Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference

The Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference (MWMC) is a

Markham-Waterloo
Canadian, progressive Old Order Mennonite church established in
1939 in Ontario, Canada.[1] It has its roots in the Old Order
Mennonite Conference
Mennonite Conference in Markham, Ontario, and in what is now Classification Mennonite
called the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The Conference Orientation Anabaptist
adheres to the 1632 Dordrecht Confession of Faith.[2] The
Origin 1939
Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference is in fellowship with
two similar car-driving Old Order Mennonite churches: the Ontario,
Weaverland Mennonite Conference[3] and the Ohio-Indiana Canada
Mennonite Conference.[4] Congregations 17

Ideologically this group shares many similar beliefs with other Old Order Mennonites groups, but also with
Conservative Mennonites though differing in not having Sunday Schools or revival meetings. They identify
more with the values of the Old Order groups but share common core values or distinctives.

According to a 2015 report, this group began "two outlying settlements, one in Beachburg in the Ottawa
valley, begun in 1980. The congregation of North Haven was organized in 2009 in a new settlement near
New Liskeard in northern Ontario".[5]

History
In the early 20th century, some of the Old Order Mennonites in Ontario and Pennsylvania began to use
automobiles instead of horses and buggies, which resulted in a great deal of tension within the Old Order
congregations. Because of this, "The Old Orders of Waterloo had ceased to affiliate with Markham in 1930
because of the automobile issue."[6]

From 1931 the MWMC had been known as the Markham Mennonite Conference. When a significant
group of Old Order Mennonites from the Waterloo County area of Ontario joined with the Markham
church in the 1930s, the new MWMC church was formed in 1939.[7]

The Old Order Mennonite Conference of Ontario had its roots in a division within the Mennonite
Conference of Ontario in 1889 over such issues as the use of Protestant Sunday School methods,
evangelistic meetings, church order, etc.[8] According to the MWMC, "In 1889, the Mennonite Conference
of Ontario divided on issues of assimilation to the larger Protestant society".[9] A similar division occurred
in 1893 in the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which resulted in the
formation of the Weaverland Old Order Mennonite Conference.[10]

In 2003, MWMC layman Donald Martin (ordained deacon in 2004) published a book entitled "Old Order
Mennonites of Ontario: Gelassenheit, Discipleship, and Brotherhood" (Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario).
His book is a detailed study of the history of most of the Old Order groups in Ontario, including the
MWMC, the Old Order Mennonite Conference, the David Martin Mennonites, and the Orthodox
Mennonites. This book also contains a primer on basic Old Order Mennonite beliefs. A more detailed study
of Old Order Mennonite beliefs was published by the same author in 2007 called Distinctive Teachings of
the Old Order People (Vineyard Publications, Wallenstein, Ontario). It explains Old Order Mennonite
beliefs on issues such as 'Salvation', 'Discipleship', 'The Church', and 'Separation from the World'.

Doctrine and practice

The MWMC "Statement of Faith"[11] in brief indicates that "The Word of God, as revealed in the
Scriptures, is the basis for the faith and practice of the Church. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ; the
Apostolic Confession of Faith and the Dordrecht Eighteen Articles of Faith are taught and supported." Of
the three historic creeds then, the MWMC supports the Apostles' Creed, but rejects the Nicene Creed, and
the Athanasian Creed. The full text of the Dordrecht Confession of Faith of 1632 is reprinted in the
church's booklet "Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites" (shared by the Old Order Mennonite
Conference), published in 1999. Within this booklet, the text of one of the writings of Menno Simons
clarifies the MWMC belief of their view of the Trinity: "And thus we believe and confess ... that these three
names, operations and powers, namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one incomprehensible,
indescribable, almighty, holy, only, eternal and sovereign God,".[12] Simons continues, "And although they
are three, yet in godliness, will, power and operation they are one, and can no more be separated from each
other than the sun, brightness, and warmth;".[13] This view is re-affirmed in the first article of the Dordrecht
Confession of Faith, "Of God and the Creation of All Things", where it states, "Therefore we ... believe ...
according to Holy Scripture, in one eternal, Almighty, and incomprehensible God - Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost,".[14]

The MWMC regards salvation as "a life process that (calls) for perseverance to the end."[15] In his second
book, Deacon Donald Martin states clearly that, for Anabaptists, "obedience and discipleship (are) also part
of one's salvation".[16] Martin reminds the reader that, "The Sixth Article (of the Dordrecht Confession)
states that we become justified children of God ... after we have repented and amended our lives."[17]

The MWMC Conference Report and General Recommendations briefly spells out the agreed upon
expectations for membership in the church. Articles include the "Holy Life", "Courtship and Marriage",
"Nonresistance", "Separation from the State", "Types and Places of Employment", "Uniformity Within the
Church" and "Nonconformity to the world".[18] It is also expected that members primarily drive black
vehicles. Members cautiously use technologies like mobile phones, computers, and the Internet, but do not
own televisions or radios.

The MWMC has its own parochial school system, which began in 1973. It shares some of its schools with
the Ontario Old Order Mennonite Conference.[19]

Members and congregations

In 1957 the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference had 748 baptized members.[20] In 2011
membership had risen to 1,500 baptized members in 17 congregations.[21] There are 15 congregations in
Southwestern Ontario, 1 in Eastern Ontario, and 1 in Northeastern Ontario. From oldest to newest, the
congregations include Martins (Waterloo, Ontario), Elmira, North Woolwich, Montrose East, Montrose
West, Goshen East (near Drayton, Ontario), Goshen West, Fair Haven (Newton, Ontario), Fair Haven
North, Maple View North (Alma, Ontario), Maple View South, Brotherston North (near Gowanstown,
Ontario), Brotherston South, Beachburg (Cobden, Ontario), Minto Grove (Harriston, Ontario), Meadowside
(Conn, Ontario), and North Haven (Thornloe, Ontario).

Ministry
The Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference ordains deacons, ministers, and bishops from within their
congregations by a process called "the lot". As of July 2012, there were 3 bishops, 19 ministers, and 18
deacons. Of the bishops, the longest-serving is Ernie Wideman, ordained as a minister in 1976, and as a
bishop in 1986. Among the ministers, the longest-serving is Emerson Bauman, ordained in 1959; and
among the deacons, Ralph Reibel is the longest-serving, ordained in 1983.[22] The ministry is unpaid, and
are self-employed as farmers or work in other related occupations.

Succession of bishops
The Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference Succession of Bishops descends from the Weaverland Old
Order Mennonite Conference. The Weaverland Old Order Bishops Moses Horning and Joseph Hostetter
ordained Abraham Smith as a bishop in 1936 (ordained minister in 1927; died 1980). Bishops Abraham
Smith, Joseph Hostetter (Pennsylvania), Moses Horst (Ohio), and William Ramer (Indiana) ordained
Amsey Martin as a bishop in 1941 (minister in 1940; died 1985). Orvie Brubacher (minister 1976; died
1986) was ordained in 1979 by Bishops Abraham Smith, Amsey Martin, Luke Good (Pennsylvania), and
Willis Martin (Pennsylvania). Ernie Wideman (see above) was ordained in 1986 by Bishops Orvie
Brubacher, Louis Steiner (Ohio), and Leonard Brubaker (Pennsylvania). Abner Gingrich (minister 1981;
died 2012), was ordained bishop in 1995 by Bishops Ernie Wideman, Amos Martin (Pennsylvania), and
Leon Martin (New York). Bishops Ernie Wideman, Abner Gingrich, and Jerry Martin (Michigan), ordained
Gordon Bauman (minister 1985) in 2009. Finally, Bishops Ernie Wideman, Abner Gingrich, and Gordon
Bauman ordained Luke Martin (minister 2000) in 2011.[23]

References
1. Martin, Donald. Old Order Mennonites of Ontario: Gelassenheit, Discipleship, Brotherhood;
Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario, 2003; pp.231-241.
2. Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites, Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference, 1999.
3. Wenger, John C. (1956). "Old Order Mennonites" (http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/conte
nts/O544.html). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 December
2011
4. Wenger, John C. (1956). "Old Order Mennonites" (http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/conte
nts/O544.html). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 December
2011, from .
5. "Old Order Mennonite groups in Ontario are growing" (https://canadianmennonite.org/storie
s/old-order-mennonite-groups-ontario-are-growing). Canadian Mennonite. 1 December
2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020. "it is in many ways, an option of last resort and it's
something we only do when we think we have a critical threat to the community's safety and
we need immediate action"
6. Martin, Donald. Old Order Mennonites of Ontario: Gelassenheit, Discipleship, Brotherhood;
Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario, 2003; p.236.
7. Martin, Donald. Old Order Mennonites of Ontario: Gelassenheit, Discipleship, Brotherhood;
Pandora Press, Kitchener, Ontario, 2003; pp.231-241.
8. Wenger, John C. (1956). Old Order Mennonites. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia
Online. Retrieved 13 December 2011, from
http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/O544.html.
9. Record of Ordinations leading to and including the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite
Conference 1891-2010.
10. Landis, Ira D. and Richard D. Thiessen. (October 2010). Weaverland Mennonite Conference
(http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/weaverland_mennonite_conference). Global
Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 December 2011
11. Markham Waterloo Mennonite Conference Report and General Recommendations, January
2010, edited 2011
12. Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites, Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference, 1999, p.
51.
13. Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites, Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference, 1999, p.
51.
14. Origin and Doctrine of the Mennonites, Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference, 1999, p.
106.
15. Martin, Donald. Distinctive Teachings of the Old Order People; Vineyard Publications,
Wallenstein, Ontario, 2007; p. 33.
16. Martin, Donald. Distinctive Teachings of the Old Order People; Vineyard Publications,
Wallenstein, Ontario, 2007; p. 30.
17. Martin, Donald. Distinctive Teachings of the Old Order People; Vineyard Publications,
Wallenstein, Ontario, 2007; pp. 33-34
18. Markham Waterloo Mennonite Conference Report and General Recommendations, January
2010, edited 2011
19. Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference Parochial Schools: Constitution, April 2009
20. Old Order Mennonites (http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Old_Order_Mennonites) at Global
Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
21. Directory of the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Congregation 2011
22. Mennonite Calendar of Appointments 2012 Eighty First Edition, Markham-Waterloo
Mennonite Conference
23. Record of Ordinations leading to and including the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite
Conference 1891-2010.

External links
"Dordrecht Confession of Faith" (https://anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Dordre
cht_Confession_of_Faith_(Mennonite,_1632)) at Anabaptistwiki.org

"Old Order Mennonite Groups in Ontario" (https://anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php?titl

e=Old_Order_Mennonite_Groups_in_Ontario) at Anabaptistwiki.org

"Progressive Old Order Mennonite Groups" (https://anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php?

title=Progressive_Old_Order_Mennonite_Groups) at Anabaptistwiki.org

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