Menno Simons (1496–1561)

Menno Simons was a Dutch priest and an early leader of the peaceful wing of Dutch Anabaptism, whose followers formed the Mennonite church.

He was born in Witmarsum, Friesland, Netherlands in 1496.

Little is known about Menno’s early life. However, we do know that He was married to a woman named Gertrude, they had at least three children, two daughters and a son. Menno was enrolled in a monastic school at an early age. In March 1524, at the age of 28, he was ordained at Utrecht and assigned to the parish at Pingjum, near the place of his birth.Seven years later, he became the village priest in his home parish at Witmarsum.

Menno Simons was an influential Anabaptist religious leader. Some times later He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

He was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and it is from his name that his followers became known as Mennonites.

Menno Simons was a converted priest.

He defended the Anabaptist movement against all detractors.

He wrote and printed many theological works.,

Menno’s main theological concerns lay in infant baptism, peace, and simple living under the law of Christ.

He believed in separation from this world. His writings about Reformed Christianity formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss Anabaptist founders as well as early teachings of the Mennonites founded on the belief in both the mission and ministry of Jesus.