The All-Mennonite Convention was a series of nine unofficial meetings held from 1913 to 1936 by representatives of various branches of the Mennonite church in the United States for the purpose of discussing common problems in the hope that such discussions might bring about greater unity among the various groups. The movement had its inception in an editorial by I. A. Sommer, "In What Fundamentals Do Mennonites Agree?" which appeared in The Mennonite in 1913. In response to the suggestion of N. E. Byers, then president of Goshen College, for a discussion of common problems, the editor of The Mennonite called for a meeting of representatives of the various groups which met with considerable support, and which resulted in the first of the series held at Berne, Indiana, the same year. Later sessions were held in Carlock, Illinois, 1916; Bluffton, Ohio, 1919; Goshen, Indiana, 1922; Nappanee, Indiana, 1925; Hillsboro, Kansas, 1927; Berne, Indiana, 1930; Newton, Kansas, 1933; and Topeka, Indiana, 1936.

Later partly due to the appearance of other cooperative movements among the Mennonites--relief, peace, and cultural--interest in the original All-Mennonite Convention died out, and no sessions were held after 1936. Detailed reports of all the proceedings of these sessions have been published.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 62. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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