On a cold, Thanksgiving Day in November 1910, a group of five ordained ministers gathered with other guests at the Pigeon River Conservative Amish Mennonite meetinghouse in Huron County, Michigan, USA, for the purpose of working together to further the mission of the church. Out of that gathering, Rosedale Network of Churches (called Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference at the time) was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hosting ministers were bishop Solomon J. Swartzentruber and minister Michael S. Zehr. Bishop Joshua King from Stark County, Ohio, was in attendance, as were bishop John L. Mast and minister Jonas D. Yoder from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, USA. While not in attendance at this meeting, other churches in the Casselman Valley of Pennsylvania and Maryland, Lewis County in New York, and Johnson County in Iowa were identified with this emerging group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pigeon River Mennonite Church, where the first meeting was held continues, to be a member of Rosedale Network of Churches to this day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five primary priorities were addressed in that very first meeting: maintaining unity, nonconformity, maintenance of the German language, duty to spread the gospel and response to divisiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first outreach of this new group grew out of their conviction to spread the gospel and their concern for the poor and orphans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At their second meeting in 1912 plans were put in place to start a children\u2019s home for orphans. Much of the strongest support for the children\u2019s home came from the congregations in the Casselman Valley of Pennsylvania and Maryland, so in 1914 the Children\u2019s Home was founded in Grantsville, Maryland, USA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today Rosedale Network of Churches consists of 119 congregations spread across the USA who are working together to mature and multiply churches locally and globally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same commitment to Scripture as the authority for life and to carrying out God\u2019s mission in the world that existed at its founding continues to this day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rosedale Network would not be what it is without its educational arm (Rosedale Bible College) and its mission arm (Rosedale International). These organizations help the church tremendously in accomplishing its mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another strength of Rosedale Network is the support it offers its pastors through peer groups, cohorts, classes and annual gatherings that offer opportunities for fellowship, encouragement, inspiration and equipping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As other church groups in North America can attest, significant challenges for Rosedale Network include the ever-present influence of materialism and the growing influence of nationalism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rosedale Network joined MWC as an associate member in 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, there are 119 churches with 13\u202f403 baptized members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brian Hershberger, Executive Director, Rosedale Network of Churches<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n