Land, reconciliation doc showing in Winnipeg this weekend
A new documentary exploring questions of land and reconciliation in rural Saskatchewan will have its Manitoba premiere in Winnipeg this weekend. Custodians: A Story of Ancient Echoes is showing on Saturday, March 4 at 5:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU). The university’s Art of Peacebuilding class is organizing the event…
The state of Christian unity on the ground
During the pandemic, Christian churches across various faith traditions have disagreed with public health orders restricting in-person gatherings. Some church leaders challenged public health orders in law courts, their stories covered in news headlines across the country. Among Christians, there has been lament about the division and the message it sends. Doug Klassen. Doug Klassen,…
An ‘egg’-cellent gift this Christmas
For Joyce Ngumbao, a mother of five living in Kenya, a brood of chickens has made all the difference. Joyce Ngumbao holds a chicken in the coop of her family’s farm. (MCC photo by Matthew Lester) In the past, she and her husband struggled to feed their children. Although they worked hard on their modest…
Making goals, building peace
Each summer for the last four years, a community on the outskirts of Soacha, Colombia, has gathered to watch its children play in a soccer tournament for peace, their own local version of the World Cup. In Soacha, where many families have experienced conflict, displacement and violence, Creciendo Juntos (Growing Together) offers children and youth…
MC U.S.A. releases final denominational survey report
Mennonite Church U.S.A. has released the completed report from its denominational survey, “The Mennonite Experience: MC USA Membership Study 2021-22.” “The Mennonite Experience: MC USA Membership Study 2021-22.” The 85-page report revealed that members have deep commitments to their faith, a passion for peacebuilding, a heart for service and close congregational ties. They also desire…
First Mennonite series explores queer theology
Affirming LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church has been discussed for years in many Christian circles, yet congregations and regional churches tend to not move beyond the initial question to discover the rich scope queer theology offers. First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg is pushing past that boundary with its new series, “Queer theology and the church:…
‘A Creative God’ resources explore visual arts in worship in intercultural Anabaptist congregations
A new group of resources on visual arts in worship is available from Together in Worship, an online collection of worship resources from Anabaptist sources. The centrepiece is “A Creative God,” a 45-minute video documentary about how seven intercultural Anabaptist congregations use visual art in worship. “Mennonites have been starved, historically, of visual art in…
MCC begins 2022-2023 meat canning season
As Mennonite Central Committee begins its 2022-2023 meat canning season, the need for food in Ukraine and other countries around the world is growing. In Ukraine, millions of people have been displaced, and many are without access to food, water and healthcare since the Russian military invaded in February. This summer, MCC’s Ukrainian partner organizations…
Grebel launches new strategic plan
Marcus Shantz, Conrad Grebel University College’s president, provided an overview of Grebel’s new strategic plan during the school’s annual general meeting on Oct 4. Entitled “Renewing an inspired community,” Shantz said, “The main hope our stakeholders expressed was for Grebel to thrive in the future. No one advised us to radically change our identity, our…
Grebel prof contributes to global study of Bible
Derek Suderman, a professor at Conrad Grebel University College, is passionate about connecting with global Anabaptist churches and contributing to cross-cultural teaching. This summer, he taught courses in Cuba and Thailand to resource the global Mennonite church. Amid food shortages and electricity blackouts, he travelled to Palmira, Cuba, this past June to teach a 26-hour…
