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The Beachy Amish Mennonites |
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Mennonites |
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Beachy A.M. Online Library |
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Studies, Research, and Related Documents |
Please note, the inclusion of any given piece in this library is not necessarily endorsement of the methodology or findings of the author. If you have any questions or thoughts about the material or content, you may contact website personnel.-History-Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship History articles by Alvin J Beachy and Elmer S Yoder from the Mennonite Encyclopedia External Link Facts Concerning the Beachy A. M. Division of 1927 by John Mast (1950) The Amish Settlement in Somerset County, Pennsylvania by Alvin J Beachy (October,1954) from the Mennonite Quarterly Review PDF format (3 MB) The Rise and Development of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches by Alvin J Beachy (April,1955) from the Mennonite Quarterly Review The Amish of Somerset County, Pennsylvania: A Study of the Rise and Development of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches by Alvin J Beachy (May 1952). Thesis for Master of Sacred Theology. PDF format (23 MB) Alvin J. Beachy (1913-1986) was the ninth son of Moses Beachy, after whom the Beachy church is named. He left his boyhood setting and pursued theological inquiry in an academic setting. Out of this direction in life came the above research, which without would have left a large hole in early Beachy history. The primary work was his 1952 thesis he worked on at the Hartford Theological Seminary. Two abbreviated articles based on this thesis were published in the Mennonite Quarterly Review and are frequently cited. However, the thesis provides further valuable information, but has remained obscure. Hopefully, its availability here will change the obscurity. –C.A.A. The Youth Fellowship Meeting: What It Is, and How It Came to Be by Harvey Yoder The David O. Burkholder Movement by Lloyd Miller (1983). Bishop David O. Burkholder of Northern Indiana withdrew from the Amish in the 1940s and aligned himself with Moses Beachy’s movement. Burkholder quickly became a central figure in establishing the Beachy movement in the Midwest. PDF format (1MB) A History of the Amish Mission Board: The Missions Interest Committee by Noah Hochstetler (1964). PDF format (0.5MB) The Berlin Story: Amish Mennonite Aid’s Witness in Berlin, Germany by David and Marie Yoder (1968). Online text Triumph of Faith: Amish Mennonite Aid in El Salvador by Herman Bontrager (1970). PDF format (2.0MB) -Demography-Birth Rates and Social Constructs of Family Size of the Beachy Amish Mennonites by Cory A. Anderson Primary research involving interviews, surveys, and extensive statistics construction and analysis. In preparation for journal submission. Fourth revision in progress. Table of Beachy Amish Mennonite Membership, Church Numbers, Births, and Marriages by Year. Online text. -Geography-Beachy A.M. Church Profile Project by Cory A. Anderson Online project of Beachy meetinghouse photographs and available information about every Beachy church, including photos, maps, church information, and documents related to each church. The Diffusion of Beachy Amish Mennonite Congregations in the US South: A Regional Chronicle and Spatial Analysis by Cory A. Anderson (2006). First full edition. The Spatial Development and Organization of an Old Order Amish - Beachy Amish Settlement: Nappanee, Indiana by James E. Landing (1967) PDF Format (9.25 MB) The Failure of Amish Settlements in the South by James E. Landing (1970) from the Mennonite Quarterly Review PDF Format (1 MB) -Sociology-A Study in Four Segments of a Beachy Church Youth Group by Cory A. Anderson (April 2004); a term paper written while at Eastern Mennonite University Online text An Analysis of Amish Mennonite Aid's Development Paradigm by Cory A. Anderson (March 2004); a term paper written while at Eastern Mennonite University Online text -Psychology-Family Integration and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adult Beachy Amish by Emerson Lesher (1983) PDF Format (6 MB) An Examination of Child Abuse in Five Beachy Amish Congregations: An Application of Korbin's Cross-Cultural Model of Child Abuse by Bradley J. Morris (1994) PDF Format (6.5 MB) -Church Philosophy-
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Eighty years in God’s service: June 26, 1927 — 2007 |
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Recommended Books and Literature An overview of recommended books pertaining to Beachys and related groups. Books are available for purchase online.
Several websites pertaining to Beachys |
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External Links General History Article–from the Mennonite Encyclopedia Mission Resource Network–A compilation and overview of diverse Beachy and conservative Anabaptist missions. Anabaptists–Tracts and other writings, including a selection of Anabaptist books available for purchase Christian Light Publications–One of the two largest conservative Mennonite publishing houses, located in Harrisonburg, VA. Beachy programs– Nursing Homes: Mountain View and Hillcrest Home Boys’ Camps: Bald Eagle and Comeragh
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By Stephen Scott
Beachy Amish Mennonites are closely related in practice to many of the conservative Mennonite groups. This book expounds upon the beliefs, culture, and daily life of the conservative Mennonites, and explains the recent history of the Mennonites with an emphasis on the ongoing struggle of the Mennonites to maintain a Biblical way of life. Scott further discusses how the main body of Mennonites moved toward mainstream Christianity in the twentieth century, abandoning distinctive practices and the efforts conservatives took to maintain Biblical applications and fundamental theology. |
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Section One: The Old Order Mennonites 1. The Beginnings of the Old Order Mennonite Movement 2. Traveling Slowly in the Straight and Narrow Way: The Horse-and-Buggy Old Order Mennonites 3. Traveling More Rapidly in the Straight and Narrow Way: The Automobile Old Order Mennonites 4. An Old Road with Many Branches: Stauffer Mennonites 5. The First Keepers of the Old Way: The Reformed Mennonites |
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Section Two: The Conservative Mennonites 6. The Conservative Mennonite Conference 7. Blending the New and the Old 8. The Growing Conservative Mennonite Movement 9. The Conservative Way
Pages: 252 Publisher: Good Books Year: 1996 |
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Table of Contents |
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By Stephen Scott
This is the most comprehensive and detailed account of plain dress among conservative Anabaptist groups. The book addresses why Anabaptists wear plain garb, what different groups wear, and the history of plain dress. There are also several topical chapters of interest: one provides rebuttals for common objections to plain dress, another is a case study of a Mennonite group that abandoned plain dress, and a third chapter is the author’s testimony as to how and why he came to adopt plain dress. The book is well cited, authoritative, and friendly to read for both the curious non-Anabaptist and the Beachy Amish Mennonite young person with questions about why he dresses the way he does. |
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By Paton Yoder
The Beachy Amish Mennonites are but one branch of Amish Mennonite. This book describes the history of the “Amish Mennonites” and how the constituency broke into two separate movements in the 1800s: the Old Order Amish and the Amish Mennonites. The Beachys would later emerge from the Old Order Amish in the 1900s after many Amish Mennonite conferences merged with the Mennonites. Today, the Beachys are the largest group of Amish Mennonites, and also one of only a handful. At one time, though, there were many Amish Mennonites, and this book details the foundation of the movement. |
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1. Dress Is a Language 2. Religious Basis for Plain Clothing 3. Where Did the Plain Pattern Come From? 4. The Faithful Few 5. Change: A Case Study from the Mennonite Church 6. Who Else Dresses Plain? 7. Common Objections to Plain Dress 8. My Path to Plainness |
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9. Will Plain Dress Survive? 10. General Clothing Details 11. Women’s Clothing 12. Men’s Clothing 13. Plain Dress in Detail
Pages: 160 Publisher: Good Books Year: 1997 |
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Introducing the Amish in America 1. The Amish in America: An Overview 2. Era of Consolidation, 1800-50 Amish Church Polity, Beliefs, and Discipline 3. The Amish Congregation and the Structure of the Ministry 4. Nineteenth-Century Amish Beliefs and Lifestyle 5. The Amish View of Christ and his Church 6. “Keeping House”: Banning and Shunning The Great Schism 7. The Coming of the Great Schism, 1848-62 8. The Diener Versammlungen, 1862-65 |
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9. Point of No Return, 1865 10. The Annual Conferences of 1866-78 Amish, Amish Mennonites, and Mennonites 11. Amish Mennonites 12. Toward union with the Mennonite Church 13. Old Order Amish
Pages: 359 Publisher: Herald Press Year: |
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Table of Contents |
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By John Hostetler
Amish Society is an in-depth, sociological examination of Amish life. The book is written on a higher reading level, but is full of fascinating observations and intriguing correlations. As the Beachys were once part of the Old Order Amish, there are many similarities and common themes between the two groups. This book is one of the most influential books on Anabaptist thought and life available and is frequently cited by Anabaptist and Amish researchers. |
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By Elmer S. Yoder
Written for the Beachy Church’s 60th anniversary, this account of Beachy history and life is the most comprehensive to date. The book is rudimentary in appearance, but contains a wealth of information about the Beachys, including a complete history of all congregations and an index of ordained men. It delves into discussions about institutions, social patterns, strange events and stories, and monumental moments in church’s history. The research for this book is thorough, consisting often of surveys and interviews.
This book may also be bought for $25. Please use this form, stating your interest, and your order shall be forwarded. |
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The Beachy Amish
Elmer S. Yoder |
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1. Stepping Across Fifteen Hundred Years 2. The Religious Reformation and the Anabaptists 3. The Division of 1693-1711 4. The Amish in the Americas 5. The Meidung Controversy 6. The Beachy Amish Churches Emerge and Consolidate 7. Organization and Ministerial Body 8. Nurture Ministries 9. Relief and Missions |
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8. Congregational and Community Life 9. Inter-Mennonite and Parachuch 10. The Congregations 11. Introducing the Ministers 12. Retrospect and Prospect
Pages: 444 Publisher: Diakonia Ministries Year: 1987 |
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By Susan Gaetz Duarte
What started out as an interest in family history turned into a Masters thesis in photography for Gaetz. About a decade after her thesis, Gaetz published much of her work in Mennonites in Texas, a visually-stimulating account of a Beachy congregation in the state. The photographs of the community are beautiful, and the accompanying text is an excellent summary of Beachy history, practice, and thought. This book is professionally done and highly recommended. The first half of the book is also a photo essay of an Old Colony Mennonite settlement in western Texas, written and photographed by Camden. Forwarded by Ann W. Richards with contributions by Mark L. Louden and Dennis Carlyle Darling. |
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A Spiritual Journey (M.L. Louden)
Building a West Texas Home (L.L. Camden)
Colonizing the Texas Prairies (S.M. Gaetz)
Photographers’ Afterword: In Search of Simpler Times
The Act of Witnessing Ordinary Dreams (D.C. Darling)
Pages: 123 (hardcover) Publisher: Texas A&M University Press Year: 2006 |
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By Daniel Kauffman
Doctrines of the Bible was written by Daniel Kauffman and originally published in 1928, at a time of strong conservatism among Mennonite churches. Kauffman was a bishop and helped the Mennonite Church reclaim a level of spiritual practice in daily life that it had lost partly in the 1800s. The book is an overview of the primary doctrines and core beliefs of conservative Mennonites and Amish Mennonites, and is present in most homes. The text is referenced often by Beachys and Mennonites. |
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Part I-The Doctrine of God 1. God-His Being and Attributes 2. God-His Works 3. The Trinity 4. God the Father 5. God the Son 6. God the Holy Ghost Part II-The Doctrine of Man 1. Man 2. Man-Historical Sketch 3. Man in His Fallen State 4. Man Redeemed 5. Death Part III– God and Man 1. Man’s Fall-God’s Redemptive Grace 2. Revelation 3. The Bible 4. The Home 5. The Church 6. The Day of Rest and Worship 7. Angels Part IV-The Realms of Darkness 1. Satan 2. Satan-His Dominions 3. Sin 4. Unbelief |
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4. Worship 5. Self-denial 6. Nonconformity to the World 7. Nonresistance 8. Swearing Oaths 9. Secret Societies 10. Life Insurance 11. Love 12. Purity 13. Humility 14. The Christian’s Hope Part VIII– The Doctrines of the Future 1. The Second Coming of Christ 2. The Resurrection 3. The Judgment 4. Hell 5. Heaven Subject Index
Pages: 639 (hardcover) Publisher: Herald Press Year: Originally published 1928 |
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Part V-God’s Plan for Salvation 1. The Atonement 2. Redemption 3. Faith 4. Repentance 5. Justification 6. Conversion 7. Regeneration 8. Adoption 9. Sanctification Part VI-The Doctrine of the Church 1. The Christian Church 2. The Ministry 3. The Congregation 4. Christian Ordinances 5. Baptism 6. The Communion 7. Feet Washing 8. The Devotional Covering 9. The Christian Salutation 10. Anointing with Oil 11. Marriage Part VII-Christian Life 1. Christian Service 2. Prayer 3. Obedience |
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Part I. Foundations 1. Models for Understanding Amish Society 2. The Birth of Amish Society 3. To America Part II. Stability and Fulfillment 4. The Amish Charter 5. The Community 6. Agriculture and Subsistence 7. The Amish Family 8. Child Nurture and Training 9. The Life Ceremonies 10. Ritual Integration of the Community 11. The Symbolism of Community and Custom |
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Part III. Patterns of Change 11. Government and the Amish 12. Change and Fragmentation 13. Deviation and Vulnerability 14. Health and healing 15. Backstage Amish Life 16. Responses to Change Part IV. Survival 18. The discourse with Survival
Pages: 435 Publisher: John Hopkins University Press Year: 1993 |
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Table of Contents |
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The Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship Churches |
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Mennonites in Texas: The Quiet in the Land |
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Doctrines of the Bible |
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An Introduction to Old Order and Conservative Mennonite Groups |
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Why Do They Dress That Way? |
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Tradition & Transition: Amish Mennonites and Old Order Amish 1800-1900 |
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Amish Society |
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Table of Contents |
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Ornament of a Spirit: The Reasons Covering Styles Change |
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By Cory Anderson This book is authored by the manager of this website. It addresses the Bible teaching about the head covering, but also offers some observations about current changes in covering styles going on among the conservative Anabaptists. From the back cover:
The Christian woman's head covering is one of the defining doctrines of the conservative Anabaptist church. Some groups, such as the Amish, have remained consistent in their application of this doctrine from one generation to the next. Others, including many Mennonite and Amish Mennonite groups, have changed styles, often allowing the covering to become smaller, more transparent, or more stylish.
Why do Christian women cover their heads? The opening chapters of this book provide basic teachings on the covering, explaining and defending the reasons for wearing it.
Why all the fuss about covering styles? For those who already understand the doctrine and have a strong conviction for the covering, the bulk of the book explores the symbolic meaning behind different covering styles and probes the underlying motives behind style changes. Readers will find their convictions strengthened as they understand the historical significance of the traditional Anabaptist covering with its hundreds of years of symbolism.
Copies may be ordered directly from Ridgeway Publishers for $8+shipping (888-8227894) Copies may be ordered online: Vision Publishers |
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Overcoming Evil God’s Way |
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By Stephen Russell
We live in a world wracked by violence and despair. Does that mean that every act of violence must be met with an equal or greater counterblow? Overcoming Evil God’s Way asserts that the biblical message offers hope of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in place of hatred, vengeance, and fear. This book looks at both the historical and the biblical evidence for the nonresistant lifestyle of Christians.
Why do Christians disagree among themselves about war? What is the overarching narrative of the Bible, and what does it have to say about peace? What is the Christian's right and just battle? What is the biblical model for the Christian life? How have platonism and Islamic thought weakened the church's grasp on nonresistance? What place does the gospel of peace have in winning Muslims and others who have discounted the Christian message, life, and community?
Russell teaches at Faith Builders Educational Programs and is a member of a Beachy church.
Purchase a copy from the publisher. $11.99 + shipping. |
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Between Horse & Buggy and Four-Wheel Drive |
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Edited by Carel Roessingh and Tanja Plasil
The Dutch Mennonites left the Netherlands several hundred years ago, eventually scattering throughout North and South America. A group of Dutch scholars have recently rediscovered the colonies of their former countrymen. This book, published in January 2010, details the history, cultural changes, and present community life of the Dutch Mennonite settlements in Belize, including Spanish Lookout, Shipyard, and Blue Creek, among others. The book also includes a 30 page chapter about the Beachy Amish Mennonite church of Cayo Christian Fellowship, contrasting the church’s mission emphasis against the more ethnically defined boundaries of the Dutch Mennonite settlements. Pages: 222.
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1. Belize: The End of the World? (Carel Roessingh) 2. The Mennonite Road to Belize (Tanja Plasil & Roessingh) 3. Changing Borders in Blue Creek (Karen Smits, Bregje Nabben & Anne Kok) 4. Religious Differentiation in Spanish Lookout (Amber Schoonder-woerd & Roessingh) 5. Processes of Change in Shipyard (Plasil) 6. The Heavenly Valley—Small Scale Farmers and Entrepreneurs in Springfield (Lobke Lentjes, Plasil & Roessingh) 7. Beachy Amish Mennonites—Organizing Mission Work in Belize (Marianne van Kampen) 8. Conclusion (Plasil & Roessingh) |
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Table of Contents |
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Or visit the publisher’s website: VU University Press to purchase or preview |
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An Amish Paradox |
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By Hurst and McConnell
Despite a misleading title, this book about the Amish in Holmes County is one of the most accurate, insightful treatments of the Amish. It provides a history of the Holmes County Amish, and treats areas such as occupations, education, health, and change. While about Holmes County, OH, as a specific community, the book is more about Amish practice in general, using this community as a case.
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