Who Are Mennonites?

Mennonites are a Christian faith group grounded in the gospel of peace, justice, and inclusion

Mennonites emphasize the congregation as being a Christ-centered community, where participants follow Jesus, simply, faithfully, together.

Mennonites strive to be a biblical people but place special emphasis on the life and teachings of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

Mennonites a believe in forgiveness, acceptance and inclusion, peace and justice, and building a closely connected community.

Mennonites do not participate in war, but rather practice non-violent, peaceful resistance to evil. They seek to do nonviolent peacemaking and restorative justice, in all parts of their lives at all times, not just in times of conflict.

Learn more about Mennonite faith here.

Sojourn is a member of Mountain States Mennonite conference and Mennonite church USA

Some Mennonite History

In the 1520s, reformationists in Zurich began questioning the practice of infant baptism. In 1525, George Blaurock was re-baptised by Conrad Grebel. This occasion is often considered the beginning of the Anabaptist (which means re-baptizer) movement as a distinct reformation tradition in Switzerland.

The Anabaptists were not supported by local magistrates in Switzerland or Germany, where the Swiss Anabaptists had significant contacts and where other closely related groups that were organizing. Anabaptists faced significant persecution from both emerging Protestants and Catholics. In 1527, Felix Manz became the first Anabaptist martyr, having been sentenced to execution by drowning for his refusal to renounce his belief in adult baptism. Thousands of anabaptists would die for their beliefs over the next 100 years.