Fellowship of Evangelical Churches

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"Evangelical Mennonite Church" redirects here. For the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, see Evangelical Mennonite Conference.
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Location 1420 Kerrway Court Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Country United States
Denomination Evangelical
Website fecministries.com
History
Former name(s) Defenseless Mennonites, Evangelical Mennonites
Founded 1942
Events FEC Convention (Held Yearly at a Member Church)
Architecture
Status Open

The Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (FEC) is an evangelical body of Christians with a Mennonite heritage. Conference offices are located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Founded in 1865–66 as the "Defenseless Mennonite Church", the new group was often referred to as the "Egly Amish" (also "Egli Amish") during its early years. In 1949 the name of the conference was changed to the "Evangelical Mennonite Church" (not to be confused with the Evangelical Mennonite Conference). At the 2003 Annual Convention, delegates voted to change the Conference name from the "Evangelical Mennonite Church" to the "Fellowship of Evangelical Churches". The group has a convention each year. An affiliated church is always selected to host it.

History

Several members of the Amish Mennonite Egly family immigrated to North America in the 19th century. Among them was Henry Egly (1824–1890). Henry Egly was deeply influenced by the revivalism in America, withdrew from the main body of Amish, and founded the Defenseless Mennonite Church in Berne, Adams County, Indiana, in 1865–66. This body was often referred to as the Egly Amish, and is now the Evangelical Mennonite Church (or Evangelical Mennonite Church Conference), the name adopted in 1949. Henry's son, Christian R. Egle,[1] also became a leader in the conference.

Doctrine

The Defenseless Mennonite Conference published its Confession of Faith, Rules and Discipline in 1917. The confession of faith was revised in 1937, 1949, 1961, and 1980. It contains 12 articles of faith. The Lords supper is observed with open communion.

Organization

The conference office is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The FEC organization is governed through a congregational form of governance. Local congregations elect delegates to a delegate body, which in turn elects the conference leadership. The conference is composed of 34 churches in the Midwest of the United States with 5278 members. Fifty-five percent of the churches are located in Illinois and Indiana. All FEC ministries are funded by voluntary donations of congregations and individuals.

Branches and connections

Affiliated organizations

These organizations have their own governing boards but are affiliated solely with the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches. These organizations exist in a mutually beneficial relationship with the denomination.

Affiliated churches

Idaho

  • Lakeview Bible Church

Illinois

  • Boynton Mennonite Church
  • Calvary Evangelical Mennonite Church [3]
  • Crossroads Church of Monticello
  • Dewey Community Church
  • Eureka Bible Church
  • Grace Evangelical Church
  • Great Oaks Community Church
  • Groveland Evangelical Mennonite Church
  • Heartland Community Church
  • Jacob’s Well Community Church
  • New Beginnings Church
  • Northwoods Community Church
  • Oak Grove Evangelical Bible Church
  • Rock Creek Bible Church
  • Salem Church

Indiana

  • Berne Evangelical Church
  • Brookside Church
  • Crossview Church
  • Highland Bethel Church
  • Pine Hills Church
  • Sonlight Community Church
  • Upland Community Church
  • Westwood Fellowship

Kansas

  • Grace Community Church
  • Sterling Evangelical Bible Church

Maine

  • Moss Brook Community Church
  • Life Community Church

Michigan

  • Church of the Good Shepherd
  • Comins Mennonite Church
  • Lawton Evangelical Church

Minnesota

  • The Real Tree Church
  • True North

Missouri

  • Bethel Mennonite Church
  • Freedom Point
  • Harrisonville Community Church
  • PeaRidge Community Church

Ohio

  • Archbold Evangelical Church
  • Catalyst Community Church
  • Crossroads Evangelical Church
  • Life Church of Loraine County
  • Life Community Church
  • Oak Bend Church
  • Pathway Church
  • Solid Rock Community Church[4]

Literature

  • Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood: Handbook of Denominations in the United States.
  • Cornelius J. Dyck, Dennis D. Martin, et al., editors: Mennonite Encyclopedia.
  • Glenmary Research Center: Religious Congregations & Membership in the United States (2000).

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ The family name is variously spelled as Egly, Egle, and Egli.
  2. ↑ http://fecministries.org/?page_id=413
  3. ↑ http://www.calvaryemc.org/
  4. ↑ http://fecministries.org/?page_id=51
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