Hutterites facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hutterites

Hutterite women at work
Total population
50,000+ (2020)
Founder
Jakob Hutter
Regions with significant populations
North America (notably South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan)
Religions
Anabaptist
Scriptures
The Bible
Languages
Hutterite German, Standard German, English

The Hutterites (also called Hutterian Brethren) are a special group of Christians. They are part of the Anabaptist family, like the Amish and Mennonites. Hutterites live in communal groups where they share everything. Their way of life started in the early 1500s during a time called the Radical Reformation.

Jakob Hutter founded the Hutterite communities in 1528. He based their way of life on a statement of faith called the Schleitheim Confession. Hutterites believe in sharing all their belongings and in nonresistance, which means they do not fight or join the military. Because of these beliefs, Hutterites have faced challenges and moved many times over hundreds of years. They traveled through Europe, then to Russia, and finally to North America. Today, most Hutterites live in Western Canada and the Great Plains of the United States. Their population has grown from about 400 people to around 50,000 today.

Hutterite History

Spread of early Anabaptists, 1525–1550

An old document

How the Hutterites Began

The Hutterites came from a larger movement called Anabaptism. This movement began in Switzerland in 1525. People like Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock started practicing adult baptism. This was different from what other churches did at the time. Anabaptism quickly spread to other parts of Europe. Many early Anabaptists faced great danger because of their beliefs.

Moving Through Europe

Anabaptism reached Tyrol (part of modern-day Austria and Italy). Jakob Hutter became an early follower and a leader there. Because of strong persecution, many Anabaptists from Tyrol moved to Moravia (part of today's Czech Republic). Jakob Hutter was captured and died in 1536.

Moravia was a safer place for a while. Here, under Jakob Hutter's leadership, the Hutterites developed their unique way of communal living. This means they share all their property and resources. Their communal life is inspired by passages in the New Testament of the Bible. A key belief for Hutterites is nonresistance. This means they do not participate in military activities or pay taxes for war. This belief often led to them being expelled or persecuted.

The Hutterites thrived in Moravia for many years, even expanding into Upper Hungary (today's Slovakia). They built many settlements called Bruderhofs. But then, wars like the Long Turkish War and the Thirty Years' War brought hardship and persecution. In 1622, Hutterites were forced to leave Moravia and moved to Hungary. Some Hutterites converted to Catholicism to survive.

Journeys to New Lands

In 1621, a prince invited Hutterites to Transylvania (part of modern-day Romania). He needed skilled workers. However, the community faced more challenges and their communal living stopped for a while. Later, a group of Protestants from Carinthia joined them and helped revive the Hutterite way of life. They brought back communal living in 1762.

In 1767, the Hutterites fled Transylvania to Wallachia (another part of Romania). They faced more difficulties due to war. A Russian army commander suggested they move to Russia.

Life in Ukraine

Around 1770, about 60 Hutterites arrived in Ukraine, which was then part of the Russian Empire. They settled in a place called Vishenka. They were joined by other Hutterites and some Mennonites. The Hutterites were given special status as free farmers.

Later, they moved to Molotschna, a Mennonite colony. Here, they learned very efficient farming methods. This led to a time of prosperity. During this period, different groups of Hutterites formed, based on their leaders: the Schmiedeleut, the Dariusleut, and the Lehrerleut.

In the 1860s, new laws in Russia made Russian the language of schools and introduced compulsory military service. Because Hutterites believe in nonresistance, they decided to leave Russia.

Hutterite migrations in Europe 1526–1874 before their move to North America

Moving to the United States

Between 1874 and 1879, almost all Hutterites, about 1,265 people, moved to the United States. Some Hutterites bought individual farms, but about 400 people chose to continue living in communal groups. Most Hutterites today are descended from these 400 people. They settled in the Dakota Territory and re-established their traditional shared lifestyle.

During World War I, Hutterites faced persecution in the United States because they refused to join the military. Two Hutterite brothers, Joseph and Michael Hofer, died in prison due to mistreatment.

Michael Hofer – Martyr

Settling in Canada

Because of the mistreatment during World War I, most Hutterites left the United States and moved to the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. All but one of their American colonies were abandoned.

In 1942, Alberta passed a law that limited how much land Hutterite colonies could buy. This law was later removed, but it led to new colonies being started in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Today, most Hutterites live in Canada. They run large farms that produce grains, eggs, meat, and vegetables. These products are sold to big distributors and at local markets.

Returning to the U.S.

During the Great Depression, some Schmiedeleut Hutterites moved back to South Dakota. After World War II, some Dariusleut and Lehrerleut also returned to the U.S., mainly to Montana.

Hutterite Beliefs

Hutterites have a written account of their beliefs called Account of Our Religion, Doctrine and Faith. It was written by Peter Riedemann in the 1540s.

Hutterite beliefs are based on the Schleitheim Confession. They emphasize:

• Adult Baptism: People are baptized when they are old enough to understand and choose their faith.
• Christian Pacifism: They believe in nonviolence and do not participate in war.
• Community Rules: They follow a set of rules for Christian living.
• Separation from the World: They try to live separately from the outside world's influences.

Hutterite Community Life

Bon Homme Limestone House

Hutterite communities are called "colonies." They are usually in rural areas and often rely on farming or ranching for their income. Many colonies are also starting to do manufacturing. Colonies try to be self-sufficient. They build their own buildings, fix their own equipment, and make their own clothes.

Hutterite farming is very modern and uses advanced equipment. This means Hutterite children don't have as much contact with farm animals as they used to.

How Colonies are Managed

Hutterite colonies are mostly led by men. Women have important roles in cooking, making medical decisions, and choosing fabrics for clothing. Each colony has three main leaders:

• The Minister: The top spiritual leader and president of the colony's business.
• The Secretary: Also called the "Manager" or "Business Boss." This person handles the colony's money and business operations.
• The Assistant Minister: Helps with church leadership and often teaches German to the children.

There are also other "boss" positions, like the "Farm Boss" who manages all farming activities. Other bosses manage specific areas like hogs or dairy. These leaders are elected by the married men of the colony. Important decisions are voted on by a council of senior men and then by all married men.

Women and children do not vote, but they can still influence decisions through discussions. All colonies within a branch (like Lehrerleut) also follow the decisions of a larger "Bishop" council.

Sharing Everything

Hutterites practice a nearly complete community of goods. This means all property belongs to the colony. Members and their families get what they need from the shared resources. This practice comes from their understanding of the Bible, where early Christians shared everything.

The colony owns all buildings and equipment. Any money earned is put back into the community. Families live in housing units provided by the colony, but these homes belong to the colony. Hutterites do not receive paychecks. Instead, they work for the good of the community. They might receive a small allowance.

Everyone in the colony eats lunch and dinner together in a common dining hall. Men and women sit separately. Breakfast is usually eaten in individual family homes.

Starting New Colonies

A new Hutterite colony being built

A Hutterite colony usually has about 10 to 20 families, with 60 to 250 people. When a colony gets too big, they decide to split and create a "daughter" colony. This helps them stay economically stable and keep their spiritual focus.

The process of splitting varies between the different Hutterite branches. For example, in Lehrerleut colonies, the land for the new colony is bought and buildings are built before anyone knows who will move. The colony leadership divides the families into two groups, making them as equal as possible. They also split the business operations.

Once everything is ready, the minister prays and draws a piece of paper from a hat. One paper says "Group A" and the other "Group B." The group whose name is drawn moves to the new daughter colony. This is a very important and sometimes stressful decision for the community.

Farming and Making Things

Hutterite colony in Martinsdale, Montana, with wind turbines

Hutterite colonies often own large areas of land. Because they work together, they can buy and use high-quality farm equipment. Many colonies also raise hogs, dairy cows, turkeys, chickens, and produce eggs.

More and more Hutterite colonies are getting into manufacturing. This is like their early history in Europe, where they relied on making things to support themselves. Farming has become very efficient with modern technology, so colonies need other ways to provide work and income for their members.

Starting a new daughter colony can cost a lot of money (millions of dollars for land and buildings). This has encouraged colonies to explore new businesses like making plastics, metal parts, cabinets, and stone products. For example, some colonies in South Dakota joined together to build a turkey processing center.

Using Technology

Hutterites use modern technology, but they might limit how it's used. They try to keep some distance from the outside world. For example, television and sometimes the internet are not allowed in homes. Many colonies used to have only one central telephone.

Today, telephones are common for both business and social calls. Cell phones are also widely used, especially by young people for texting friends and family. Some Hutterite homes have computers and radios. Farming equipment is usually very advanced, often more so than what non-Hutterite farmers use. Some Lehrerleut colonies have recently limited computers to only business and farming tasks. However, as technology becomes more important, many young Hutterites use computers and the internet to connect with others.

Education for Children

Schmiedeleut Hutterites at school in Crystal Springs Colony, Manitoba, Canada

Hutterite children go to school in a schoolhouse right on the colony. An "outside" teacher (not from the colony) usually teaches basic subjects like English. In some Schmiedeleut schools, teachers are from the colony.

A "German Teacher" (often the Assistant Minister) is in charge of teaching German, Bible lessons, and scripture memorization. This teacher works with the outside teacher. In some colonies, children might leave school after 8th grade or at age 15. However, many colonies now offer a full high school diploma, and some even support university degrees. Sometimes, children might miss school days for colony duties.

Main Hutterite Groups

There are three main groups of Hutterites in North America: the Schmiedeleut, the Dariusleut, and the Lehrerleut. While they all share the same basic beliefs, they have some small differences in clothing style and how their communities are organized. These differences are mostly based on tradition and where they live.

There are also other related groups, like the Bruderhof Communities (also called Church Communities International), which are similar but more open to outsiders. Another group, the Prairieleut, were Hutterites who chose to live on individual farms instead of in colonies after moving to America. Most of them later joined Mennonite churches.

Since 1992, the Schmiedeleut group has split into two factions, "Group One" and "Group Two," due to disagreements. Group One colonies are generally more open to things like higher education, different types of music, and technology.

Photos and Licenses

Hutterites have had discussions about whether they should have their photos taken for things like driver's licenses. Some Hutterites believe that images are forbidden by the Second Commandment. In Canada, there have been court cases about this. In 2009, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Hutterites must have their photos taken for driver's licenses to prevent identity theft.

Despite this, there are many photos of Hutterites that were taken with their permission. Photographers like Mary Koga and Jill Brody have captured their daily lives.

Hutterite Clothing

Hutterite women return from working in the fields at sunset.

Hutterite clothing is usually plain, but it can be colorful, especially for children. Most clothes are made within the colony. Shoes used to be homemade but are now usually bought from stores.

Men wear black jackets and pants. Their shirts have long sleeves and collars. Men's pants are held up by black suspenders and do not have back pockets.

Women and girls wear a dress with a blouse underneath. Most Lehrerleut and Dariusleut women wear a kerchief-style Christian headcovering that is usually black with white polka dots. Schmiedeleut women wear a similar kerchief but without dots. So, the pattern of the kerchief can tell you which Hutterite branch a woman belongs to! Young girls wear bright, colorful caps that fasten under the chin.

For church, both men and women wear dark clothes. Men wear dark hats, and women wear a plain jacket and a black apron.

Hutterite Language

Hutterites speak a special dialect of German among themselves called Hutterite German, or Hutterisch. It's sometimes considered its own language. This dialect comes from a mix of old Tyrolean and Carinthian dialects from Europe. It's different from the German spoken by the Amish. For their religious services, Hutterites use a classic form of Lutheran German.

Hutterites and the Law

Hutterites traditionally avoid going to court because of their belief in nonresistance. They believe it's better to lose property than to fight in court. However, in North America, some Hutterite groups have been involved in court cases. Many of these cases involve defending their religious way of life against government rules, like the issue of photos on driver's licenses.

Sometimes, disagreements within Hutterite colonies have also ended up in court. For example, there have been cases about members who were expelled from a colony and wanted a share of the shared property. Courts have generally ruled that Hutterites do not own individual property.

Hutterite Groups

Chart depicting the development of the different Hutterite branches.

Over the last 150 years, several Hutterite groups have formed. When Hutterites came to the United States, some lived in communal colonies, while others lived on private farms. The ones on private farms were called Prairieleut, and most of them later joined Mennonite churches.

The Hutterites who lived in communal colonies developed into the three main branches: Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut, and Lehrerleut. In the 1990s, the Schmiedeleut group split into two subgroups.

A few other groups have joined the Hutterites over time, though some only for a while:

• The Owa Hutterite Colony in Japan was a community of Japanese people who adopted the Hutterite way of life. It closed in 2019.
• The Bruderhof Communities started in Germany in 1920. They were connected to the Hutterites until 1990, when they separated due to some differences. They are now an international group similar to Hutterites but more open to outsiders.

Since 1999, a few Hutterite colonies have become independent from their original branches, focusing on spiritual renewal. These include the Fort Pitt Farms Christian Community and the Elmendorf Christian Community.

Hutterite Population and Where They Live

In 1995, there were about 30,000 Hutterites in North America. Today, there are over 50,000. About 75% of all Hutterites live in Canada, and 25% live in the United States.

Canada

In 2016, there were 370 Hutterite colonies in Canada. Most were in Alberta (175), followed by Manitoba (110) and Saskatchewan (70). The total Hutterite population in Canada was 35,010 people.

United States

In March 2018, there were 120 colonies in the United States. Most were in South Dakota (54) and Montana (50). There were also colonies in Minnesota and North Dakota. The estimated U.S. Hutterite population was 11,000 in 2018.

In 2020, the U.S. Religion Census counted 15,531 Hutterites across 145 congregations.

Colony Locations

As of mid-2004, there were 483 Hutterite colonies around the world:

• Canada (347 colonies):
  • Dariusleut (142): Alberta (109); Saskatchewan (31); British Columbia (2)
  • Schmiedeleut (105): Manitoba (105)
  • Lehrerleut (99): Alberta (69); Saskatchewan (30)
• United States (134 colonies):
  • Schmiedeleut (69): South Dakota (53); Minnesota (9); North Dakota (7)
  • Lehrerleut (44): Montana (44)
  • Dariusleut (21): Montana (15); Washington (5); Oregon (1)
• Japan (1 colony):
  • Dariusleut (1): Owa Hutterite Colony (now disbanded)

By 2021, there were 572 Hutterite colonies in total.

Population Growth

Hutterites have traditionally had many children, but their birth rate has decreased. In 1954, families had about ten children, but by 2010, it was around five. While still higher than the general North American population, it's lower than other Anabaptist groups like the Amish. Hutterite women used to marry around age 20, but now marriages are often delayed until their late 20s. They also tend to have their last child at a younger age than in the past.

See also

In Spanish: Huteritas para niños

• Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center
• Anabaptist Museum (Austria)
• Christian pacifism
• Peace churches
• Plain people
• Simple living
• Walter v Alberta (AG)