Amish Ecclesiology: Plural-Elder Congregationalism, Governing Lines of Fellowship, and Envisioning the Church

Abstract

Abstract Amish ecclesiology is a plural-elder model of congregationalism that exhibits significant variation across the six non-communing affiliations that constitute the present Amish tradition in North America. The first section describes the ordination customs and structure of the ministry, the authority of tradition, the role of church leaders with strong personality types, and the egalitarian tendencies that present themselves in some Amish groups. Following an introduction to the six Amish affiliations, the article explains how each group defines its lines of fellowship, how these practices are organically linked to divergent understandings of the nature and shape of the Christian church, and how the Amish harness the strength of distinction-making to protect and grow their church communities from the inside out. Finally, the article questions the way that some Amish gloss the baptismal covenant as a vow, and explains why it problematizes the catholicity of the Christian church.