Holdeman Mennonites recognize the faith of the Waldenses and other nonconformist groups of the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual heritage and see a direct lineage through them to the Early Church.
They believe that "Christ established one true, visible Church, and through her He has preserved His faith and doctrine through the ages."
In the mid-19th century, some American Mennonites believed they saw in their church a spiritual decline and drift away from sound doctrine, and sought to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints".
Issues he believed needed reform included the baptism of persons not giving sufficient evidence of conversion, less than diligent child training, and laxity of church discipline.
Holdeman wrote extensively and traveled widely, and new congregations were formed in the United States and Canada.
In 1881, he baptized 118 Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites in Manitoba who had migrated from southern Russia (now Ukraine) to North America some years before.
With this group came Peter Toews, who led many Mennonite immigrants from Russia then living in Canada and Kansas into the Holdeman church.
They hold the Arminian position and therefore believe that a person can lose his or her salvation if they stop following Jesus, termed the conditional preservation of the saints.
Eschatologically, they hold to an historic Anabaptist amillennial view of Christ's kingdom and reign, teaching that the present dispensation is the only time in which salvation is offered.
Worldly entertainment provided by such things as motion pictures, musical instruments, radio, television, and the improper use of the internet are to be avoided.
[10] Marriage is seen as divinely instituted between one man and one woman for life, for the propagation, purity, and happiness of the human race.
Non-resistance is standard practice, whether peacemaking among individuals, regarding lawsuits, or concerning warfare among nations.
The Holdeman Mennonites practice shunning or avoidance toward former members by not eating at the same table with them, shaking hands with them, or having any business partnerships with them.
Each congregation has its own schedule for other types of meetings, such as communion, teaching, fellowship, Bible study, and singing.
Worship takes place in modest buildings that may contain air condition, carpet, and padded pews, but without any musical instruments.
The Church of God in Christ Mennonite encourages members to install special software, purported to be a pornography filter, developed by the technology committee on any internet connected devices.
[12] This software blocks access to social media as well as many websites that church leadership finds objectionable.
These questions are by show of hands and only if they all pass with a significant majority does a secret ballot vote take place.
The percentages needed for a successful election or total number of votes cast for each candidate are not public knowledge.
Yet, in some regions, like Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Eastern Ontario, there is a high percentage of believers who have recently joined the Church and do not have the same roots as the majority of the Holdemans in North America, who are still ethnic Mennonites.
In addition to the US and Canada, the Church of God has established congregations and mission work in various countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
[4] In February 2016, a lawsuit was filed against the Mennonite church with the plaintiff alleging that he was sexually assaulted by his father from age 11.
[18][19] The lawsuit alleged that clergy failed to contact authorities as required by mandatory reporter statutes.
[20] His lawsuit pointed allegations of sexual abuse by people who attended congregations affiliated with the Church of God In Christ Mennonite, some resulting arrests and convictions.
The allegations further claim that, that same year, court records show that ministers at the Gospel Mennonite Church congregation in Almena, Wisconsin were notified that Leslie Toews, a member at the congregation, had sexually abused a 13-year-old girl for about a year, and claim that this abuse was not reported.
[28][29] The Messenger of Truth, which was begun in the early 20th century, is issued bi-weekly from the church headquarters in Moundridge, Kansas, US.