Difference between revisions of "First Mennonite Church of Morton (Morton, Illinois, USA)"

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Morton Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), in the city of Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois, a member of the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA) |Illinois Mennonite Conference]], is a merger of two older rural congregations, Pleasant Grove, near Tremont, IL, whose meetinghouse was erected in 1879, and Goodfield, near Goodfield, IL, whose building was erected in 1883. The church was dedicated on 4 May 1941. In 1957 the congregation had 200 members with Kenneth G. Good as bishop. In 2005 there were 266 members; Doane Brubaker was the pastor.  
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[[File:FirstMennoniteChurchMorton.jpg|400px|thumbnail|''First Mennonite Church of Morton, Morton, Illinois.<br />
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Source: [http://www.firstmennonitemorton.org/directions/ Church website].'']]
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The Morton Mennonite Church began in 1941 as a merger of the [[Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church (Tremont, Illinois, USA)|Pleasant Grove]] and [[Goodfield Mennonite Church (Goodfield, Illinois, USA)|Goodfield]] congregations. Pleasant Grove had sponsored a Sunday school in [[Morton (Illinois, USA)|Morton]] beginning in 1939, with preaching services twice a month.
  
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The name was changed to First Mennonite Church of Morton in 1961. A larger facility was built and dedicated at the present site in 1965.  
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In 1941, the congregation built a church building on the corner of Plum and Chicago streets in Morton. It dedicated its meetinghouse on 4 May 1941. In 1965, it built a larger facility and moved to the South Baltimore Avenue location. It sold the former facility to an Episcopalian congregation. In 2000, it completed the addition of a family center and gymnasium.
  
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The church is located at 250 S. Baltimore Ave, Morton IL 61550.
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The congregation changed its name to First Mennonite Church of Morton in 1958, at the time it adopted a new constitution.
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= Bibliography =
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Mennonite Church USA. "Online Directory." Accessed 2 October 2006. &lt;[http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/congregation.asp http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/congregation.asp?CongregationID=1603]&gt;
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In the late 1970s, the congregation experienced division over issues of worship style and leadership. This led to the formation of the [[Trinity Church (Morton, Illinois, USA)|Trinity Mennonite Church]].
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 3, p. 754|date=1957|a1_last=Roth|a1_first=Roy D|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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In 2022, First Mennonite Church of Morton left the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Illinois Mennonite Conference]] and [[Mennonite Church USA]] and joined [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]]. This decision took place after the Illinois Mennonite Conference voted at its 2020 annual meeting to allow credentialed pastors to perform same-sex marriages.  
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= Bibliography =  
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"Dedicatory services...." ''Gospel Herald'' 34, no. 8 (22 May 1941): 168.
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"The First Mennonite Church...." ''Gospel Herald'' 58, no. 23 (15 June 1965): 529.
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"How FMC started...." First Mennonite Church of Morton. Web. 12 January 2024. https://www.firstmennonitemorton.org/our-story.
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Mennonite Church USA. "Online Directory." Accessed 2 October 2006. http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/congregation.asp?CongregationID=1603
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Smith, Willard H. ''Mennonites in Illinois''. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 213, 455-457, 544-545.
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= Additional Information =
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'''Address:''' 250 South Baltimore Avenue, Morton, Illinois 61550
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'''Phone:''' 309-266-7591
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'''Website''': https://www.firstmennonitemorton.org/
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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[https://illinoismennonite.com/home/ Illinois Mennonite Conference] (until 2022)
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[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (until 2022)
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[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
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== Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church of Morton ==
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Simon Litwiller (1880-1956)(Bishop) || 1941-1956
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|-
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| Jonas Litwiller (1865-1944) || 1941-1944
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|-
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| Harold R. Oyer (1905-1961) || 1941-1943
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|-
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| Leland A. Bachman (1907-1998) || 1941-1947
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|-
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| Joseph W. Davis (1895-1984) || 1943-1947
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|-
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| Noah Roeschley (1896-1975) || 1948-1952
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|-
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| Kenneth G. Good (1910-1997) || 1953-1961
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|-
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| Clyde D. Fulmer (1931-2000) || 1961-1972
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|-
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| [[Kauffman, Milo Franklin (1898-1988)|Milo F. Kauffman]] (1898-1988) || 1973-1974
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|-
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| Mahlon D. Miller (1931-2014) || 1974-1977
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|-
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| Jason James "Jim" Detweiler (1926-1994) || 1978-1987
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|-
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| Glen A. Horner (1933- ) || 1987-1994
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|-
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| Thelma E. Horner (1934-2019) || 1987-1994
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|-
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| Doane Brubaker || 1994-2013?
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|-
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| Chris Wright (Youth) || 1998?-2004?
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|-
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| Earl Smith (Youth) || 2004?-2006
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|-
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| Michael Zehr (Interim) || 2013
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|-
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| Mark Vincent (Interim) || 2013
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|-
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| Aaron J. Yoder (Youth)<br />(Lead) || 2006-2013<br />2013-2022
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|-
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| Thomas J. Linderman (Family Life)<br />(Lead) || 2017-2022<br />2022-
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|}
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== First Mennonite Church of Morton Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1942 || 172
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|-
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| 1950 || 181
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|-
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| 1960 || 198
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|-
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| 1970 || 257
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|-
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| 1980 || 187
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|-
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| 1990 || 224
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|-
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| 2000 || 242
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|-
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| 2009 || 273
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|-
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| 2020 || 198
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By Roy D. Roth. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 3, p. 754. All rights reserved.
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Morton Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), in the city of Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois, a member of the [[Illinois Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA) |Illinois Mennonite Conference]], is a merger of two older rural congregations, Pleasant Grove, near Tremont, Illinois, whose meetinghouse was erected in 1879, and Goodfield, near Goodfield, Illinois, whose building was erected in 1883. The church was dedicated on 4 May 1941. In 1957 the congregation had 200 members with Kenneth G. Good as bishop.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=January 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Illinois Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:Illinois Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 13:42, 5 April 2024

First Mennonite Church of Morton, Morton, Illinois.
Source: Church website.

The Morton Mennonite Church began in 1941 as a merger of the Pleasant Grove and Goodfield congregations. Pleasant Grove had sponsored a Sunday school in Morton beginning in 1939, with preaching services twice a month.

In 1941, the congregation built a church building on the corner of Plum and Chicago streets in Morton. It dedicated its meetinghouse on 4 May 1941. In 1965, it built a larger facility and moved to the South Baltimore Avenue location. It sold the former facility to an Episcopalian congregation. In 2000, it completed the addition of a family center and gymnasium.

The congregation changed its name to First Mennonite Church of Morton in 1958, at the time it adopted a new constitution.

In the late 1970s, the congregation experienced division over issues of worship style and leadership. This led to the formation of the Trinity Mennonite Church.

In 2022, First Mennonite Church of Morton left the Illinois Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA and joined LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches. This decision took place after the Illinois Mennonite Conference voted at its 2020 annual meeting to allow credentialed pastors to perform same-sex marriages.

Bibliography

"Dedicatory services...." Gospel Herald 34, no. 8 (22 May 1941): 168.

"The First Mennonite Church...." Gospel Herald 58, no. 23 (15 June 1965): 529.

"How FMC started...." First Mennonite Church of Morton. Web. 12 January 2024. https://www.firstmennonitemorton.org/our-story.

Mennonite Church USA. "Online Directory." Accessed 2 October 2006. http://directory.mennoniteusa.org/congregation.asp?CongregationID=1603

Smith, Willard H. Mennonites in Illinois. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 213, 455-457, 544-545.

Additional Information

Address: 250 South Baltimore Avenue, Morton, Illinois 61550

Phone: 309-266-7591

Website: https://www.firstmennonitemorton.org/

Denominational Affiliations: Illinois Mennonite Conference (until 2022)

Mennonite Church USA (until 2022)

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church of Morton

Name Years
of Service
Simon Litwiller (1880-1956)(Bishop) 1941-1956
Jonas Litwiller (1865-1944) 1941-1944
Harold R. Oyer (1905-1961) 1941-1943
Leland A. Bachman (1907-1998) 1941-1947
Joseph W. Davis (1895-1984) 1943-1947
Noah Roeschley (1896-1975) 1948-1952
Kenneth G. Good (1910-1997) 1953-1961
Clyde D. Fulmer (1931-2000) 1961-1972
Milo F. Kauffman (1898-1988) 1973-1974
Mahlon D. Miller (1931-2014) 1974-1977
Jason James "Jim" Detweiler (1926-1994) 1978-1987
Glen A. Horner (1933- ) 1987-1994
Thelma E. Horner (1934-2019) 1987-1994
Doane Brubaker 1994-2013?
Chris Wright (Youth) 1998?-2004?
Earl Smith (Youth) 2004?-2006
Michael Zehr (Interim) 2013
Mark Vincent (Interim) 2013
Aaron J. Yoder (Youth)
(Lead)		 2006-2013
2013-2022
Thomas J. Linderman (Family Life)
(Lead)		 2017-2022
2022-

First Mennonite Church of Morton Membership

Year Members
1942 172
1950 181
1960 198
1970 257
1980 187
1990 224
2000 242
2009 273
2020 198

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Roy D. Roth. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 754. All rights reserved.

Morton Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), in the city of Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois, a member of the Illinois Mennonite Conference, is a merger of two older rural congregations, Pleasant Grove, near Tremont, Illinois, whose meetinghouse was erected in 1879, and Goodfield, near Goodfield, Illinois, whose building was erected in 1883. The church was dedicated on 4 May 1941. In 1957 the congregation had 200 members with Kenneth G. Good as bishop.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published January 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "First Mennonite Church of Morton (Morton, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2024. Web. 24 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_of_Morton_(Morton,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178639.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (January 2024). First Mennonite Church of Morton (Morton, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_of_Morton_(Morton,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=178639.



©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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