202 / The Merger of the Ohio Mennonite and Amish Conferences

The executive committees of the Ohio Mennonite and the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conferences in joint session at the Lima Mission, December 9, 1927, having heard the report of the special merger committee, that the required number of congregations voted favorably and upon authorization of the respective conferences take the following action: (1) we accept the report and work of the special merger committee; (2) we hereby declare the merger of the Ohio Mennonite and Eastern Amish Mennonite Conferences, (3) whereas the work of the executive committees of the above named conferences automatically terminate, we, here, hand over the records and work to our successors, the provisional executive committee elected at a joint session of the Ohio Mennonite and Eastern A. M. Conferences, held at the Beech Church near Louisville, Ohio, May 26, 1927; (4) in humble gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessing upon our past labors and His kind providence which made this merger possible, we invoke His continued blessing on the work of the new conference. "'

This action was signed by A. J. Steiner, moderator of the Ohio Mennonite Conference, and A. L Yoder, moderator of the Eastern

Amish Mennonite Conference.

Thus came to a climax a sixteen-year labor of love among Christian statesmen. It was an accomplishment in the direction of unity for which there was strong approval with sincere gratitude for God's guidance in the proceedings. The names of the executive committees whose offices terminated were: Eastern A.M. Conference -A. L Yoder, moderator; O. N. Johns, assistant moderator, C. Z. Yoder, secretary; J. C. Frey, treasurer; and the Ohio Mennonite

Conference-A. J. Steiner, moderator; E. F. Hartzler, assistant moderator; J. Y. King, secretary; Eli D. Yoder, treasurer; J. M. shenk, bishop. The new executive committee of the joint conference was: A. J. Steiner, moderator; E. L. Frey, assistant moderator; O. N.

Johns, secretary; E. ß. Stoltzfus and E. F. Hartzler, fourth and fifth members; J. C. Fret', treasurer."'

The Merger Declared

The first Ohio Mennonite and Eastern Amish Mennonite Joint Conference was held on May 29, 80, 192$, at the Oak Grove Church

near Smithville, Ohio.'' There were still adjustments that had to be made but the principal work seemed completed. The title "Ohio Mennonite and Eastern A.M. Joint Conference" was maintained until 195 when it was officially changed to "Ohio and Eastern Mennonite Conference." The merger affected about 7,000 members of which

about x,000 were from the A.M. Conference, the other 2,000 being