# Oberholtzer and the Eastern District Conference 1847–1863 · Overview John H. Oberholtzer and other ministers sought a written conference constitution and changes in the way their Pennsylvania fellowship conducted its work. Conflict with the Franconia leadership led to a separation in 1847 and the organization of the East Pennsylvania Conference. Surviving conference minutes begin in that year. The new fellowship promoted cooperation in education, publishing, and mission and became part of the General Conference Mennonite Church. Its congregations formed what became known as the Eastern District Conference. The chart’s later 1863 marker must be read within this developing conference history; it does not replace the documented 1847 beginning. The conference’s minutes, correspondence, and ministerial records preserve both the practical work and the disagreements behind the division. Much later, Eastern District and Franconia reconciled and formed Mosaic Mennonite Conference in 2019. The institutional history presents that reunion as a continuation of a long shared story. - [Supplied branch chart, IMG_9379](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/blob/main/sources/church-history/photos/IMG_9379.jpg) - [Mennonite Heritage Center: Eastern District Conference records, 1847 onward](https://mhep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EDCinventory.pdf) - [Mosaic Mennonite Conference: its own historical account](https://mosaicmennonites.org/our-history/) - [Mennonite Encyclopedia: John H. Oberholtzer](https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Oberholtzer%2C_John_H._%281809-1895%29) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/events/eastern-district-1847/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Oberholtzer+and+the+Eastern+District+Conference&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AOberholtzer+and+the+Eastern+District+Conference%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fevents%2Feastern-district-1847%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+eastern-district-1847%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1847%E2%80%931863%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)