About
First Mennonite Church
First Mennonite Church of Indianapolis is a Christian congregation rooted in the Anabaptist (Mennonite) tradition, which emphasizes following Jesus through peace, service, community, and thoughtful discipleship. First Mennonite Church has been part of the Indianapolis community for decades, offering a welcoming spiritual home for people seeking meaningful faith, honest questions, and compassionate action.
The congregation worships in its current building at 4601 Knollton Road, which was completed in the mid-1980s, with the first service held on Easter Sunday in 1986. Over the years, First Mennonite Church has been actively involved in the life of the city - supporting local service organizations, partnering with Mennonite Central Committee, engaging in justice and peace work, and building relationships that extend beyond the church walls.
Today, First Mennonite Church is a small-to-mid-sized congregation of approximately 150 active participants, drawing people from a variety of backgrounds who are committed to growing in faith and contributing to the well-being of the wider Indianapolis community.
Our Mission
A welcoming faith community committed to Making peace, Seeking justice, Serving as the hands, heart and voice of Christ
Our Vision
As God’s love overflows into our lives...
We will gain courage;
We will give and receive more grace;
We will not wait for perfection.
This journey begins now.
Our Values
Power of Peace
Strength of Service
Relevance of Reconciliation
Comfort of Community
Warmth of Welcoming
Sustenance of Spirituality
Anti-Racism Statement
First Mennonite Church of Indianapolis recognizes that there are many forms of injustice in our community, our nation, and our world that are inconsistent with the teachings of Christ. As a congregation, we have intentionally chosen to name and address racial injustice.
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Statement
First Mennonite Church of Indianapolis supports full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the church.
Sexual orientation, same-gender relationships, and gender identity or expression are not factors in approving someone’s full membership or leadership in First Mennonite Church.
As one expression of our hospitality we are a member of the Supportive Communities Network, a network of welcoming and affirming Mennonite and Brethren congregations.
Who are the Mennonites?
Mennonites have their roots in the Anabaptist movement of the Reformation in 16th century Europe. The Anabaptists were a diverse and somewhat decentralized group of Christians known as the Radical Reformation for their refusal to align with state powers, their insistence on following Jesus’ teachings on peace and reconciliation, and particularly their practice of baptizing each other when old enough to understand and confess faith in Jesus. The Mennonite Church is named after Dutch theologian Menno Simons who wrote persuasively to define the movement and formalize a group identity.
While the Anabaptist movement and Mennonite church started in Europe, today both are global communities, representing a diverse constellation of beliefs and practices around Jesus as the fullest revelation of the character of God and model for human behavior, non-violence, peace and justice building, simple living, and love for neighbors and enemies. While there are many groups of Mennonites, First Mennonite Church belongs to the Mennonite Church USA denomination, and seeks to follow our radical Holy Spirit in working for the good of Indianapolis.