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The Role of Conference in Transitions and Expansions / 163
repentance, conversion, regeneration, justification, redemption, and sanctification.
The statement must be considered as a landmark in the development of the conference's doctrines and beliefs. Significant, therefore, is the fact that a young Mennonite leader, editor, and bishop should be credited for many of the phrases and quotations in the statement. This man was Daniel Kauffman, future editor of the official organ of the Mennonite Church (Gospel Herald) and a man who largely shaped the doctrines and policies of the Mennonite Church in his time"
The conference was guided by a constitution and a statement on officers and their duties. Six of the eleven articles outlined the work of committees, procedure for appeal to conference, conference decisions (two-thirds majority of all votes cast being necessary), conference leadership meetings, and finally provision for amendment by three-fourths vote of members present.''
In the unfolding life of the churches, it appears that the respective conference organizations functioned more and not less as time went on. The Mennonite churches had a long history of conference before the Amish churches finally felt it was necessary to organize in a permanent way. The relatively late organization of the Amish was doubtless due to their stronger tradition of congregational government. With the developments of the nineteenth century, however, this tradition seemed to need the reinforcement of conference organization.
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