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Updated edition of The Naked Anabaptist released
Five years ago, Stuart Murray’s book The Naked Anabaptist made waves with its look at the central beliefs of Anabaptism and their relevance for Christians today. Now Herald Press has released a new edition of the book, drawing in stories and perspectives from North America and the global church. The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials…
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WCC calls for climate justice and care of creation at COP21
“We believe that you will serve the world by showing the best of human creativity and capacity,” said Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), in his December 8 address to the High Level Segment of the COP21 international climate conference in Paris. The conference, sponsored by…
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A labyrinth of Advent blessing
At Waterloo North Mennonite Church, the 2014 Advent season began on Nov. 24 with a special labyrinth of blessing for the congregation’s children and youth. A labyrinth of freshly cut pine, spruce and cedar boughs spiralled through the fellowship hall. Decorated with foil stars, apples and cranberry-like garlands, the labyrinth brought a festive appearance and…
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‘Africa is for babies’
“Africa is for babies.” That’s what Andrew and Karen Suderman, our Mennonite Church Canada colleagues in South Africa, assured us before we first left for Botswana in 2013. As newlyweds embarking on an international ministry assignment, Taryn and I soaked up as much southern African mission knowledge as we could, including the Sudermans’ encouraging words…
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Churches of all stripes call for freedom of religion
Representatives of every stream of global Christianity met in Tirana, Albania, Nov. 1 to 5, 2015, for a consultation on Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together, convened by the Global Christian Forum. Together, these 145 Christian leaders recognized the continued persecution of Christians, repented of the times Christians have persecuted those of other faith, and…
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Hearing God in indigenous voices
“If you want to love someone, you need to know their story; if you want to know someone, you need to learn their story,” Steve Heinrichs, Mennonite Church Canada’s director of indigenous relations, told participants at this year’s Peace it Together conference at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) earlier this month, as he and his daughter…
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Nigerian church leaders rely on the Bible and prayer
When Obed and Phena Dashan told students and faculty at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) how they feel God’s love surrounding them in spite of facing death every day in their ministry in Nigeria, the community gathered around them to pray while they also honored them for the faithful ministry. Both Obed, a 1990 AMBS…
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MC Canada national office lays off five
Mennonite Church Canada laid off five staff members on Nov. 28, 2015, as part of the cost-saving restructuring efforts that fall under the banner of the Future Directions Task Force. While decisions on the task force's final report will only be made at Assembly 2016 next summer in Saskatoon, a projected budget shortfall of nearly…
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MC Canada accelerates proposed changes
Mennonite Church Canada has begun to implement changes proposed by the Future Directions Task Force (FDTF) insofar as foresight allows, as a result of pressing financial necessity. Although the recommendations require final approval from area and national church delegates, a significant donation revenue shortfall has required Mennonite Church Canada to already begin implementation of the…
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Old Order Mennonite groups in Ontario are growing
There has been remarkable growth in the number of Old Order Mennonite meetinghouses in Ontario in the last 50 years. They have been spreading farther afield, especially in the last 20 years. Amsey Martin, an Old Order deacon and schoolteacher, and Clare Frey, a minister from the Markham-Waterloo Mennonite group, talked about this growth at…
