Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)
Box 457, Gretna, Manitoba, R0G 0V0. (204) 327-5208. Located at Government Road Allowance West in Rosetown, MB. Minister Peter D. Zacharias served in 2000 as a salaried congregational leader. (Pastors have been salaried since 1967.) In 1950 there were 337 members; in 1965, 393; in 1975, 262; in 1985, 247; in 1995, 228; in 2000, 214. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1926-) and General Conference Mennonite Church (1927-1999). The language of worship is English and German.
The congregation began services in 1923, and formally organized in 1925. The first building was occupied in 1958. Jacob J. Klassen is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union.
Johann P. Bueckert was the elder from 1928 until 1954 followed by Paul J. Schaefer 1954-1969. Other ministers who were called to minister in the Blumenort Mennonite Church include: A. A. Teichroeb 1970-1974, C. C Thiessen 1975-1982, and Peter D. Zacharias 1983-present (2001)
During the early years the Blumenort church had 10 centers of worship. Most of these dissolved gradually and the church was centralized at one meeting place in 1958.
Bibliography
Mennonite Encyclopedia. "Blumenort"
Canadian Mennonite (24 January 1958): 8.
Mennonite Reporter (15 May 1978): 11; (15 June 1992): B1.
Ens, Adolf. "A Contribution to the History of the Blumenort Mennonite Church, Gretna, Manitoba." Research paper, Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1962, 26 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Zacharias, Peter D. Footprints of a Pilgrim People: Story of the Blumenort Mennonite Church. Gretna: Blumenort Mennonite Church, 1985, 291 pp.
Archives at Mennonite Heritage Centre (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
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MLA style: Epp, Marlene. "Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 1986. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 08 September 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B5915.html>
APA style: Epp, Marlene. (September 1986). "Blumenort Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 08 September 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B5915.html>
