Separation between church and State

The Christian community must preserve its fidelity without depending on state coercion.

77%

Confidence

Supportive

Contrary

Neutral

What it is: The Mennonite tradition historically distinguishes the life of the church from the coercive power of the State.

How the tradition understands it: Faith must be assumed freely and the church must not depend on civil imposition to maintain its identity, discipline, or mission.

Basis and context: This conviction was born in a context of persecution and of critique of models of Christendom in which citizenship, baptism, and political order were strongly confused.

Debates and variations: Branches differ as to political participation, holding public office, and degree of collaboration with state structures, but the distinction between church and civil coercion remains relevant.

Supportive

Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995)

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Contemporary formulation of Mennonite convictions in broad language.

Reference: Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, 1995.
Content: The text summarizes beliefs about church, peace, discipleship, ordinances, mission, and community life.
Use in debate: Important reference for contemporary English-language Mennonitism.

Dordrecht Confession (1632)

mennonites,dordrecht,confession,anabaptism

Important historical confession for Mennonite identity.

Reference: Dordrecht Confession of 1632.
Content: The text systematizes convictions about baptism, church, supper, discipline, non-revenge, and Christian life.
Use in debate: One of the most cited Mennonite confessional sources.

Schleitheim Confession (1527)

mennonites,schleitheim,confession,anabaptism

Early Anabaptist text on separation, baptism, supper, and discipline.

Reference: Schleitheim Confession or Brotherhood of 1527.
Content: The document deals with baptism, ban, supper, separation from evil, pastors, sword, and oath.
Use in debate: Decisive source for understanding the Anabaptist matrix of the Mennonite tradition.

Neutral

Mennonite World Conference and peace service

mennonites,peace,mission,reconciliation,documentation

Contemporary documentation on global communion, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.

Reference: Institutional materials of Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite peace and service organizations.
Content: The documentation emphasizes reconciliation, global communion, discipleship, service, and public witness of peace.
Use in debate: Useful to describe contemporary Mennonite identity in missionary and reconciling key.