Glossary

This dictionary of terms related to things Mennonite is not an exhaustive list; it was developed primarily from actual questions sent in from readers. If a term, doctrine or comparison group is not here, it means no one has asked that question yet.

If you would like to see additional questions addressed, let us know. The FAQs are also a great starting point for common questions regarding the Mennonites.

Third Way dedicates these pages in memory of Erma Hess Brunk who wrote many of these responses in her daily work of responding to the many people e-mailing their questions to Third Way.

Abortion

Activism, protests

Advent

African American Mennonites

Amish 

Amish and electricity

Anabaptist groups, year began, and members

Apostolic continuity

Baptism

Baptist and Mennonite differences

Beards

Birth control

Born again

Brethren and Mennonites

Bruderhof

Calvinism and Arminianism

Catholic and Mennonite differences

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Christmas

Church and state (separation)

Church discipline

Church membership

Clothing

Communion

Corporal punishment

Coverings, prayer veiling, scarf

Creationism and evolution

Daily life

Dating outside the church

Death and dying

Death penalty

Divorce

Donating organs/bodies

Dortrecht Confession of Faith

Drug addiction

Education

End times

Environment

Eternal security

Euthanasia

Family roles

Food

Footwashing

Fundamentalism

Funerals

German (use of language)

Governance

Halloween

Heaven

Hell

Historical roots of Mennonites and Amish

History and immigration of Mennonites into Canada

History of the Mennonites

Holdeman Mennonites

Holy Kiss

Holy Spirit

Holy Trinity

Homosexuality

Immigration

Jesus

Jury service

Lawsuits

Lent

Living your faith

Membership

Mennonite acronyms

Mennonite children

Mennonite Church USA

Mennonite distinctives

Mennonite settlements in the U.S.

Mennonite Your Way

Mennonites and mission

Mennonites and Mormons

Mennonites in Australia and New Zealand

Mennonites in Brazil

Mennonites in Mexico

Mennonites in other countries (not listed)

Ministry credentials

Moral issues

Muslims and Mennonites

Natural/organic foods

Occupations

Old Order Mennonites

One God

Ordination

Original sin

Other places to look for answers to your questions

Peace/pacifism

Pennsylvania Dutch

Photography

Pledge of allegiance

Politics

Prayer

Prayer book

Premarital sex

Reformed Mennonite Church

Rituals

Sabbath

Sacraments/ordinances

Salvation

Scripture

Scripture translation

Second coming

Second work of grace

Seventh Day Adventists

Sex education

Shunning/The Ban

Singing

Slavery

Speaking in tongues

Statement on torture

Stewardship

Suicide

Sunday

Taxes

Technology

Ten Commandments

Vegetarianism

Volunteerism/Service

Voting

War

Weaverland Mennonites – “Black Bumper”

Wedding bands

Weddings

Women in leadership

Women’s hair

Women’s roles

Worship

Health

Music

Featured Products

Part memoir, part tour of the apocalypse, and part call to action.

Donald Kraybill's guide on the Amish, a people known for their simplicity, and commitment to peaceful living.