Indonesian peacemaking
Categories: OpinionI am frequently asked, “What was it like to be in Indonesia for the Mennonite World Conference [MWC] assembly?” There are many possible answers, but today I want to focus on learning from our Indonesian Anabaptist sisters and brothers on…
Kazakhstan
Categories: OpinionThere is a lot to take in on this photomontage of the Mennonite Brethren Church Choir from Badamsha, Kazakhstan—in Soviet parlance, a “closed city”—in 1971. Individual portraits of choir members, identified by first initial and last name, are grouped around…
Fun, smart and committed
Categories: OpinionOne of my farmers annually invites me for a combine ride to educate this city slicker on “Ag 101.” It’s a thrill to watch the header of the harvesting machine munch through swaths, hawks diving behind us for mice. He’s…
3 lessons from a bumpy Sunday
Categories: OpinionThe pastor of a big rural church asked me to preach about climate. He had read my article, “Grace, guilt and CO2.” But between the invocation and the worship leader’s call for me to step up to the stout wooden…
Readers write: November 14, 2022 issue
Categories: OpinionWhat should we do? I have watched with great interest the flight of Russian soldiers from Russia and Ukraine following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s conscription of men into the Russian army. How reminiscent of what many American men did during…
‘Keeping the Ball Rolling’
Categories: OpinionI recently attended a performance by crys cole, a Berlin-based sound artist at a small art gallery in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The piece performed that night was entitled “Keeping the Ball Rolling.” First initiated in 2014, “Keeping the Ball Rolling”…
Ron J. Sider
Categories: OpinionRon J. Sider was an inspirational Canadian-American leader in the Christian community. It was his sermon at the Mennonite World Conference assembly in 1984 that spurred the formation of Community Peacemaker Teams in 1986. His sermon called Anabaptists to be formed…
‘Bring your best self’
Categories: OpinionIn the final days of October, Holly and I reached an anniversary. Recently a relative reminded us that, in 1972, five cousins headed to five altars with their partners. Marie, a widow, pointed out that Holly and I would be…
Writing for the foyer
Categories: OpinionThis month’s column is precipitated by two written events. In the recent article announcing Will Braun’s appointment as Canadian Mennonite’s new editor, Braun says he “views the magazine as less a pulpit and more a foyer bustling with spirited discussion.”…
Priests of what are not gods
Categories: OpinionAbijah, fifth king of Judah, is standing with his 400,000 men on the cusp of battle, badly outnumbered. Jeroboam, king of Israel, confidently stands with his 800,000 men, ready to get this battle started. But first, Abijah has a speech.…
Parting thoughts
Categories: OpinionMy adventure with Canadian Mennonite began in October 2013, when I stepped into the newly created role of web editor. In March 2017, I became executive editor, teaming up with Tobi Thiessen, who began as publisher. Thinking back over the…
Readers write: October 31, 2022 issue
Categories: OpinionProtest organizers accused of ‘revisionist history’ Re: “The sweet solace of polarization, Part 2,” Oct. 17, page 20. While the protest organizers may have believed they did a “good job of respecting the rights of others,” and that “honking was…
Eco-theology: On Earth as it is in Heaven
Categories: OpinionOur shared home, planet Earth, is a miracle. I’ve known this intuitively since I was a child growing up under the expansive skies of the Saskatchewan prairies. Stunning sunsets, stars, aurora borealis, long winter nights and long summer days with…
David K. Jantzi
Categories: OpinionDavid K. Jantzi came from an Old Order Amish family. He felt obligated to become a conscientious objector during the Second World War because “the church required it.” In his second year of alternative service, his personal attitude changed, as…
‘There’s enough for all’
Categories: Opinion“Jesus had a lot to say about money, but the songs we sing in worship rarely do.” These words from the album description of Bryan Moyer Suderman’s 2007 album, My Money Talks, provide a snapshot into the goal of the…
The end is probably nigh, but I’m optimistic
Categories: OpinionThis summer, I met a wildlife conservationist named Leo. His life passion began in California as a young adult, when he joined the California Condor Recovery Program. In 1987, there were only 27 California condors left in the world. Today,…
One decade, two deaths and a wealth of affirmation
Categories: OpinionOn my first day as senior writer for Canadian Mennonite, one of the two most important elders in my life died. Gene Herr, along with his wife Mary, created the Hermitage, a spiritual retreat centre in Michigan, which served as…
CM online event asks ‘Why are you a Mennonite?’
Categories: Opinion“Why are you a Mennonite?” That question is the basis of Canadian Mennonite’s next online event. Hosted by Aaron Epp, CM’s online media manager, the event will take place on Zoom on Nov. 16 at 8:00 p.m. EST. Register to…
Finding and calling a pastoral leader
Categories: OpinionTimes have changed. Few argue the accuracy of that statement as it relates to congregations seeking and calling individuals for pastoral leadership. Congregations rarely receive multiple candidates to fill an opening for a pastoral leader. Congregations need to anticipate that…
What is the future of Mennonite church leadership?
Categories: OpinionLike Amos, I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. Yet it is apparent to most people involved in church ministry that, to quote another non-prophet prophet, Bob Dylan: “The times, they are a-changin’.” The COVID-19 pandemic…
Opinion/columns
