Read Plain Answers About the Amish Life Online
Authors: Mindy Starns Clark
How are bishops chosen?
Just as with ministers, bishops are chosen by lot, though nominees come from the pool of eligible ministers rather than from the congregation at large.
Why are Amish leaders chosen by drawing lots?
The Amish base this practice on “divine appointment,” as shown in Acts 1:24-26, when the apostles used this method to choose a replacement for Judas.
How does the drawing of lots work?
The choosing of lots is usually done on a communion Sunday. A Bible verse is written on a piece of paper and then hidden inside a hymnbook. That hymnbook is mixed with several others, and each nominee chooses one. The man who chooses the hymnbook that has the verse inside is the new leader.
What is it like to be a leader in the Amish church?
Leaders have no formal theological training, and they serve for life without financial remuneration. They spend a lot of time and effort on their duties, employing diplomacy, dealing with difficult issues, and sometimes making unpopular decisions that impact the entire group. Thus, despite the honor of being nominated, many dedicated, godly Amish men prefer
not
to be chosen as a leader. The amount of time and energy required to fulfill their leadership commitments can have a negative impact on their work and farms. Still, most accept the mantle with grace, following the example of Christ in saying, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42
KJV
).
What is an Amish church service like?
Old Order worship services generally open with a hymn sung slowly, in unison, without instruments. As the congregation sings, the bishop and ministers gather in a different room and decide who will preach the opening sermon and who will preach the main sermon. Besides congregational singing, services feature Scripture reading, silent prayer, and spoken prayer read from a prayer book. The opening sermon comes next, and it is given without the aid of any notes. This is followed by the main sermon, which is also given extemporaneously. When the main sermon is over, other ministers may add input or correction as they feel led.
How long does all of that take?
Amish church services last about three hours. The opening sermon is about 20 to 30 minutes long, and the main sermon can last an hour or more.
What language is used in church?
Hymns, Scripture readings, and spoken prayers are in High German. Sermons are given in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Do they offer children's programs on Sunday mornings?
No. The entire family worships together. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone is expected to sit still and pay attention despite the length of the service, the use of the less-familiar High German in the songs and prayers and readings, the hard wooden benches, and any seasonal discomfort, such as summer heat or winter chill.
During church, congregations usually sit divided by gender and age, though very young children will sit with a parent.
How often do the Amish go to church?
Amish worship services are usually held every other Sunday. On the alternating Sundays they may spend quiet family time at home, gather with others for informal readings from the Bible, or attend the services of a different district in their affiliation. No work is done on Sundays except that which is absolutely necessary, such as the care and feeding of the animals.
Is it true they hold church services in their homes?
Yes. Most Amish do not use church buildings, but instead they rotate services among the homes in a district. If a house is not large enough to accommodate the entire congregation, a service may be held in a barn, basement, or large shop. Each Amish family hosts the service about once a year, depending on the size of the district. For congregational seating, the district provides hard, wooden benches that are delivered to the host home the day before on a special wagon that has been designed for just that purpose.
The church service is often followed by a light communal meal, also in the host home.
Do they observe communion?
Yes. Twice a year, in spring and fall, the Amish will hold a special communion service that includes foot washing. This event is usually preceded by a council meeting and concludes with an offering of alms for the needy. This special day can last up to eight hours and is usually a time of rejoicing and renewal for the entire congregation.
What sort of theological training does the church provide?
Formal religious training is provided prior to baptism through an eight- or nine-week program taught by the bishop and ministers. Beyond that, churches usually don't offer such things as Sunday school, children's programs, or youth retreats. In fact, the Old Order Amish rarely deal with discussions or teachings of formal theology
at allâin the church, home, or school. Instead, their emphasis is on the practice of faith in action through surrender, submission, separation, and simplicity in their day-to-day lives. As the Amish saying goes, “Learn obedience first, and the rest will follow.”
What hymnals do they use in church?
All music sung in the Amish church comes from the
Ausbund
, a songbook containing hymns written by early Anabaptists. The
Ausbund
contains lyrics only; the tunes are passed down from one generation to the next. These lyrics are written in High German.
All hymns are sung a cappella as no instruments are played during church services.
Do they prefer one particular version of the Bible?
In church services, they use the German Martin Luther Bible. Outside of church, they are more likely to read from the King James Version, though some may use the New International Version as well.
Why do the Amish have so many rules?
The Amish believe that setting limits and respecting them are keys to Christlikeness, wisdom, and fulfillment. To them, regulations shape identity, build community, help prevent temptation, and provide a sense of belonging. Without rules, which are defined in what's known as the
Ordnung
, they feel that one can fall prey to pride, unhappiness, insecurity, loss of dignity, and ultimately self-destruction.
What is the
Ordnung
?
The
Ordnung
is what the Amish call the set of rules and regulations that dictate their day-to-day lives. The
Ordnung
deals with a wide variety of topics, such as clothing, transportation, technology, education, and much more.
To join the Amish church, one must agree to abide by all the rules of the
Ordnung
.
Is the
Ordnung
the same for all Amish people everywhere?
No. Rules in the
Ordnung
can vary widely from affiliation to affiliation and can even vary somewhat from district to district within the same affiliation.
Does the
Ordnung
ever change?
Yes. As districts grow and divide into new ones, and as new technologies and issues arise, the
Ordnung
necessarily changes and adapts as well.
How and when do the rules get changed?
Passed along through an oral tradition, the
Ordnung
by necessity changes and evolves with every new issue that arises and every new technology that presents itself for consideration. Minor regulations are updated by church leaders as needed, but major decisions usually involve congregational input and often include debate in member meetings.
Regardless of how intensely various issues are debated, all matters of contention are laid to rest at the twice-yearly council meetings that precede the communion services. Once the group is at peace with one another and the rules, members reaffirm the commitment they made when they were first baptized to follow the
Ordnung
. In this way, they remain united as a people.
What do the Amish take into consideration when deciding on new rules or on making changes to old rules?
When deciding whether something should be allowed or modified, church leaders focus on key questions like these:
Will this force us to be more connected to the outside world?
Will this create division in our families?
Will this take us too far from home?
For example, members of some Old Order communities do not have bicycles. Their thinking is that if one has a bicycle, he may take too much time away from home and family or venture into the outside world too fully. Thus, with an eye toward the what-ifs of a situation, a decision is made for the district and then becomes a part of its
Ordnung
.
Are all Amish required to follow the rules?
When a person is baptized into the Amish faith, he vows to obey God and the church for the rest of his life. This is an intentional, voluntary, adult act that requires a tremendous commitment and an act of submission that binds him under the rules of his district's
Ordnung
. Once this commitment has been made, any infraction of those rules is
subject to church discipline, whether the infraction is minor (such as using forbidden technology) or major (such as committing adultery).
What happens if a person who has been baptized into the Amish faith breaks the rules?
The disciplinary process is careful and deliberate and usually begins with a reprimand from a church elder intended to bring reconciliation and repentance. If the disobedient member discontinues his infractions, confesses, and repents, then all is forgiven and he remains in good standing within the fold. If he continues in sin or gives up the sin but remains unrepentant, he is put on temporary probation.
What is the goal of this probation?
During the probationary period, repeated attempts are made to help him see the error of his ways. Elders, friends, and family will talk with him, pray for him, and remind him that he is not living in submission to church authority as he vowed to do when he was baptized. Many attempts are made toward reconciliation, and often this is enough to turn the most stubborn heart toward confession and repentance.
If the person still doesn't repent, what happens next?
At that point more drastic steps are taken. If the bishop recommends excommunication, the members will vote. If the vote passes, the person is excommunicated, or put under the “ban.” In most districts, excommunication is followed by what the Amish call
Meidung
, or shunning. The severity of the shunning can vary widely from district to district. (See more about shunning in the following chapter.)
If an Amish person confesses and repents, do the Amish forgive and forget?
The Amish put great stress on forgiveness, especially the biblical principle of “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” found in verses such as Luke 6:37. They also feel that once a matter has been confessed and forgiven, it is also supposed to be forgotten. This new start with a clean slate makes for less baggage for all and can be the best way to move forward after an issue has been resolved.
Unfortunately, this can also create problems of recidivism. Applying this forgive-and-forget mentality to certain offenses can create much bigger problems, because without legal safeguards, even the most sincere of confessors can become repeat offenders.
Such was the case with the largest incidence of sexual assault in Amish American history. More than once, the rapists confessed and repented, only to commit the same atrocities soon thereafter.
Do the Amish ever report crimes to the police?
Yes, though more so nowadays than in the past. According to author David L. Weaver-Zercher, the Amish are more likely to involve police when they “feel they are in danger or when they're involved in a high-profile crime and have no other choice.”
1
Historically, the Amish have resisted involving law enforcement in all but the most serious of matters. Attitudes toward law enforcement have undergone a shift, however, in the wake of the massacre of Amish school students at Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, in 2006. According to authors Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher in their book
Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
, many Amish were surprised byâand deeply grateful forâthe outstanding efforts of the police during that difficult time. This has led many Amish to be more open to involving them in certain situations.
2
As Weaver-Zercher says, “Many [Amish] people gained an increased level of regard or comfort after what happened. There are often cases where Amish people become close to authorities, and in some ways those walls are lowered.”
3
With few exceptions, the Amish still do not believe pressing charges against another person, but instead prefer to solve disputes privately among themselves.
Are crimes ever perpetrated against the Amish by other Amish?
Though quite rare, this has happened. For example, there is the case of the Amish hair-cutting attacks in Ohio in 2011. Despite such offenses, the crime rate among the Amish is lower than that of the general population.