Flanagan Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA)
The Flanagan Mennonite Church was the first new church organized by the Joseph Stuckey Amish Mennonite group. The Flanagan Sunday school began in 1876, and the church organized in 1878 when the congregation ordained Christian Rediger as minister. He had arrived from Germany in 1867.
Arthur Slagel of this congregation was one of the first three relief workers sent to Russia in 1920 by the new Mennonite Central Committee.
The members met in homes or in a district schoolhouse until 1882, when they built a meetinghouse 2.5 miles southwest of Flanagan.
In 1965 Flanagan initially explored the possibility of merging with nearby Mennonite congregations, including Waldo Mennonite, Meadows Mennonite, and the Salem Evangelical Mennonite churches. Leland Harder of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries led a study, but no action resulted.
In 1999 merger discussions again began with Waldo Mennonite Church, and on 15 April 2001, the two congregations merged, forming Prairieview Mennonite Church. The congregation is located at the former Waldo site.
Bibliography
Hochstetler, Wayne. "Historic vote merges two congregations." Central District Reporter 45, no. 2 (April-May 2001): 7.
Rich, Elaine Sommers, ed. Walking Together in Faith: The Central District Conference, 1957-1990. Bluffton, Ohio: The Conference, 2003: 158-159.
Smith, Willard H. Mennonites in Illinois. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 96, 537.
Weber, Harry F. Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois 1829-1929. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite history, 3. Goshen, Ind: Mennonite Historical Society, 1931: 466-467. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00webe.
Additional Information
Address: 2962 E500 North Road, Flanagan, Illinois
Phone:
Website:
Denominational Affiliations: Central District Conference
Pastoral Leaders at Flanagan Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Christian Rediger (1849-1938) (Bishop) |
1878-1885 1885 |
| William Egle (1860-1944) | 1883-1887 |
| Stephen Stahly (1842-1916) (Bishop) |
1885-1887 1887-1916 |
| Joseph B. Zehr (1853-1940) (Bishop) |
1887-1890 1890-1934 |
| Emanuel C. Ulrich (1890-1961) (Bishop) |
1918-1934 1934-1958 |
| Earl L. Salzman (1895-1961) | 1958-1961 |
| Robert R. Coon (1931-2021) | 1961-1965 |
| Donald K. Nester (1936-2001) | 1965-1972 |
| Lotus E. Troyer (1915-1994) | 1972-1984 |
| James "Jim" Egli | 1984-1992 |
| Robert E. Bodem (1945-2020) | 1993-1995 |
| Steven R. Estes (1956-2009) | 1995-2001 |
Membership at Flanagan Mennonite Church
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 76 |
| 1960 | 79 |
| 1970 | 83 |
| 1980 | 86 |
| 1990 | 83 |
| 2000 | 69 |
Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article
By Raymond L. Hartzler. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 334. All rights reserved.
The Flanagan Mennonite Church (General Conference Mennonite), a member of the Central District Conference (formerly known as Central Conference of Mennonites), located about two miles southwest of Flanagan, Illinois, began as a Sunday school for Amish residents in the vicinity. In 1878 the congregation was organized with Christian Rediger as its pastor. Four years later a church was built. Succeeding ministers and/or bishops were Stephen Stahley 1885-1916, Joseph Zehr 1890-1934, Emanuel Ulrich, beginning service in 1918. A full schedule of regular Sunday services was carried on in 1954, with a membership of 79.
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2022 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Flanagan Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2022. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Flanagan_Mennonite_Church_(Flanagan,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=174390.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (December 2022). Flanagan Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Flanagan_Mennonite_Church_(Flanagan,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=174390.
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