Mennonite Historical Society to Close After Century of Service

By Andi Anderson

On December 4, 2025, members voted to begin winding down the Mennonite Historical Society, with plans to close it in 2026. The organization has served for more than a century as a leading promoter of Anabaptist Mennonite history and contemporary Mennonite life and thought.

Its work aimed to deepen understanding and strengthen Christian faith through research and publication.

Over the past decade, the Society has faced declining volunteer support, which has made it difficult to sustain operations.

As a result, the board decided to responsibly transition its major initiatives to institutions prepared to continue the mission. This approach ensures that important scholarly work remains active even after the Society closes.

One major change involves the long-standing Mennonite Quarterly Review. It will merge with Conrad Grebel Review to form a single open access academic journal.

This new publication will be supported through collaboration among Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario, and Goshen College. The journal will be published by the Institute of Mennonite Studies at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

In addition, Bluffton University will continue the C Henry Smith book series under the leadership of Dr. Gerald J Mast. The series will move forward with a new name, C Henry Smith Series in Anabaptist Culture and Thought.

Meanwhile, the Institute for Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College will continue the Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History book series under the direction of Elizabeth Miller.

To honor its legacy, the Society has invited the public to attend a celebration on March 28, 2026, at Goshen College. The event will recognize the organization’s lasting impact on scholarship and faith communities.

Although the Mennonite Historical Society is closing, its mission and publications will continue through trusted academic partners. This transition ensures that Anabaptist Mennonite history and thought remain accessible for future generations.

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