Andrews Conference Highlights Anabaptist Movement

From April 3–5, in honor of movement's 500th anniversary

Regina Wenger, professor of history at Baylor University, was a keynote speaker for the conference. (Photo by Kimberly Agosto)

On Jan. 21, 1525, in Zurich, Switzerland, a small group of Christians renounced infant baptism and were secretly rebaptised. This moment marked the beginning of the Anabaptist “rebaptiser” movement. In honor of the 500th anniversary of this important event in the history of the Reformation, from April 3–5, 2025, Andrews University hosted the “Anabaptist Conference: Living the Christian Life.” The conference brought together Mennonites and Adventists to “reflect on the past, engage with the present, and envision the future of Anabaptist traditions, emphasizing their enduring impact on Christian faith, peacebuilding, and communal living.”

Andrews University has a history of dialogue and collaboration with Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, and the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana. Based on these connections, in addition to the 500th anniversary celebrations being held at Goshen and AMBS, Andrews University chose to host a celebratory event and invite Mennonite colleagues from Goshen and AMBS. During the event, the Anabaptist movement’s emphases on discipleship, community and peace were given center stage.

Event co-organizer Abner Hernandez, assistant professor of church history in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, shared, “The conference offered a profound occasion for theological reflection, historical remembrance, and spiritual renewal.” Commenting on the importance of the historical milestone, Hernandez added, “Marking half a millennium since the rise of the Radical Reformation, the event underscored the enduring significance of Anabaptism for contemporary Christianity, particularly for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which has inherited from the Anabaptist tradition a deep commitment to believers' baptism, the separation of church and state, and the primacy of Scripture.”

The second event co-organizer was Davide Sciarabba, MTh, assistant professor of systematic theology and ethics in the Department of Religion & Biblical Languages.

After a welcome and brief introduction—which included an opening presentation by Jiří Moskala, PhD, dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary—the first keynote speaker, John Roth, PhD, gave an address titled “Looking Back: Renewal, Identity, and Authority in Early Anabaptism.” Roth is the project director for “Anabaptism at 500,” an initiative of MennoMedia; a professor emeritus of history at Goshen College; and a research historian. This opening presentation set the stage for subsequent breakout conversations by establishing the history and impact of the early Anabaptist movement.

The second keynote speaker, Regina Wenger, PhD, a professor of history at Baylor University, examined the legacy of the Anabaptist movement in early education and its intersections with local communities. Her presentations, “An Education Set Apart: Wrestling with Identity in American Mennonite and Adventist K-12 Schools” and “Anabaptist and Adventist History in the Local Context,” highlighted how these theological movements influence daily life.

Throughout the weekend, scholars such as Denis Fortin, Yvonne Gameti Witherspoon, Heidi Campbell and Trevor O’Reggio engaged with the historical significance of Anabaptism and how the Adventist and Mennonite movements adopted its principles. Central themes of the conference included pacifism, the Sabbath, the connection between Anabaptist ideology and social justice, and the evolution of the rich history of both the Adventist and Anabaptist movements.

Sabbath morning featured a panel led by Felix Cortez, where Jiří Moskala, David Boshart, Elizabeth Miller, Teresa Reeve and Denis Fortin unpacked key Anabaptist scriptures. The conversation delved into the biblical foundations of faith.

The Sabbath worship service, led by David Williams, was titled “Re-Creating Community: Worship of Anabaptists and Adventists.” After lunch, breakout sessions and plenary presentations resumed, reinvigorated by the service. One notable breakout session included Michael Campbell’s paper, “The Christian Connexion and Seventh-day Adventism: Searching for the Anabaptist Roots of Seventh-day Adventism.”

John Reeve’s closing plenary, “Bridging Centuries, Building Faith: Insights from the Anabaptist Conference,” encapsulated the intent and impact of the conference.

Reflecting on the gathering, Hernandez remarked, “Attendees were inspired by the testimony of men and women who, at great personal cost, upheld biblical truth in the face of persecution. The conference served not only as a remembrance of how God has faithfully led His church through history, but also as a call to renewed fidelity to the principle of sola scriptura—a principle cherished by the Anabaptists and foundational to Adventist identity and mission.”