 The act of conferring is at the heart of the historic Mennonite concern to “give and receive counsel” in the fellowship or body of Christ’s followers.Thus, Mennonites have found the English term “conference”—used by Methodists since 1744—as the best equivalent for the German term "Rath" (counsel), originally used in this community of immigrants from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.to the west, Mennonite leaders centered in Lancaster County proceeded similarly, using the word "Zusammenkunft" (gathering).