Mennonites in France
Encyclopedia
The Mennonites in France are religious descendents of the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....

 movement. Anabaptists first appeared in the east of France during the early years of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...

. Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...

 was a haven for all kinds of religious dissidents during this period. From 1528 to 1532, Pilgram Marpeck
Pilgram Marpeck
Pilgram Marpeck , also Pilgram Marbeck or Pilgrim Marpeck, was an important South German Anabaptist leader in the 16th century.-Biography:...

 lived in Strasbourg, serving for two years as a timber supervisor and engineer, before he was expelled from the city because of his Anabaptist activity. After opposition from reformers such as Bucer, all known Anabaptists were expelled from the city (Edict of 16 February 1534). But 20 years later they were again active in Strasbourg. By 1556 there was an Anabaptist congregation of about one hundred in the city. Strasbourg become a favourite location for conferences of Anabaptist ministers, with gatherings being held in 1554, 1555, 1557, 1568, 1592, and 1607. The 1554 conference was reputed to have been attended by 600 Anabaptists. As persecution continued, they tended more and more to live in the country, where there was a greater chance to live out their principles undisturbed. Their numbers were sharply reduced by emigration to America. Repeated attempts were made to expel them from Alsace.

In the 20th century, the French Mennonite churches, which are autonomous, all identify themselves with the evangelical wing of Protestantism. They have formed their own association, the Association des Églises Évangéliques Mennonites de France (AEEMF), which is in dialogue with the main Protestant groupings in France. The AEEMF lists 30 assemblies, mostly in Eastern France, the biggest concentration being in Alsace (Department 68, Haut-Rhin). Only seven of these assemblies have salaried pastors. Latest estimates put the number of French Mennonites at 2000-2400. The Mennonite World Conference
Mennonite World Conference
The Mennonite World Conference is a global community of Christian churches that facilitates community between Anabaptist-related churches and relates to other Christian world communions and organizations....

has a seat in Strasbourg.

Further reading

  • J. S. Oyer, The Strasbourg Conferences of the Anabaptists, 1554-1607, Mennonite Quarterly Review, 1984, vol. 58, no.3, pp. 218–229
  • Jean Séguy, Les assemblées anabaptistes-mennonites de France, 1977, ISBN 2-7132-0003-2

External links

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