Bible study works at decolonizing scripture

November 4, 2019 | Web First
Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe | Manitoba Correspondent
Kelsey Enns is leading a Bible study in Winnipeg that asks the questions, “How is our faith shaped by our history?” and, “Can we decolonize how we read the Bible?” (Photo by Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe)

A Bible study in Winnipeg is asking the questions, “How is our faith shaped by our history?” and, “Can we decolonize how we read the Bible?” 

Kelsey Enns leads the group in reading, examining and discussing scripture, with the help of resources like Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization, edited by Steve Heinrichs, director of Indigenous-Settler Relations for Mennonite Church Canada. 

Enns, who attends Home Street Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, started the Bible study on Sept. 17 through the Student Christian Movement of Canada. Although the group’s target audience was initially students, attendance numbers have been low. Enns welcomes anyone who is interested in the topic, regardless of age, faith, identity and background. 

“It’s a conversation that people more generally need to engage in I think,” he says. “Also, my experience in Mennonite churches is that we might stereotype older congregants as not caring about this stuff. But they can be interested, too.” 

The group meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Mennonite Church Manitoba offices at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. until Dec. 3. 

For more information, contact winnipeg@scmcanada.org.

Related stories:
Confronting the fear of our history 
Readers 'zoom' to discuss
Unsettling the Word 
Decolonization through unsettling Scripture 

Kelsey Enns is leading a Bible study in Winnipeg that asks the questions, “How is our faith shaped by our history?” and, “Can we decolonize how we read the Bible?” (Photo by Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe)

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