Growing Up Mennonite

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

I thought Mennonites did not shun. Isn't that supposed to be the difference between Amish and Mennonites?

My extended Catholic family are wonderful people. They always felt sorry for me when I was in the UPC.

So, when you say conservative, you mean covering and car driving.

I did not say shunning... Official excommunication of the church though, is no small thing whether accomapied by shunning or not.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I did not say shunning... Official excommunication of the church though, is no small thing whether accomapied by shunning or not.

This is a little nuance not covered by the books. What ends up being different?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

This is a little nuance not covered by the books. What ends up being different?

I think you just missed it. Being excommunicated means you are not in right standing with the church and the ordinances you promised to uphold when you joined.

For the Amish the "ban" or "Shunning" is what follows after the excommunication. Once fellow members will cease doing business, eating, and for most practical purposes communicating with the errant one. In some cases the shunning is extended to the marriage bed.... no wonder it works so well for them!


The Old Order Mennonites do not offically practice the ban, or shunning.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I think you just missed it. Being excommunicated means you are not in right standing with the church and the ordinances you promised to uphold when you joined.

For the Amish the "ban" or "Shunning" is what follows after the excommunication. Once fellow members will cease doing business, eating, and for most practical purposes communicating with the errant one. In some cases the shunning is extended to the marriage bed.... no wonder it works so well for them!


The Old Order Amish do not offically practice the ban, or shunning.

You mean Mennonite?

Anyway, I did read that in the books and I understand the history of the Anabaptist split concerning it. However, in actual practice, I don't understand the difference. Do the Mennonites still eat with the errant one in order to not appear "Amish" (or simply because it is what is done)?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

You mean Mennonite?

Anyway, I did read that in the books and I understand the history of the Anabaptist split concerning it. However, in actual practice, I don't understand the difference. Do the Mennonites still eat with the errant one in order to not appear "Amish" (or simply because it is what is done)?

yes Old Order Mennonite I'll change it.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

You mean Mennonite?

Anyway, I did read that in the books and I understand the history of the Anabaptist split concerning it. However, in actual practice, I don't understand the difference. Do the Mennonites still eat with the errant one in order to not appear "Amish" (or simply because it is what is done)?

Outside of the normal difficulties of someone leaving a families traditional faith, the Mennonites would treat errant ones as any other person in eating and business etc. They would likely treat an errant one very well unless he was seen as causing dissent.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Outside of the normal difficulties of someone leaving a families traditional faith, the Mennonites would treat errant ones as any other person in eating and business etc. They would likely treat an errant one very well unless he was seen as causing dissent.

Okay, I was just wondering because I think the "being frowned upon" would be very similar to the UPC way of handling "errant" people. They are going to eat with you and all and people who are true friends are still going to love you but there are many who might declare you bitter and rebellious with self-righteous indignation. I have experienced the disapproval of loved ones without religion in the mix and it feels differently than that. I think it is much better and speaks for itself. So, I guess in my mind now I see three tier levels. 1. Amish shunning 2. Self-righteous church people looking down their nose and 3. People who really love you and do not judge but just wish you had chosen differently.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by ILG

Okay, I was just wondering because I think the "being frowned upon" would be very similar to the UPC way of handling "errant" people. They are going to eat with you and all and people who are true friends are still going to love you but there are many who might declare you bitter and rebellious with self-righteous indignation. I have experienced the disapproval of loved ones without religion in the mix and it feels differently than that. I think it is much better and speaks for itself. So, I guess in my mind now I see three tier levels. 1. Amish shunning 2. Self-righteous church people looking down their nose and 3. People who really love you and do not judge but just wish you had chosen differently.

I would say you pegged it exactly. I may have a few of the #2's but mostly my family and extended family is in the third catagory.

[yisroelm]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I did not say shunning... Official excommunication of the church though, is no small thing whether accomapied by shunning or not.

According to the history that I have studied : Since the division between Jacob Amman ( Sp?) and Hans Reist concerning the application of shunning of unrepentant church members ( I Cor.5) there have been a couple of strains that would have identified with Hans Reist ( Mennonite ) that do practice shunning with excommunication. The Stauffer Mennonites these are horse and buggy folks under this heading falls several divisions including the Hoovers now in Scottsville KY and Upper Barton Creek Belize and the remnants from the Amish group in Paraguay S.A. that united with the Noah Hoovers.
The Gorrie Canada Mennonites ( Horse and buggy)
The Reformed Mennonites ( cars)
The Church of God in Christ ( Mennonite) , car group, founded by John Holdeman.