Schulteboat is the Low German name of a meeting of the Mennonite farmers of a village in Russia, Manitoba, Mexico, and Paraguay, under the leadership of the Schulze. The meeting included originally only the owners of farms but was later opened to other male members of the village. All questions pertaining to the economic, social, and cultural life of the village were acted upon at these meetings. Only religious matters were left in the hands of the ecclesiastical leaders. J. H. Janzen wrote a Low German play under the title Schulteboat which describes the activities of such a meeting.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 483. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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