Philadelphia History
The city of
Philadelphia is famous for many things from its many professional sports teams to the Philly cheesesteak sandwich to its rich history as the birthplace of the nation. English Quaker William Penn was given a charter by King George and founded the city in 1682. From its beginning, he opened his city to people of many different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Philadelphia
Mennonite
High School draws from
Philadelphia ’s rich tradition of diversity by providing educational excellence for students of diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
Mennonite History
Mennonites are a branch of the Christian faith with roots in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Part of the group known as Anabaptists (because they rebaptized adult believers), the Mennonites took their name from Dutch priest Menno Simons who helped lead the movement to prominence in Holland by the mid-16th century. Modern day Mennonites number almost 1.5 million worldwide, with churches in North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Mennonites are known for traditionally emphasizing peace, justice, simplicity, community, service and mutual aid.
While some Mennonites fled to Russia to escape persecution, Swiss German Mennonites migrated to
North America in the 18th and 19th centuries settling first in
Pennsylvania then eventually across the Midwestern states. Today, even though large Mennonite populations can be found in
Pennsylvania,
Ohio,
Indiana,
Kansas and Canada, the largest Mennonite population resides in
Africa.
While certain conservative branches of the U.S. Mennonite church still dress simply and require women to wear head coverings (like their Amish cousins), Mennonites choose to embrace the larger communities outside of their church.
Philadelphia
Mennonite
High School draws from rich Mennonite traditions by providing students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds with an opportunity to receive a transformative education and serve others.
PMHS History
In 1993, a task force formed and met with a group of culturally diverse Philadelphia Mennonite pastors. They presented an inspiring case for the need of a secondary school that would:
1. Teach a spirit of reconciliation and peacemaking among youth
2. Train youth to be contributing members and leaders in the church and community
In 1996, a Board of Directors formed for the new high school. A Search Committee was soon brought together to find a dedicated principal to lead this new venture. God sent Dr. Barbara Moses. Although a non-Mennonite, Dr. Moses exhibited a strong commitment to God, church family, and was very much in agreement with Anabaptist beliefs. Her 30 years as an urban educator and her educational philosophy mirrored what the board had in mind. The board purchased a three-story school building on a quiet street near the Art Museum in early 1998.
In July 1998, full time teachers were interviewed and hired for the fall semester and 53 students enrolled for the first year.
We have no doubt that God has planted this school. Space does not allow us to tell here the many stories of how God has provided for this ministry in extraordinary ways, as well as more common place ways, but He has. He continues to change the lives of young and old, forever. When Christians come together with a heart to do what God desires, wonderful things happen. PMHS fills a need as one of very few Protestant Christian high schools in the city.
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