An Introduction to Old Order: and Conservative Mennonite Groups (People's Place Booklet) [Paperback]

Stephen Scott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 1995

In an entertaining, narrative style, Scott examines and explains the history, lifestyles, customs, and beliefs of both the Old Order and the Conservative Mennonites--two growing separatist movements of Mennonites in North America today. Illustrated with dozens of black-and-white photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Never before has there been such an inside account of these people and their lives. Stephen Scott spent years conferring and interviewing members of the various groups and has succeeded brilliantly in portraying their history and their story in a fair, comprehensive, and accurate manner." - The Midwest Book Review "Conservative and Old Order audiences will presumably greet this book as a straightforward historical portrait, and that it is. Readers from the mainstream Mennonite groups may additionally find that it contains revelation and challenge. "To the reader outside the Old Order or Conservative family, the book's information is revelatory because we know so little about these groups. "Intriguing discoveries occur throughout: that some Mennonites drive buggies (so much for the progressives' efforts to remove that cliche); that Old Order Mennonites wedding couples serve wine and cookies to their guests (a nod to the biblical wedding at Cana); that the founder of Hershey Chocolate was a son of Reformed Mennonites; and that the Conservative Mennonite descendants of the non-proselytizing Amish have spread missions from Flint, Mich., to Luxembourg to Guatemala. "Reading Scott's book brings the realization that we generally do not know one another. "This book also gives mainstream Mennonites the overdue experience of being observed as outside the norm. It is a strange and bracing sensation to flip from a modern photo of a plain garbed Old Order couple plowing behind horses to a 1990 shot of a crowd signing at Mennonite World Conference-baggy T-shirts, surfer shorts, mohawk hairdos, and permanent waves dotting the audience-whose caption concludes that 'many North American Mennonite have blended quite thoroughly into the larger society.' "We are accustomed in Mennonite history to reading about progressives leaving behind those unprepared to change. This book, by contrast, shows conservatives staying a faithful course as the progressives impatiently romp off the path. "Learning more about the Old Order and Conservative groups might lead progressive Mennonites to think harder about issues such as conscientiousness, faithfulness, the role of Scripture and nonconformity-the supposed habits of our denomination. Increased contact, beyond reading about one another, might yield common ground and shared insight. "I was stimulated by Scott's chronicle yet abashed that so much of it came to me as news. For it contains, as surely as our mainstream histories, the perennial tensions of Mennonite identity." - Mennonite Weekly Review "The descendants of the Anabaptists who have received the least attention by scholars are the Old Order Mennonites. This book provides a helpful introduction to the history, doctrines, organization, and material culture of the Old Order groups-the Reformed Mennonites and their conservative Mennonite cousins in the United States and Canada that have emerged since the late nineteenth century. Stephen Scott provides a great deal of descriptive material about a wide variety of subjects, including modes of dress, transportation, content of worship services, weddings, funerals, family life, and the issues that have been divisive among the Old Order and conservatives." - Mennonite Quarterly Review "While it is very readable, attractively arranged, and loaded with photographs, it is also carefully written, well-documented and quite informative. Moreover, the book includes historical and sociological data about many conservative splinter groups which are simply not yet available anywhere else. I am especially impressed that Scott has included information on the numerous conservative congregations that are unaffiliated with any larger fellowship and whose histories and practices are normally forgotten in any systematic accounting of Mennonite life." - Journal of Mennonite Studies

From the Back Cover

This book tells a story which until now has not been available in such an interesting and comprehensive form. -What holds these people together? Why are they growing in number? Where do they live? -The Old Order Mennonites are less well known than the Amish, but are similar in many beliefs and practices. Some Old Order Mennonites drive horses and buggies. Others use cars for transportation. -Conservative Mennonite groups vary a great deal, but in general espouse strong faith and family life and believe that how they live should distinguish them from the larger society around them. -The author details courtship and wedding practices, methods of worship, dress, transportation, and vocation. Never before has there been such an inside account of these people and their lives. -The author spent years conferring and interviewing members of the various groups, trying to portray their history and their story in a fair and accurate manner. An enjoyable, educational, inspiring book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Good Books (October 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561481017
• ISBN-13: 978-1561481019
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Mennonite

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book about Conservative Mennonites, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Old Order: and Conservative Mennonite Groups (People's Place Booklet) (Paperback)

This book is probably the only book available which goes into detail about the different Old Order and Conservative Mennonite Groups. Its coverage of the Old Order groups is a little better than that of the Conservative Mennonite groups (such as the Nationwide Fellowship or the Bethel Conservative Fellowship). However, anyone who is serious about joining (or researching) the Old Order and Conservative Mennonites should definitely have this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Reference material on Conservative & Old Order Mennos, September 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Old Order: and Conservative Mennonite Groups (People's Place Booklet) (Paperback)

The BEST general reference book on Conservative and Old Order Mennonites. Explains the subtle differences between groups, as well as their history. Very readable for someone who is just generally interested in Plain People, and packed with detailed information for those seeking more depth. If you want info about Conservative Mennonites and can only buy one book, this is the one.