Mennonite Baptism (Part 1)
Old Colony
To become a member of the church requires baptism, which I understand is done just before marriage, which in turn usually happens at an early age. Age 17 to 20 for most girls while for boys it's usually a little older. There is a doctrinal handbook taught in their schools and homes, the catechism, which outlines the Biblical principles that must be adhered to. Unfortunately the spiritual meaning seems to have been lost over the years. There is no genuine repentance, new birth or knowledge of the Holy Spirit, simply a cold and rigid acceptance of community rules and traditions. To many of them, baptism is merely the first step of marriage. Of course, only members of the church can attend the baptismal service and ONLY community members can join the church.
Hoover (Old Order Mennonites)
According to this ultra conservative branch, baptism is only done when a person expresses a desire to follow Jesus. Although there is no set age, it usually happens during the mid-teen years. The church members, united as a body yet individually observing the applicant, decide if he qualifies for membership; not by majority vote but by letting him or the pastor know if there is anything lacking in his life. If there is a general approval, the applicant is baptized. Concerning a new birth and repentance, there seems to be a slight haziness on the issue. A person's declaration to follow the Lord and obey the church ordinations seem to be considered as proof of a changed life. The baptismal ceremony is open to non-members, provided they don't bring cameras or any electronic recording device. Anyone, Mestizo, Maya, Creole, etc. can be baptized if he is willing and committed to meeting their requirements and ordinances.
Kleine Gemeinde
I asked a recently baptized girl about being born again. She was puzzled but then shrugged and said that during baptism classes (usually between 14 to 16 for girls and 16 to 19 for boys) they were told that they need to follow God and believe in Jesus as their Saviour and after baptism they must remain in the church and be subject to its ordinances. Different KG's have given me different opinions, but it appears they follow pretty much the same path as the Hoover Mennonites described above, with the exception that usually only the children of resident church members or the children of those who have left the Old Colony get baptized. The only non-Plautdietsch young ones to be baptized into the church are the adopted Mestizo and Maya children. Interestingly, adopted Mestizo boys leave the church just before or right after baptism. Adopted girls tend to remain in the church much longer whether or not they are baptized. The baptism service can be attended by anyone.
Beachy
Since the phrase "Beachy Mennonite" is so broad, in this blog whenever I use that term I am referring to those in Belize who resemble the Conservative Mennonites. There are those who firmly believe in visible repentance and the new birth as vital to decide baptism, but there are those who place more emphasis on a person's verbal declaration of wanting to follow the Lord as sufficient evidence for being baptized. Age is not so much a concern (depending on how rigid the church doctrines) as in other traditional churches and anyone from any background, culture or color can be baptized and join the church if he passes the approval of the congregation. Again, the baptismal ceremony can be attended by anyone.
Conservative and Holdeman
Although they are two types of Mennonite and dress differently, they both believe that a person can only be baptized into the church if: he has undergone genuine repentance, can testify of having experienced a new birth, and his life proves that he does indeed have a relationship with Jesus. Both groups do not place any emphasis at all on age and anyone from any culture or color can join; however, the Holdemans (who do not accept any baptism except their own) go a step further in actually requiring an "experience", an almost tangible item such as a time or place. Without this "experience", an applicant's declaration of repentance and salvation will most likely be doubted. As far as I know, the Holdemans and most Conservative churches practice majority vote, meaning that before baptism is applied, the congregation holds a members-only voting process on whether or not to accept a person for baptism. Baptism services are open to anyone and are sometimes held at night.
Interesting Notes:
The Conservatives, Holdemans, Beachy and KG practice baptism classes, i.e. instruction class, doctrine class, church teaching, a time period before baptism during which church doctrines and guidelines are taught and explained.
Old Colony Mennonites only baptize children of member parents (Plautdietsch). Nobody else from any other culture can join their church.
Hoover Mennonites, although ultra conservative, are more tolerant of other cultures joining them.
Holdeman Mennonites do not recognize any other baptism except their own, which means an applicant must be baptized before joining them even if he was previously baptized as an adult in another church.
None of the Mennonite groups recognize the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran infant baptism, and this originates from 500 years ago during the age of the Protestant Reformation.
A. Mendoza
