How it all started...
Mennonites began to move to Illinois from eastern states in 1833. Illinois Mennonite congregations, originally a part of the Indiana conference, received the permission of that conference to form a separate conference in 1871 and met in their own first conference 24 May 1872.
Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC) was organized in 1921 by the merger of the earlier Mennonite Conference (MC) of the State of Illinois and Amish Mennonite congregations in the state which had been members of the Western District Amish Mennonite Conference. There were seven congregations in 1921, with a combined membership of 516.
Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC) was organized in 1921 by the merger of the earlier Mennonite Conference (MC) of the State of Illinois and Amish Mennonite congregations in the state which had been members of the Western District Amish Mennonite Conference. There were seven congregations in 1921, with a combined membership of 516.
Expanding the vision...
IMC moved from an entirely rural and conformity-based conference to one of freedom: from outward appearance, and within congregational call. Urban and suburban congregations were planted and have since grown in number of congregations and size.
Congregations from largely Central and South American immigrant populations have joined and grown also. There are burgeoning churches with more recent immigrant populations from Asian and African nations as well.
Congregations from largely Central and South American immigrant populations have joined and grown also. There are burgeoning churches with more recent immigrant populations from Asian and African nations as well.
Where we are headed...
Illinois Mennonite Conference is a place where God's Spirit is at work and moving in each respective community. We are moving to where we always have been headed...toward God, and toward the people of God we're called to serve in our communities.
That will look different in different contexts. And we welcome all the diverse ways of expressing God's beloved community. Each uniquely Anabaptist expression of faithfulness to the message and mission of Christ Jesus in our modern world is a divine gift to the rest of IMC. Together, we will see the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
That will look different in different contexts. And we welcome all the diverse ways of expressing God's beloved community. Each uniquely Anabaptist expression of faithfulness to the message and mission of Christ Jesus in our modern world is a divine gift to the rest of IMC. Together, we will see the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
