Allianz Gemeinden (Alliance Churches), the popular name of two Mennonite congregations in Russia, namely at Lichtfelde and Altonau, whose official name was Evangelische Mennoniten-Gemeinden. These congregations separated from the Mennonite Church because of their position on baptism, communion, and discipline. They practiced only immersion, but did not demand it of members coming from other groups; they refused to take communion with the unconverted, observing it only with believing members of Protestant groups; hence the name "Alliance Churches."

This group tried to serve as a bridge between the Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren groups in Russia. In the immigration to Canada after World War I, however, members of the Alliance Churches did not continue as a separate organization, but joined the Mennonite Brethren. The Mennonite Brethren Conference in Ontario has its roots in this group.

In Paraguay, on the contrary, they continued as a separate group in the immigration of 1930 ff., and in Brazil they joined the General Conference Mennonite Church. The Evangelical Mennonite Brethren were in spirit and practice closely related to the Evangelische Mennoniten-Gemeinden.

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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