The founding of the AMEC was the culmination of a movement to renew the 16th century Anabaptist emphasis on evangelism, coupled with concerns over doctrinal compromise and the upcoming merger of the "Mennonite Church" and the General Conference Mennonite Church. A consultation of evangelical Mennonite leaders was held at Smoketown, Pennsylvania, in July 1979. Out of this meeting came a declaration called the "Smoketown Statement". It called for "a reaffirmation of the authority of Scripture, a reexamination of priorities with emphasis on the saving power of the Gospel, and a clear call for renewed emphasis on evangelism." This was followed by another consultation held in Berne, Indiana, in March 1981. In 1992 this evangelical group organized the Evangelical Anabaptist Fellowship, and began publishing an "EAF Newsletter".