The 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith stated that marriage should be a monogamous, heterosexual lifetime commitment. The Christian home should have regular family worship.
Divorce has not permitted among the Anabaptists and Mennonites from the earliest times to the mid-20th century except for the cause of adultery, in accordance with the Biblical standard as found in Matthew 19:9, although separation (either legal or privately arranged) was generally allowed.
Historically, Mennonites were forbidden to marry non-Mennonites and, in some cases, members of other Mennonite groups. Presently, only the more conservative ones proscribe marriage outside the group.
Mennonite Women Serve
The Mennonites are known for helping others, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation. They often do this by providing basic services such as childcare and cooking, but they accomplish many other types of Kingdom work as well.
In addition, members of the Amish community are allowed to remarry after their spouse passes. Widows sometimes garner financial assistance from their families or the church and may even find work outside of the home, according to Amish America.
The 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith stated that marriage should be a monogamous, heterosexual lifetime commitment. The Christian home should have regular family worship.
There is a high degree of inbreeding, resulting in a high frequency of recessive disorders, many of which are seen rarely or are unknown outside of this population.
During the last 100 years, the church considered the consumption of alcohol to be a sin. But that “marker” is passing away. While a large majority of us—probably 75 percent by now—accepts some use, we honor those for whom the consumption of alcohol continues to be “always wrong.”
Amish bonnets serve as an identifier of civil status for women. Unmarried Amish girls wear black bonnets while married women wear white ones. So, people can easily distinguish their relationship status by the color of their bonnets.
Some of the important characteristics of the Mennonite faith are strict pacifism, a plain lifestyle, shunning oaths, and commitment to social justice.
Some churches (not all necessarily Mennonite) take these passages to heart, and greet one another with a kiss on the cheek, much as anyone else would greet another person with a hug or handshake. This tends to occur in the more conservative Mennonite churches, and was more prevalent in the past.
Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22.
Couples who are bundling typically sleep in separate beds that are pushed together. They may also sleep in the same bed, but with a board between them to prevent any physical contact.
The doctrines of nonconformity to the world, church discipline, nonswearing of oaths, and nonresistance (a Mennonite teaching based on New Testament ethics that rejects both war and the use of coercive measures to maintain social order) are affirmed but not practiced universally.
At an earlier time in Mennonite history, Mennonite women did not cut their hair. This is no longer the case for modern Mennonites. Only the more conservative Mennonite groups still follow this practice. It is based on the scripture in I Corinthians 11 where the Apostle Paul says, “…
Mennonites also believe that the core values of living a good life before the eyes of God are modesty, simplicity, and practicality. Hence, though they also have firm beliefs, they try to remain practical. The traditional Mennonite ways would not allow Mennonite couples to wear wedding rings.
Feminine Hygiene
Female Amish wash their hair and wear it in a bun. As for makeup, Amish women aren't allowed to wear cosmetics or adornments considered worldly. This includes lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and jewelry.
On December 25, Amish and Mennonite communities celebrate as a family with special meals not unlike wedding dinners. On the 26th, they may visit with extended family, friends and relatives, to give gifts and celebrate the commercial side of the holiday.
Mennonites, unlike Mormons, don't wear undergarments designed to confer a special holy feeling.
This is according to the Amish belief that women shouldn't draw attention to themselves, which is why they don't wear makeup or jewelry.
Since many Mennonites live on farms, they are more likely to eat food grown from the land and the animals on the farm. These animals usually consist of beef, chicken, and pork.
The Old Order Mennonites and Amish have the same European roots and the language spoken in their homes is the same German dialect.
The most prominent ethnic Mennonite groups are Russian Mennonites (German: Russland-Mennoniten), who formed as an ethnic group in Prussia and South Russia (now Ukraine), but who are of Dutch (both Flemish and Frisian) ancestry and speak Plautdietsch and Mennonites of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage who formed as an ethnic ...
It's interesting, though, that we don't have crucifixes in Mennonite churches, with Jesus still suffering upon them, but empty crosses (like the one above, found here ), which symbolize the resurrection.