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The Evangelical Mennonite Conference began in 1814 in the Molotschna settlement of southern Russia as the Kleine Gemeinde, a group of Low German-speaking Mennonites.1 Klaas Reimer (1770-1837), a Mennonite minister from Gdansk, settled in Molotschna in 1805. Reimer felt the Mennonites of the area were too lax in doctrine and piety, and began to hold meetings in homes in 1812. He was joined by another minister, Cornelius Janzen, and about 20 members, who together recognized themselves as a separate church body in 1814. In 1874, they migrated to North America, settling in Manitoba, Canada and near Jansen, Nebraska in Jefferson County. The Jansen group moved to Kansas and eventually ceased to be part of the Kleine Gemeinde. A number of the Kleine Gemeinde went into the movement of Elder John Holdeman ( Church of God in Christ, Mennonite). In 1952, the Kleine Gemeinde changed its name to the Evangelical Mennonite Church, and then to the Evangelical Mennonite Conference in 1959.
The doctrines of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference are presented in a 13 article "Statement of Faith" adopted in 1994. The statement reveals evangelical Christian teachings, with Mennonite emphases such as non-conformity and non-resistance. Three ordinances are held - believers' baptism, the Lord's supperThe Lord's Supper is a variation of the name and the service of The Last Supper or Eucharist. This name tends to be used by the churches of minimalist traditions, such as those strongly influenced by Zwingli. Nevertheless, churches holding other views, su, and feet washingFeet washing is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as feet washing, foot washing, feetwashing, footwashing,.
The churches of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference are located in five Canadian provinces - AlbertaAlberta is one of Canada's provinces. Its capital is the city of Edmonton. Other cities and towns include Banff, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. See also: List of communities in Alberta. As of 2004, the population of the province was 3,183, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia or simply B. French: la Colombie-Britannique is the westernmost of Canada's provinces. It was the sixth province to join the confederation of Canada (in 1871). As of 2004, the population was 4,168,123 British Columbians . Geography Its ca, Manitoba, OntarioOntario ( In Detail) ( In Detail) Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains Capital Toronto Largest City Toronto Area Total % fresh water 4th largest(2nd lgst prov. 1 076 395 kmē 14. 7% Population Total (2001) Density Rank, and Saskatchewan. In 2001 there were about 7000 members in 50 churches, with 149 ministers serving the churches. The congregations are organized into nine regional conferences. Foreign mission work is established in 25 countries. A general conference council meets twice a year. The Evangelical Mennonite Conference archives, offices, Steinbach Christian High School and Steinbach Bible College are located in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. The Messenger, an official publication of the conference, is printed 22 times per year.
The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is a member of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Mennonite World Conference.