Anabaptist Denominations

Anabaptists represent a distinct branch of the Christian family tree, emerging as a second major theological separation from the Roman Catholic Church.
They expanded upon Martin Luther's ideas, sometimes exceeding his own reforms.
The term "Anabaptist" means "baptized again," stemming from their belief that baptism should be reserved for those who profess faith in Christ, not infants. Initially a derogatory term, it evolved into a common descriptor without its original negative connotation.

Sola Scriptura: Anabaptists emphasize Scripture as the ultimate authority, even more so than Luther.
- They focus on specific scriptural instructions for practices, rather than general guidance.
- This is evident in their understanding of the Lord's Supper and baptism.
Lord's Supper: They hold a memorial view, understanding it as a symbolic act of remembrance, rejecting any literal presence of Christ in the bread and cup. They believe that when Jesus says "do this in remembrance of me", that is precisely what he meant, to eat in remembrance.
Baptism: They practice adult baptism, based on New Testament examples where individuals first hear the gospel, profess faith, and then get baptized. This is the correct order in the Anabaptist tradition.

Egalitarianism: Anabaptist churches emphasize the priesthood of all believers, with less strict hierarchies compared to Catholic or Lutheran churches. Everyone is equal before Christ.
Separatism: They strive to be in the world but not of it, maintaining a separation from the perceived sinfulness of the outside world to maintain holiness. The call to come out from among sinners and be a holy people is very important.
- This is exemplified by communities like the Amish, who live in close proximity and maintain a strong distinction between their community and the outside world.
Pacifism: Anabaptists reject war and violence, based on Jesus' teachings of love, turning the other cheek, and establishing a kingdom without war, tears, or pain. They believe that just as in the Kingdom of God there will be no war, and so now we are also to be inflicting any kind of pain or war on each other.
- They typically avoid participation in armed services or policing.

Mennonites: The largest Anabaptist group, with approximately 2,000,000 members worldwide, encompassing various subgroups.
Hutterites: A smaller branch (around 45,000 in the United States), originating from Hans Hood. They share similarities with the Amish, making distinctions subtle. So if you live in a community where there are Hutterites nearby, you know that they aren't always obviously different from the Amish.
Amish: Numbering almost 300,000, mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, but also found in Russia, South America, and other regions.
Brethren: Identifying Anabaptist Brethren churches can be difficult, as some denominations with "Brethren" in their name do not belong to the Anabaptist tradition. However, many IWU students come from Brethren churches that are rooted in the Anabaptist theological tradition.