Watch: Mailboxes and church membership
What do you do when (1) your church has a rule that people need to be members in order to volunteer in leadership positions, (2) you have an increasing number of people attending your church, (3) these new people aren’t interested in becoming members, but (4) they are still committed to the church and want…
‘Ramping up the rituals’
Do Mennonite churches have commitment issues? Why are fewer people choosing rituals of commitment like baptism and marriage? In an attempt to answer these questions, Irma Fast Dueck spent three days at Conrad Grebel University College last month. First, she delivered Grebel’s Bechtel Lecture, “Take me to the waters: Baptism, commitment and the church,” on…
Youth panel explains what keeps them in church
Christian youth and young adults are seeking church spaces that are authentic, safe and open, but also supportive of their role in leadership. At least, that’s what five people who took part in a youth panel had to say at the 2019 Bechtel Lectures at Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont., on Feb. 8. The…
Why do I need to be part of a church?
“Why should I participate in church? What does the church offer that I can’t find elsewhere?” Before I could respond, my friend proceeded to explain how he has experienced God, Jesus, Spirit, worship, purpose, spiritual growth, healing, community and opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways outside of the church. By the end of our…
Remembering my baptism
I was baptized on an Easter Sunday morning, in the midst of a beautiful service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. By the first rays of morning light, we greeted each other with the familiar refrain, “He is risen!” and “He is risen indeed!” We sang the big, old Easter hymns. We heard the good news…
Response to ‘From belief to belonging’
Update: In October 2020, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada announced the termination of the ministerial credentials of John D. Rempel, on the basis of ministerial sexual misconduct. To learn more, see ‘Credentials terminated for theologian-academic-pastor.’ In her article “From belief to belonging” (July 2, 2018, page 4), Nicolien Klassen-Wiebe describes how open communion is on the rise…
