Churches help define low German migrants

SUBLETTE, Kan. -- Pastor Hans Hiebert clasped the hand of a parishioner at Gospel Mennonite Church as the two fervently prayed for God to guide their church leaders.

There was much to pray about at this evening church service. At times in their native low German dialect and at times in English, church members prayed for God to strengthen their marriages. They prayed for the youth of their congregation.

They also prayed for the families of two members of the neighboring, more conservative Reinlander Church in Sublette where one churchgoer killed himself and another attempted suicide.

"We expect too much from ourselves and others," Hiebert said. "That is why we have a higher rate of suicide. I wish we could change that."

The "we" Hiebert was referring to are low German migrants -- or Mexican Mennonites as they are also called. Thousands of low Germans are migrating to Kansas from Mexico to escape drought and the poor Mexican economy. They are part of the Old Colony Mennonites who settled in Mexico from Manitoba, Canada in the 1920s.

Religion influences everything for low Germans, from the way they dress to the size of their families. With birth control taboo, families with six or more children are common.

In Kansas, the types of Mexican Mennonite churches range from more conservative Old Colony or Reinlander churches to more liberal, evangelical groups.

Lisa Mays, a graduate student at the University of Kansas' German department, has researched the Mexican Mennonites in Kansas and Mexico for her dissertation. She recently returned to Kansas after living two months in the Nordkolonie low German settlement, located north of Alvaro Obregon in Mexico.

In the conservative Reinlander and Old Colony churches, sermons are read in standard German, which also is refered to as "high German," with some commentatary in the low German dialect called plautdietsch. The oration is monotone and chant-like.

Parishioners have hymnals written in high German, but the songs do not have musical notes. Choristers lead the congregation in hymns, which are memorized. The singing is without harmony.

Men and women are segregated at opposite sides of the congregation hall in Old Colony and Reinlander church services.

Women typically wear a "Metz" and a "Duch" (a black cap and dark scarf) to accompany their dark-colored dresses. Men wear neat button-down shirts, jeans or pants but never a tie.

Mexican Mennonites for the most part shun "wordly contact" outside their own group.

The Old Colony Church in Pierceville and the Reinlander Church and school in Sublette are among the most conservative, Mays said. The Reinlanders also have a private school in Holcomb. In Elkhart, most of the children attend public schools.

The Copeland Evangelical Mennonite Church and School is somewhat less conservative than either the Old Colony or Reinlander churches, May said. Located on the east edge of Copeland, the church is supported by the Evangelical Mennonite Conference in Canada. In this church, the pastor speaks to the congregation in low German, making reference to Bible verses in high German.

Women typically wear a black three-cornered scarf.

Both English and German hymnals are used. After the opening hymns, the men and women break into separate Bible study groups led by a member of the congregation.

Gospel Mennonite Church in Sublette is the most progressive of all the Mexican Mennonite churches, May said. It is supported by the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church in Canada.

Hiebert, who grew up in a low German settlement in Paraguay, moved to Kansas from Canada to pastor the church in Sublette. His congregation includes about 350 parishioners.

Most of the children in this church attend public schools. The group does not wear distinctive clothing.

Sermons at the Gospel Mennonite Church are in low German, with occasional high German and English.

Hiebert said he hopes someday his congregation will include Spanish- and English-speaking worshipers.

"We will never go away from German because that is who we are," Hiebert said. "But we will not just stay German."