district conferences were founded and sessions have been held regularly for more than a hundred years.[1] This statement holds good particularly with reference to the Franconia, Lancaster, and Ontario conferences, while a number of other of later organization have been in regular session for the past fifty to seventy-five years.
The rulings of the district conferences are "the decrees for to keep," especially in every case where they are based on the great fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Some of these measures are taken to meet certain critical issues in the Church and apply only to the particular time for which they are provided.
The conference rulings appearing at stated times within a generation represent the history-making periods in the Church, while the wording is so framed that through successive generations one is not supposed to conflict with or contradict the other. All have been formulated and delivered from time to time as the needs arose for their adoption.
The following table indicates by conferences all Mennonites who are known to adhere to the old parent body of the Church as it was originally established in America. This includes such congregations and local conferences of the Amish Mennonites as have merged with local conferences, the General Conferences (or both) in maintaining a common faith and doctrine, and the support of missionary effort, publication and educational interests, and general relief work in the whole body of the Church.
- ↑ The oldest conference session on record is one held in Eastern Pennsylvania in 1727.
