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A modest proposal
The question was how churches in North America could directly communicate their support to Palestin- ian churches. It came during a December 18 call that Mennonite Central Committee convened with four Palestinian pastors and several dozen North Americans. Pastor Ashraf Tannous unmuted, then muted again; he hesitated and hedged, eventually responding with uncommon candour. “Honestly…
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Readers Write, January 26, 2024
Literature saves lives Your editorial and feature interview with Di Brandt struck a chord (“Poetic justice,” September 22, 2023). I have been reading Brandt’s poetry and essays for decades; her poem, questions i asked my mother changed—no, saved—my life, as she has done for many others, especially women. I encourage you to publish more articles…
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Seek the blessing of your city
“That’s great!” That is my usual response when I speak with individuals and churches who name a desire to engage their neighbourhoods more actively, or to be a mission presence in their community. And yet, at some point in every one of these conversations, I need to ask the question, “Why?” Why do you want…
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God on the line
In this new joint column, the four writers will take turns writing the primary column, with the other three offering replies. God on the line By Ryan Dueck I recently became the owner of an orange rotary telephone. This artifact came to me via a Christmas gift exchange for which guests were instructed to repurpose…
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On loneliness and lifelines
This most recent December terrified me. Moving to Toronto in the first year of the pandemic and certain events since mean I haven’t made many social connections in this city. My few good friends here all had major life changes recently. Family and most friends live elsewhere, and persistent health issues have reduced my resilience.…
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Cat train
In this Mennonite Pioneer Mission photo, a “cat train,” powered by a caterpillar tractor, travels along an ice road, hauling supplies to northern Manitoba communities in the 1950s. Ice roads provide an economical way to transport goods to communities not connected to the all-weather road system. For more historical photos in the Mennonite Archival Image…
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The state of community in 2024
Last year was a tough one. Global concerns raged around us, including images of climate crisis and state-led violence that continued to swirl. I watched my church community formally come apart, by vote, in a deeply divisive scenario. Of course, there are many dynamics at play in such situations, but the element I find most…
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Linking membership and participation
It will soon be congregational annual meeting season. Do you look forward to these meetings? Are they well attended in your congregation? In my congregation, the number of people who participate in voting meetings is small compared to the number who participate regularly in worship. Participation in voting meetings is limited primarily to older people…
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Beyond boxes
Most of you have heard, and likely agree with, this statement: “You can’t put God in a box.” Of course, this means you can’t be put in a box either, for you are made in the image of God. If God doesn’t fit in a box, neither do you. Yet we often put ourselves in…
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Becoming an intercultural church
Just as Matthew 7:21 states, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” not every intercultural church will experience the fullest stage of reconciliation in fellowship with others, which is an ultimate goal of becoming an intercultural church. There are levels of becoming a truly intercultural church, just as…
