Old Order vs. New Order Amish

By Daughter of the King

July 27, 2011

From our interaction with the New Order Amish, I would say the main difference between Old and New Order is that most New Order groups would teach the plan of salvation and assurance of salvation. This is probably the main reason their youth are different, not wild and rebellious on the average. Of course, the teaching varies from settlement to settlement in the New Order. Some have excellent teaching while others have teaching very similar to Old Order.

Usually the New Order are also considered more liberal by Old Order groups. Almost all would allow phones in the houses. Some even allow tractor farming and electricity, but no cars. Horse and buggies are still apart of the lifestyle. But unfortunately, their foundation is still very much like the Old Order in that they would believe worldliness to be almost strictly in the line of material possessions. And cars are very worldly and very much frowned upon, although the New Order would usually not be so quick to say that you are lost for driving a car. They would all have an "Ordnung" that the members have to agree to abide by and discipline is used to bring disobedient members back in line.

In a large community like Holmes County, OH where there are many different "plain" types of churches (different levels of Amish, Mennonite, etc.) people tend to just change to a different church if they don't agree. But there are hundreds of small Amish or Mennonite communities where that church is the only "plain" group in that area. So yes, if you do not agree, you go church hunting until you find one that matches your beliefs; then you move there.

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