Pacific Northwest Mennonite Historical Society

09/09/2025

We are looking forward to the MCC Relief Sale on October 11 in Albany, Oregon. The Historical Society will have a display table there. Please stop by and visit with us. More info on the sale at

The official website for the Oregon Mennonite Festival for World Relief Auction & Sale.

07/31/2025

Our historical Archives was a stop along the way of the first Peace Pilgrimage Bus Tour on July 19. Fifty-five persons from the Historic Peace Church tradition, (Reedwood Friends Church, Portland Mennonite Church, and Peace Church of The Brethern,) boarded a bus at Redwood Friends Church in Portland at 9:15 AM and spent the day getting acquainted and visiting Brigitinne Monastery (near Amity), the Old Colony Museum in Aurora and wrapped
up the day with visits to our Historical Archives, “the MCC Barn” and ended with dinner in the portico at Zion Mennonite where Jerry Barkman talked about the history of Anabaptism and how
Mennonites got to Oregon. There is more information about this tour in the files here at the Center.

06/13/2025

San Antonio Mennonite Church feels the impact of ICE deportation activities. From Anabaptist World

Members of a Mennonite church in San Antonio, Texas, face increased fear and uncertainty after a member — a mother of four who entered the United States legally — was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in late May.

06/10/2025

The estimated 3,500 Anabaptists who gathered in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 29 did more than praise the Radical Reformation and the global church it birthed. Along with the leaders of churches that once tried to crush the Anabaptist movement, they affirmed that faith in Jesus Christ now unites the spiritual heirs of former enemies. Credit to Anabaptist World.

They affirmed that faith in Jesus Christ now unites the spiritual heirs of former enemies.

06/05/2025

Pope Leo shares a message with Mennonites on the occasion of the 500-year commemoration of Anabaptist beginnings.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xiv-message-anabaptists-mennonites-500-anniversary.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawKt9BhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFIMFE5SlA1bHhJUVU2OWpBAR5YkBPHccW5VXs7FBvaG__oTS8c8H-B7-AbvDqXJZL_d-M8mN6WXZsDRRs9NQ_aem_rQpzEwPNFk8juo1nifERMg

Pope Leo XIV sends a message to mark the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, and invites Catholics and Mennonites to employ “honesty and ...

05/21/2025

On May 29, 2025, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) will welcome guests from around the world to The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500. The day-long celebration will conclude with a worship service with ecumenical participation at the Grossmünster church in Zurich, Switzerland. The event is free of charge, and registration is not required. View the service here at 8:00 AM PDT:

Return here to watch the Zurich livestream 29 May 2025 at 15:00 UTC.

05/06/2025

Another in a series of Anabaptism at 500 events. The Hesston College Music Department invites the public to join in a historic celebration of faith, music, and heritage at Anabaptism at Five Hundred: Hymn Festival on Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m. at Zion Mennonite Church in Hubbard, Oregon. More info at

Hesston College is a Christ-centered, bachelor's degree granting college in Hesston, Kan. Academics, departments, library, admissions and financial aid, alumni, news and sports events, calendar.

05/01/2025

On Janauary 21, 2025, Menno Media sponsored a worship service, featuring historian John D. Roth, to commemorate the 500-year anniversary of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement. The program can be found at

On January 21, we gathered at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana to celebrate 500 years of Anabaptist faith.

04/13/2025

As Anabaptist-related groups continue to commemorate 500 years of the movement, Swiss Mennonites recently held a celebration in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Swiss Mennonite Conference commemorated the beginning of the Anabaptist movement in Zurich on the 500th anniversary of the first adult baptisms with a celebration that recalled the movement’s origins and reflected on current challenges.

04/08/2025

Anabaptist worshiping communities are commemorating "Anabaptism at 500" this year, based on early baptisms in 1525. As part of that commemoration, MennonMedia has published a publication, Anabaptist Historical Vignettes 1525 - 2025. It is authored by historian John D. Roth. A link to the publication can be found at

03/31/2025

The Pacific NW Mennonite Historical Society held its annual meeting on March 15, 2025. Following a delicious lunch and business meeting, a program featuring Michele Hershberger was held. Her topic was “What’s so bad about being a Christian Nation?” Links to a video of the program and the PowerPoint used in her presentation can be found at pnmhs.org .

03/20/2025

Photos from our 2025 Annual Meeting held on March 15, 2015. The program featured Michele Hershberger, Hesston College, Hesston, KS, Bible Professor. Her topic; What is the problem with being a Christian nation?