Beachy Amish

The Beachy Amish Mennonites are formally a subgroup of Amish but they are much less traditional than other Amish. Even though they have retained the name "Amish" they are quite different from the common idea of Amish: they do not use horse and buggy for transportation, with a few exceptions they do not speak Pennsylvania German anymore, nor do they have restrictions on technology except for radio and television. In the years 1946 to 1977 a majority was transformed into an evangelical revivalist denomination.

They form a loose association of churches without a central governing body; therefore, few common characteristics are shared by all Beachy congregations. Some similarities include adhering to the Dordrecht Confession of Faith and practicing varying degrees of Anabaptist practice, such as nonresistance, separation from the state, and adult baptism.

History

The Beachy church arose from a 1927 division in the (Casselman) River Old Order Amish congregation in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Bishop Moses M. Beachy led the congregation during that time and his name became associated with the faction. The Beachys favored a milder discipline for members whose only offense was transferring membership to other Anabaptist churches, specifically the conservative Amish Mennonite congregation that broke from Moses Beachy's congregation (then not under Beachy's leadership) in 1895.

The Beachy Amish were transformed at mid-20th century into a more evangelical group by both the incorporation of revivalist Amish who had left their original churches and joined the Beachy Amish and by a growing revivalist influence within the Beachys.

Distinctives

In contrast to the Old Order Amish, the Beachys have meetinghouses, Sunday School, and a Bible School for young adults, and most also support missionary work. Excommunication is used less frequently and accompanying bans are even more rare.

Most Beachy churches today more closely resemble the Conservative Mennonites (which see for fuller discussion of beliefs/distinctives under that entry) rather than the Old Order Amish. The practices and lifestyle still similar to the Old Order Amish include:

• Women wear head covering
• Married men have beards in most congregations
• Television and radio are forbidden

Practices that distinguish the Beachy church from the Old Order Amish include:

• Filtered Internet is permitted by most congregations
• Men wear ready made clothing
• Ownership of personal automobiles.

Population and distribution

In 2006, there were 11,487 Beachy members in 207 churches, with the highest representation in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio. International Beachy churches or mission work can be found in El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Ireland, Ukraine, Romania, Kenya, Australia, and Canada. Mission work is sponsored by Amish Mennonite Aid (AMA), Mennonite Interests Committee (MIC), or individual churches.

See also

• Weavertown Amish Mennonite Church - Oldest existing Beachy church

Literature

• Alvin J. Beachy: The Rise and Development of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches. Mennonite Quarterly Review, Vol. 29, No. 2, 1955, pages 118-140.
• Aaron Lapp: Weavertown Church History. Sugarcreek: Carlisle Printing 2003.
• J. B. Mast: Facts Concerning the Beachy A. M. Division of 1927. Meyersdale, PA 1950.
• Mennonite Church Information 2007. Harrisonburg: Christian Light Publications 2007.
• Devon Miller: Amish Mennonite Directory. Millersburg, OH 2008. A directory of all US and Canadian Amish Mennonites, including the Beachys.
• Dorthy Schwieder and Elmer Schwieder: The Beachy Amish in Iowa: A Case Study. Mennonite Quarterly Review, Vol. 51, No. 1, 1977 p. 41-51.
• Elmer S. Yoder: The Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship Churches. Hartville, OH 1987.

External links

• A Beachy Amish Mennonite information website
• Beachy Amish Mennonite Fellowship in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia
• Profile of the Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches on the Association of Religion Data Archives website