Traditions
A

Tradition · Protestant

Anabaptism

Mennonites, Amish, Hutterites and related churches

Followersabout 2 millionbaptised believers · 2026How countedRadical Reformation1525In Zurich, Conrad Grebel and others baptised one another as adult believers, breaking with Zwingli’s reform as well as with Rome.Read the historyCompare with another tradition

The believer’s-baptism and peace churches of the Radical Reformation.

Relationships with other traditions

How it took shape

Since then

Key timeline

View full timeline (5)
  1. 1525

    Baptisms in Zurich

    The first believer’s baptisms; Zurich authorities soon begin persecution.

  2. 1527

    Schleitheim Confession

    Swiss Brethren set out believer’s baptism, separation and refusal of the sword.

  3. 1536

    Menno Simons

    A former Dutch priest who becomes the leader from whom Mennonites take their name.

  4. 1693

    Amish division

    Followers of Jakob Ammann separate from the Swiss Brethren.

Classification
Radical Reformation. Often grouped with Protestantism; many Anabaptists see themselves as a distinct tradition.
What this entry covers
A broad movement of many churches. Mennonite, Amish, Hutterite, Brethren in Christ and related churches of the Radical Reformation. Mennonite World Conference includes only part of this family.
Radical Reformation
1525. In Zurich, Conrad Grebel and others baptised one another as adult believers, breaking with Zwingli’s reform as well as with Rome.

Relationships with other traditions

Reform1525

The Radical Reformation in Zurich

AnabaptismReformed and Presbyterian Churches (Zwingli's Zurich reform)Catholic Church

Reform: A movement to reform the Western church that, in the 16th century, produced churches independent of Rome.

Anabaptism began in Zurich among radical followers of Zwingli who baptised one another as believers in January 1525. They broke with Zwingli's state-supported reform as well as with Rome, and were persecuted by Catholic and Protestant authorities alike. It did not grow out of Lutheranism.
3 sources

Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.

What changed
Later developments

Agreement recordCompare Anabaptism and Reformed and Presbyterian ChurchesCompare Anabaptism and Catholic Church

Reconciliation2010

Lutherans ask Mennonites for forgiveness

LutheranismAnabaptism

Reconciliation: A formal act of reconciliation, such as lifting condemnations or asking forgiveness. It does not by itself restore communion.

Sixteenth-century Lutheran authorities joined in persecuting Anabaptists. In July 2010 the Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Stuttgart asked forgiveness at a joint service of repentance, and Mennonite World Conference responded with its own confession.
Source
Today as of 2010

Separate, with recorded reconciliation or conversation

Separate traditions in a relationship of recorded reconciliation.
Source

Agreement recordCompare Anabaptism and Lutheranism

Explained on other pages

Full timeline

  1. 1525

    Baptisms in Zurich

    The first believer’s baptisms; Zurich authorities soon begin persecution.

    Explained below: The Radical Reformation in Zurich

  2. 1527

    Schleitheim Confession

    Swiss Brethren set out believer’s baptism, separation and refusal of the sword.

  3. 1536

    Menno Simons

    A former Dutch priest who becomes the leader from whom Mennonites take their name.

  4. 1693

    Amish division

    Followers of Jakob Ammann separate from the Swiss Brethren.

  5. 2010

    Lutherans ask forgiveness

    The Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Stuttgart asks forgiveness for the 16th-century persecution of Anabaptists at a joint service of repentance.

    Explained below: Lutherans ask Mennonites for forgiveness

Positions used in comparisons

Short, sourced statements that the Atlas compares across traditions. Where a tradition has no single teaching authority, the record says whose statement it follows.

God
God is known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Source

Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions (2006).

Scripture and authority
The Bible is the authority for faith and life, interpreted together under the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Source

Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions (2006).

Salvation and grace
Following Jesus in daily life, as peacemakers who renounce violence.
Source

Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions (2006).

Sacraments and ordinances
Baptism upon confession of faith; the Lord's Supper is celebrated as a community.
Source

Mennonite World Conference Shared Convictions (2006).

Varies Anabaptist understandings of the Lord's Supper are not uniform and are not recorded here.

Church and ministry
A community of believers; structures range from congregational Mennonite churches to Amish districts with bishops.
Source

Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.

Varies Government differs between Mennonite, Amish, Hutterite and Brethren churches.

Compare these positions with another tradition

  • Simple worship

    Ranges from Old Order Amish services held in homes to contemporary Mennonite congregations.Not yet sourced

The follower figure

about 2 million baptised believers

What is counted
Baptised believers (children not counted)
As of
undated (MWC website, accessed October 2026)
Reported by
Mennonite World Conference
Type
Recorded by the reporting body
Coverage
Anabaptist-related churches in 87 countries, including churches that are not MWC members.
This entry is
A broad movement of many churches. Mennonite, Amish, Hutterite, Brethren in Christ and related churches of the Radical Reformation. Mennonite World Conference includes only part of this family.
Mennonite World Conference counts 2.03 million baptised believers in Anabaptist-related churches in 87 countries.
Source

Replaces the starting figure. Workbook: 2,100,000 (no source or date).

Figures from different traditions measure different things and must not be added together or ranked against each other.

About the image · Editorial placeholder

Editorial initial. Many Anabaptist communities avoid religious symbols.

Editorial status

Editorial draft. Built from the starting workbook with editorial corrections and framing. It has not yet been checked against independent sources.

References

  • Workbook linkNot yet checked

    mwc-cmm.org

    Link supplied in the source workbook (“Christian Denominations”, row 19). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Christian Denominations”, row 19. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

Denomination / Tradition
Anabaptism (Mennonites, Amish)
Broader Tradition
Protestantism / Radical Reformation
Date Established / Split
1525 AD
Origin / Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Forming Event / Schism
Radical Reformation
Approx. Practitioners
2,100,000
Broke Away From
Roman Catholic Church & Zwinglian Reformers
Primary Reason for Split / Core Doctrine
Rejection of infant baptism in favor of adult believer's baptism, strict pacifism, and total separation of church and state.
Reference / Information Link
https://mwc-cmm.org

Editorial notes on this record

  • Broke Away From: Workbook lists “Roman Catholic Church & Zwinglian Reformers”; the immediate break was with Zwingli’s circle.

Research sources for this entry

Every relationship, position and figure above cites these. Each links to the Atlas’s single source register, which shows what each source supports and whether it was read.