- Vergl. This application will provide us with necessary information to create your student account. Stand by thyself, come not near to me, I am holier than thou, focusing on Eastern exclusivity, 4. Court records did not list lawyers for the defendants. To suggest corrections or additions to this bibliography, e-mail: ervinb@goshen.edu Foreword Because so many elements of Amish and Mennonite culture are transmitted orally [] https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Eastern_Pennsylvania_Mennonite_Church&oldid=163204. If they misbehaved, leadership would allegedly withhold food until the boys completed their tasks and sometimes restricted the amount of rice and beans or water they could receive at mealtimes. Line Lexington Mennonite Church Membership records, 1911-1973; Alms record, 1850-1907; Burial records, 1901-1947. and highlighted the value of collaborative collective cataloging. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Deutsch, Perhaps the most significant reason is that Mennonites had a totally different concept of church from the state-church or high-church tradition. Peace and Anabaptist Library; Blue Rock Cemetery records, Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania Family History Library. [2] Beginning in 1971, Mennonite Messianic Mission, the service agency of the newly created Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, agreed to mission work in Guatemala. A B C coloring book 7. Once complete, you will use your student account to register for classes through MyEMU student portal. January . East Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown Membership records, 1848-1888. Service opportunities are provided in relief work, literature evangelism, child care, and in elderly care. Flatland-Bethany Mennonite Church, Quakertown Flatland membership records, 1856-1965; Congregational Minute Book, 1890-1957; Bethany membership records, 1899-1965. , It has related congregations in Belize, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States. To answer part of this question, I have compiled an inventory of the older (19th and early 20th century) local Mennonite membership records that are in the Historical Library and Archives. West Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown Membership records, 1848-1961; Congregational Minute Book, 1873- 1934; Meetinghouse subscription and construction records, 1819-20; Trustees records, 1832-1870. Between 1817 and 1860, many Mennonites followed broader patterns of American migration and moved west, establishing settlements in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa. This article was published in the MHEP Newsletter in November 1995, and has been updated to include church records added to the collection since that time. More than 2000 students study at our main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia; at our Lancaster, Pennsylvania site; and online. Preacher Jacob B. Mensch, Skippack Congregation & Skippack District. publications in Peace River Mennonite Church . In 1847, the Germantown congregation became part of the newly-formed Eastern District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church, but in 1851 left the conference, calling itself the Reformed Mennonite Church of Germantown. 717-293-5246 ext. Full data set can be cached for offline use on mobile and desktop. ), filed by J. D. M., D. C.. (Attachments: #1 Civil Cover Sheet, #2 Designation Form)(FRANCHI, RENEE) (September 2010). While they maintain a plain dress and do not use televisions or radios, eastern Pennsylvania Mennonites worship in English instead of German and drive cars, Joel Horst Nofziger, the centers executive director, said on Monday. These workers returned a short while later after determining that the needs of the church outweighed the dangers. Blooming Glen Mennonite Church Membership records, 1889-1965. Searchable listing of the Conservative Mennonite churches, congregations and ministers found in the Mennonite Church Directory, including links to church locations in Google Maps. Congregations are also located in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, Maine, Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington, Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Manitoba, and British Columbia, and in the mission countries mentioned above. The residents or their families had to pay around $2,300 a month and their labor often six long days a week is unpaid, the lawsuit states. Service opportunities are provided in relief work, literature evangelism, child care, and in elderly care. Directories; 2023 Mennonite Church Directory $ 18.99. After several more meetings and conversations, government officials determined that members would be allowed to serve in community betterment projects instead of the Civil Defense Patrol.[2]. It is unclear if the farm is still operating as a home for Mennonite boys. , For spiritual assistance call: 1-877-746-3437 info@pilgrimministry.org. The use of radio and television is not allowed. The findings demonstrated the power of data mining over the worlds largest set of bibliographic metadata Congregations are also located in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, Maine, Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington, Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia. 6. Springfield Mennonite Church Membership records, 1848-1930s. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Marcia Mylin serves as LMC resource staff. A study guide, Instructions for Christian living and church membership, The doctrine of the church : a study of the organization and function of the church, Things which become sound doctrine : the life of Aaron M. Shank, ( For approximately $2,300 a month, parents sent their troubled sons with special spiritual, emotional, and social needs to live in an intense spiritual atmosphere for the purpose of effecting social and behavioral changes, court documents state. A directory of Conservative Mennonite denominations called Pilgrim Ministry is maintained by the Pilgrim Mennonite Conference. (S. 49-56): The canton and council of Bern. The separation was by mutual agreement and by official sanction of the conference. Read more. It is easier to explain why membership records began in 1848 in some local Mennonite churches. The work provided valuable insight into how to mine bibliographic In October, eight leaders of a Nation of Islam offshoot in Kansas that has been labeled a cult were arrested and accused of separating children from their families, housing them in poor conditions and forcing them into labor without pay. The church's monthly periodical, Eastern Mennonite Testimony, is published by the Publication Board. Mennonite World Conference:; Membership of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. Many congregations are located in eastern Pennsylvania. Before coming to EMU, King had served at Lancaster Mennonite School since 1991. Miners Village Mennonite Church (EPMC) Lebanon, PA Singing & Sunday School - Sunday at 9:00 AM Preaching Service - Sunday at 10:00 AM Call: 717-510-9819 | Access code 163184. . A life of purity and simplicity is called for and television, radio, Internet, alcohol, and tobacco use are forbidden among members. Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Perkasie Membership records, 1859-1891; Burial records, 1830-1906. I can only tell you that law enforcement is aware of the allegations and taking the appropriate steps, Juniata County District Attorney Cory J. Snook said in an email late Tuesday, declining further comment. Donald B. Kraybill, Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010), 229. In the late 1960s, the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite . [2], Insert Links to Electronic Resources Here, 1. They wear plain clothing (dress), and their life is built around the church, schools, and religious activities. In Pennsylvania federal court on Nov. 17, they sued the Ephrata-based Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas; the churchs nonprofit corporation that oversees Liberty Ridge, the Mennonite Messianic Mission; and Liberty Ridge Farm in McAlisterville and its owner. In the waning days of 2019 a religious analysis gathered much attention in the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church camp. Rosie Epp, Board Co-Chair | Western District Conference Mennonite Church USA Ron Moyo, Board Co-Chair | Member at-Large Leah Rose, Secretary | Southern District Mennonite Brethren Will Swartzendruber, Treasurer | Central Plains Mennonite Church USA Jeni Hiett Umble, Executive Committee member | Mountain States Mennonite Church USA Jeff Baumgartner | South Central Conference . Regular worship services include Sunday school and preaching every Sunday morning, Sunday evening services, and midweek prayer meetings. U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Mennonite Church Directory 2010. 6. To check the times for your time zone, use The World Clock. 2023 Mennonite Life. There was no perceived need to keep membership records. Sendas Derechas is a bi-monthly Spanish newsletter published by the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. Burns Hill Cemetery Billion Graves. Mennonite Christians first settled in the Delaware Valley in 1683 and have been part of eastern Pennsylvania's community and religious life for over 300 years. For approximately $2,300 a month, parents sent their "troubled" sons with . The school is especially provided for young people in their late teens and early 20s, and offers a wide variety of Bible and practical studies. The plaintiffs allege the church and Liberty Ridge violated federal laws against human trafficking, racketeering and forced labor. Stephen Scott: An Introduction to Old Order and Conservative Mennonite Groups, Intercourse PA 1996, page 174. Mennonites of the Washington County, Maryland, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Conference: Author: Daniel R. Lehman: Publisher: Publication Board of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas, 1990: Original from: the University of Wisconsin - Madison: Digitized: Dec 2, 2009: Length: 644 pages : Export Citation: BiBTeX . The boys were also allegedly restrained by older residents known as mentors, who were forced to hold them facedown on the ground, restrain them with zip ties in a hogtied position and sometimes drag them, according to court documents. He stayed until 2014, when he was 17. . OPINION. [1] As of 1996 it was the largest Conservative Mennonite group.[2]. Wayne Rudolph, Phone conversation with author, April 12, 2011. Distributed in Guatemala and other Spanish speaking countries where the church is present. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church does not accept divorce and remarriage. Men, as a rule, do not enter the professions. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday. The July/August issue was the first publication. Earlier this month, the founder of a Filipino megachurch was arrested and charged with orchestrating a sex-trafficking operation. Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 7 (October 1984): 2-10. Now in their mid-20s, the men were identified only by their initials in the lawsuit, which was filed on Nov. 17 in U.S. District Court in Allentown, Pa. Vincent Mennonite Church Membership records, 1892-1897 and 1945-1986. Zion Mennonite Church, Birdsboro PA and their youth group. Photo courtesy Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, Pennsylvania. Term paper written by the son of Wayne Rudolph. In 2010 the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church had 77 congregations with 5,333 members. The other plaintiff was placed at Liberty Ridge about two years ago, after he had just turned 18, and was a resident of the farm for about 10 months. 1996-2023 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Disarmed: The Radical Life and Legacy of Michael MJ Sharp. . library materials. Mennonite. "Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church." works in Add to cart. The filing claims the boys worked six days per week without pay and at times, were forced to perform labor-intensive work "with limited-to-no food and . All rights reserved. Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. Attorneys for the farm and church were not listed in court documents. Mennonites are part of the 17th-century Protestant movement known as Anabaptism. There may not have been the know-how, the time, or the inclination to keep church membership records. Harleysville, PA Antietam Church Cemetery Find a Grave. A. Visit a Plain Anabaptist Church(Like the Beachy Amish-Mennonites) Conservative (evangelical) Mennonites. January 2010-March 2011, 7. Towamencin Mennonite Church Meetinghouse subscription list, 1805; Trustees records, 1847-. A woman answered the phone at a number listed as a contact for the church but then hung up. It was not immediately clear whether the farm continues to operate as a home for Mennonite boys. Ministers are unsalaried and chosen from the congregation by nomination and the use of the lot. Scroll down. (Y.B.S. Iglesias Menonitas de Guatemala de la Iglesia Menonita de Pennsylvania Oriental y Las Areas Relacionades. Try these recipes to prepare dishes with confidence. School directory of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas, 2016-2017 ( Book ) Daily devotional diary ( Book ) Black hats and white bonnets : religious ritual and belief among Weaverland Conference Mennonites by Daniel B Lee ( ) Marcia and her husband Dale have 5 adult children and are members of Byerland Mennonite Church. There are membership, baptismal, ministerial, burial records, alms records, property and land records. Some consequences included, but were not limited to, dragging chains over their shoulders, breaking boulders into tiny pieces by hand with a small hammer, and digging out stumps by hand, the lawsuit says. Deep Run West Mennonite Church, Perkasie Membership records, 1853-1920; Congregational Minute Book, 1849-1949. The boys were forced to perform labor at all times except for when they ate meals, slept, studied the Bible and exercised, according to court documents. EMC. Without arrogance or judgmentalism the paper laid out the following seven reasons: 1. The Mennonite Messianic Mission, Inc., directs the group's missions in Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina/Bolivia, the Bahamas, Paraguay, Ghana, and Togo. The Mennonite Heritage Center is a museum and historical library dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Mennonite faith and life in eastern Pennsylvania. Burns Family Cemetery Find a Grave. (1970). In the late 1960s, the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church separated from the Lancaster Mennonite Conference after religious leaders decided to modernize the movement and allow members to own televisions. Jan 2010, 7. Other Mennonite groups settled in Coaldale, Linden, and Rosedale. The lawsuit is the latest allegation of abuse of power by a religious leader. Filing 1 COMPLAINT against EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MENNONITE CHURCH AND RELATED AREAS, LIBERTY RIDGE FARM, MENNONITE MESSIANIC MISSION OF THE EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MENNONITE CHURCH, MARTIN NELSON ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number APAEDC-15556018. 5 Mar 2023. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Eastern_Pennsylvania_Mennonite_Church&oldid=163204. [3], Frank Martin Frank Martin and family have been active members in the church since its inception. Guatemala News Eastern Mennonite Testimony. Eastern District Conference assembly in May 1981 at East Swamp Mennonite Church. Neuenschwander, Jesse. In 1969, the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas had 27 congregations with 1,181 church members; in 1995 it had 59 churches with 3,434 members. Caribbean Light and Truth. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, Inc., 2010: 62-71. Important Individuals in the Life of the Church. 565 Yoder Road Bible Mennonite Fellowship. EMU encourages students, faculty and staff to live their faith and values through service to others, peacemaking, cross-cultural engagement and sustainability. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church broke away from the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in 1968, preferring a more conservative interpretation of church discipline than the mainstream church . Women wear headcoverings and have uncut hair. [5] The church ban is actively practiced among the Guatemalan branch of the church. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Marcia Mylin. Mennonite Church Directory 2010. Their life-style reflects the old Mennonite traditions. There really isnt a whole lot of information out there, period, she said. Supervisors would verbally abuse the boys by telling them that if they tried to leave the facility they would be excommunicated from the church or excommunicate them from their families, the lawsuit alleges. [4] These missionary families live and work, primarily in agriculture, alongside Guatemalans. There are church property records, alms records and trustee records going back to the mid-18th century, but these do not contain membership records. Bishop Warren G. Bean, Skippack District (Skippack, Providence, Worcester, Vincent, Bally, Pottstown, Norristown churches in the Franconia Conference). He trusted Christ first and understood by faith that eventually Christ and His Way is blessed indeed. 2003. The use of radio and television is not allowed. Nr. The lawsuit said they were denied food and zip-tied at times while at the farm. "Guatemala News" Eastern Mennonite Testimony. The suit did not elaborate on why the two plaintiffs were placed at the farm. Upper Milford Mennonite Church Membership records, 1867-1890s; Church property records and Congregational meeting minutes, 1870s-1890. States and Honduras. of Anabaptist doctrine and of Old Mennonite tradition. Cumberland Valley Mennonite Church. This was a dangerous time for members of the church as they found themselves in the middle of the fighting. Vision/Mission: The Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, Pa. is a museum and historical library dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Mennonite faith and life in eastern Pennsylvania. 115 Each summer the school offers a two-week training course for school teachers, and in December a ministers' fellowship and seminar is provided. Such is the consequence when leaders lose the trust of those they lead. D.C., one of the plaintiffs, was 14 when his parents sent him to Liberty Ridge. All Rights Reserved. Web. 1897-1962; Alms (Deacons) record, 1859-1900. Forrest updated the list, edited a bit, added photos, and published it. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Maryland seafood processing company fined $240,000 for visa fraud, Boy dies after being hit by train in Baltimore. Statement of Christian Doctrine of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. In the waning days of 2019 a religious analysis gathered much attention in the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church camp. A conservative portion of Lancaster Conference cooperated to establish the Mennonite Messianic Mission (MMM) in the early 1960s and opened two voluntary service units in Danville, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, and a Bible school for young people at Numidia, Pennsylvania. The church has experienced significant losses in membership, particularly among the second generation of converts. Forty-eight acres of land were acquired and in early 1972 several families from the United States moved to Guatemala. The lawsuit is brought by two men who are former residents of Liberty Ridge Farms, a farm in Juniata County owned by Nelson Martin that the two said operated as a reform program for the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church. The Mennonite Bibliography, 2005 consists of titles published in 2005 that were acquired by the contributing libraries. Defendants threatened (him) that if he left, they would have the police drag him back because the cops were on their side, the lawsuit states. [3] In 2001 there were 4,206 members. One on one tutoring programs and personalized teaching were effective in the adaptation of Mennonite beliefs. If found guilty, Champ faces a mandatory sentence of 25 to 99 years in . Each summer the Ashland school offers a two-week training course for school teachers, and in December a ministers' fellowship and seminar is provided. Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church officials could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night. July of 2022. [8], The Guatemalan branch of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church is small and a significant challenge of the group will be in retaining young members and attracting new converts amidst significant social pressures. There will be no changes, highlighting a desperate, deliberate attempt to mislead the unsuspecting, trusting members of the congregation, 5. Your search found 0 congregations. In a lawsuit filed against the farm and the church on Nov. 17 in federal court, the men allege the farm used them in a human-trafficking plot, where boys were subjected to forced labor with no compensation while being physically and emotionally tormented and deprived of food and education. Salford Mennonite Church Membership records, 1890-1980s; Alms record, 1849-1965; Trustees records, 1818-1965. Hostetter, Sanford. Thesis paper concerning the events leading to the schism which brought about the beginnings of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, 2. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Residents also faced consequences when they acted against the Bible including having their food and water withheld or restricted to just rice and beans or being forced to do manual labor like dragging chains or breaking boulders with a small hammer, the lawsuit alleges. The Duchess Mennonite Church, 160 km east of Calgary, was established by settlers from eastern Pennsylvania. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, Inc., 2010: 62-71. World Directory 2000 "Come to the River" St Louis 99 . Anyone can read what you share. 19438-1020, Tues Fri: 10 AM to 5 PM The men, identified only by their initials, are seeking financial compensation including punitive damages and back pay for all of their unpaid work. Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton Membership records, 1893-1998; Annual Meeting minutes, 1893-1997. Thus, by 1820, some four thousand Mennonites and two hundred Amish, a closely related group, had settled in eastern Pennsylvania. They do not engage in worldly amusements, nor do they follow organized sports. The missionaries instructed Guatemalans in the meaning and application of Bible verses and stories. ), The Swiss Anabaptists : a brief summary of their history and beliefs, Enth. Mennonites refused to assist or participate with either side in the conflict. u. a. In 1970, the Conservative Mennonite Fellowship requested help with mission work in Guatemala because they had more opportunities than they could handle. One of the plaintiffs went to live at the farm in 2011 and remained there until 2014, according to the lawsuit, which identified him by the initials D.C., and as a New Jersey resident. The farm and its owner, identified in the lawsuit as Martin Nelson, were also named as defendants. The lawsuit by two former residents of Liberty Ridge, an 80-acre farm in Juniata County near the states geographic center, said the two plaintiffs were held there in violation of federal laws against human trafficking and forced into long hours of grueling work. Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, Statement of Christian doctrine and rules and discipline of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and related areas, ( [3] After a conservative Mennonite worker was shot to death and the missionaries received threats, many of the United States mission families decided to return to the United States for safety. Children of members do not attend public schools. 2020 Sound Doctrine Archives for applying for licenses and other necessary permissions before providing services, said the spokesman, Brandon Cwalina. Most of the students continue in school through 10th grade. The church doctrine states that members of the church should seek to live a holy life of separation from the world. 1 vol. Mennonite Church Directory - Digital Edition. Wayne is a bishop of the Guatemalan branch of the Eastern PA Mennonite Church. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which regulates facilities like the farm, said the agency is investigating the allegations. languages and Liberty Ridge Farm in McAlisterville, Pa. Troubled boys who were housed there worked six days a week with no pay and were physically and mentally abused, according to a lawsuit. The issue of involvement in the Civil Defense Patrol brought much conversation and controversy to the church. In 1847, there was a division in this community between progressive (new) and conservative (old) Mennonites. Three of the ministers are of Guatemalan background while the rest of leadership comes from those with origins in the United States. Curriculum used in their schools is written, approved and published by the Mennonite Church members. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. The group sponsors a 15-week winter Bible school at Numidia, Pennsylvania. This work will continue to build our entity ecosystem to support the Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville PA (Mennonite Historians of Eastern PA) Menno House, New York (Manhattan) NY. Those deemed to have acted against the Bible or otherwise broken the farms rules were forced to endure what were called consequences, among them being limited to rice and beans and water, digging up tree stumps by hand and dragging chains over their shoulder, according to the lawsuit. A new effort toward coordination in the conference was made when a conference minister was appointed in 1982 in the person of David Hillegas. Miller is the most common of all Amish monikers, with this directory reporting a whopping 811 households with that last name at the time of printing. franais, flesh and blood brothers and sisters who fellowship together in a day by day Other agencies of Mennonite Church USA include Mennonite Education Agency, MHS Alliance, Mennonite Mission Network and MennoMedia. Franconia Mennonite Church Membership records, 1888-1978; Alms record, 1756-1947. This family oriented newsletter provides editorials and devotional readings for churches and neighborhoods. He has taught full time in Christian Day schools . Create new articles that tell stories about the Anabaptists of Insert Page Name Here and insert links to those stories here. Why the bishops? During this time, Scott joined the Old Order River Brethren Church, one of the consrvative Anababptist groups. (1921) confessions of faith ; forms of baptism, communion, feet washing, marriage, anointing, ordination of bishops, ministers, STAR Level I: Winter 2023 . He says he was never paid for his labor and at the start, received no schooling. The early missionaries faced much superstition, much of which could be attributed to the present Indian culture which emphasized the role of spirits and sorcery in daily life. In the lawsuit, the men accused the church and the farms operators of violating state and federal human trafficking laws, in addition to federal racketeering laws. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite church of Guatemalan is administered the same way as the North American church with a bishop oversight and one or two ordained ministers for each congregation. PA 17603 717-291-8611 . This page was last edited on 12 February 2019, at 15:23. The purpose for seeking release from the Lancaster Mennonite Conference was to develop a church program that would help preserve biblical practice and the historic Mennonite values. In 2020 it had 95 congregations, 6,656 members, 27 Bishops, 179 Ministers and 113 Deacons. Martin Nelson, a named defendant who owns Liberty Ridge Farm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Tuesday. The schools are provided for young people in their late teens and early 20s, and offers a wide variety of Bible and practical studies. In 1969, the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas had 27 congregations with 1,181 church members; in 1995 it had 59 churches with 3,434 members. Before that, he was executive director of Camp Hebron, Halifax, Pa., five years and was athletic director and health and physical education teacher, 1977-86, at Locust Grove Mennonite School, Lancaster. The three-letter symbols after each entry indicate which libraries have copies of the titles. In 1972, the Frank Martin family along with others was the first church members to cross into Guatemala from Mexico. Researchers at the MHC Historical Library often ask, Where are the early Mennonite church records? or What church records do you have?. The Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas, the church's non-profit corporation that oversees the farm, is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, along with the farm itself, the . A man ought not to cover his head, referring to required hat-wearing as part of formal attire for men, 3. All rights reserved (About Us). He stayed for 10 months, during which he was threatened that if he left, they would have the police drag him back because the cops were on their side, the lawsuit says.