Source: Wikipedia Commons

Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhenish Palatinate or Rhineland-Palatinate) Federal State, Germany. After World War II, the influx of refugees from West Prussia led to the establishment of the Mennonite congregation in Enkenbach, the largest Mennonite church in Rheinland-Pfalz (496 members). The congregational life of the Palatinate churches was enriched by American sisters and brethren, who assisted in every respect, including the construction of housing for Mennonite refugees at Enkenbach. In the 1960s a more intense coordination of the work of local congregations began. The salaried preachers met six times a year and, besides other services, compiled several publications: a manual for baptisms, burials and other ceremonies, and statements on biblical interpretation, etc., the mode of baptism, and the understanding of ministry. In most churches lay preachers were serving in addition to the salaried preachers. This indicated a shift toward more emphasis on the priesthood of all believers. While most efforts during the 1950s and 1960s centered on the congregations, interest in outreach also grew, as was evident in the missions at Neumühle (1977) and Kaiserslautern (1982). The retirement and nursing home at Enkenbach was regarded as commitment of love towards a society neglecting senior people. The boarding school at the Weierhof offered opportunity for educational ministry by church members. The third Mennonite European Regional Conference was held at Enkenbach in 1981.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 774. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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