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Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Pentecostal

A side-by-side comparison of Anabaptist / Mennonite and Pentecostal teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.

Anabaptist / Mennonite

The Anabaptists began in Zurich in 1525 and spread to Germany and the Netherlands as the “radical” wing of the Reformation. Mennonites, the Amish and the Hutterites descend from them. They stress adult baptism, following the Sermon on the Mount, and separation of church and state.

Pentecostal

Pentecostalism began in the early 1900s, notably at the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. It teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in Acts and 1 Corinthians, including tongues and healing, are active today. It is among the fastest-growing Christian movements.

More about Pentecostal Christianity

At a glance

Where they differ: The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

Varies within one or both: Church government; Clergy and women in ministry.

Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Style of worship; Day of worship.

Side by side

Question	Anabaptist / Mennonite	Pentecostal
Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree	Scripture is the authority, read together by the congregation with special weight on the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount.	The Bible is the inspired and final authority. Believers also expect the Holy Spirit to guide them personally, always tested against Scripture.
Books of the BibleAgree	66 books.	66 books.
The TrinityAgree	One God in three persons. Early Anabaptists were not uniform, but the Mennonite confessions are Trinitarian.	Most Pentecostals, including the Assemblies of God, are Trinitarian. A smaller “Oneness” wing rejects the doctrine and teaches that Father, Son and Spirit are modes of one person.
How a person is savedAgree	Saved by grace through faith. Faith is expected to show itself in obedience and discipleship, and baptism marks a conscious commitment to follow Christ.	Saved by grace through faith in Christ, usually with an emphasis on new birth and a personal experience of conversion. It is often followed by a distinct experience called baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Can a saved person fall away?Agree	Generally yes. Mennonite teaching holds that faith must be lived out and that a person can turn away, though God is patient with those who return.	Most classical Pentecostal bodies, such as the Assemblies of God, hold that a believer can forfeit salvation, though some Pentecostals teach eternal security.
Predestination and free willAgree	Emphasizes free will and a personal decision to follow Christ. Anabaptists rejected Calvinist predestination from the start.	Generally Arminian: Christ died for all, and each person can accept or refuse. A small number of Reformed Pentecostals hold to election.
BaptismAgree	Baptism is given only to those who make a mature confession of faith. The mode varies (pouring or immersion), and infant baptism is rejected. The name “Anabaptist” means “rebaptizer.”	Believer’s baptism by immersion, as an act of obedience and a public witness. Baptism is distinguished from baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Agree	A memorial meal and a sign of the unity of the congregation. Some groups pair it with foot washing.	An ordinance in memory of Christ’s death. It is often marked with a sense of God’s presence and healing.
Sacraments or ordinancesAgree	Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Many groups also practice foot washing.	Two ordinances, water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some Pentecostal groups add foot washing.
Church governmentVaries	Local congregations decide matters together and select their own ministers. Some groups have regional conferences and bishops with a limited role.	Varies. The Assemblies of God combines congregational and presbyterian features, and the Church of God in Christ has bishops.
Clergy and women in ministryVaries	Varies. Conservative groups reserve ministry for men, and more progressive Mennonite conferences ordain women.	Varies. The Assemblies of God ordains women, and some other Pentecostal bodies reserve pastoral office for men.
Mary and the saintsAgree	Mary is respected as Jesus’ mother, and the church emphasizes following Christ. There is no prayer to saints.	Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. Pentecostals do not pray to her or the saints.
Death, purgatory and hellAgree	Purgatory is rejected. Believers rest in Christ awaiting the resurrection, and the final judgment decides eternal destiny.	Believers go directly into Christ’s presence at death. Pentecostals hold to a literal heaven and hell and expect the return of Christ.
Style of worshipAgree	Simple worship centered on singing, Scripture and preaching. Many groups sing without instruments.	Expressive and Spirit-led, with lively music, spontaneous prayer, testimony and an openness to prophecy, tongues and healing.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsDiffer	The Spirit is understood to guide the congregation in discernment and daily life. Miraculous gifts are not emphasized.	All the gifts of the Spirit continue today. Most teach baptism in the Holy Spirit as a separate experience after conversion, and many teach speaking in tongues as the initial sign of it.
Day of worshipAgree	Sunday.	Sunday.
Best known for	Peace witness and refusal of violence, adult baptism, simple living, mutual aid and service through relief organizations.	Speaking in tongues, healing, lively worship and rapid growth in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.

Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Pentecostal