Bernhard (Behrent) Penner: elder; b. 28 October 1756, the son of Dirck Penner (ca. 1725 – bef. 1765) and Katharina (Wieler) Penner (25 December 1730 – 21 July 1803). Bernhard married Anna Epp (1760 – December 1826) on 31 March 1777. Anna was the daughter of Johann Epp (ca. 1735 – 21 May 1792) and Maria (Rogalski) Epp (ca. 1735 – 19 September 1781). Bernhard died 27 July 1791 in Chortitza Colony, South Russia. After his death, Bernhard’s widow Anna married Peter Wiebe (b. 1769).

Bernhard was the first elder of the Mennonite congregations in the Chortitza settlement in South Russia. With a group of the immigrants to Russia from West Prussia he reached Dubrovka in the Russian province of Mohilev, and since there was no minister in the group he was chosen as minister here and confirmed in this office by the home congregations in West Prussia by letter. In 1790 he was chosen as elder, this office being again confirmed by the home congregations.

The conduct of his office was by no means easy. The severe difficulties of pioneering were heightened by strife in the church life. The poverty was so dire that he had to appear in borrowed boots to conduct communion and baptismal services. In addition to all this, his health was poor. He therefore asked to have a co-elder chosen in 1791; the man chosen, however, declined the office. Penner then wrote an epistle (Hirtenbrief) requesting that the congregation choose an elder immediately after his death. He died in 1791 after serving only one year as elder.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 134. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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To cite this page:

MLA style: Schellenberg, Bernhard J. and Richard D. Thiessen. "Penner, Bernhard (1756-1791)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2006. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 09 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/P46602.html>

APA style: Schellenberg, Bernhard J. and Richard D. Thiessen. (August 2006). "Penner, Bernhard (1756-1791)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 09 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/P46602.html>