Glossary

Anabaptists. The name given by their opponents to the Radical Reformers of the sixteenth century because believer's baptism was considered one of their distinguishing characteristics by those who practiced infant baptism. Contemporary Mennonites trace their historical and spiritual roots to the Anabaptists.

Believers' Church. A term which has been used by historians and theologians to describe the type of church which emphasizes the necessity of personal faith as a condition for baptism into the church, and related characteristics of Christian faith and life. This broader term would include Anabaptists, Mennonites, Brethren, and other similar types of churches which have sometimes been called "free churches."

Board of Congregational Ministries. A Board of the Mennonite Church which provides program and other resources to assist congregations and conferences in such areas as evangelism, nurture, worship, ministry, leadership, music, peace and social concerns. Their address is P.O. Box 1245, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Charismatic. The sociological sense of this term refers to the powerful personality types of certain leaders in social and religious groups. This meaning should be distinguished from the use of the word "charismatic" which refers to a Pentecost-type renewal movement in many churches today. It should also be distinguished from the New Testament word which includes a whole range of "grace-gifts" (=charismata) ranging from prophecy to administration, from a word of wisdom to marriage.

Church. Sometimes used in the sense of both local congregations as well as the broader church.

Conference Consultations. A series of consultations which are scheduled periodically between representatives of district conferences and church board and agency representatives (General Board, Board of Missions, Education, Congregational Ministries, Publication, and Mutual Aid Board) in the Mennonite Church.

Confession of Faith (1963). The confession of faith adopted by the Mennonite Church General Conference at Kalona, Iowa, in 1963.

Council on Faith, Life, and Strategy. A standing council of the Mennonite Church, responsible to the Mennonite Church General Assembly and General Board.

Dordrecht Confession (1632). A Dutch Mennonite confession of faith translated into German and English and widely used as a doctrinal standard by European and North American Mennonite groups until the nineteenth and/or twentieth century.

The section on "widows" in Article IX of the Dordrecht Confession has been translated into English and German in several different ways. This study (Section I) has gone back to the original Dordrecht and translated directly from the Dutch text. The most precise and accurate translation which has been available so far in English is the one by Joseph F. Sohm in the English edition of Martyrs Mirror, as follows, "And that also honorable aged widows should be chosen and ordained deaconesses, that they with the deacons may visit, comfort, and care for, the poor, feeble, sick, sorrowing, and needy, as also the widows and orphans, and assist in attending to other wants and necessities of the church to the best of their ability. 1 Timothy 5:9; Romans 16:1; James 1:27."

Other translations, particularly those which omit the word "ordained" and which add the clause that deaconesses should assist in taking care of any matters in the church "that properly come "thin their sphere," are incorrect, because the original includes "ordained" but does not have "that properly come within their sphere."

Episcopal. The form of church government in which supreme authority rests in the bishop (English translation of the word "episcope" ) or body of bishops.

Literal Translation. A word-for-word translation from the original Greek of the New Testament.

Lot. A traditional practice of determining those who should be ordained to church ministry. According to this practice the candidates for ordination were asked to choose one of several books (generally hymnbooks) placed on a table; the one who chose the book (without any advance knowledge) which contained a blank sheet of paper or "lot" became the one designated for ordination.

Mennonite Church (MC). The largest Mennonite group in North America, formerly known as the "Old Mennonites."

Mennonite Church Study (1973). Printed as "Biblical Understandings Concerning Women and Men," a summary statement adopted by Mennonite General Assembly, August 5-10, 1975, available from Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pennsylvania.

Mennonite General Conference (MC). The denominational organization of the Mennonite Church from 1897-1971. It was predecessor of the Mennonite Church General Assembly and the Mennonite Church General Board formed in 1971.

Mennonites. May refer to several Mennonite groups, particularly when emphasizing similarities among them.

Offices. A traditional form for the "official" leadership roles in the church, regulated by prescribed qualifications, duties, ordination, peer standards, and largely independent of those who "fill" them.

"Principles and Guidelines for Interchurch Relations." Compiled and edited by James M. Lapp, August 1971, available from Mennonite Church General Board.

"Rule of Christ." The term used by sixteenth-century Anabaptists (adopted from the theological language of the time) for Matthew 18:15-20.

Schleitheim Agreement (1527). The first and formative statement of agreement on several essential elements between Anabaptist leaders in the sixteenth century.

Synodal. The form of church government in which supreme authority resides in the council of official clerical arid lay representatives from congregations in a specified area; characteristic particularly of Presbyterian and Reformed churches.

Appendix

Bibliography

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