A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ach chapter is a careful blending of the general with the particular, and the abstract with the concrete, to keep the history alive and moving. vii viii HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Mennonite Brethren will see themselves mirrored as they actually have been in the past and are in the present. The author is aware that the heart and life of the church are to be found in the local congregations. He has therefore chosen to tell their inner spiritual history in large measure through the institutions they have created to serve an increasingly productive role in the work of the denomination. However, throughout the story he shows a strong awareness of the political, social and cultural forces that have influenced the life and witness of the church. He has maintained a delicate balance between historical objectivity and personal conviction. A thorough knowledge and careful analysis of the primary sources are evident throughout the book. The general scheme of organization is chronological and thematic. Part I surveys the origins and development of the Anabaptist-Menno- nite Brethren Church in the European setting and recounts the courage of those pilgrims and pioneers who were transplanted to North America through several migrations that began one hundred years ago. Part II portrays Mennonite Brethren beginnings and development in the U.S.A. and Canada, as well as the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren story. Conference organization, Christian education in the local church, music, institutional education in the conference, publications, ministry, cultural change, church-state relations, theology, inter-church relations and the worldwide brotherhood (missions) are described as facets of Mennonite Brethren church life. No attempt has been made at completeness in detail. Representative illustrations have been interspersed in the text. The appendixes are designed to supply additional information and summation in handy reference form. The indexes were prepared particularly for the student who needs to locate specific information. The casual reader will find them a ready guide to information of particular interest. As editor appointed by the Board of Christian Literature I have been involved in every stage of the development of this volume. It has been a privilege to work with the author during this time. I am convinced that A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church will become a standard guide to the understanding of the Mennonite Brethren and will be used for decades to come by those who want to be informed about their life and witness. Not everyone will agree with every interpretation in this book. However, every reader will be enlightened and inspired. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church represents a new stage in the writing of the Mennonite Brethren. It is the first full-length history to appear in the English language. It is therefore fitting that it INTRODUCTION LX be pu