Difference between revisions of "First Mennonite Church (Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA)"

From GAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
[checked revision][checked revision]
(replaced article)
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
First Mennonite Church in [[Fort Wayne (Indiana, USA)|Fort Wayne]] began as a mission upon the authorization of the [[Ohio Mennonite Conference|Ohio Mennonite Conference]] in 1902, after the repeated requests of John B. Federspiel and wife, Mennonite residents of the city. [[Steiner, Menno Simon (1866-1911)|M. S. Steiner]] was appointed to open the work, which began at 1921 South Hauna Street, in 1903. In 1904 the mission was moved to 2237 Oliver Street and from there to St. Mary's Avenue. Two years later a church was constructed at 1209 St. Mary's Avenue. In 1915 the present chapel was built on the adjoining lot. The following pastors were in charge of the work at Fort Wayne up to 1955: J. F. Bressler 1903-1905, Ben B. King 1905-1930, Frank Martin 1930-1934, Newton Weber 1934-1941, Allen Ebersole 1941-1952, Rudy Bontrager, beginning service in 1952. Others have served for shorter periods of time. In the early 1920s the Fort Wayne Mission became an organized self-governing congregation, but with limited support from the mission board, which was continued until September 1953, when the congregation became entirely independent of the mission board. The membership in 1955 was 136.
+
__TOC__
 +
First Mennonite Church in [[Fort Wayne (Indiana, USA)|Fort Wayne]] began as a mission upon the authorization of the [[Ohio Mennonite Conference (1843-1927)|Ohio Mennonite Conference]] in 1902, after the repeated requests of John B. Federspiel and wife, Mennonite residents of the city. [[Steiner, Menno Simon (1866-1911)|M. S. Steiner]] was appointed to open the work, which began at 1921 South Hauna Street, in 1903. In 1904 the mission was moved to 2237 Oliver Street and from there to St. Mary's Avenue. Two years later a church was constructed at 1209 St. Mary's Avenue. In 1915 the present chapel was built on the adjoining lot. The following pastors were in charge of the work at Fort Wayne up to 1955: J. F. Bressler 1903-1905, Ben B. King 1905-1930, Frank Martin 1930-1934, Newton Weber 1934-1941, Allen Ebersole 1941-1952, Rudy Bontrager, beginning service in 1952. Others have served for shorter periods of time. In the early 1920s the Fort Wayne Mission became an organized self-governing congregation, but with limited support from the mission board, which was continued until September 1953, when the congregation became entirely independent of the mission board and called itself First Mennonite Church. The membership in 1955 was 136.
  
−
The congregation closed the end of 2015.
+
As an urban congregation, First Mennonite was one of the first in the conference to allow wedding rings.
 +
 
 +
The congregation closed in 2015; it held its last service on 22 November 2015.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
 
Janzen, Peter. "First Mennonite, Fort Wayne Wants to Donate Hymnals." Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. 10 November 2015. Web. 5 June 2017. http://im.mennonite.net/2015/11/10/first-mennonite-fort-wayne-wants-to-donate-hymnals/.
 
Janzen, Peter. "First Mennonite, Fort Wayne Wants to Donate Hymnals." Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. 10 November 2015. Web. 5 June 2017. http://im.mennonite.net/2015/11/10/first-mennonite-fort-wayne-wants-to-donate-hymnals/.
 +
 +
_____. "First Mennonite of Fort Wayne." ''Gospel Evangel'' 87, no. 6 (October 2006): 3-4.
  
 
King, B. B. "Our Mission Work at Ft. Wayne, Indi­ana." <em>Youth’s Christian Companion. </em>(27 September 1925): 1, 2
 
King, B. B. "Our Mission Work at Ft. Wayne, Indi­ana." <em>Youth’s Christian Companion. </em>(27 September 1925): 1, 2
  
−
Sevits, Esther. "History of the Fort Wayne Mission." <em>Mennonite Historical Bulletin </em>(January 1947): 1, 4.
+
Preheim, Rich. ''In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference''. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 140, 231, 309.
 +
 
 +
Sevits, Esther. "History of the Fort Wayne Mission." ''Mennonite Historical Bulletin'' (January 1947): 1, 4.
 +
 
 +
Wenger, John Christian. ''The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan''. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 118-121.
 +
 
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
Address: 1213 Saint Marys Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana
 
  
−
Phone:  
+
'''Address:''' 1213 Saint Marys Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana
 +
 
 +
'''Phone:'''
 +
 
 +
'''Website''':  
  
−
Denominational affiliations:
+
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
 +
[https://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]
  
−
[http://www.im.mennonite.net/ Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]
+
[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
 +
== Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church ==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
 +
|-
 +
| John F. "J. F." Bressler (1881-1949) || 1903-1905
 +
|-
 +
| Ben B. King (1881-1963) || 1905-1930
 +
|-
 +
| Frank J. Martin (1879-1944)(Deacon) || 1930-1934
 +
|-
 +
| Newton S. Weber (1897-1981) || 1934-1941
 +
|-
 +
| Allen B. Ebersole (1906-1994) || 1941-1952
 +
|-
 +
| Rudy S. Borntrager (1910-1978) || 1952-1959
 +
|-
 +
| John R. Smucker (1932-2006) || 1960-1965
 +
|-
 +
| John C. King (1932-2017)<br />(Bishop)|| 1967-1969<br />1969-1977
 +
|-
 +
| Howard E. Dunlap (1921-2014) || 1979-1985
 +
|-
 +
| William E. Raines (1937-2011) || 1985-1994
 +
|-
 +
| Mark L. Vincent || 1983-1992
 +
|-
 +
| Paul D. Leichty || 1992-1997
 +
|-
 +
| Dwayne Beggs || 1993-1994
 +
|-
 +
| Brenda Isaacs (Interim) || 1997-1998
 +
|-
 +
| Gary E. Martin (Interim) || 1999-2001
 +
|-
 +
| Kathy Colliver || 2001-2004
 +
|-
 +
| Peter Georg Janzen || 2005-2015
 +
|}
 +
== First Mennonite Church Membership ==
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
 +
|-
 +
! Year !! Members
 +
|-
 +
| 1920 || 75
 +
|-
 +
| 1930 || 76
 +
|-
 +
| 1940 || 84
 +
|-
 +
| 1950 || 91
 +
|-
 +
| 1960 || 150
 +
|-
 +
| 1970 || 144
 +
|-
 +
| 1980 || 94
 +
|-
 +
| 1990 || 83
 +
|-
 +
| 2000 || 54
 +
|-
 +
| 2009 || 73
 +
|}
  
−
[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA  ]
+
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, p. 356|date=May 2024|a1_last=Gingerich|a1_first=Melvin|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
−
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, p. 356|date=1956|a1_last=Gingerich|a1_first=Melvin|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
 
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 11:56, 18 May 2024

First Mennonite Church in Fort Wayne began as a mission upon the authorization of the Ohio Mennonite Conference in 1902, after the repeated requests of John B. Federspiel and wife, Mennonite residents of the city. M. S. Steiner was appointed to open the work, which began at 1921 South Hauna Street, in 1903. In 1904 the mission was moved to 2237 Oliver Street and from there to St. Mary's Avenue. Two years later a church was constructed at 1209 St. Mary's Avenue. In 1915 the present chapel was built on the adjoining lot. The following pastors were in charge of the work at Fort Wayne up to 1955: J. F. Bressler 1903-1905, Ben B. King 1905-1930, Frank Martin 1930-1934, Newton Weber 1934-1941, Allen Ebersole 1941-1952, Rudy Bontrager, beginning service in 1952. Others have served for shorter periods of time. In the early 1920s the Fort Wayne Mission became an organized self-governing congregation, but with limited support from the mission board, which was continued until September 1953, when the congregation became entirely independent of the mission board and called itself First Mennonite Church. The membership in 1955 was 136.

As an urban congregation, First Mennonite was one of the first in the conference to allow wedding rings.

The congregation closed in 2015; it held its last service on 22 November 2015.

Bibliography

Janzen, Peter. "First Mennonite, Fort Wayne Wants to Donate Hymnals." Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. 10 November 2015. Web. 5 June 2017. http://im.mennonite.net/2015/11/10/first-mennonite-fort-wayne-wants-to-donate-hymnals/.

_____. "First Mennonite of Fort Wayne." Gospel Evangel 87, no. 6 (October 2006): 3-4.

King, B. B. "Our Mission Work at Ft. Wayne, Indi­ana." Youth’s Christian Companion. (27 September 1925): 1, 2

Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 140, 231, 309.

Sevits, Esther. "History of the Fort Wayne Mission." Mennonite Historical Bulletin (January 1947): 1, 4.

Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 118-121.

Additional Information

Address: 1213 Saint Marys Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Phone:

Website:

Denominational Affiliations: Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference

Mennonite Church USA

Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
John F. "J. F." Bressler (1881-1949) 1903-1905
Ben B. King (1881-1963) 1905-1930
Frank J. Martin (1879-1944)(Deacon) 1930-1934
Newton S. Weber (1897-1981) 1934-1941
Allen B. Ebersole (1906-1994) 1941-1952
Rudy S. Borntrager (1910-1978) 1952-1959
John R. Smucker (1932-2006) 1960-1965
John C. King (1932-2017)
(Bishop)		 1967-1969
1969-1977
Howard E. Dunlap (1921-2014) 1979-1985
William E. Raines (1937-2011) 1985-1994
Mark L. Vincent 1983-1992
Paul D. Leichty 1992-1997
Dwayne Beggs 1993-1994
Brenda Isaacs (Interim) 1997-1998
Gary E. Martin (Interim) 1999-2001
Kathy Colliver 2001-2004
Peter Georg Janzen 2005-2015

First Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1920 75
1930 76
1940 84
1950 91
1960 150
1970 144
1980 94
1990 83
2000 54
2009 73


Author(s) Melvin Gingerich
Samuel J. Steiner
Date Published May 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Gingerich, Melvin and Samuel J. Steiner. "First Mennonite Church (Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2024. Web. 20 May 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Fort_Wayne,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178872.

APA style

Gingerich, Melvin and Samuel J. Steiner. (May 2024). First Mennonite Church (Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 20 May 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Fort_Wayne,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178872.



Hpbuttns.png

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 356. All rights reserved.


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

Retrieved from "https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Fort_Wayne,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178872"