o-Director of the Global Anabaptist Profile Dr. Conrad Kanagy and his research partner, Dr. John Roth of Goshen College, are studying the growth of Anabaptist communities in countries around the world, as well as the varying beliefs and practices of these churches.
This study, conducted over the course of four to five years, surveys representatives from 24 Anabaptist churches in 18 countries, including Zimbabwe, Argentina, Indonesia and the Congo.
The survey aims to gain a greater understanding of how Anabaptist-Mennonites compare throughout the world by asking questions like, “How often do you attend worship services?” and “Which statement best expresses what you believe about the Bible?”
Another goal of the project is to study the expansion of the Anabaptist religions in the Global South. “There are many more Anabaptists outside of Europe and North America today than there are in them. For example, 51 percent of Anabaptists today live in Africa. So this study is really going to focus on those groups outside of these areas that are growing very quickly, even as populations in Europe and North America are in decline,” Kanagy said.
The Global Anabaptist Profile is a larger, more in-depth repetition of a study conducted by Kanagy from 2008 to 2010. The new study was developed at a conference at Goshen College in Indiana from July 28 to Aug. 1, 2013.
The researchers met with the leaders of the churches to design the project and determine the sampling of congregations.
“It was just a wonderful experience, across all of these countries, planning how to conduct the survey,” Kanagy said. Attending the conference with him were two Etown students, senior Jennifer Preston and junior Alex Wildberger.
“Working side by side with Kanagy was a great learning experience. I learned a lot about working with a variety of people and Kanagy demonstrated how to be a leader amongst many types of personalities in order to complete the job at hand,” Wildberger said.
“We were there to listen to the different groups, see what concerns they had and help Kanagy with his research,” Preston stated. They also answered any questions that the visiting representatives had and worked on sampling design.
Both Preston and Wildberger will continue to work with Kanagy over the course of the semester.
There were many cultural and communication barriers that put limitations on research.
“We found that there are a lot of social restrictions. There are different countries where we can’t ask certain questions,” Preston said.
Despite the cultural differences, there were human similarities as well. “In so many ways we are different, but in other ways these churches are really alike in that they are all struggling with certain challenges,” Kanagy said.
The study will continue until July 2015. Researchers and representatives will meet at the College for a closing consultation where they will report the results of the study and discuss the implications.
Also, the Mennonite World Conference meeting will be held in Harrisburg this coming July, where the results of the Global Anabaptist Profile will be presented.
Ultimately, Kanagy wants to use the results of the study to expand the understanding and awareness of Anabaptist groups in other countries. He aims to cultivate more sensitivity towards the challenges and difficulties faced by many of these groups, such as poverty and oppression.
“I relate closely to Mennonites in Honduras. One of my friends, who is a pastor in a small church, lost two of his leaders, who were shot and killed in gang violence,” Kanagy said. “We don’t really understand, know or experience that in North America.”
