Anabaptist/Mennonite FAQ
What’s an Anabaptist? What is a Mennonite?
Mennonites are Anabaptists, which is a faith stream within Christianity. Anabaptism grew out of the 16th-century Radical Reformation (which followed the Protestant Reformation). Technically, Anabaptists are neither Catholic nor Protestant, although they do share some beliefs of both.
The first Anabaptists separated from the state church when they began re-baptizing adults and refusing to baptize infants until they could make an adult decision to follow Christ. Anabaptism literally means to re-baptize. At that time, infant baptism was not only an accepted practice, but it also bestowed citizenship. These early Anabaptist Christians were the forerunners of today’s Anabaptist/Mennonite Christians and many others in the “Free Church” tradition that sought the separation of church and state.
Mennonites are named for Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Dutch priest who embraced Anabaptist theology as an alternative to Catholicism. As an influential Anabaptist leader, he consolidated the work initiated by moderate Anabaptist leaders.
Besides believers baptism, what do Mennonites believe?
Mennonites share the same foundational beliefs as other Christian denominations. We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth; Jesus Christ the Son of God, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit.
As the first fruit of God’s new creation, Jesus is the center of our faith and community. Through the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we seek to be transformed by Jesus, and to follow him in daily life as citizens of the Kingdom of God. We place ourselves in the story of God’s redemption of the world, culminating in Christ, as revealed in the Bible.
As citizens of God’s Kingdom, our primary identity is rooted in Jesus. All other claims on our loyalty—including country, political affiliation, and anything else—are subordinate to our loyalty to Jesus.
See our full Statement of Faith here.
Are you Amish?
Nope, we’re not Amish, and no, we don’t drive buggies or live without electricity (though we certainly welcome anyone who does!). While the Amish and Old Order Mennonites share our theological heritage dating back to the Reformation, Third Way is part of a new movement of Anabaptist churches which seek to faithfully advance Jesus’ kingdom in our modern cultural context.
Third Way is a member of Mennonite Church USA and its Central Plains Conference.