Encyclopedia article about Koinonia Farm, established by Martin England and Clarence Jordan, a pair of white Baptist ministers, on 400 acres in rural Sumter County in 1942 in an attempt to live out the principles of pacifism, simplicity, and racial integration. Sumter County residents criticized Koinonia for practices of social integration and for welcoming conscientious objectors during World War II (1941-1945). After boycott and violence left Koinonia Farm essentially dormant, new ideas revived it in 1969 when Jordan joined with Millard Fuller and reincorporated the farm into Koinonia Partners. The instituted a low-cost, interest-free building program that eventually constructed 200 houses in Sumter County. In 1976 Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda, left Koinonia to establish Habitat for Humanity International in nearby Americus. Koinonia has also been involved with helping refuges from around the world as well as prison and death penalty reform.

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Cite as: "Koinonia Farm," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved [date]: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.

Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.