Beachy Amish
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The Beachy Amish are a subdivision of the Amish, an American branch of the Mennonites. They attend weekly services at a local Beachy Amish church, while Old and New Order Amish attend services once every second week at different houses, where their sermon is preached. The Beachy Amish live with the Old and New Order Amish, as many other Mennonites do. Unlike Old and New Order Amish, Beachy Amish use electricity, phones and cars, and have mirrors. Unlike other Mennonites, who can wear many different colors and floral patterns, Beachy Amish follow the same dress code as the Old Order Amish.
The Beachy Amish Mennonite Churches separated from the stricter Old Order Amish. This separation began in 1927 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania under the leadership of Bishop Moses M. Beachy. Beachy favored a milder discipline than the Old Order. Until the 1950s, they resembled the Old Order, but accepted some adaptations in technology and discipline. The Beachy Amish now have church buildings, Sunday Schools, and a Bible School, and they support missionary work, none of which the Old Order allow. With these innovations, they have come to resemble more closely the conservative Mennonite and Brethren groups rather than the Old Order Amish. In 1997 there were 7853 members in 114 churches, mostly in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Reference
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank Spencer Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood, ISBN 0687069831