The Eugene Mennonite Church
"True Humility is doing what God calls you to do, without glorifying it or apologizing for it." -Rose Marie; EMC Pastor
I. Center Information
Center Name Eugene Mennonite Church
Center Tradition Anabaptist - Christian
Center Address 3590 W. 18th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97402
Phone Number 541-343-9548
Email Address [email protected]
Website http://www.eugenemennonite.org/index.php
Religious Leader and Title Rose Marie Zook Barber
Contact Name and Title Rose Marie - Pastor (Contact by Church #/email)
Center Name Eugene Mennonite Church
Center Tradition Anabaptist - Christian
Center Address 3590 W. 18th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97402
Phone Number 541-343-9548
Email Address [email protected]
Website http://www.eugenemennonite.org/index.php
Religious Leader and Title Rose Marie Zook Barber
Contact Name and Title Rose Marie - Pastor (Contact by Church #/email)
Men·non·ite
ˈmenəˌnīt/
noun
One of the core beliefs in the Mennonite Faith is the tenet that being humble is the most valuable attribute a person can have. For this reason, the church is without decoration or adornments - some
might even say that it is very un-Church-like.
ˈmenəˌnīt/
noun
- a member of a Protestant sect originating in Friesland in the 16th century, emphasizing adult baptism and rejecting church organization, military service, and public office.
One of the core beliefs in the Mennonite Faith is the tenet that being humble is the most valuable attribute a person can have. For this reason, the church is without decoration or adornments - some
might even say that it is very un-Church-like.
Eugene Mennonite Church: General Information
The EMC congregation was Founded in 1963, for sixteen years
they met in a grange hall. In 1979 they built their current building.
The EMC is a very small group - with only forty-five current members.
Throughout the world the Mennonites are a very diverse group -
In Oregon alone there are 14 Spanish speaking & 4 French speaking congregations.
The EMC built the Church originally for their own exclusive use and that persisted for almost 20 years. But in 1994 they began a partnership with Wellsprings Friends School. The school began renting the building from the Church for use during the week. In 2007 that role was reversed - the Church now rents from the School.
The School is a Quaker-based that focusses on peace and love versus mainstream ideas of violence - an almost perfect blending of ideas with those of the Mennonites who have often been sighted as a direct offshoot of the Quakers.
While walking around the grounds, you can definitely see the schools influence on the Church - painted rocks, school busses, painted tree stumps,
chalk drawings on side walks are more likely to be spotted than the typical dove of the Mennonite Church or the Cross of Christianity
they met in a grange hall. In 1979 they built their current building.
The EMC is a very small group - with only forty-five current members.
Throughout the world the Mennonites are a very diverse group -
In Oregon alone there are 14 Spanish speaking & 4 French speaking congregations.
The EMC built the Church originally for their own exclusive use and that persisted for almost 20 years. But in 1994 they began a partnership with Wellsprings Friends School. The school began renting the building from the Church for use during the week. In 2007 that role was reversed - the Church now rents from the School.
The School is a Quaker-based that focusses on peace and love versus mainstream ideas of violence - an almost perfect blending of ideas with those of the Mennonites who have often been sighted as a direct offshoot of the Quakers.
While walking around the grounds, you can definitely see the schools influence on the Church - painted rocks, school busses, painted tree stumps,
chalk drawings on side walks are more likely to be spotted than the typical dove of the Mennonite Church or the Cross of Christianity
The Mennonite History
The Anabaptist Reformation was founded in 1525, by the four above men. Almost instantly these reformers suffered much persecution and within mere years of this all four of the founders were killed, leaving the movement with little leadership or direction of which way to go.
Anabaptist: Ana means 'Re' and a baptist was someone who believed in baptism. This movement was defined by the belief that those baptized should be aware of God, and make the decision to be baptized as a proclamation to others of their faith. It was termed the Anabaptists or Re-Baptizers because they had been baptized as infants but were re-baptized later as adults who were professing their faith to others.
Anabaptist: Ana means 'Re' and a baptist was someone who believed in baptism. This movement was defined by the belief that those baptized should be aware of God, and make the decision to be baptized as a proclamation to others of their faith. It was termed the Anabaptists or Re-Baptizers because they had been baptized as infants but were re-baptized later as adults who were professing their faith to others.
History: Amish vs Mennonite
In the beginning, everyone was a Mennonite. But, as the Religion progress and with no clear leader, more and more people began to modernize with the rest of the world. In 1693 Joseph Amon started what is referred to as 'The Ban' stating that people who did not follow the original plans of the founding five would be persecuted and excommunicated from the church. Those who agreed with his strict ideas then took his name, Amon and became what we know as the Amish - essentially all of the same religious views as the Mennonites but could not use electricity, could only drive using a horse and buggy, and wore very conservative dress.
In the picture to the right, the column on the left are the Mennonites and those on the right are the Amish.
The Amish do not believe that their women should wear patterns or bright colors or that their men should be clean shaven.
The beautiful dove is both approaching and hovering over the beautiful, yet needy world. The dove is the basic biblical symbol of God’s Spirit present: with Noah, at Jesus’ baptism, on the “wings of a dove” is where rest is found (Psalm 55:6). It is also the promise of the Spirit that Jesus spoke to his to his disciples, included in his greeting: peace be with you. More than a biblical symbol, the dove has come to be the primary symbol of peace, even in the secular world. It is always coming. It is always near, waiting to be invited more fully.
Peace is good news. This is especially evident for those living in conditions of oppression, poverty, injustice, corruption, abuse, militarization, and violence. They need no convincing that peace, reconciliation, justice, and salvation are all included in the gospel of God.
The dove of peace is accessible. Perhaps if we can understand peace as gospel, the church of the Prince of Peace can commit itself to become an “ambassador of reconciliation” in the way envisioned in scripture (II Corinthians 5:20).
Peace is good news. This is especially evident for those living in conditions of oppression, poverty, injustice, corruption, abuse, militarization, and violence. They need no convincing that peace, reconciliation, justice, and salvation are all included in the gospel of God.
The dove of peace is accessible. Perhaps if we can understand peace as gospel, the church of the Prince of Peace can commit itself to become an “ambassador of reconciliation” in the way envisioned in scripture (II Corinthians 5:20).
Life in the Eugene Mennonite Church
They worship every Sunday at 10 a.m.
They have sunday school beforehand at 9:30 & are currently studying the Gospel of John & will move on next to I Chorinthians. They regularly participate in the Eugene Celebration and particularly in the Eugene Peace Train. The current group worshipping at EMC consists of a few toddlers & young couples, but the main group is 40 & up. This particular group of Mennonites are more liberal, and do not enforce strict dress codes. In Church service they sing older hymns, and some newer praise songs - all while striving to sing in 4-part harmony |
Informational Brochure: "Who Are The Mennonites?"
For More Information:
Wellsprings Friends School: http://wellspringsfriends.org/
Eugene Mennonite Church: http://www.eugenemennonite.org/aboutus.php
Mennonite Church USA: http://www.mennoniteusa.org/
Reflection:
I chose to talk with the Mennonites because it is really interesting to me how there are so many religions - Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrian, Christian - but within those groups there are hundreds maybe thousands of different smaller sects. I grew up in a Baptist Church but had never heard the term 'Anabaptist.' I also just find it extremely interesting how so many people claim to be christian but there are so many differences and beliefs within the claim "I am a Christian" and I just wanted to explore one of those differences.
One other thing that was extremely interesting to me was that the Pastor was a female - something that is very uncommon in more traditional/conservative Christianity. Rose Marie claims that she is one of the lucky ones; she didn't have to deal with the backlash of the first female Pastors coming about. She went to Seminary about 30 years after the first women, and therefore it was a little easier for her. She says there is really no negatives to her being a female besides that she tries to watch what she wears more carefully, and is more cautious when doing home visits or things like that. But besides those few things, she says she has met with no resistance from males following her leadership or any other sort of negatives.
One other thing that was extremely interesting to me was that the Pastor was a female - something that is very uncommon in more traditional/conservative Christianity. Rose Marie claims that she is one of the lucky ones; she didn't have to deal with the backlash of the first female Pastors coming about. She went to Seminary about 30 years after the first women, and therefore it was a little easier for her. She says there is really no negatives to her being a female besides that she tries to watch what she wears more carefully, and is more cautious when doing home visits or things like that. But besides those few things, she says she has met with no resistance from males following her leadership or any other sort of negatives.
Researched by Amanda Rose