Of genitals and gender
The timing of Mennonite Church Canada’s current segment on human sexuality couldn’t have been better. And while the Being a Faithful Church (BFC) Task Force has been intentionally silent on the matter (while congregations process the issue), the wider religious community seems to think there is nothing more important to discuss right now. “If it…
‘Peace be with you’
As in many environments today, “peace” was a conventional salutation in the ancient world. In the Gospel of Luke, when the risen Jesus appears among the disciples in Jerusalem, he extends to them a greeting of peace. This particular account of the resurrection reflects several themes specific to Luke’s gospel, and forms an important transition…
Readers write: April 14, 2014 issue
Writer stands up for the victims of John Howard Yoder’s abuse Re: “MennoMedia questioned over John Howard Yoder disclaimer” letter, March 3, page 11. There are a number of misconceptions in this letter that need to be addressed: • The fact that Yoder’s behaviour is addressed at this time is because it was not addressed…
Thinking biblically about sex
Be honest, you’re only reading this because of the title. Yup, you have issues. But so do I. My understanding of sex was shaped within the context of my small-town church community and wider family. Pretty much everywhere there was blushing at that dirty word. Then I got married to a beautiful woman. The transition…
A cry for equality
Some may consider the following to be stated too strongly, but these are the realities for many native people. Native Christians understand that non-native churches, denominations and Christians do not expect native people to be trustworthy with the gospel, finances or any responsibilities presented to them for ministry. There is still a strongly held assumption…
What gets missed at meetings?
Meetings are always interesting, as they take on personalities of their own. And groups develop their own style or flavour. The 2014 Mennonite Church Alberta annual meeting was no different. In 2013, MC Alberta spent more than it received, so this was front and centre as we looked at our 2014 budget. Some strongly encouraged…
An affirmation of celibacy
Having read “Between horizons: Biblical perspectives on human sexuality” (the fifth Being a Faithful Church [BFC] document), I found myself questioning once again how we approach the intertwined issues of singleness and celibacy—abstaining from sexual activity. In any discussion of sexuality, what we believe about celibacy often unconsciously informs our assumptions and frames our conversation.…
Breaking down walls in the name of Christ
“As a child, I didn’t see the wall,” Arlyn Friesen Epp told delegates to the 85th annual Mennonite Church Alberta assembly, as he spoke of growing up in small-town Saskatchewan with no real knowledge of, or connections to, first nations people other than negative stereotypes. Cheryl Bear-Barnetson, Friesen Epp’s co-presenter at the March 21-22 assembly,…
Fewer Canadians studying at AMBS
Maclean’s magazine sits on the library shelf at the Mennonite seminary in Elkhart, Ind., but there are few Canadians there to read it. Officially, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is a binational school, serving Mennonite Church U.S.A. and MC Canada, but this year there are only six people from north of the border among the…
War doesn’t work
According to Ernie Regehr, for statistical purposes a war is defined as political fighting—not criminal violence—that engages the security forces of the state; as well, it is a situation in which “at least 1,000 people [combatants and civilians] have been killed directly by the fighting during the course of the conflict, and 25 or more…
