The Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (FEC) is an evangelical body of
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
with an
Amish Mennonite heritage that is headquartered in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. It contains 60 churches located in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
History
Beginnings as Egly Amish
In the first half of the 19th century, the time before the
Amish
The Amish (; pdc, Amisch; german: link=no, Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian origins. They are closely related to Mennonite churches ...
split into Amish Mennonites and Old Order Amish, several members of the Amish Egly family immigrated from
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden is ...
, Germany, to North America. Among them was Henry Egly (1824–1890). Egly was elected deacon of a
Berne-
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
Amish church in
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
. In 1858, Egly was then elected bishop of the Berne-Geneva Amish Church. Egly, who insisted on the new birth experience, withdrew from the Amish church. Approximately half of the congregation withdrew as well. In 1866, the first Egly-Amish church was created in
Berne, Indiana
Berne (English: ɜːn is a city within Monroe and Wabash townships, Adams County, Indiana, United States, located south of Fort Wayne. The population was 4,173 at the 2020 Census. Berne is widely known for its Swiss heritage, architectur ...
.
In the beginning the Egly Amish church was very strict in regard to discipline and dress, but later developed in the same direction as the
Amish Mennonites, that is towards the Mennonite mainstream, away from the Amish heritage.
Defenseless Mennonites
The Egly-Amish officially adopted the name "Defenseless Mennonite" on 6 November 1908 as the congregation wanted to be known as more Mennonite rather than Amish.
Evangelical Mennonite Church
In 1942, the Defenseless Mennonites were charter members in the founding of the National Association of Evangelicals. Later, in 1948, their name was changed to "Evangelical Mennonite Church" to reflect both their Anabaptist and Evangelical beliefs.
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
On 2 August 2003, the Evangelical Mennonite Church voted to be known as the "Fellowship of Evangelical Churches", or FEC.
Doctrine
The Defenseless Mennonite Conference published its ''Confession of Faith, Rules and Discipline'' in 1917. The confession of faith was revised in 1937, 1949, 1961, and 1980. It contains 12 articles of faith.
The Lord's Supper is observed with open communion.
Organization
The conference office is located in
Fort Wayne, Indiana. The FEC organization is governed through a congregational form of governance. Local congregations elect delegates to a delegate body, which in turn elects the conference leadership. The conference is composed of 34 churches in the Midwest of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, with 5278 members. 55 percent of the churches are located in
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
and
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
. All FEC ministries are funded by voluntary donations of congregations and individuals.
Branches and connections
* The Missionary Church Association came out of the "Egly Amish" in 1898 (see
Missionary Church).
* The Evangelical Mennonite Church is a member of the
National Association of Evangelicals.
Affiliated organizations
These organizations have their own governing boards but are affiliated solely with the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches.
* Miracle Camp and Retreat Center
* Life Change Camp and Retreat Center
* Salem4Youth
* Christian Service Foundation
Christian Service Foundation
/ref>
Affiliated churches
Colorado
*Lifegate Church
Idaho
*Lakeview Bible Church
Illinois
*Calvary Community Church
*Crossroads Church of Monticello
*Dewey Community Church
*Eureka Bible Church
*Grace Evangelical Church
*Great Oaks Community Church
*Groveland Evangelical Mennonite Church
*Heartland Community Church
*Jacob’s Well Community Church
*Living Hope Community Church
*New Beginnings Church
*Northwoods Community Church
*Oak Grove Evangelical Bible Church
*Rock Creek Bible Church
*Salem Church
Indiana
*Berne Evangelical Church
*Brookside Church
* Crossview Church
*Highland Gospel Community
*Mission Church
*Pine Hills Church
*Pine Hills Kendallville
*Sonlight Community Church
*Upland Community Church
*Westwood Fellowship
Kansas
*Grace Community Church
*Grace Community Fellowship
*Grace Crossing
*New Anthem Community Church
*Sterling Evangelical Bible Church
Maine
*The Hill
*Life Community Church
*Moss Brook Community Church
Michigan
*Church of the Good Shepherd
*Comins Mennonite Church
*Lawton Evangelical Church
*Neighborhood Church
*The Remedy
Minnesota
*The Real Tree Church
*True North
Missouri
*Bethel Fellowship Church
*Freedom Point
*Harrisonville Community Church
*PeaRidge Community Church
Ohio
*Archbold Evangelical Church
*Catalyst Community Church
*Christ the King Church
*Crossroads Evangelical Church
*Crossroads Church (Napoleon)
*Evermore Community Church
*Life Church of Loraine County
*Life Community Church
*Oak Bend Church
*Pathway Church
*Solid Rock Community Church
*Wave Community Church
Pennsylvania
*River City Church
Literature
*Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood: ''Handbook of Denominations in the United States''.
*Cornelius J. Dyck, Dennis D. Martin, et al., editors: ''Mennonite Encyclopedia''.
*Glenmary Research Center: ''Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000)''.
References
External links
*
Evangelical Mennonite Church (United States)
at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO) is an online encyclopedia of topics relating to Mennonites and Anabaptism. The mission of the project is to provide free, reliable, English-language information on Anabaptist-related top ...
Christian Service Foundation
LifeChange Camp and Retreat Center
Miracle Camp and Retreat Center
Salem4Youth
{{Authority control
Mennonite denominations
Evangelical denominations established in the 19th century
Religious organizations established in 1865
Members of the National Association of Evangelicals
Evangelical denominations in North America
1865 establishments in Indiana