The Dordrecht Confession of Faith is a statement of religious beliefs adopted by Dutch Mennonite leaders at a meeting in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, on 21 April 1632. Its 18 articles emphasize belief in salvation through Jesus Christ, baptism, nonviolence (non-resistance), withdrawing from, or shunning those who are excommunicated from the Church,Dordrecht Confession of Faith, Article XVII feet washing ("a washing of the saints' feet"),Dordrecht Confession of Faith, Article XI and avoidance of taking oaths.
Reception It was an influential part of the Radical Reformation and remains an important religious document to many modern Anabaptist groups, such as the Amish. In 1725, Jacob Gottschalk, a Mennonite bishop, met with sixteen other ministers from southeastern Pennsylvania and adopted the Confession. They also wrote the following endorsement, which Gottschalk was the first to sign:Dyck, Cornelius J. (1993), Mennonite History 3rd Ed., Herald Press, p. 217 We the hereunder written Servants of the Word of God, and Elders in the Congregation of the People, called Mennonists, in the Province of Pennsylvania, do acknowledge, and herewith make known, that we do own the foregoing Confession, Appendix, and Menno's Excusation, to be according to our Opinion; and also, have took the same to be wholly ours. In Testimony whereof, and that we believe that same to be good, we have here unto Subscribed our Names.
Contents The Confession's articles are as follows:"Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1632. Web. 2 Aug 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Dordrecht_Confession_of_Faith_(Mennonite,_1632)&oldid=177087.
I. Of God and the Creation of all Things II. Of the Fall of Man III. Of the Restoration of Man Through the Promise of the Coming Christ IV. The Advent of Christ into This World, and the Reason of His Coming V. The Law of Christ, i.e., the Holy Gospel or the New Testament VI. Of Repentance and Reformation of Life VII. OF Holy Baptism VIII. Of the Church of Christ IX. Of the Election, and Offices of Teachers, Deacons, and Deaconesses, in the Church X. Of the Holy Supper XI. Of the Washing of the Saints' Feet XII. Of the State of Matrimony XIII. Of the Office of the Secular Authority XIV. Of Revenge XV. Of the Swearing of Oaths XVI. Of the Ecclesiastical Ban, or Separation from the Church XVII. Of Shunning the Separated XVIII. Of the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Last Judgment
See also Conservative Mennonites Old Colony Mennonites Old Order Mennonites
References
External links
Mennolink article on confessions of faith Dordrecht Confession of Faith translation and context in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online