Life | Beliefs | Peace | Community

Mennonites have been around for almost 500 years. They began as a movement that insisted no one is born into the church. Instead, Mennonites believe the church is a community of believers who choose to turn over their lives to Jesus Christ and be baptized to symbolize that commitment.

Together we strive to live out a new way of life in which Jesus is Lord above nationalism, materialism or selfish pursuit.

We use technology and dress like most everyone else. Mennonites often are associated with the Old Order Mennonites and Amish, who still attempt to live simply in farming communities without the benefit of electrical power and automobiles.

However, most Mennonites don’t live this way. You’ll find vibrant and growing Mennonite congregations everywhere, from small towns and cities to nearly every major urban center in North America. New York City alone is home to more than 20 Mennonite congregations

Our Beliefs

Mennonites share essential core beliefs with Christians of Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical persuasions.

• We believe Jesus is the full embodiment of God’s love, sent to bring reconciliation to a broken world.
• We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is central to our faith and living out God’s will.
• We believe God offers grace and forgiveness to humankind based on genuine faith instead of goodness.
• As a part of our faith, Mennonites value service to those in need over the pursuit of wealth, fame or power.

Peacemaking

Mennonites perhaps are best known for our commitment to nonviolence and peacemaking. Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and respond to aggression with positive action. He also taught us to follow him. We believe God defeats evil with sacrificial and unconditional love. We see peacebuilding as an achievable way of life.

Mennonites are leaders in the art of conflict resolution – even on an international scale. Mennonites have been involved in helping various groups or factions talk to each other in places like East Africa, and Central America. Mennonites were also involved in early offender-victim reconciliation efforts in Canada and the United States and in restorative justice as a way of responding to criminal and antisocial activity.

Mennonites believe we gain strength from the presence of God’s Spirit as we come together in community. Mennonites believe discipleship is a shared journey. We strive to live out Jesus’ way together. Our congregations provide communities of shared worship, support and accountability. Mennonite congregations are like caring families, and visitors are always welcome.

Mennonite Church USA,the largest group of Mennonites in the United States, is multicultural and multiracial. Though the majority of members are middle-class, suburban whites, nearly 20 percent of Mennonites in the United States are Hispanic, African-American or Asian. Many of the largest and fastest-growing congregations are non-white. Mennonites’ diversity is seen globally where Africans and South Americans comprise the majority of the 1.2 million Mennonites worldwide.

In an era of mass marketing, uncontrolled consumerism, loneliness and growing violence, Mennonites value and build a sense of community. We believe the best response to cynicism, doubt and isolation is to invite friends and strangers to share in optimism, hope and community with us. We are an open group, and you are welcome to join us.

For more information on Mennonites, visit Third Way Café
To find a congregation near you, visit the Online Directory