media, which was created in 1984, organizing in its current form in 2007, as a non-profit, church-related organization that serves broadcasters, writers, filmmakers, artists, journalists, and others who work in church, para-church or non-church communications.
http://www.anabaptistcomm.org/
Offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese, the site offers a variety of resources related to Anabaptism, including articles that are sorted by subject category, an overview of what Anabaptists believe, a blog, free acapella music, and sermon audio, sortable by ID, title, speaker, or Scripture text. Downloadable electronic books are available, and the site administrators offer to seek out an Anabaptist church near someone who is looking for one.
http://www.anabaptistfaith.com/
Maintained by Central Plains Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church USA, the site is curated by Shana Peachey Boshart, conference minister for Christian formation. Featured here are Christian resources for children and families, including a curriculum for children and youth, an adult curriculum, Bible study methods and study tools, prayer practices, video, and conference data.
http://www.anabaptistfaithformation.org/
Anabaptist Historians: Bringing the Anabaptist Past Into a Digital Century
Participants in this collaborative resource are Anabaptist scholars, including those who are working from an Anabaptist identity and those who are studying the Mennonites, Amish, Brethren, and other branches of the Anabaptist tradition. Its sponsors and contributors are identified and its policies on reader submissions and inquiries are detailed, and contacts are posted to the site.
https://anabaptisthistorians.org/
A network of churches and individuals in Britain and Ireland who are interested in the Anabaptist tradition offers a series of articles tracing the history of the Anabaptist movement, Anabaptist activities in Britain and Ireland, and links to books, study courses and local resources. The Anabaptist tradition is outlined and links to Anabaptist communities and organizations are put forth.
http://www.anabaptistnetwork.com/
APG is an association of seventeen retirement communities and other senior service providers in southeastern Pennsylvania, all affiliated with the Anabaptist traditions, including Brethren in Christ, Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, United Christian Church, and United Zion denominations. Its membership is stated, and various documents are presented, including the year in review in PDF format.
http://www.anabaptistprovidersgroup.org/
Operated under the auspices of Hope Mennonite Fellowship, the site offers free e-books, in EPUB, MOBI, and PDF formats, on a variety of Anabaptist topics, such as atheism, humility, non-resistance, purity, salvation, separation, and the church. Audio books, music, and sermons are also available, as well as periodicals, short articles, and study guides, in English and in Spanish. Information on becoming a contributor is included.
https://www.anabaptistresources.org/
Bible sermons and lectures consistent with Anabaptist doctrine are presented here, including sermons and church podcasts, sermon audio, and electronic books on various Anabaptist topics, the majority of them delivered by those of a conservative Anabaptist faith. Its content may be filtered by book, teacher, series, or ministry. Recent messages and the most popular messages are highlighted.
http://www.anabaptistsermons.org/
As a personal effort of Mark Roth, the site offers information and resources for Anabaptists or those interested in Anabaptism, including homeschooling and Bible study data,, meditations, wallpaper, and links to other web sites carrying Anabaptist information. To those who may be interested, the site offers free, web-based email with very little advertising, and that related to the project.
http://www.anabaptistsolutions.com/
Anabaptists trace their history back to the 16th century and the Radical Reformation of the church back to its roots in the New Testament church. Members of the First Mennonite Church in Kelowna, British Columbia share in the Anabaptist vision, and share stories of the church’s history, those of early members of the movement, as well as their own stories of what it means to be a follower of Jesus today.
http://anabaptiststories.com/
Anabaptist Teaching Ministries
Begun in 2012, the site is a result of a teaching ministry with the goal of reviving Anabaptist doctrine and lifestyle in Europe. Its mission statement, itinerary, and contacts are posted to the site, along with news of projects, trips or other activities, schedules, and instructions for those who are interested in contributing to the project. Links other useful sites are included.
http://anabaptistteachingministries.org/
Created by Mike Roth in 1995, the site’s purpose was to introduce people to the Anabaptists and the Mennonites, who are a subset of the Anabaptists. Although new content is rarely added to the site, it contains a great deal of information on the history of the Anabaptists, their doctrine and distinctive beliefs, statements of faith that Anabaptists adhere to, commentary, stories for children, and book excerpts.
http://www.anabaptists.org/
Maintained by the Anabaptist Identity Conference, an organization whose members seek to address current issues from a historical context, the site offers an overview of the organization and its schedules. Its yearly conferences from 2009 to the present may be downloaded from the site, along with details of the next scheduled conference. CDs and books may be ordered through the site, as well.
http://www.anabaptistslive.com/
Presented by Biblical Viewpoints Publication, the site offers a description of the Anabaptists and Mennonites, and offers several articles on various Bible topics, including Christian evidences and the Bible, redemption, latter day events, the Holy Spirit, ordinances, and salvation, as well as an online shopping area selling books on doctrine and discipleship, Anabaptist history, and various Anabaptist or Mennonite churches.
http://www.bibleviews.com/
The Evana Network is a movement of pastors and churches who have a common ground in evangelical Anabaptist theology that began in January of 2015. Its organizational structure, vision and covenant are outlined. A congregational directory, strategic partners, member and a partner map, and a directory of board members and staff are posted, along with its membership policies, calendar of events, and a blog.
http://www.evananetwork.org/
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
GAMEO is under the umbrella of the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission. Online since 1996, the online encyclopedia began as a project of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada and was originally restricted to Anabaptist groups in Canada, becoming a global Anabaptist resource in 2005 when the Mennonite Brethren Historical Commission and the Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee joined the project.
http://gameo.org/
With its use of a wiki format, this is an interactive community of Anabaptist-Mennonite groups from various places around the world, permitting individual groups to tell their stories, post archives online, and become better informed about other Anabaptist groups. Available in English, German, Spanish and Portuguese, the site includes content from the Brethren in Christ, Beachy Amish, Church of the Brethren, Hutterites, Old Order Amish, Old Order Mennonites, Russian Mennonite groups, and others.
http://www.anabaptistwiki.org/
Menno-Hof is a non-profit information center in Shipshewana, Indiana that teaches visitors about the life and faith of Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites. An overview of the facilities and its collections, as well as informational articles and photographs on various topics related to the faiths are put forward. A PDF of Anabaptists beliefs may be downloaded, and a history of the facility, an introduction to its board, and a staff directory are included.
http://www.mennohof.org/
Created by Dean Taylor, the site is no longer regularly updated, but offers original articles and video on various topics, the full text of several ebooks in PDF format, audio sermons, photographs, and video portraying the history of Reformation, the birth of the Anabaptists, the Amish and Hutterites, as well as the rise and decline of the Dutch and Russian Mennonites.
http://www.radicalreformation.com/
The Center for Anabaptist Studies at the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California offers a collection of resources, some created by its faculty, some created by others, on the topic of the Radical Reformation and the Anabaptist movement. The seminary also offers an online graduate degree in ministry that is grounded in the Anabaptist tradition. Informational articles may be found by topic. Other resources include podcasts, video, and a blog.
http://www.newanabaptists.com/
The Anabaptists Churches Worldwide
A history of the Anabaptist movement is related, along with articles of faith that Anabaptist churches adhere to, and the text of the King of Jacob Bible. Also highlighted are the work of the Anabaptists in Africa, India, Pakistan and Myanmar, including Anabaptist orphanages in Africa. A discussion of the reality and horrors of hell is included, along with the significance of baptism. Links to sites offering related topics are included.
http://www.theanabaptistschurch.com/
Developed by Matt Hamsher, the former regional pastor for the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA and current pastor of the Longenecker Mennonite Church, the site offers Anabaptist typology covering a variety of position statements, which are downloadable in a DOC file, as well as a blog, and links to other resources. Biographical information about the site’s author is also posted.
http://www.missionalanabaptist.com/
YAR is an affiliation of young Anabaptist radicals, with young being defined as someone who is not living in the 16th century. An overview of the organization is presented, along with its guidelines for posting to the site, its position on LGBTQ issues, as well as several articles on a variety of topics, and archives, which are arranged by month and year, going back to March of 2006 but, as of this writing, ending in October of 2016.
http://young.anabaptistradicals.org/
Young Centre for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies
Operated through the auspices of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, the Center promotes and facilitates the study of Anabaptist and Pietist groups, conducting scholarly and interpretive investigations of the life, culture and beliefs of Anabaptists and Pietists, particularly within North America, and interprets the cultural and religious heritage of these groups through lectures, seminars, exhibits and conferences.
http://www.etown.edu/centers/young-center/
