Schleitheim Confession

By John Howard Yoder

In the historic meeting held in 1527 at Schleitheim, Switzerland, an ad hoc group of Anabaptists worked through fundamental disagreements and emerged with a consensus on seven points of faith that became known as the Schleitheim Confession. Also known as the Brotherly Union, this text constitutes one chapter from The Legacy of Michael Sattler.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Herald Press
• Release date: Oct 21, 1977
• ISBN: 9780836197440

John Howard Yoder

John Howard Yoder (1927-1997), author of The Politics of Jesus (1972), was best known for his writing and teaching on Christian pacifism. He studied theology and served as a Mennonite mission staff person in post-war Europe from 1949-1957 and continued in overseas mission administration from the agency's base in Elkhart, Indiana, from 1959-1965. He received his doctorate from the University of Basel. During the 1960s he began teaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, leaving it in 1984. He continued his teaching and scholarly work as professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame until his death at the age of 70.

Book preview

The

Schleitheim

Confession

Translated and edited

by John H. Yoder

Introduction by

Leonard Gross

HERALD PRESS

Scottdale, Pennsylvania

Waterloo, Ontario

The material on pages 7-29 is reprinted frome Volume I of Classics of the Radical Reformation, The Legacy of Michael Sattler, translated and edited by John H. Yoder. Classics of the Radical Reformation is an English-language series of Anabaptist and free church documents translated and annotated under the direction of the Institute of Mennonite Studies, which is the research agency of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, Elkhart, Indiana, and published by the Mennonite Publishing House, Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania.

THE SCHLEITHEIM CONFESSION

Copyright © 1973, 1977 by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa. 15683

    Published simultaneously in Canada by Herald Press,

    Waterloo, Ont. N2L 6H7. All rights reserved

International Standard Book Number: 0-8361-1831-6

Printed in the United States of America

Designed by: Alice B. Shetler

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Introduction

Four and one-half centuries have now passed since the time of the Brotherly Union—what has been called the miracle of the Mennonite church—which took place in 1527 at Schleitheim, Switzerland. At that crucial meeting, Anabaptist leaders converged upon Schleitheim, worked through fundamental disagreements, and emerged through consensus, with seven points of faith.

The striking immediate and long-range effect of this meeting was an affirmation of faith, couched in simple language which all could understand. The Schleitheim Confession became a powerful testimony that peace as a way of life is the only option for those attempting to live faithfully as the people of God.

Schleitheim functioned for many early Mennonites as a confession of faith, both as a statement of the Christian way of life within brotherhood, as well as a witness and mission to all people. The document was sent out far and wide, inviting its readers to identify with this manifestation of God at work among His people.

The Schleitheim Confession gave substance to a movement which until then had largely been without form, a movement seemingly as varied as the individuals espousing the cause. Schleitheim brought structure and focus.

Mennonites in the 1970s can understand something of the foment of the first two years of the Anabaptist movement which precipitated the Schleitheim Conference. For