By Mary Byler and Rachel Martin
Amish Book Society
A group who moderates Amish schools in certain communities. They might visit parents if children are acting out or engaging in bullying or even experiencing difficulties in learning.
***UPDATED*******Some settlements may have the Book Society, others just have school boards and still others utilize a Steering committee. The Ministry outranks the Book Society in the authority structure which is why the Book Society is first engaging in attempts to rectify the situation, but then making referrals for church discipline if the parents do not come to compliance. To further clarify as an example, in some experiences the "book society" chairman wielded authority at or above the bishops' level and the local school boards' authority was at the level of the ministers and totally deferred to the book society. “
The following letter has been circulated in Lancaster County Old Order Amish Churches:
Translation from Pennsylvania German
Line 2: A greeting of love and peace in the name of Jesus.
Aus Liebe: Out of Love
Transcribed letter:
June 14, 2024
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Old Order Amish Church.
Ein grusz der liebe und frieden in namen Jesu.
It has been brought to the attention of the Amish Book Society of the acceptance and use of the technology in our homes, businesses and our schools.
After several meetings with the Book Society and Bishops, we feel the need to remind us all of the dangers of evil things that can be found on smart phones, flip phones, tablets, computers, and (or) internet accessible devices.
We are putting our precious young souls at stake when we allow them to have these devices in possession. Some of our school children are no longer able to function properly in school because of these devices. Please parents, our school children today are the church of tomorrow.
We plead with all parents, teachers, etc. to work with this for the sake of the children.
Anyone involved with any of these things needs to work on coming into compliance.
Where these things (technology) are being accepted it is the school boards responsibility to talk with the parents to get these things into place. If they don't co-operate, the board needs to go to the Book Society and the ministry, and it is now a church responsibility. If theres still no co-operation it will lead to the children being expelled from school.
Aus Liebe,
Signatories
The Ministry has lost control over technology in their homes, schools, and businesses. They are now attempting to use the Amish Book Society to regain control over access to technology. This is all about power and control and understanding not only privilege but the hierarchy of Amish ministry and church districts.
For one reason or another the church has been ineffective in keeping technology out of Amish homes, schools and businesses. Many people have had cell phones since they were teenagers and their children are also accustomed to technology at that point. It is part of their life. The church made it possible for them to straddle the line or to crowd the fence but has now decided to invoke the Amish Book Society to do their dirty work, only stepping in if the book society is ineffective, because the actual people in power aren’t capable of doing their own dirty work.
It's asking parents to turn away from things they've perhaps used most of their lives and if they don't, their options are severely limited.
Leave the church and potentially lose their community and families of origin, and in some cases their businesses
Stay and remove technology which will definitely impact their businesses and home life quality
Stay and don't remove technology and watch their children suffer and be punished for the sins of the parents (which rest upon the children)
Stay and don't remove technology but perhaps seek out a different school for their children which is again - the most marginalized within the communities will suffer the most.
What about children who have learning disabilities and require interactive devices to learn? Where does this leave those children and their families?
Could this be leading to either a mass exodus of Old Order Amish churches and/or a church split ?
Comments