MINUTES
Keeping careful minutes was a tradition that began in our church before it existed. We inherited a concern for records that would provide an accurate account of minutes from John Oberholtzer's leadership in the church from which the Evangelical Mennonites broke away in 1859.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE MINUTES (Pennsylvania)
The first published
minutes of the Bible Fellowship Church appeared in 1896. Prior to that, the
minutes were contained in ledger books as hand written notes. Most of these
minutes were recorded in German. Some were published in the denominational
publication, The Gospel Banner. These minutes, prior to 1896, have been
translated and published in our book, Verhandlungen
1859-1895.
David E. Thomann, Royal Kramer, Willard Cassel and Diane Hertzog have
provided invaluable service by preparing the manuscripts of the minutes for
publication to this website. Our thanks to them for their
service.
1896 - 1899
1900 - 1909
1910 - 1919
1920 - 1929
1930 - 1939
1940 - 1949
1950 - 1959
1960 - 1969
1970 - 1979
1980 - 1989
1990 - 1999
2000 - 2009
MINISTERIAL CONVENTION MINUTES
Pastors in the Mennonite
Brethren In Christ / Bible Fellowship Church did not
seek formal education because they believed educational institutions were
corrupting to biblical faith. But they worked hard at learning and growing in
their understanding of the Scriptures and pastoral practice. The Ministerial
Convention drew them together that they might learn from each other. They kept
minutes of what they were learned and talked about.
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
GENERAL
CONFERENCE MINUTES
The forerunner of the Bible
Fellowship Church was a union of conferences across America. At the General
Conference, representatives of the various Annual Conferences met to transact
their business. Their meetings were held three or four years apart. As always,
careful records were kept.
1879
1879 Special
1882
1883 Special
1885
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1936
1943
1947
1951