European volume of Global History Series released

Testing Faith and Tradition, the history of European Mennonite churches, has been released as part of the Global Mennonite History Series.

A project of Mennonite World Conference (MWC), this second volume in the series tells the story of Mennonite churches coming into being across Europe, endeavouring to remain faithful through nearly five centuries.

Much has been written about the beginnings of these fellowships. But until now, far less has been available about the years that followed. Frequent wars during the past 480 years strained these Mennonite churches immeasurably, especially when their governments battled each other. This volume recounts those tortuous and formative experiences.

Seldom have the distinguishing features of the Dutch, French, German, Swiss and Russian-and, more recently, the British, Italian and Spanish-Mennonite churches been examined. These churches' cultural and historical differences are significantly unique, and they are a key part of the history told in these chapters by European Mennonite historians and church leaders. The Umsiedler, with their sheer numbers and religious vigour, are a current force included in this ongoing story.

Today, many of these Anabaptistdescended Mennonite churches throughout Europe are declining in membership, but they are not without reinvigorated faith and hope. Writers from within these various fellowships have contributed chapters to this frank and highly engaging story.

Hanspeter Jecker of Switzerland and Alle G. Hoekema of the Netherlands served as co-editors of this volume. John A. Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder are the series editors.

Testing Faith and Tradition: Global Mennonite History Series, Europe is available from Pandora Press (pandorapress.com).

-MWC release by Phyllis Pellman Good