Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies: Volume 2, Issue 2 (Autumn 2014)

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https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/63992

Issue DOI: https://doi.org/10.18061/1811/63992

Front Matter
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Articles

Living on the Edge: Old Colony Mennonites and Digital Technology Usage
Turner, Kira pp. 165-185
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Amish Church District Fissioning and Watershed Boundaries among Holmes County, Ohio, Amish
Long, Scot E.; Moore, Richard pp. 186-202
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Child Weight and Feeding Patterns in an Old Order Mennonite Community
Garrett-Wright, Dawn; Main, M. Eve; Jones, M. Susan pp. 203-214
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The Growth of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Communities in Kentucky
Donnermeyer, Joseph; Anderson, Cory pp. 215-244
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Articles by Members of Plain Anabaptist Churches

Conservative Mennonite Storybooks and the Construction of Evangelical Separatism
Anderson, Jennifer; Anderson, Cory pp. 245-277
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Book Reviews

Symposium Review of "The Amish" by Donald Kraybill, Karen Johnson-Weiner, and Steven Nolt
Bogden, Megan; Reschly, Steven; Zeller, Benjamin; Coletti, Tom; Kraybill, Donald; Johnson-Weiner, Karen; Nolt, Steven pp. 278-302
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Announcements
pp. 303
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Front Matter (Volume 2, Issue 2, Autumn 2014)
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014)
Living on the Edge: Old Colony Mennonites and Digital Technology Usage
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Turner, Kira
Mainstream society's perceptions of traditional Mennonites tend towards viewing them as technologically deficient. Yet, cell phones, computers, and tablets are increasingly prevalent within this population. Challenging stereotypes, this article considers digital technology usage by Old Colony Mennonites (OCM) in Southwestern Ontario (SWO). Rooted in the Anabaptist tradition, a lengthy history of migration led the OCM to settle in Mexico. Yet, due to economic circumstances, many continue to travel to and from SWO, resulting in a transformation; from maintaining an isolated lifestyle to one that includes some form of mainstream society. This shift includes digital technology usage, specifically texting, social media, and the Internet. Although research into Mennonite technology practice exists, these new forms of digital technologies have not received similar attention. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2012, this study took place in five Old Colony communities in SWO. Interviews, with both former and current OCMs, and others who have some connection to the Mennonites, suggest that the Old Colony navigate the lines between prescribed values and twenty-first century requirements in terms of a continuum, on their own terms. While digital technologies may create tensions within the community, they also act to blur lines between geographical boundaries, extend social networks, and allow OCMs to create their own vision of the society in which they wish to live.
Amish Church District Fissioning and Watershed Boundaries among Holmes County, Ohio, Amish
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Long, Scot E.; Moore, Richard
Upon reaching 40 households, an Amish church district typically divides into two smaller, relatively equally sized districts. This article analyzes the relationship between Amish church divisions and topographic demarcation lines within Clark Township, Holmes County, Ohio, from 1930 to 2010. In findings, divisions often follow physical geography boundaries, such as ridges that outline the edge of a watershed, or rivers and streams that essentially define topography within a watershed. Further, Amish leaders divide churches with objectives based on several socioreligious factors, from the maintenance of the faith community to the goal of preserving Amish neighborhoods and rural identity, while also facilitating the continuation of traditional agricultural practices.
Child Weight and Feeding Patterns in an Old Order Mennonite Community
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Garrett-Wright, Dawn; Main, M. Eve; Jones, M. Susan
Purpose: Feeding practices in some religious communities may decrease childhood obesity. However, there is limited research in these communities to assess maternal perceptions of their children's weight and feeding patterns. The purpose of this study was to ascertain Old Order Mennonite mothers' perceptions of their children's body weight and to examine feeding patterns for their children. Sample: Participants for this descriptive, correlational study were recruited from an Old Order Mennonite community in south central Kentucky. Sampling was achieved using a snowball sampling strategy and the use of a community insider. Methods: Body Mass Index was measured for mothers and child participants, and mothers completed four questionnaires. Fourteen families with 65 children participated. Findings: Fifteen children (23.1%) had BMIs > 85%, and weight was underestimated in 24.6% of children. Breastfeeding was common (98.5%), with a mean age for cessation of 17.3 months. Mean age for introduction of solid foods was eight months. Results from the CFQ demonstrated mothers were neutral about obesity risk in their child (X=3.05). Mothers reported concerns about high sugar foods, limiting access to unhealthy foods, and children eating all food served at meals. Maternal health literacy scores (X=33.98) were comparable to scores found in other studies. A lower PSOC score (X=23.36) was found. Conclusions: Further study needs to be conducted in this community to ascertain specific feeding habits that may account for increased BMIs.
The Growth of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Communities in Kentucky
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Donnermeyer, Joseph F.; Anderson, Cory
This article examines the growth of Amish and plain Anabaptist communities and population in Kentucky, one of the few southern states with a sizeable plain Anabaptist presence across much of its rural areas. Within the Amish religious tradition, this study focuses on both the broadly defined Old Order Amish, namely, those who prohibit ownership of motor vehicles for transportation, and the Amish-Mennonites, those who allow ownership. We provide an overview of their community formation and present a county-based estimate of their population. There are now 53 Amish communities in Kentucky, and a population of nearly 10,000. Over half (27) of these communities were founded since the turn of the century. Non-Amish, plain Anabaptists constitute 33 congregations.
Conservative Mennonite Storybooks and the Construction of Evangelical Separatism
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Anderson, Jennifer; Anderson, Cory
Group-produced literature is representative of and reinforces group behaviors, norms, and beliefs. This study focuses on the missionary theme in literature from three Conservative Mennonite publishers, identifying two major constructs of what we term evangelical separatism. First, Rod & Staff depicts evangelism as establishing stable, integrating church communities in places where none exist, making their offering accessible to any who would care to join while also withholding assessment of outsiders. Second, Christian Light Publications and TGS present missions in a more aggressive, individualized mode, whereby the outside is viewed as a land of darkness and the missionary, in embodying Christ's incarnation, bring light to that place. The focus of evangelism is conversion to Christianity, with the church as a social system peripheral to the action. Separatism is maintained by staking claim to authentic Christianity against inferior outside offerings. This latter plotline has birthed the new missionary adventure genre, which both entertains readers through secular adventure techniques while emphasizing a sacred end mission. The classic Anabaptist suffering theme is present in both types of stories, though transformed to include social / personal sacrifices and patience needed to engage in mission work.
Symposium Review of "The Amish" by Donald Kraybill, Karen Johnson-Weiner, and Steven Nolt
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014) Bogden, Megan; Reschly, Steven; Zeller, Benjamin; Coletti, Tom; Kraybill, Donald; Johnson-Weiner, Karen; Nolt, Steven
Announcements
(Ohio State University. Libraries, 2014)

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