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Lancaster Mennonite Conference

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Lancaster Mennonite Conference ( LMC ) is a historic body of Mennonite churches mainly concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States . While including churches in other regions of the United States, it also has congregations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The conference was briefly (2002-2015) associated with the newly formed Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). The LMC has been a member of the Mennonite World Conference since 2018.

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54-564: The churches of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) make up 24 districts including: Bowmansville-Reading, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Groffdale, Harrisburg, Juniata, Lancaster, Landisville, Lebanon, Lititz, Manheim, Manor, Martindale, Mellinger, Millwood, New Danville, New York City, North Penn, Pequea Valley, Philadelphia, Washington-Baltimore, Weaverland-Northeast Pennsylvania, Williamsport-Milton, Willow Street-Strasburg, and York-Adams Districts. The conference office

108-446: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. The hottest recorded temperature in the city was 107 °F (42 °C) on August 7, 1918, while the coldest recorded temperature was −16 °F (−27 °C) on January 22, 1984. On average, the city receives 42 inches of precipitation a year. September is the wettest month of the year and February the driest. The snowiest winter on record for Lancaster

162-470: A female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.23. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

216-783: A holiday recognizing Lancaster's one day as capital of the United States in 1777. Lancaster receives 20 times more refugees per capita than the rest of the United States, leading it to be dubbed "America's refugee capital" in 2015. Between 2005 and 2019, nearly 5,000 refugees were resettled in Lancaster. Lancaster announced its designation as a Certified Welcoming City in 2019. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai visited Lancaster in 2017 to honor its commitment to refugees, an experience she detailed in her book We Are Displaced . Lancaster City Council voted to end cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2024. Lancaster

270-656: A magazine Shalom News , and oversees several agencies, including Eastern Mennonite Missions , Friendship Community, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster Mennonite School , Landis Homes, Philhaven, and Sharing Programs. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference first convened in 1711, only a few months after the Swiss- Palatine immigrants had established themselves in what is now Lancaster County . In 1725, five representatives, Martin Baer, Hans Burkholtzer, Christian Herr, Benedikt Hirsche, and Johannes Bowman, attended

324-684: A manufacturer of vacuum tube products. Burle completed a voluntary clean-up under the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program. In addition to Lancaster's boutiques, vintage shops, and art galleries ( Gallery Row ), Park City Center is the largest enclosed shopping center in South Central Pennsylvania . The mall includes more than 150 stores and is anchored by Boscov's , JCPenney , and Kohl's . Park City opened in September 1971. Built in 1889,

378-453: A proposal by the Board of Bishops to leave MC USA was ratified by 82.3% of those voting. The withdrawal was effective immediately and to be finalized by congregations on or before the end of 2017, but allowed individual congregations an option of continued participation with MC USA, if so desired. At the time, the conference had 13,838 members in 163 congregations. Most congregations opted to exit

432-463: A thriving art community. Gallery Row on the 100 block of North Prince St. features a block of art galleries, and the city proper has over 40 galleries and artists' studios. The galleries host a "First Friday" each month, extending their business hours to exhibit new artwork and new artists to the public. The Lancaster County Quilts and Textile Museum, completed in 2007, celebrates the art of the hand-sewn quilts and other textile items produced by women of

486-497: Is a mission agency based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania . EMM equips, sends, and supports mission workers in more than 30 countries. EMM's mission statement: Christ's transforming love compels us to cross cultures, engage the world, and make disciples of Jesus. In 1894, a group of 12 Lancaster County Mennonites formed a group called Home Mission Advocates for the purpose of aiding in local mission work. Their original outreach took

540-447: Is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania , United States. With a population of 58,039 at the 2020 census , it is the tenth-most populous city in the state. It is a core city within South Central Pennsylvania , with 552,984 residents in the Lancaster metropolitan area . Settled in the 1720s, Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the US. It served as

594-598: Is headquartered in Lancaster, co-founded by Franklin & Marshall College in 1981. The Lancaster Stormers played their inaugural season in 2005, ending Lancaster's 44-year period without professional baseball since the demise of the Red Roses . Their main Atlantic League rival is the Revolution from nearby York . Lancaster is the hometown of Major League Baseball alumnus Tom Herr . He played for

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648-402: Is home to about 65 stores. The Shops at Rockvale contains over 100 stores and restaurants. According to Lancaster's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Many of Lancaster's landmarks are significant in local, state, and national history. The city of Lancaster has art, craft and historical museums. The Demuth Museum is located in the former home of

702-478: Is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania . The Bishop Board, a collection of all the bishops from the districts in the Conference, is the executive board of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The Conference Leadership Assembly, composed of all bishops, ministers, deacons, deaconesses, and chaplains in the Conference, is the governing body of Lancaster Mennonite Conference. Lancaster Mennonite Conference publishes

756-516: Is located in the Piedmont region of Pennsylvania . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.35 square miles (19.0 km ), of which, 7.23 square miles (18.7 km ) of it is land and 1.65% is water. Under the Köppen climate classification , Lancaster falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or

810-514: Is nine hours and 19 minutes. The sun reaches its lowest point in the sky of 26° between December 11 and December 31. The longest days of the year are June 19 to June 23, reaching 15 hours and one minute. The sun reaches its highest point in the sky of 73° from June 10 to July 2. According to the 2020 United States census , Lancaster had a population of 58,039. Of which, 40.3% were Hispanic/Latino, 38.9% were non-Hispanic White, 12.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 3.8% were Asian, 4.4% mixed or other. As of

864-551: Is one of the oldest working theaters in the United States. The Ware Center hosts live theater, concerts, and performances. Lancaster is home to Franklin & Marshall College and its various sports teams, including the Diplomats football team. The Diplomats play their home games at Shadek Stadium in Lancaster. Shadek Stadium was built in 2017 and surrounds Tom Gilburg Field. Aside from football, Shadek Stadium also hosts men's and women's lacrosse. The Centennial Conference

918-473: The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 in which Jesus gives his disciples the charge to “make disciples of all nations.” EMM personnel work in a variety of ministry areas, including business for transformation, children at risk, discipleship training, education, health and community development, hospitality, leadership training, Muslim ministry, and pioneer witness. EMM workers have been involved in

972-868: The Lancaster Central Market is the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the United States, and many tourists come to purchase the handmade Amish goods that are not commonly found elsewhere. Central Market is listed with the National Register of Historic Places , and its towers are of the Romanesque Revival style. The market underwent renovations beginning in July 2010. Lancaster also has two outlet shopping centers, both of which are located in East Lampeter Township on U.S. Route 30 . Tanger Outlets

1026-709: The Lewis and Clark Expedition . In 1879, Franklin Winfield Woolworth opened his first successful five and dime store in the city of Lancaster, the F. W. Woolworth Company . Lancaster was one of the winning communities for the All-America City award in 2000. In 2009, a community organization installed and began monitoring 164 closed-circuit cameras in Lancaster, which engendered some local opposition. On October 13, 2011, Lancaster's City Council officially recognized September 27 as Capital Day,

1080-691: The Pennsylvania long rifle . The Conestoga wagon was named after the Conestoga River , which runs through the city. The innovative gunsmith William Henry lived in Lancaster and was a U.S. Congressman and leader during and after the American Revolution. In 1803, Meriwether Lewis visited Lancaster to be educated in survey methods by the well-known surveyor Andrew Ellicott . During his visit, Lewis learned to plot latitude and longitude as part of his overall training needed to lead

1134-1021: The St. Louis Cardinals for the majority of his career. He also played for the Minnesota Twins , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Mets , and the San Francisco Giants . Herr subsequently coached the Hempfield High School Black Knights baseball team for several years. He also managed the Lancaster Stormers in their first season. The Stormers have won the Atlantic League Championship three times: in 2006, 2014, and 2022. The Lancaster Bicycle Club hosts an annual Covered Bridge Metric Century bicycle race. In 2010, more than 2,500 riders participated. The city of Lancaster hosted

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1188-412: The poverty line . 29.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Poverty in Lancaster is twice the state's average, and public school records list more than 900 children as homeless. Although there are many Amish people from this area, not everyone from Lancaster is Amish, contrary to popular belief. Since 2005, Lancaster's downtown has increased

1242-591: The 1950s, workers began serving in Latin America , Europe , and Asia . In 1988, work expanded to include the Middle East , and in recent decades EMM has continued to experience growth in missionary sending among its international partner church network. EMM's mission vision was initially financially supported by several dozen Mennonite churches in Lancaster County and the surrounding areas. As

1296-537: The 1997, 1998, and 2006 British Open, and placed sixth in the 1997 PGA championship. Furyk also won the Vardon Trophy in 2006. He is an alumnus of Manheim Township High School, located in the immediate suburb of Manheim Township. The 2015 and 2024 U.S. Women's Open tournaments were held at the Lancaster Country Club . Eastern Mennonite Missions Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM)

1350-562: The 2010 census, the city was 55.2% White , 16.3% Black or African American , 0.7% Native American , 3.0% Asian , 0.1% Native Hawaiian , and 5.8% were two or more races. 39.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. As of the census of 2000, there were 56,348 people, 20,933 households, and 12,162 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,616.5 people per square mile (2,940.7 people/km ). There were 23,024 housing units at an average density of 3,112.1 per square mile (1,201.6/km ). The racial makeup of

1404-828: The Christian Way, Journeys of the Muslim Nation and the Christian Church, Anabaptists Meeting Muslims, Creating Communities of the Kingdom, Global Gods, God’s Call to Mission, Teatime in Mogadishu, A Christian and a Muslim in Dialogue , and Christian. Muslim. Friend. Shenk's approach to Christian-Muslim relations is founded on the Anabaptist commitment to pacifism and Christian witness . Initially

1458-584: The English city of Lancaster by native John Wright . Its symbol, the red rose , is from the House of Lancaster . Lancaster was part of the 1681 Penn's Woods Charter of William Penn , and was laid out by James Hamilton in 1734. It was incorporated as a borough in 1742 and incorporated as a city in 1818. During the American Revolution , Lancaster served for one day as the temporary capital of

1512-625: The K’ekchi’ Mennonite Church ( Guatemala ), the Peruvian Mennonite Church, Life Enrichment Church ( Thailand ) and numerous other church plants globally and in the U.S. EMM's Christian/Muslim Relations Team was founded in 2013 by missionary, author, and professor David W. Shenk. Shenk is a Muslim studies expert and a global consultant for EMM, having authored or co-authored multiple books about Christian-Muslim relations and global missions. These include Surprises of

1566-866: The Mennonite Church USA, leaving only 1,091 members from Lancaster Mennonite Conference remaining with the MC USA. In 2018, the LMC was accepted as a full member of the Mennonite World Conference . The LMC is also associated with the Eastern Mennonite Missions . While some congregations continue to reserve leadership roles for men, LMC network ordains women for ministry and includes women in top leadership roles. Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lancaster ( / ˈ l æ ŋ k ɪ s t ər / LANG -kih-stər )

1620-566: The Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic , an international, professional bicycle racing event held each June since 1992. It was part of the 2006–2007 UCI America Tour and the 2007 USA Cycling Professional Tour . Professional golf is well represented by the Professional Golf Association 's Jim Furyk . He placed 4th in the 1998 and 2003 Masters tournament, won the 2003 U.S. Open, placed fourth in

1674-702: The United States , seated at the Court House (built 1739, destroyed by fire in 1784 and rebuilt before relocating to current Lancaster County Courthouse in 1852; original site is now the Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Penn Square c. 1874), on September 27, 1777, after the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia , which had been captured by the British. The revolutionary government then moved still farther away to York, Pennsylvania . Lancaster

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1728-415: The capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812. The city's primary industries include healthcare, tourism, public administration, manufacturing, and both professional and semi-professional services. Lancaster is a hub of Pennsylvania Dutch Country , located 59 miles (95 km) southwest of Allentown and 61 miles (98 km) west of Philadelphia . Originally called Hickory Town, the city was renamed after

1782-447: The cities of Lancaster and Philadelphia. Opened in 1795, the turnpike was paved with stone the whole way, and overlaid with gravel. The sixty-two-mile turnpike cost more than $ 450,000, a staggering sum for the time. The route followed what is now Pennsylvania Route 340 (also called the "Old Philadelphia Pike") from Lancaster to Thorndale and U.S. Route 30 Business and U.S. Route 30 from Thorndale to Philadelphia. The city of Lancaster

1836-412: The city was 61.55% White , 14.09% African American , 0.44% Native American , 2.46% Asian , 0.08% Pacific Islander , 17.44% from other races , and 3.94% from two or more races. 30.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino people of any race. The largest ethnic groups in Lancaster as of recent estimates are: In 2010, 29.2% of Lancaster residents were of Puerto Rican ancestry. The city has

1890-653: The city was named for Lancaster native Robert Fulton , a renaissance man who created the first fully functional steamboat. All of these individuals have had local schools named after them. After the American Revolutionary War , Lancaster became an iron-foundry center. Two of the most common products needed by pioneers to settle the Frontier were manufactured in Lancaster: the Conestoga wagon and

1944-544: The current Lancaster County Prison , known locally as Lancaster Castle, was built in the city but shares no visual similarities with the Lancaster Castle in England. The prison remains in use, and was used for public hangings until 1912. It replaced a 1737 structure on a different site . The first long-distance paved road in the United States was the former Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike , which connected

1998-843: The exhibits of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum and the North Museum of Nature and Science . The National Watch & Clock Museum, founded in 1977, has the largest collection of clocks and watches in North America. Stevens and Smith Historic Site is located within the Vine Street lobby of the Lancaster County Convention Center . The site includes the preserved home of U.S. Senator Thaddeus Stevens and his companion Lydia Hamilton Smith . The underground portion of

2052-694: The first general Mennonite Conference when the Dordrecht Confession was translated into English. Additional Mennonite immigrants joined the settlement in 1711, 1717, 1727, and at later periods. It is estimated that by 1735 over five hundred families had emigrated from Switzerland and the Palatinate and settled in Lancaster County. They overflowed into what are now neighboring counties and established daughter colonies in Maryland, Virginia, New York, Canada, and Ohio. The Mellinger meetinghouse

2106-690: The form of local Sunday school classes and community service projects, but the group also carried a strong global vision. In 1914, the group founded Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (EMBMC), with the aim of someday sending mission workers to various international locations. The early days of EMM ministry established work in the Philadelphia area, the Welsh Mountains of Pennsylvania, Lancaster City , and many rural areas. In 1934, global mission work began when EMM's first international missionaries settled near Shirati , Tanzania . In

2160-559: The formation of Mennonite churches around the world. Thirty-four church groups have formed or developed through the ministries of EMM, and these now comprise over 450,000 baptized members. Some of these include Kenya Mennonite Church, Tanzania Mennonite Church, the Honduran Mennonite Church, Amor Vivente ( Honduras ), the Vietnam Mennonite Church, Garifuna Mennonite Church ( Belize and the U.S. ),

2214-704: The formation of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church in 1969. Two hundred members left in 1975 to form the Conservative Mennonite Churches of York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. As of 2018, the LMC had 15,357 members in 179 congregations. In 1971, after repeated invitations, the Lancaster Mennonite Conference joined the Mennonite Church (MC), sometimes known as the "Old" Mennonite Church. The conference reorganized to more closely follow

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2268-675: The founding of the Meserete Kristos Church , which is the largest Mennonite denomination in Ethiopia and one of the largest in the world with over 300,000 members. Expansion and growth led to differences of opinion within the conference. In 1960, nine ordained men withdrew from the conference to form the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood . Differences over issues related to divorce and remarriage, television, and relaxed dress requirements resulted in

2322-412: The number of specialty shops, boutiques, bars, clubs, and galleries. Burle Business Park, the city's only commercial and industrial park. originally opened in 1942 as a U.S. Navy electronics research, development and manufacturing plant operated by RCA . The facility was purchased after World War II by RCA. Burle Business Park was originally occupied by Burle Industries, the successor company to RCA, and

2376-597: The region's Amish and Mennonite communities. The museum was closed in 2011. The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Museum and the Heritage Center Museum display artifacts and interpret the region's unique history. Children can have a hands-on experience with educational learning at the Hands-on House, also known as the Children's Museum of Lancaster. Nature and geology-minded visitors can view

2430-538: The second highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania after Reading . For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the "Spanish Rose." Lancaster celebrates its Puerto Rican heritage once every year with the Puerto Rican Festival. There were 20,933 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 19.0% had

2484-609: The site includes a recently discovered Underground Railroad feature: a converted water cistern used in the antebellum years to hide fugitive slaves on their way to freedom. In Lancaster County, the Landis Valley Museum in Manheim Township has exhibits that interpret the county's history and culture, especially as a center of ethnic German Amish and Mennonite culture. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra has been performing since 1947. The Fulton Opera House

2538-546: The structure of the Mennonite Church in 1977. After five years of provisional membership, Lancaster Mennonite Conference joined Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) as a full member in 2006. MC USA was a merger of the (Old) Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church, which occurred in 2001. On November 19, 2015, citing a "cultural and theological divide" over MC USA's increasing support for same-sex marriage and LGBTQ relationships,

2592-631: The well-known painter Charles Demuth , who had a national reputation in the 20th century. Additional museums include the Lancaster Museum of Art and the Philips Museum of Art on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College . Art students at the state-of-the-art Pennsylvania College of Art and Design present their works at the academy's gallery, which is open to the public. LancasterARTS, a non-profit organization founded in 2002, promotes contemporary arts and crafts. Lancaster city has

2646-516: The work grew, the support base also grew and now includes Anabaptist congregations and individuals primarily in the Eastern United States. The popular name Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) was adopted in 1993. Since EMM's founding, more than 7,440 individuals have served as missionaries and volunteer workers in 21 U.S. states and in over 109 countries. EMM's core work has always been to multiply disciples across cultures, based on

2700-402: Was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 29,770, and the median income for a family was $ 34,623. Males had a median income of $ 27,833 versus $ 21,862 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 13,955. 21.2% of the population and 17.9% of families were below

2754-411: Was home to semiannual conferences each fall and at one of the three Rohrerstown meetinghouses every spring as far back as records exist, around 1740. But beginning in 1953, the spring meeting was moved to East Petersburg Mennonite Church. It was at this conference that decisions were made and either approved or rejected. In the 1940s, missionaries from the LMC traveled to Ethiopia . This mission led to

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2808-577: Was home to several important figures in American history. Wheatland , the estate of James Buchanan , the fifteenth President of the United States, is one of Lancaster's most popular attractions. Thaddeus Stevens , considered among the most powerful members of the United States House of Representatives , lived in Lancaster as an attorney. Stevens gained notoriety as a Radical Republican and for his abolitionism . The Fulton Opera House in

2862-410: Was the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812, with the state capital located at the Court House (built 1784 and demolished 1852 and now site of Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Penn Square). In 1812, the capital was moved to Harrisburg , where it has remained since. U.S. census reports show that, from 1800 to 1900, Lancaster ranked among the nation's top 100 most populous urban areas. In 1851,

2916-458: Was the winter of 2009-10 when 72 inches of snow fell and the smallest amount of snow on record was when four inches fell during the winter of 1949–50. The highest recorded January temperature was 77 °F (25 °C) on January 26, 1950, and the coldest July temperature 42 °F (6 °C) on July 4, 1918. On average, the city receives 203 days of sun a year. The shortest days of the year are between December 18 and December 25, when day length

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