Jakob Ammann
Jakob Ammann | |
|---|---|
| File:Jakob Ammann.jpg Ammann c. 1696 | |
| Born | 12 February 1644 |
| Died | before March 31, 1730 |
| Title | Bishop |
| Parent(s) | Michael and Anna Ammann (née Rupp) |
Jakob Ammann [also Jacob Amman, Amann], (12 February 1644 – before 31 March 1730) [1] was an Anabaptist leader and namesake of the Amish religious movement.
Early Years
Jakob Ammann was born on February 12, 1644 in Erlenbach im Simmental, Canton of Bern, Switzerland to Michael and Anna Rupp Ammann [1]. Later, his family moved to the commune of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Upper Alsace, France as part of a wave of Anabaptist emigration to avoid Swiss persecution. As a young man, Ammann was baptized into the Christian faith as member of the Swiss Brethren. He would later become an elder of the Swiss Brethren congregation at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.[2]
Schism
In 1693, Ammann took issue with Swiss Brethren leaders Hans Reist and Benedict Schneider over what he saw as a lack of overall discipline in the Brethren congregations. This lack of discipline was exemplified by the lapse of the ban (or meidung) against those who violated ethical rules after being baptized into the Church. The disagreement over the practice caused a rift between him and Hans Reist; which resulted in Ammann's congregation splitting from the Brethren. Those who followed Jakob Ammann became known as the Amish.[2]
Highly influenced by Dutch Mennonite beliefs, Ammann insisted on the implementation of the Dortrecht Confession of Faith. He rejected fancy clothing and established strict regulations concerning dress apparel. He increased communion from once to twice per year and instituted the practice of feet washing in connection with communion; which was not practiced by the Swiss Brethren.[2]
Later, Ammann regretted the schism and made several attempts to reunify his group with the Swiss Brethren. In order to show his regret for the disunity he had caused, Ammann offered to ban himself from his own congregation. Despite his admissions of being rash and overzealous, he would not give up the belief of strict shunning. Because of this, the main body of Amish and the Swiss Brethren were never able to reconcile.[2]
Death
Jakob Ammann remained in the region of Alsace, France until his death sometime before March 31, 1730.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Jakob Ammann". Goshen College. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
- ^ a b c d "Amish Studies". Elizabethtown College. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
Further reading
- Letters between Ammann and Reist factions translated by John D. Roth of Goshen College.
- Unser Leit, The Story of the Amish by Leroy Beachy
- Steven M. Nolt, A History of the Amish, rev. ed. (Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003)
External links
- Jakob Ammann at the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
- Amish Origins The Young Center for Anabaptist and Piest Studies at ElizabethTown College
- Identifying Jacob Ammann Department of Religious Studies at Goshen College