Once Round the Barn: LBGTQ Edition
With a nod to Ranting Rick Mercer, senior writer Will Braun steps into the mess that is the church’s disagreement over same-sex inclusion. The Maple View insert appeared in the September 25, 2017, print issue of Canadian Mennonite. You can read readers’ responses here: Readers write: October 23, 2017 issue Readers write: November…
Edmonton church becomes inclusive, affirming
On Feb. 7, 2016, Edmonton’s First Mennonite Church voted to become an inclusive and affirming Christian community. Two motions, one stating that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer people are welcome to become full and equal members of the church, and another to approve the statement: “God calls us to be an inclusive, affirming, Christian…
On harmony
I’ll be honest right from the beginning: when it comes to music in worship, I’m a hymn-person. Always have been. Especially as a youth, when everyone assumed that because of my age I must be a fan of praise-and-worship music! It’s one of the things that I love about worshipping in a Mennonite congregation: the…
Edmonton congregation seeks to be openly inclusive
At the pastors council meeting, First Mennonite Church called for prayer as a letter that will be sent to all Mennonite Church Alberta congregations was shared. The letter presents a motion passed on Feb. 8: “As a congregation, we … would like to move toward becoming a publicly open and welcoming faith community for all…
A positive space to speak out
It was a “magical” and “spirit-filled” Jan. 24, 2015, evening for many who attended a Wildwood Mennonite Church event, held to provide a positive space for members of the lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgender/queer (LGBTQ) community, family and friends to tell their stories and be vulnerable with each other. Some people felt safe to share publicly, even those…
Students advocate for the sexually marginalized
Life is difficult, especially for those who don’t fit in with the norm or who are considered minorities. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer (LGBTQ) community is struggling with being misunderstood, often times by Christians. Therefore, some students from the Mennonite community have taken it upon themselves to provide support and care for LGBTQ individuals…
