Amish in the News: A Fascinating Read About Amish "Rule-Making," Amish Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls, and much more!

By Kevin Williams

We have some fascinating stuff in this week's News.

MONTANA AMISH:  This is a fascinating read.  I've been exploring Amish settlements for most of my life and I've always learned the "rules" that the Amish follow are a set of unwritten rules known commonly as the Ordnung.  The rules are debated (i.e. length of beard, color of clothes, etc) but never written.  A superb article in a small Montana newspaper casts doubt on that.  This Amish church actually does debate, and then write, their rules down in a contract known as the “Expression of faith and guidelines for the Stevensville Montana Church.”   Absolutely fascinating.  This church is considered New Order Amish and would be in fellowship with Gloria Yoder, who pens The Amish Cook column for Amish365.  So I'll have to ask Gloria about this.  Just goes to show how the Amish church is very organic and constantly evolving,  despite how it often appears to outsiders. Click here to read this superb article from a small Montana newspaper.

MILLIE'S RED VELVET CINNAMON ROLLS:  Whoa, this sounds like heaven on earth. Just amazing.  And, having met Millie last year, I can bet if she makes these they are amazing! Click here to check in with Millie this week and get a recipe for these mouth-watering rolls.

AMISH TEACHERS IN MENNONITE COLONIES:  This is a fascinating article about Old Colony Mennonite communities in Mexico welcoming Old Order Amish teachers into their schools.  The larger Amish communities have very well organized school systems and curriculums that would be quite compatible with OCM values and views. Because of their isolation, though, OCM schools haven't been as resource-rich as the Amish ones, so the two groups are teaming up. Read more here.

THE AMISH INCIDENT:  Man, this would be an interesting film to watch.  If you are in the Quad Cities, you can watch it on your local PBS affiliate, hopefully, it will spread to more.  Click here.

RECIPES FROM WEST PLAINS:  West Plains is a small Missouri town and I was pleasantly surprised to see the Amish Cook recipe for broccoli salad in their newspaper (without attribution), but they dumped a bunch of other bonus recipes into the post.  Pretty cool.  Check out recipes for a croc-pot supper, banana pudding squares, Amish broccoli salad, and much more!