conservative mennonite conference

In 2010 the conference had 104 congregations with 11,141 members: In July 2018 the ministers of the Conservative Mennonite Conference voted to change the legal name of the denomination to: Conservative Mennonite Conference doing business as CMC. kathynd@mennowdc.org, Resource Advocate |Kathy Neufeld Dunn They teach abstinence from alcohol (crudely referred to as teetotalism) and tobacco as well as temperance in all areas of life. We'll start with the most "worldly" Mennonites. Neither publisher has a website. Finding external links or publications of this group online are rare because of their various stands. Mostly in the years between 1862 and 1878 a major division occurred among the Amish, that eventually led to two major factions: The Amish Mennonites and Old Order Amish. klassykay@aol.com, Minister of Children and Youth | Joy Cotchen joanne@im.mennonite.net, Conference Minister | Sharon Witmer Yoder "I am running for President to renew an America thats strong and proud not weak and woke," said Haley. The biggest of MC USA's 25 conferences, the Lancaster Mennonite Conference has rallied support following its decision to end its 46-year affiliation with America's top Anabaptist denomination . The first American settlement of the Amish Mennonites who in 1693 separated from the main body of Swiss Brethren and followed Jacob Amman was in Berks County, Pennsylvania, around 17101720. [5], Many adherents of Conservative Mennonite churches historically have an Amish background, in addition to a number of congregations with a formerly mainstream Mennonite background, who then left to form or join Conservative Mennonite fellowships. [10] Conservative Mennonites from other backgrounds also joined the Biblical Mennonite Alliance, which continues to encourage veiling. Email mcd@christianlight.org for help with offline use. In 1941 it appointed a representative on the Mennonite Central Committee. Simplicity of worship. Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership | Susan Janzen (319) 610-1007 susanjanzen@centralplainsmc.org . . Delegates heard Biden-bashing from a panoply of Republican speakers and forums with titles like "No Chinese Balloons Over Tennessee" and "Sacking The Woke Playbook.". Members are operating Shepherd Hills Christian Bookstore 44, Shrewsbury Road, Craven Arms, SY7 9PY. "If youre tired of losing, then put your trust in a new generation," the 51-year-old Haley told CPAC members. By 1974 the Costa Rica Mennonite Conference had been formed, with fraternal ties to the parent conference. Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. The name Conservative Amish Mennonite had been brought into use at the turn of the century by M. S. Steiner, compiler of Mennonite statistics, to distinguish these churches from the more progressive Amish Mennonite conferences on the one hand, and the more conservative Old Order Amish churches on the other. Kim Reynolds in the first-in-the-nation caucus state on March 10. Conservative Mennonites include numerous groups who identify with the more conservative or traditional element among Mennonite or Anabaptist groups but not necessarily Old Order groups. Republican National Committee censured Fuentes, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [5], The Mennonite Christian Fellowship emerged in the 20th century to conserve the traditional standards of plain dress, headcovering, and nonconformity to the world. Some of the largest Mennonite/Anabaptist groups in North America are: Alliance of Mennonite Congregations. Mission outreaches of these groups can be found in the Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, India, Philippines, and the beginnings of work in England, Tasmania, Australia, and Argentina/Bolivia. The offices of Rosedale International were also located in Rosedale until 2015 when they were moved into Columbus proper.[6]. Advertisements. White nationalist Nick Fuentes was removed from the Conservative Political Action Conferenceover his lengthy history of openly promoting antisemitic and racistrhetoric. Once again, it's time for CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference. This is in contrast to various Old Order groups which would still conduct their services in German. Many Conservative Mennonites departed from the so-called Conservative Mennonite Conference itself as it voted in 1998 to not uphold the traditional Anabaptist practice of headcovering among women; they formed the Biblical Mennonite Alliance in 2000. These congregations in 1954 numbered 1,664 members. 3. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Iglesia Cristiana Dios Con Nosotros (God With Us Christian Church), Iglesia Cristiana Hispana (Hispanic Christian Church), Iglesia Cristiana Vida Abundante (Abundant Life Christian Outreach), Ministerio Manantiales de Vida (Springs of Life Ministry), Mision Iglesia Cristiana Silo (Siloam Christian Mission Church) (Los Angelos), Templo Cristiano Camino a Jesus (The Way to Jesus), Templo Vida Abundante (Abundant Life Church), https://anabaptistworld.org/conservative-conference-rebrands-with-initials/, https://gameo.org/index.php?title=CMC_(Conservative_Mennonite_Conference_doing_business_as_CMC)&oldid=173283. On the other hand, it was felt that the Old Order Amish churches left certain things to be desired in the way of an aggressive church program. Some of the speakers stopped in for interviews with radio talk shows and livesteam hosts who ringed the hallway at the cavernous convention center. Conservative Mennonites characteristically conduct worship services in the language of the country which they inhabit. It had no written constitution and bylaws to guide it in its work. "Independently and almost simultaneously, conservative minorities in widely scattered regional Conferences of the Mennonite Church came to the point where they had had enough of what they considered compromise and apostasy. 505-236-9219, Regional Ministry Coach | David Roth In Ontario a group formed what is called the Conservative Mennonite Churches of Ontario or CMCO. The more conservative groupings also operate their own private Christian day schools (operated by free will offerings) in preference to promoting homeschooling. ohioevangel@gmail.com, ConferenceAdministrator 503-522-5324, Resource Advocate |Jennifer Delanty ET on Saturday. The Tasmanian congregation sponsor annual weekend meetings in February of each year. ocrpeast@gmail.com [6], "The first of these conservative withdrawals from the Mennonite Church occurred in the 1950s, and they continue in the 1990s. The earliest group began to be associated informally together in what was called the Conservative Mennonite Fellowship beginning in 1956. In 1964 the Conservative Mennonite Bible School was moved from the Pleasant View meetinghouse near Berlin, Ohio, to the village of Rosedale on Rosedale Road, Irwin, Ohio. 21 February 2022. https://anabaptistworld.org/conservative-conference-rebrands-with-initials/. 540-705-1295, Regional Pastor West | Tony Doehrmann tim@kansaselectric.com, Conference Minister | Craig Maven [7], The largest group, the so-called Conservative Mennonite Conference, was founded as the Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference in 1910 but dropped the word "Amish" in 1954. . In 1954 the total membership of the conference was 4,259. "[9] Beginning in late 1958 through 1960 a large number of individuals and congregations withdrew from various Mennonite Conferences, forming congregationally governed or independent Mennonite congregations. Others have formed from their withdrawal from the groups mentioned above. amandableichty@centralplainsmc.org, Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership | Susan Janzen The conference dates back over 300 years, joining the Mennonite Church in the 1970s and then MC USA after the new denomination was formed through a merger 15 years ago. They came to be known as Old Order Amish, Mennonites and finally as Old Order Amish. They were disenchanted with the Conference structure and its failure to deal with drift. Most of the congregations interested in this new conference movement stemmed from this latter group and had never been affiliated with any conference, while in several cases their background included contacts with the district Amish Mennonite conferences. Haley once again referenced her relative youth during her CPAC speech. Greene touted her Protect Children's InnocenceAct, which makes it a felony for children to receivegender-affirming care; she introduced the legislation last year and said she will soon re-introduce it this year. There are related bodies in other nations, such as the Costa Rica Mennonite Conference (org. mervs@atlanticcoastconference.net Most of these congregations were of Amish Mennonite origin coming from the Conservative Mennonite Conference. 319-461-6505 574-534-1485, Executive Conference Minister | Nathan Luitjens They are called the Ohio Wisler Mennonites. The sociologist Cory Anderson writes that despite its name, the Conservative Mennonite Conference is not categorized as a Conservative Mennonite denomination, but rather, is mainline in orientation.[1]. Web. Intermediate and Moderate Conservative Mennonite groupings. The most conservative groups operate the following publishing house: abewy@cvip.net, Regional minister Southern California |Anthonia Onye Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. By 1918, through conference sanction, some of these efforts took on the form of Bible instruction meetings, which were carried on in varied form and frequency since, in most of the congregations. The Nicaragua conference in 1986 had 723 members in 30 congregations with 21 ordained or licensed ministers. CPAC: Haley speaks to conservatives ahead of Trump; Marjorie Taylor Greene attacks trans rights, "We are pleased that our conference welcomes a wide array of conservative perspectives from people of different backgrounds," Schlapp added. Read More, Cheri Wampole | Mennonite Central Committee, 2023 Anabaptist World All rights reserved. At the July 2017 meeting, other ministers said "Mennonite" associated them with Mennonite Church USA. In this early stage of development, the conference functioned in a very informal way. "Independently and almost simultaneously, conservative minorities in widely scattered regional Conferences of the Mennonite Church came to the point where they had had enough of what they considered compromise and apostasy. No Celebrities Except Jesus: How Asbury Protected the Revival, After Pushing for UMC Unity, Former Bishop Joins New Denomination, Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, After Chaos and Crisis, Beth Moore Still Finds Refuge in the Church, With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal. Other Republicans skipping the conference also includeRepublican National Committee ChairRonna McDaniel, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Virginia Gov. These groups do not share the same level of strictness as the most conservative ones mentioned above but have similar origins or have withdrawn from the groupings above (like making the use of the radio optional or allowing more usage of the internet). 309-261-8668 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. amyz@mountainstatesmc.org, Moderator/Acting Conference Minister | Connie Zehr CPAC began Wednesday night at National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, and concludes with Trump's speech on Saturday afternoon. "When it comes to kids, I think the Republican Party has a duty. Another group was the only Conference to remain conservative namely, the Washington County, Maryland/Franklin County, Pennsylvania Conference (founded in 1790) centered mostly around Hagerstown, Maryland. MC USA is part of Mennonite World Conference, a global faith family that includes churches in 86 countries. "The first of these conservative withdrawals from the Mennonite Church occurred in the 1950s, and they continue in the 1990s. Main speakers are Brad Roth, pastor of West Zion Mennonite Church in Moundridge, Kan., and Wes Furlong, Evana Network director of development. Policy | Comments Policy | Contact Us, CMC, formerly known as Conservative Mennonite Conference. The Amish Mennonites were that segment of the Swiss Brethren who followed Jakob Ammann in the Amish division of 1693-97, in part under influence of the strict discipline of North German and Dutch Mennonites. They also publish numerous reading materials for all ages. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Pew: Evangelicals Stay Strong as Christianity Crumbles in America, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest. Mennonite Church Directory - Digital Edition. Miller, Ivan J. Many independent single congregations developed from this exodus."[8]. DeSantiswill make his Iowa debut next week, appearing withIowa Gov. Related structure. Additional Information March 18, 2015. Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Irwin, Ohio, 1910-86. Haley spent the majority of her speech criticizing "wokeness," socialismand reiterating her call for a generational change among lawmakers. Their annual Conference is attended by about 200 people and is held at Cefn Lea for weekend in early December. Since launching her campaign last month, Haley has called for a generational change among Republican and Democratic lawmakers andproposedmandatorymental competency testsfor politicians older than 75. Trump has taken sly digs at Haley on Truth Social, his social media platform. [10] Neither the Conservative Mennonite Conference nor the Biblical Mennonite Alliance, however, would be considered as Conservative Mennonites by the Pilgrim Mennonite Conference, which maintains a directory of Conservative Mennonite fellowships and congregations called the Pilgrim Ministry. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church operates its own publishing house offering curriculum for home and traditional classroom settings and other books and are located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania - Eastern Mennonite Publications. They publish a quarterly publication called The Brotherhood Builder. Haley, the former South Carolina governor and Trump-appointed United Nations ambassador, did not address Trump by name in her speech. "Conservative Conference rebrands with initials." Haley, the only big-name Republican to announce a presidential run against Trump so far,spoketo CPAC delegates a day before the former president closes the conference with his address on Saturday. The conference ministers were almost always drawn from among the brotherhood of the congregations which they were to serve. Some Amish Mennonite congregations did not join the conference movement, and others withdrew during the ministers' meetings or after their termination. Click here for a brief history of Pike Mennonite Church: 2023 by Pike Mennonite Church. Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) is a historic body of Mennonite churches in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, consisting of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland.There are also a few conference churches in Delaware, Virginia, and the city of Washington, D.C., as well as two located in Hawaii.The conference was briefly (2002-2015) associated with the newly formed . There was one congregation in Red Lake, Ontario, Canada. They are located in Farmington, New Mexico. All rights reserved. In the early 1900s the Mennonite Yearbook (MC) began listing these churches as Conservative Amish Mennonite. They ordain deacons, ministers, and bishops from within their congregations by a process called the lot. They offer Spanish publications and Bible Studies through their Spanish publishing house in Guatemala - Quetzaltenango Mennonite Publishers QMP. The churches may be grouped in a district with one or two bishops sharing responsibility jointly or in part over a number of congregations within the district. The Republican National Committee censured Fuentesand Ye after the dinnerwith the former president for promotingantisemitic and hateful rhetoricina Januaryresolutionto oppose "all forms" of antisemitism. The statement follows orthodox Trinitarian Christian patterns of belief with typical Mennonite emphasis. United Kingdom Mennonite Ministry, Shropshire Hills Mennonite Church, meet, on Sundays, in their own Church building near Craven Arms, Shropshire, (they no longer meet for monthly meetings at Old Sodbury near Bristol as they used to). These later informally began what is called the Nationwide Fellowship Churches. They differ from the Old Order groups mainly in that Conservative Mennonites accept modern technologies (such as driving automobiles, having telephones, working on personal computers and using electricity), are evangelical, and conduct missions. clarencerempel13@gmail.com The most conservative groups do not have television or radio and shun or do not use the Internet. Southeastern Mennonite Conference officially began upon their withdrawal from Virginia Mennonite Conference in June 1972. Losing is bad because losing is bad," he said. CPAC delegates also heard from Donald Trump, Jr., who echoed other speakers in attacking anti-Trump Republicans as well as liberal "elites." There are six Mennonite Church USA congregations, three Conservative Mennonite Conference congregations and one Church of God in Christ Mennonite (also known as Holdeman Mennonite) congregation. 5, p. 192. They offer a full line of grade school, high school, Sunday school, and bible school curricula as well as periodicals, trade books, and more. EPMC publishes a monthly paper called The Eastern Mennonite Testimony. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. The Mennonite Church today is growing rapidly in many parts of the world, and the majority of Mennonites currently reside in the southern hemisphere. While delegatesconvened for a few meetings late Wednesday, the conferencekickedoff their first all-day session Thursday and is scheduled to close Saturday with a speech by former President Donald Trump. However, there are some conservative sects of Mennonites that dress in a way to encourage modesty and separation from society. Months later, they voluntarily withdrew from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) as a result. Conservative Mennonite Conference is a religious organization or church in Irwin, OH that was founded in 1993. Furlong will lead sessions on characteristics of a thriving church and Gods mission for the church. In a 2017 interview, CMC executive director Brian Hershberger expressed concern with the name "conservative," due to its connotations of political conservatism or plain dress. 4 Mar 2023. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=CMC_(Conservative_Mennonite_Conference_doing_business_as_CMC)&oldid=173283. That same year, a new conservative Mennonite network called Evana, named for evangelical and Anabaptist, launched. Over the years there have been various regroupings among these groups with numerous independent congregations forming and reforming. Conference moderator L. Keith Weaver toldLancaster Online that in the coming months, 14 Mennonite congregations in the Dominican Republic are also expected to join. A third grouping peacefully requested to withdraw from the Lancaster Mennonite Conference (located centrally in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) in 1968 requesting to keep the 1954 discipline that was being revised. The GC and MB churches, whose membership represents about 78 percent of the state's Mennonites have no dress requirements, use modern technology, support higher education, hire . Rosedale International, formerly Rosedale Mennonite Missions until 2019, is the mission agency of the conference, with roughly 120 workers in some 17 countries. These groups do not share the same level of strictness as the most conservative ones mentioned above but have similar origins or have withdrawn from the groupings above (like making the use of the radio optional or allowing more usage of the internet). Miller, Ivan J. The theme is "Thrive.". This is in contrast to most Old Order groups which still conduct their services in German. [10], The Church of God in Christ, Mennonite is a Conservative Mennonite denomination, though it is distinguished from others due to its stance of being the one true church.[19]. They also sell high quality wood furniture in Shrewsbury and Craven Arms. Roth will present sessions on rural church congregational life. Pike Mennonite Church is affiliated with the Conservative Mennonite Conference. In 1968 mission work was opened in Nicaragua. Besides numerous missionary efforts carried on locally by individual congregations, the conference established under its general mission board in 1929 a city mission at 2124 E. Williamson St., Flint, Michigan, and in 1946 a rural mission on Turner's Creek, near Talbert, Kentucky, with a branch station on Bowling's Creek, near Beech, KY, about one year later. Another group located geographically in Wayne, Medina, Columbiana, Richland County areas of Ohio have their origin in the Wisler Conferences of Ohio and Michigan (an Old Order Mennonite grouping). In the 1950 they were joined by conservative withdrawals from the mainstream Mennonites. This group bears the name Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. In general, modern Mennonite denominations can be broken into three groups: Conference Mennonites. Correspondingly it sought to promote a positive Christian testimony through evangelism, benevolence, and personal sanctification. Like Haley, Pompeo did not directly take on Trump but concentrated his attacks on Biden and told CPAC members that hard work lies ahead for conservatives who have struggled in recent elections. Gulf States Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, VA: The Sword and Trumpet, 2011: 45-56. They began the earliest mission work among the conservative groups in the early 1960s in Chimaltenago, Guatemala (on the Eastern side). Since 1950 the Conservative Mennonite Conference has representatives on the major boards of the Mennonite Church (MC) but has declined to be organically affiliated, thus maintaining a rather loose, fraternal relationship with the Mennonite Church (MC) General Assembly. Conservative Mennonite Conference. Their history to 1960 has been published.[17]. The Conservative Amish-Mennonite Conference was born several decades after the original Amish-Mennonite movement. [2][3] Seven Ordinances are observed in Conservative Mennonite churches, which include "baptism, communion, footwashing, marriage, anointing with oil, the holy kiss, and the prayer covering. Fourteen bishops, 42 ministers, and 8 deacons served in these congregations. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference is the largest group of Mennonite congregations in the U.S. WASHINGTON Hundreds of conservative activists gathered near Washington, D.C, to listen to Republican plans, attacks on President Joe Biden and Democrats, and the pleas of prospective GOP presidential candidates including a Friday speech by Nikki Haley about her challenge to Donald Trump. Taking it one step further Haley compared "wokeness" to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the meeting was set forth in the first resolution: "That we stand more closely together in the work of the Lord, to maintain peace and unity in the so-called Conservative Amish Mennonite churches.". With this session the meeting became established as an annual conference, which it continued to be at this writing. In 1998, a group of leaders in the Conservative Mennonite Conference, disagreeing with a vote by the conference ministers that resulted in the wives of ministers no longer being required to wear the prayer veiling, left the conference and formed the Biblical Mennonite Alliance. [1], Conservative Mennonites adhere to Anabaptist doctrine as contained in the Schleitheim Confession and the Dordrecht Confession, with Doctrines of the Bible compiled by Mennonite bishop Daniel Kauffman being used for catechesis. [6] The former emerged mostly from the middle group between the Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites. Wikipedia states that the Conservative Mennonite Conference is a North American body. [4], The Conservative Mennonite Conference subscribes to the "Mennonite Confession of Faith of 1963", and adopted a "Conservative Mennonite Statement of Theology" in 1991. So also are the conference archives. For more information, visit cmcrosedale.org. Conservative Mennonites believe in a three-office ministry working together in what is called a plural ministry. Conservative Mennonites of the Beachy Amish Mennonite tradition include the Mennonite Christian Fellowship and Ambassadors Amish Mennonite Churches, as well as the more traditionally conservative Berea Amish Mennonite Fellowship and the Tennessee Brotherhood Churches. But born-again believers aren't to blame. Carlson spoke with Tina Glandian, an attorney of Tate's, to discuss her client's situation, but not before prefacing the interview with the claim . Conference Mennonites. Its members are mostly of Amish descent. We pray for the witness of . ", Politics news, direct to you: Get OnPolitics in your inbox. Shes polling at 1%, not a bad start!!!" The conference missions and service offices, known as Rosedale Mennonite Missions (also known as Conservative Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities), are located on the same campus. The Old Colony Mennonites are a Conservative Mennonite group that is spread across various parts of South America and North America. What remained of these congregations joined the Nationwide Fellowship Churches in 1997. CMC is made up of 110 congregations with over . The Conservative Mennonite Conference is a North American body. In Ontario a group formed what is called the Conservative Mennonite Churches of Ontario or CMCO. These Conservative Mennonite denominations believe in traditional Anabapist doctrines and practices, such as plain dress, headcovering, nonconformity to the world, footwashing, the holy kiss, communion, anointing with oil, the a cappella singing of hymns, as well as nonresistance; modern conveniences, such as automobiles and filtered internet, are widely used, though television is not watched as it is believed to be an occasion of sin. This year's CPAC features of abevyof Republican heavy hitters but not as many as in past years. 574-534-4006, Conference Minister | Stephen Kriss In 2005 the conference had 11,199 members in 113 congregations in the United States. Big tents are coming down; new coalitions are emerging. Intercourse, PA: Good Books. This includes A cappella Singing, Segregated Seating and Kneeling Prayer. These include much smaller groups like (but not limited to): Bethel Fellowship, Mid Atlantic Fellowship, and Midwest Mennonite Fellowship, and numerous unaffiliated congregations. Haley will return to Iowa two days before DeSantis. Retrieved 4 March 2023, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=CMC_(Conservative_Mennonite_Conference_doing_business_as_CMC)&oldid=173283. At this preliminary meeting, five ordained men were present: Bishop S. J. Swartzendruber and M. S. Zehr of the host congregation; Bishop Joshua King, Hartville, Ohio; Bishop John L. Mast. to the editors. Stella, Rachel. skriss@mosaicmennonites.org Their website is http://www.cmcopublications.org. Meet the Mennonites: Inside the Ultra-Conservative Community | Investigative Documentary Watch 'The Last Free Place in America: Slab City' here: https://yout. In 2005 the conference had 11,199 members in 113 congregations in the U. At this same 1912 session a Sunday-school conference followed the church conference sessions and has remained an annual feature for the promotion of Sunday-school work throughout the congregations. The Conservative Mennonite Fellowship began the earliest mission work among the conservative groups in the early 1960s in Chimaltenago, Guatemala (on the Eastern side). Most of these congregations were of Amish Mennonite origin, coming from the so-called Conservative Mennonite Conference, which started to abandon traditional Anabaptist distinctives such as the wearing of headcovering. The word Amish was dropped from the name with the adoption of a revised constitution in 1957. Some of the more liberal minded Amish ministers organized conferences to serve their churches between 1862 and 1878. The college is owned by the Conservative Mennonite Conference, a coalition of roughly 120 widely scattered churches within the Mennonite family of faith . Full data set can be cached for offline use on mobile and desktop. Grantsville, MD: the author, 1985. From their first American settlement in Berks County, Pennsylvania (1710-20), and strengthened by later immigration, they moved westward with the North American frontier so that by mid-century they were scattered in autonomous congregations from eastern Pennsylvania to Ontario and Iowa. They are not affiliated directly with Conservative Mennonites but share similar beliefs. Representatives of these congregations met in a conference in Pigeon, Michigan, on November 2425, 1910, and adopted the name Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference. Lancaster desired more unity of belief and practice., MC USA will reset its goals and adjust to the loss of many conservative members, he predicted. "Conference Mennonites" is the unofficial name for Mennonite denominations that are grouped into . "[5], According to their mission statement: "The Conservative Mennonite Conference exists to glorify God by equipping leaders and congregations for worship, teaching, fellowship, service, and making disciples by providing resources and conference structures with an evangelical, Anabaptist, and conservative theological orientation."