Anabaptism at 500 Project Surpasses Goal of 500 Study Groups Contributing to Anabaptist Community Bible

Anabaptism at 500 Project Surpasses Goal of 500 Study Groups Contributing to Anabaptist Community Bible

HARRISONBURG, VA — The Anabaptism at 500 Project is proud to announce that it has exceeded its goal of 500 study groups contributing to the Anabaptist Community Bible. The project, which was launched to mark the five hundredth anniversary of Anabaptism, invited groups from around the world to participate in the creation of a new Bible with annotations that reflect the values and perspectives of the Anabaptist tradition.

The response to the project has been overwhelming, with study groups registering from 16 countries and 58 Anabaptist-Mennonite denominations and church bodies. These groups are studying assigned scriptures together. The reflections and questions they generate, supplemented by insights from biblical scholars and early Anabaptist witness testimonies gathered by Anabaptist historians, will appear as marginal notes in the Anabaptist Community Bible.The project will reflect the thoughts of the Anabaptist community and provide a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the Anabaptist tradition.

“We are thrilled with the response to the Anabaptism at 500 project,” said project director John Roth. “We hoped people would be interested in participating, but the response has been truly remarkable. The fact that we far exceeded our goal of five hundred study groups is a testament to the vitality and diversity of the Anabaptist community, and we are excited to see how this Bible will be used to strengthen and enrich that community.”

The Anabaptist Community Bible will be available for purchase in 2025 along with other products being created to commemorate the historic milestone. The project team encourages churches and individuals to visit AnabaptismAt500.com to find resources and stay informed on other projects in development. Currently, Anabaptism at 500 is seeking photos and story submissions for a full-color photobook.

“We hope that the Anabaptist Community Bible will be a valuable resource not just for the Anabaptist community, but for anyone interested in exploring the rich and varied landscape of Christian theology and practice,” said Mollee Moua, managing editor. “By bringing together diverse study groups, we have created a truly unique resource, one that reflects the complexity and richness of the Anabaptist community.”

Anabaptism at 500 is a project by MennoMedia, the publishing ministry of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. To learn how you and your congregation can be involved in Anabaptism at 500, visit AnabaptismAt500.com.