Old Order Amish depend on their church for their relation to the world outside their lives.
The Amish do not refer to their "church" as a building like other denominations.
Their church is the community they belong to.
It is called "Gmay" it is derived from a German word "Gemeinde" which means "community".
The Gmay is the community of members who with their baptism have indicated a willingnes to practice the teachings of Christ as found in the New Testament.
Every Gmay is guided by the "Ordnung" (system of community norms).
The Ordnung specifies what is worldly and what is sinful.
It regulates private, public, and ceremonial life.
It enables the community to practice scriptural edicts.
Also, it builds a barrier against the world beyond the community.
Is everything in the Ordnung supported by the Bible? No, it is not. When certain practices appear "worldly" then such practices are forbidden.
The Ordnung may vary among different Amish communities. Each Amish Gmay has its own Ordnung. The Ordnung may change over time. When economic survival becomes an issue it may be modified but the Amish accept change very slowly. When creameries no longer accepted milk shipped in cans the use of bulk milk tanks was approved. The local Amish milk by hand and strain the milk into cans which they transport to a dumping station. The dumping station at the corner of Krill Road and Jennings Creek Road is owned by Dairylea. Dairy farmers may ask why not use a vacuum pump powered by a small engine like they use for other equipment so they can use vacuum operated milking machines? It seems that the Ordnung forbids the use of milking machines.
I asked the question. My guess is that the children would have too much idle time.
Work is viewed as a desirable activity.
The Ordnungs are generally not in writing. They are reaffirmed and if needed modified in the Spring and Fall of the year at Ordnungsgmay. At this time the leaders of the Gmay (Bishop and Preachers) expound on the forbidden practices and each individual member is asked if she or he is in agreement.
If all members are in agreement it is cause for a celebration at the "Grossgmay" .
("Gross" is German for "large, big") to be held two weeks later and communion takes place. Amish church gatherings are held every other Sunday.
Amish communities do fellowship with other Amish communities that have similar Ordnungs.
An interchange of preachers is allowed in such sharing of fellowship.
It also broadens the base from which marriage partners can be selected.
Amish people set themselves apart through the clothing they wear, means of transportation, level of education and continued use of the German language. Amish children are brought up to speak "Deitsch". Their pronunciation of "Deutsch" (german). They learn English in school.
The Amish adhere to a literal interpretation of the Bible. Romans 12:2 ("And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.") and 2 Corinthians 6:14 ("Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?" are interpreted literally . This literal interpretation forbids marriage with outsiders, connecting to the electrical grid or to the telephone system. Connecting literally and physically defines the rule.
The Ordnung of our Amish allows use of the phone of consenting neighbors but prohibits the use of cell phones. Don't offer the use of your cell phone which I did recently.
It is at the time that an Amish believer decides to be baptized that he or she becomes a member of the Gmay.
The Amish believe that baptism is a covenant with God, a vow of total obedience to the Church of Christ, which is the local Gmay and its Ordnung. Every person contemplating baptism is advised to evaluate this decision very carefully. The baptismal vows express faith in God, the Bible, obedience of Christ's teachings incorporated in the rules of the Ordnung.
The Amish do not believe that baptism brings salvation. It is a covenant. To proclaim that one is saved is considered prideful. Only God knows.
"Being separate from the world" is the guiding principle in Amish life.
It is the reason why our Amish neighbors refuse to let their children ride on the school bus with Non-Amish children. It would violate the rules of the Ordnung about connecting with the world outside.
As long as our director of transportation keeps coming up with proposals that include mingling Amish kids with non-Amish kids it amounts to blowing in the wind.
Also, when Amish children are killed in traffic incidents it becomes national news.
Envision this headline:
"Two Amish Girls Killed in Snowstorm.
School Board Refuses Bus Transportation to their Schools".
George VanderWoude
Sources:
New York Amish: life in the plain communities of New York State by Karen Johnson-Weiner
http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Amish-Communities-Empire/dp/0801445183
Also available in the Lisle, NY library
The Riddle of Amish Culture
by Donald Kraybill
http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Culture-Center-Anabaptist-Studies/dp/080186772X
Biblical text copied from
THE NEW TESTAMENT
PREPARED FOR THE USE OF PROTESTANT PERSONNEL
OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES.
United States Printing Office
Washington : 1942
Links:
http://amishamerica.com/what-is-the-amish-ordnung/
Recommended:
Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
http://www.amazon.com/Success-Made-Simple-Inside-Businesses/dp/0470442379
Note: Amish businesses have a 95% survival rate.
