The Amish Community

The Amish Church

Those who followed Ammann
were originally from 3 main
places:
• the German-speaking parts of
Switzerland,
• Alsace and
• The palatinate of Germany.
 Amish Beliefs
• Separation of church and state (unheard of
in the 16th century)
• Rejected infant baptism in favour of adult
baptism.
• Are against abortion and IVF
 The Amish
The Amish church membership begins with baptism,
usually between the ages of 16-25.
Church districts average between 20-40 families and
worship services are held every other Sunday in a
member’s home.
The district is led by a bishop and several ministers and
deacons.
The rules of the church are called Ordnung and they
must be observed by every member.
The rules cover most aspects of day-to-day living.
Members, however who do not conform to Amish rules or who
go against the bishop are excommunicated. In addition to
excommunication, members may be shunned- a practice that
limits social contacts to shame the wayward member into
returning to the church.
• Both Amish and Mennonites are
Anabaptists, which means that they do not
practice infant Baptism, rather, when adults
feel called to profess their faith in Jesus,
they are then Baptized into their Church.
• Courtship often begins
with a young man
transporting a young
woman to and from one of
the many singings or
Sunday worship. The
couple will be allowed to
spend time together in
private, but to spend this
time alone behind closed
doors would be
scandalous.
• Weddings take place after
the fall harvest.
November is the favored
month because the winter
weather has not yet begun.
Sixteen is the age when
courtship begins, but
couples will likely be 20
or older when they marry.
 Men can grow beards
After they are married

Amish people can

only marry
those of the same faith.
Divorce is not
permitted and
separation is very
rare.
• Blue is the favored
color for a wedding
dress. The dress must
be new, but it will be
used on future formal
occasions.
• The Amish are a close-knit community, so
members of a group know each other from
childhood. There is school, church, barn raisings,
singings and other events. The Amish do not like to
depend on outsiders, so neighbours are always
helping each other.
• Singings are the usual mixed recreation and
are the primary courtship activity. These
events are only open to young singles and
are the equivalent of a teen dance. The
Amish do not dance or play musical
instruments, but they share the
Pennsylvania German love of singing. The
songs are not all religious. Folk and country
songs are also sung.
• Symbolic of their faith,
Amish clothing styles
encourage humility and
separation from the world.
The Amish dress in a very
simple style, avoiding all
but the most basic
ornamentation. Clothing is
made at home of plain
fabrics and is primarily
dark in colour.
• Amish men in general wear straight-cut suits and coats without collars,
lapels or pockets.
• Trousers never have creases or cuffs and are worn with suspenders.
• Belts are forbidden, as are sweaters, neckties and gloves.
• Men's shirts fasten with traditional buttons in most orders, while suit
coats and vests fasten with hooks and eyes.
• Young men are clean shaven prior to marriage, while married men are
required to let their beards grow. Moustaches are forbidden.
• Amish women typically wear solid-color dresses with long sleeves and
a full skirt, covered with a cape and an apron.
• They never cut their hair, and wear it in a braid or bun on the back of
the head concealed with a small white cap or black bonnet.
• Clothing is fastened with straight pins or snaps, stockings are black
cotton and shoes are also black.
• Amish women are not permitted to wear patterned clothing or jewelry.
The Amish are not allowed for example, to use telephones,
electricity or vehicles.
The Amish believe that technology weakens the family
structure.
The conveniences that the rest of us take for granted such
as electricity, television, automobiles, telephones and
tractors are considered to be a temptation that could
cause vanity, create inequality, or lead the Amish away
from their close-knit community and, as such, are not
encouraged or accepted in most orders.
 • The family is the most important social unit in the Amish
culture.
• Large families with seven to ten children are common.
• Chores are clearly divided by sexual role in the Amish
home - the man usually works on the farm, while the wife
does the washing, cleaning, cooking, and other household
chores.
• There are exceptions, but typically the father is considered
the head of the Amish household.
• German is spoken in the home, though English is also
taught in school.
 The Amish
The Amish rules however differ from district to
district. No two districts are the same.
Members, however who do not conform to Amish rules
or who go against the bishop are excommunicated. In
addition to excommunication, members may be shunned-
a practice that limits social contacts to shame the
wayward member into returning to the church.