Christ’s communities pursuingpurpose...purpose Page 8 FIRST IN A SERIES C ommunities C hrist’s p...

11 CPT turns 20

16 Tragic zeal

18 Help eliminate global debt

32 Picking presidents

TheMennonitewww.TheMennonite.org September 7, 2004

Christ’scommunities pursuingChrist’spurpose Page 8

FIRST IN A SERIES

Communities

Christ’spursuing

purpose

G R A C E A N D T R U T H

2 TheMennonite September 7, 2004

The Mennonite seeks to serve Mennonite Church USA by helping readersglorify God, grow in faith and become agents of healing and hope in theworld. The Mennonite (ISSN 1522-7766) is published on the first and thirdTuesdays of each month by the board for The Mennonite, Inc. Periodicalpostage paid at Scottdale, PA 15683-1999. Canada Post international publications mail sales agreement no. 40033185, GST no. R122192453. Sub-scription rates: $38.75 (U.S.) per year. Group rates available. Scripture refer-ences are from the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily representthe official positions of The Mennonite, the board for The Mennonite, Inc.,or Mennonite Church USA.

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 616 Walnut Ave.,Scottdale, PA 15683-1999.

Editor: Everett J. [email protected]

Associate editor: Gordon [email protected]

Marketing/Advertising: Marla J. [email protected]

Secretary: Kristene MillerEditorial assistant: Nora MillerDesign: Merrill R. MillerEditor Emeritus: J. Lorne Peachey

Cover, pages 8-11 by Laurie L. Oswald

Offices:1700 S. Main St.Goshen, IN 46526-4794phone: 800-790-2498fax: 574-535-6050

722 Main St., P.O. Box 347Newton, KS 67114phone: 800-790-2498fax: 316-283-0454

Web sitewww.TheMennonite.org

TheMennonite Vol. 7, No. 17, September 7, 2004

Or suppose a woman has 10 valuable silver coinsand loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look inevery corner of the house and sweep every nook andcranny until she finds it? And when she finds it, shewill call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice withher because she has found her lost coin. In the sameway, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels wheneven one sinner repents.—Luke 15:8-10 (NLT)

I use inclusive language when I preach. It’s nothard to do. Start by substituting “humanity” for“mankind.” It gets easier from there. This is not

praiseworthy but an attempt to leave room in thesermon for everyone to enter. I teach my sons thatwe watch our language in the realm of God.

I rarely use masculine language for God. I don’trewrite the Scriptures. But when the words are myown, they reflect a God who is more than male.This is true to the variety of images of God we findin Scripture.

The biblical writers use masculine languagewhen speaking of God. As are we, those writerswere products of their times and cultures. Theirchoice of language is not surprising. They used lan-guage, metaphor and imagery that made sense totheir audiences. Patriarchal societies understoodand preferred masculine language.

But the writers also compared God to a nursingmother (Isaiah 49:15) and an eagle who bore Israelup on her wings (Exodus 19:4). Though these femi-nine images of God are scarcer than I’d prefer, theytell us our understanding of God should not be lim-ited by our cultural or linguistic preferences. Usingfeminine language to describe God even oncemakes clear that God is not solely masculine.

Jesus called God Father. He instructed the disci-ples to pray to “our Father.” I have no need to cleanup Jesus to fit my taste or my understanding of jus-tice. I do not hesitate to pray the Lord’s prayer asrecorded in the Gospels.

But Jesus also described God as a woman wholost a coin. Again I hear that caution against settlingon only one image of God, even one recommendedby Jesus. God is bigger than any single image pre-sented in the Scripture.

Provider, Savior, Redeemer, King, Lord, Warrior,Mother, Father, Eagle, Rock, Fire, Light, Wind,Spirit, Son. The Scripture is full of different imagesof God. As we hold them together we discern theoutline of One far beyond anything or anyone wecan imagine. Singly these images may be easier tohold, they may create a sharper picture. But it is inthe aggregate that we discern the complexity, thewonder, the beyond-ness of the God of Scripture.Avoiding exclusive language for God invites us tobe open to a multitude of biblical lenses throughwhich to understand and appreciate who God is.

Using inclusive language is also a matter of jus-tice. Christians have been slow to recognize thatthe Bible’s masculine bias is as culturally bound asits poetry or cosmology. We dismiss calls for inclu-sivity as “political correctness,” yet Jesus warnedagainst hindering anyone from becoming a disciple.If exclusive language hinders anyone from follow-ing Jesus, we’d do well to heed that warning.

For too long some of our sisters have beenexcluded from feeling fully welcome. The fault isnot God’s, the One who created us in the divineimage, female and male, and called us good. Thefault is the use of language that excludes and limitsthe good news in a way that makes it hard to hear.

If only one young woman finds a deeper connec-tion to God through inclusive language, that’sworth throwing a party. If my sons come to see thatGod is One who values and understands everyhuman being, that’s worth throwing a party. Andeven if the only one changed is the preacher, I say,Break out the balloons and serve the ice cream.There is joy in heaven (and earth) when even onesinner repents. TM

God is bigger than our language about God

Ron W. Adamsis pastor at EastChestnut StreetMennoniteChurch in Lancaster, Pa.

C O N T E N T S

September 7, 2004 TheMennonite 3

8 Communities pursuing Christ’s purposeGod’s heartbeat sends Mennonite Church USA to reach peoplewith healing and hope.—Laurie L. Oswald

11 CPT turns 20A look at the first 20 years of Christian Peacemaker Teamsunder the leadership of Gene Stoltzfus—Melanie Zuercher

14 Spiritual resistanceAn excerpt from Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace—Peggy Faw Gish

16 Tragic zealThe spiral of violence, vengeance and death—Darrin W. Belousek

19 Keim is Hesston’s presidential candidate

20 Hurricane Charley leads to God’s lovePine Creek Chapel in Arcadia, Fla., finds new ministryopportunities.—Esther Kniss

21 Leaders make plans to pass on legacies—Everett J. Thomas

22 Biennial convention joins Native people—Kenyetta Aduma

23 Hispanic Mennonites develop identity—Gordon Houser

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 Grace and truthGod is bigger than our language about God—Ron W. Adams

4 Readers say

6 News digest

18 Speaking outHelp eliminate global debt—Celeste Kennel-Shank

26 For the record

30 Resources

32 EditorialPicking presidents—Everett J. Thomas

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R E A D E R S S A Y


This publication wel-comes your letters,either about our con-tent or about issuesfacing the Mennonitechurch. Please keepyour letters brief—one or two para-graphs—and aboutone subject only. Wereserve the right toedit for length andclarity. Publication isalso subject to spacelimitations. Send yourletters to Readers Say,The Mennonite, 1700S. Main St., Goshen,IN 46526-4794. Oremail us at: [email protected] include yourname and address.We will not print let-ters sent anonymous-ly, though we maywithhold names atour discretion. —Editors

Amish in the CityRe the reality TV show “Amish in the City”(Mediaculture, Aug. 17): Does “Amish in the City”exploit Amish? Sure it does. But it pales in compari-son to other ways the presence of Amish is used topromote tourism in Elkhart and LaGrange countiesin Indiana, Holmes County in Ohio, LancasterCounty in Pa., and other counties as well.Businesses want to profit from tourist dollars as thetourists gawk at Amish in their quaint dress, watchthem travel in a horse-drawn buggy or wagon—allthe while staying in the comfort of an elegant motelas they observe the simple lifestyle.

If we want to protest Amish exploitation, whydon’t we protest every time we see the name“Amish” used to promote the sale of a product?—Richard Hostetler, Goshen, Ind.

No pledge of allegianceThank you for J. Nelson Kraybill’s challenging callquestioning participation in the national pledge ofallegiance (“A Christian Pledge of Allegiance,” Aug.3). My parents suggested that it was not appropri-ate for Christians. Through 12 years of publicschool I stood at attention during the pledge witharms down at my side. Christ and Caesar both callfor our ultimate loyalties, and we make the choice.After a half century of refusing the pledge (whenmy peers stand to declare their loyalty to OldGlory), I am reminded of both who and whose Iam.—Bob Hartzler, Wayland, Iowa

Bless large congregationsThanks to Jim Lapp for speaking out in the article“Let’s Bless Large Mennonite Congregations”(Aug. 3). As a church planter who has had theincredible privilege of leading a small group of sixto become a large growing congregation, I too have

felt I have to be careful about what I say and whereI say it. Some in the Mennonite church imply wemust be doing something wrong or un-Anabaptistto become a church that continues to attract largenumbers of people from our community. Further-more, I occasionally feel judged for not attendingleadership seminars at our Mennonite seminaries.Instead I attend other seminars across the countryat large churches that have already walked wherewe will be walking or take classes from other semi-nary professors who have had experience leadinglarge, growing churches.

I pray there will be a day when larger Mennonitecongregations will not be seen as an aberration ofthe “ideal” small or medium-sized church. Myprayer is that regardless of the size of any church,there will be rejoicing together that we are effec-tively reaching our communities with the goodnews, and more people are becoming fully devotedfollowers of Jesus Christ.—Dennis Gingerich, CapeCoral, Fla.

Silly of church to divideSeveral articles in the July 20 issue tell of the seri-ous adjustments being made in at least some of thearea conferences, and especially Western District,of Mennonite Church USA. I understood the arti-cles to say that a whole range of previous associa-tions and history now seem to be treated with neg-lect, and many churches and their members instates like Kansas and Oklahoma are baffled as towhy the changes were made at all. These systemchanges are now combined with demographic andeconomic shifts to produce major challenges.

I share the feelings of those who are telling uswhat seems to be happening. From where I sit, itseemed almost silly to divide all kinds of activitiesinto two national groupings simply to say that wehad a distinct church on each side of the border. Ifnational characteristics play such a large role inreligious bodies, one wonders about priorities.Canada and the United States are distinct countries,but the Christian church is no more a divided entityby political borders now than it was in the time ofthe apostle Paul.

At St. Louis 1999 a friend, more outspoken than Iam, opined, “We are here at the death of theGeneral Conference.” May there be enough graceto help us go on from here and grasp the opportu-nities as new light, hopefully, comes.—Lorne Buhr,Edmonton

Seeds for a missional churchThank you Dorothy Nickel Friesen for the observa-tions on the state of rural communities and ruralchurches (“Secondary Terrorism,” July 20). I wasreminded that the power of death is real and it is

I N T H I S I S S U E

W e have heard that Mennonite Church USA is to be a mis-soinal church. But what does that look like? In this issuewe begin a series by Laurie L. Oswald intended to

describe what it means to be a missional church (page 8).Oswald says, “Asking what God is doing in the world and thenbecoming people who can join God is more a shift in focus thanadding programs.” Other expressions of the missional churchare the biennial gatherings sponsored by Mennonite racial-eth-nic associate groups (beginning on page 21). Finally, we notethat Christian Peacemaker Teams recently celebrated 20 yearsof standing peacefully between warring parties and that found-ing director Gene Stoltzfus recently retired. We commissionedMelanie Zuercher to review this phenomenal expression of themissional church and reflect on what its success is saying aboutour historic peace witness (page 11).—Editor

R E A D E R S S A Y


wanting to claim our towns and our churches. Ihope the article is only the beginning of a processwhereby we reflect on what is happening around usin light of Christ’s victory over the powers of thisage and then creatively imagine how the Christiancommunity can be engaged in witnessing to thepresence of the kingdom that is making the worldnew.

What we are witnessing in the rural areas is not“terrorism.” We are instead experiencing theinevitable consequences of modernization in whichthe poor are exploited while those profit who con-trol seeds and markets. In order to renew theworld, churches both urban and rural need torethink what it means to share in the fellowship ofthe Lord’s Table. Eating at one and the same timeconnects us with social, political economic, environ-mental issues. By awakening our conscience andthrough the renewal of the meaning of our sacra-ments we can turn this tragedy into an opportunityto praise God.—Ray Epp, Yubarigun, Japan

God is not Republican or DemocratI read The Mennonite with interest each week, espe-cially the letters from readers. Two letters especiallycaught my eye in the Aug. 17 Readers Say: “Vote forGood Government” by Wayne Kratzer and “OtherWars Than Iraq” by Lorene Gable.

I am saddened by these letters. I am saddenedthat these two individuals consider liberals theenemy. I am not the enemy. I believe in peace, jus-tice and social reform. I believe in not only toler-ance but acceptance and understanding of all peo-ple, just as Jesus taught. I disagree with Gable onmost of her points, but this does not make me lesscommitted to Christian or Mennonite values thanshe. Were our forebears not liberals of a sort, buck-ing the norm of the Catholic church to start some-thing new? Are we not, as a faith, supposed to becommitted to helping the poor and restoring socialjustice, both decidedly Democratic ideals? Are wenot also supposed to be committed to peacemaking,something our current president has most definite-ly left by the wayside?

God is not a Republican. Neither is God aDemocrat. And neither you nor the Religious Rightspeak for me.—Renita Leichty, Henderson, Ky.

Listen to a poor personIn response to the letters “Vote for Good Govern-ment” and “Other Wars Than Iraq” (Readers Say,Aug. 17): The political atmosphere is volatile; politi-cians are baiting and hooking the Christian votingblock with hot-button issues such as abortion andso-called “gay marriage” in an attempt to divert ourattention from the war in Iraq, the “situation” inSudan, international relations in general, increased

poverty, the continuing unchecked violence againstwomen and ongoing racism.

Still planning on voting on the issues of “gaymarriage” and abortion alone? First, spend fiveminutes just listening to a poor and single womanconsidering abortion. Visit with a woman whosehusband beat her the night before in front of theirchildren. Hang out in a low-income housing area.Read the testimony of a woman raped in Sudan inan attempt to wipe her race out of existence.Remember, behind every issue there are humanfaces.—Jennifer A. Yoder, Columbus, Ohio

No campaign lettersIn the Aug. 17 Readers Say, two letters proposedthat we vote in November and vote for PresidentBush. The Mennonite should call a moratorium onall campaign letter writing.

One of the basic tenets of Anabaptism is the sep-aration of church and state. Why would we allow achurch publication to promote candidates? Our alle-giance is to the kingdom of God. Our national alle-giance is secondary. Would our promotion of andvoting for certain candidates not make us in partculpable of their grievous violations of God’s king-dom? Both candidates are dripping with the unnec-essary blood of war (Iraq and Vietnam). They areboth beholden to the power structures of themighty. Deception and lies seem to be the order ofthe current campaign. We should continue to useour publication to call our government to governwith justice for all. But let us refrain from becomingpartisan and actually making the mistake of believ-ing our government can do the work of the king-dom.—Joseph Yoder, Middlebury, Ind.

Editor’s note: As the U.S. presidential election drawsnear, we will print letters about the election if spaceallows. However, priority will be given to letters thataddress articles and news in The Mennonite.

Life is too shortI want to affirm Clarence Rempel for his words ofwisdom (“Life Is Too Short to Pretend,” Aug. 17).Life is too short to not truly communicate our innerselves with our Christian brothers and sisters. Weheal our own wounds from sharing each other’spains and hurts. We grow and learn from eachother’s guilt and past mistakes. We need to help lifteach other up and walk through those difficulttimes together. We can’t do so, however, if we don’tknow about each other’s inner churnings.

I’m sure Christ would want us to walk towardeach other, not away, in times of pain. Togetherlet’s try to drop our pride and our fears and shareourselves in a deeper way with each other.—SandyEberly Wenger, Bellefontaine, Ohio

O N L I N E P O L LR E S U L T S

Should Christianssay the Pledge ofAllegiance?

Yes (51%)

No (42%)

Not sure (7%)

Check out the newpoll question at www.TheMennonite.org

Pasadena Mennonite protests HalliburtonPASADENA, Calif.—Pasadena MennoniteChurch organized a protest and vigil held Aug. 7in front of the Pasadena offices of Halliburton.About 35 local evangelical Christians partici-pated in the protest.

According to organizers, the group want-ed to show that the values espoused by the Bushadministration are opposed to Christian values thatmany evangelicals hold dear. The group sought tochallenge Christians of all persuasions to apply thelife and teachings of Jesus to U.S. foreign policy,and particularly to military and corporate conductduring the occupation of Iraq.

“There are a lot of people who say they areChristians yet are actively supporting violence andcorporate profiteering in a way that contradictsJesus’ life and teachings,” said organizer Eric Getty,a staff member with InterVarsity, an evangelicalcampus movement. “The Scriptures clearly chal-lenge these practices, and we are here to witness toa biblical way of love and justice that has alwaysbeen a part of evangelical tradition.”

Bert Newton and Jennifer Davis-Sensenig, pas-tors at Pasadena Mennonite Church, vow to carryon an active peace witness in the Pasadena areaover the coming year.—Eric Getty

Mennonite colleges ranked by magazineOnce again Mennonite colleges have received posi-tive rankings in U.S. News and World Report’s annu-

al ranking of colleges and universities. Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., is one of

only three Kansas colleges to make the top half ofthe 2005 Best Comprehensive Colleges-Midwestlist, appearing the highest at no. 28.

Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg,Va., has moved up in the rankings, now in the thirdtier in the national liberal arts category. It was list-ed in the fourth tier last year.

Bluffton (Ohio) University is ranked in the toptier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. It isranked no. 25 out of 108 ranked schools in the 12-state region.

Goshen (Ind.) College placed solidly in the thirdtier of the best liberal arts colleges category for thefourth straight year.

The rankings appear in the issue of U.S. Newsand World Report that hit newsstands Aug. 23 andare also available at www.usnews.com.—fromreports by Bethel College, Bluffton University,Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen CollegeNews Services

AMBS alumni giving, contributions increaseELKHART, Ind.—Giving to Associated MennoniteBiblical Seminary by alumni increased by nearlytwo-thirds during the 2003-2004 fiscal year whilethe number of alumni who gave increased by half.This increase, combined with strong response toAMBS’s Next Generation campaign, resulted in a45 percent jump in total giving to AMBS.

More than 700 AMBS alumni contributed duringthe year, compared with 475 the previous year, inpart because of a phonathon conducted in the fall

I N B R I E F

Shands Stoltzfusnamed AMBSdirector of admis-sions, financial aidRegina ShandsStoltzfus has beennamed director ofadmissions andfinancial aid forAssociated Menno-nite Biblical Semi-nary, Elkhart, Ind.,beginning Sept. 7.Stoltzfus has beenassociate campuspastor for Goshen(Ind.) College andminister of urbanministries for Men-nonite MissionNetwork, Elkhart.Earlier she was asso-ciate pastor of LeeHeights CommunityChurch, Cleveland,and coordinator ofthe Damascus Roadanti-racism program.—AMBS News Service

Rosedale missiondirector diesHenry Helmuth,Latin American mis-sion director forRosedale MennoniteMissions, died Aug. 1following a protract-ed battle with can-cer. RMM, headquar-tered in Rosedale,Ohio, is the missionagency ofConservativeMennonite Confer-ence—RosedaleMennonite Missions

African ‘peace meals’ in Hesston, Kan.Sandi Richard (right) pours water over her husband Phil’shands, demonstrating African hospitality before a “peacemeal” typical of a wedding feast in Botswana. About 70Hesston (Kan.) Mennonite Church members and severalHesston College international students ate together ineight homes Aug. 14 and 22. The peace and justice com-mittee of the church planned the meals to encourageChristian fellowship, cross-cultural understanding, pray-ing for peace and giving to the Mennonite Church USA’sPeace and Justice Support Network. Guests donatednearly $1,000 to the peace network. That will be doubledby a matching grant from MMA.—Susan Miller Balzer

Dancing before the LordAt the closing rally of the Holy Spirit in Missions Conferencein San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the White Dove children’sgroup, representing various churches in the Sula District ofthe Honduran Mennonite Church, performed special musi-cal numbers and dances in praise of missions and in honorof missionaries.

Susan Miller Balzer

EMM

photo by D

ale D. G

ehman

N E W S D I G E S T


I N B R I E F

Goshen appointsinterim presidentGoshen (Ind.) CollegeBoard of Directorschair Virgil Millerannounced Aug. 19that John D. Yordyhas accepted theinvitation to serve asGoshen College’s interim president.Yordy has served asprovost for Goshensince 1996. He over-saw and coordinatedthe offices of the aca-demic dean anddean of students andsupervised the col-lege budget officesand informationtechnology and man-aged strategic plan-ning processes. Asprovost he alsoserved as chief exec-utive officer in the absence of the presi-dent. Outgoing pres-ident Shirley H.Showalter will offi-cially end her termby Sept. 30.—GoshenCollege news service

SUV fatality ratecontinues to riseThe gap in safetybetween sport utilityvehicles and passen-ger cars last year wasthe widest yetrecorded, accordingto new federal trafficdata. People drivingor riding in an SUV in2003 were nearly 11percent more likelyto die in an accidentthan people in cars,the figures show. Thegovernment begankeeping detailed sta-tistics on the safetyof vehicle categoriesin 1994. SUVs contin-ue to gain in popu-larity, despite safetyconcerns and thevehicles’ lagging fueleconomy at a timewhen gasoline pricesare high.—New YorkTimes

and spring. Gifts from alumni added up to $267,517,a 64 percent increase over the previous year.

Total giving to AMBS for the year came to$3,353,007. This marked a 45 percent increase overlast year and came as a result of contributions todesignated projects in the Next Generation Fundfor Church Leadership. As of June 30, the NextGeneration Fund had reached three-fourths of thegoal of $20 million.—AMBS News Service

Olympic champion has Mennonite connectionJoanna Hayes, who won the 100-meter hurdles inrecord time at this year’s Olympics in Athens,Greece, is the granddaughter of Elta Miller, whosesecond marriage later in life was to Orie Miller, thewell-known churchman who helped startMennonite Central Committee.

Hayes’ father, Ted Hayes, is an advocate for thehomeless in Los Angeles. In TV interviews, Joannahas testified to her faith.—from a report by KentDavis Sensenig, Joanna’s Mennonite cousin

Elfrieda Klassen Dyck dies at 87Elfrieda Klassen Dyck, 87, long-time MennoniteCentral Committee worker and one of the 20most influential Mennonite men and women ofthe past century, according to The Mennonite,died Aug. 20 in Scottdale, Pa.The family has requestedthat donations be made to amemorial fund to helprefugees that has been estab-lished in Elfrieda’s namethrough MCC.

Along with Peter, her hus-band, Elfrieda served withMCC during and after WorldWar II, when refugees floodedout of war-torn Europe. Asrecently as 10 years ago, at the time of MCC’s 75thanniversary, she and Peter set out on speaking touracross the United States and Canada to talk abouttheir experience.

Elfrieda was born in Donskaja, new Samara,Russia, in 1917, the youngest of 14 children. In1925, her family fled Russia and settled inWinnipeg, where as a young woman she graduatedfrom St. Boniface Hospital in 1939 as a registerednurse.—MCC News Service

Puerto Rico reunion draws 270 to GoshenGOSHEN, Ind.—More than 270 people from 15states, Canada and Puerto Rico attended a reunionAug. 7-8 at Pleasant View Mennonite Church inGoshen. Among those attending were missionaries,voluntary service and Civilian Public Service work-ers, native Puerto Ricans, Ulrich Foundation staffmembers and their families.

These had served in Puerto Rico as pastors,teachers, medical service providers, agricultureand community development workers and inother roles to help start churches and improvethe living conditions of the local people, startingin the 1940s.

Participants took an offering to help with thework of Academia Menonita Betainia (BethanyMennonite Academy) in Aibonito.

Elfrieda Klassen Dyck

MCC West Coast bike tour raises $18,000 (plus $5)During the sixth MCC West Coast Bike Tour Aug. 2-6, partici-pants pedal off the ferry for a day of riding on Shaw Island.About 60 riders, plus support volunteers, pitched tents at thefairgrounds on San Juan Island, taking ferries to explore threeadditional islands in Washington’s Puget Sound (Orcas, Lopezand Shaw). The tour raised more than $18,000 for the ministryof Mennonite Central Committee—or $18,005. One day, riderJames Larimer, Fort Wayne, Ind., told a stranger on the road thatthis trip was created to benefit needy people around the world.The stranger handed him a $5 bill.—Cathleen Hockman-Wert

Ken Lind

‘God’s Word is precious’Anne Garber Kompaoré is completing a master’s degree atAssociated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., during asix-month North America assignment with Mennonite MissionNetwork. She has done Bible translation work in Burkina Fasosince 1982. A foundational truth underlying her ministry,whether in North America or West Africa, is that “God’s Word isprecious.”

Mennonite M

ission Netw

ork photo by D

avid Fisher Fast

N E W S D I G E S T



A cross Mennonite Church USA, congrega-tions and area conferences are askinganew what it means to join God’s workin the world. The answers vary, butthe heartbeat is the same: God sends

us beyond our church walls and historical roots to reachnew people with the healing and hope of Jesus Christ.

Denominational leaders witness to this fresh searchto find God’s path for Mennonites in the 21st century.And the word “sent” appears often in their testimonies.This sending means that all parts of the denominationwill integrate being and doing—living in God’s heart so

that the church can follow where God’s heartbeat sends it.Asking what God is doing in the world and then

becoming people who can join God is more a shift in focusthan adding more programs, say members of MennoniteChurch USA’s churchwide missional church team. Theteam, begun in 2002, is helping the denomination fulfill itsmissional priorities. The team isn’t prescribing a longer “todo” list but is encouraging the church to prayerfully consider God’s agenda.

Focus shift, not program addition: Area conference leaders and pastors whoare members of the missional church team said this shift of focus is changingpeople more than programs. Jane Roeschley, associate pastor of Mennonite

God’s heartbeat sends Mennonite Church USA to reach peoplewith healing and hope.

by Laurie L. Oswald

CommunitiespursuingChrist’spurpose

This new focus is causing me to help my congregation export the good news of Jesus Christ and his healing and hope into ourcommunities, and that can be messy sometimes.—Jane Roeschley

FIRST IN A SERIES

Communities

Christ’spursuing

purpose

Church of Normal (Ill.), says that this shift is help-ing her congregation risk more messy experimentsand worry less about perfect outcomes.

“This new focus is causing me to help my con-gregation export the good news of Jesus Christ andhis healing and hope into our communities, andthat can be messy sometimes,” she says. “It’s justplain hard to move from a ‘country club’ mentalityinto a meaningful and connecting ministry context.

“My job as a leader is to tend the messiness anddisappointments and false starts. We often beginnew outreaches with great ideals, but then discoverthat unforeseen challenges require that we changeand grow in order to make something work.

“God doesn’t call us to the American model ofsuccess that says we must get it ‘right’ the first

time. Instead, we are called to befaithful and to build relationships. That can meanthat we try and try again until our ministry stylebetter connects with those we serve.”

For example, she cites how three Caucasianmen from the congregation volunteered to coachAfrican-American boys in a basketball program.“The cultural shifts were a challenge and there

were some hard knocks,” she says. “One of thecoaches said he’d never do that again, but then heran into two of the kids one day. He was over-whelmed with ‘high fives’ from one boy, and theother boy introduced him to his mother.

“We learned that sometimes just showing up …is enough to make an impression. We’re realizingthat it’s okay to ask help from others in the commu-nity. Next time, we hope to invite an African-American man from another church to partner withus in these efforts.”

Passion, not programs: Along with promotingflexibility and humility in congregations, pastorsmust also affirm existing passion for ministry andnot micromanage programs or push personal agen-da, says Beryl Jantzi, senior pastor of Harrisonburg(Va.) Mennonite Church.

“In my role, I am not called to do everythingbut to support others in what they feel God iscalling them to do and to be,” Beryl says. “Thatmeans helping people tap into the fire in theirbellies. We need to tap into the energy and

excitement that our people already haveabout areas of ministry.”

For example, because members of thecongregation have a passion for beingmore welcoming, the church hosts an end-of-the-summer neighborhood block partywith food, games and entertainment.Some churches work at ministry to chil-dren through preschool and day-careprograms, he says. But this event targetsentire families hoping to make a connec-tion and build lasting relationships.

“People will connect with us when weconnect with them,” Beryl says. “Thatmeans that we must break through oursense of being the quiet in the land andstrive to be better neighbors who speakin ways that people can hear our love.… If we care about their needs for hav-

ing a place to gather as a neighborhood,then they are going to be more likely to come backfor some of our Sunday morning programming.”

Prayer shapes passions: Prayer and spendingtime in God’s presence help people prepare to joinGod’s work and agenda, Jantzi and Roeschley says.

“This congregation has taught me the impor-tance of prayer in reaching out,” Beryl says. “Thepassion for being a welcoming place is rooted inprayer and spiritual disciplines.” For example, the


Continuedon page 10

We need to tap into the energy and excitementthat our people already have about areas ofministry.—Beryl Jantzi

congregation held a 28-day prayer and fasting eventto become more attuned to God’s will for the con-gregation. “We have a prayer committee that helpsto keep us praying on a 24-7 basis,” he says. “Thisis so important for supplying the vision andstrength to try new ministries.”

Jane agrees: “Shifting into this new focus on join-ing God’s mission is not only about doing or onlyabout being, but it’s about both—a both/andthing,” she says.

“If all you do is go out and try new things all thetime without anchoring them in spiritual practices,your congregation will burn out. God uses both theinward and the outward in shaping us as a mission-al people. We are formed by the practices of wor-ship, Bible study and retreats.

“Then, from out of the depths of prayer, wereach out. And in reaching out, we are alsochanged and shaped by God. Both the inward andoutward help us to become more like Christ and tobe more a part of God’s mission.”

Equipping, not maintaining: Area conferenceministers as well as pastors see how a shift in focusis changing people’s attitudes, their expectations ofleaders and the way they worship, says Jim Lapp,missional church team member and leader ofFranconia Mennonite Conference’s ministry team.

“This shift means that we will evaluate our pas-tors not on whether they are maintaining the con-gregation but whether they are moving the congre-gation beyond itself, developing new leaders andequipping people for ministry,” he says.

“It also means that we will ask new questionsabout our worship styles, including: Can new peo-ple understand the language we are using? Do weact as one big, happy family reunion and excludenewcomers?”

Jim is also concerned that area conferencesand congregations find evangelism tools that fitAnabaptist theology, including a focus on disciple-ship to Jesus and community. “I tremble a littlewhen I look around at all the possible models forevangelism and realize that some of them maynot be best for us as Anabaptists,” he says.“Maybe we start there. But let’s not give up oncreating or finding resources that grow out ofwho we are.”

No matter what method is used, Jane believescongregations are already equipped to allow God’shealing and hope to flow through them to theircommunities. In Deeply Woven Roots, a book she’sstudied by author Gary Gunderson, she’s learnedthat the local congregation is one of the main toolsGod has for building “shalom”—peace and whole-ness—in communities.

“The congregation lies at the permeable bound-ary between God’s kingdom and the world, andbecause of that there is a lot of osmosis that canhappen,” she says. “God has already provided con-gregations with resources to offer the world, and itis just a matter of scales dropping from our eyes sowe can see what those are.”

Jim Schrag, executive director of MennoniteChurch USA, and Stanley Green, executive directorof Mennonite Mission Network—the denomina-tion’s mission agency—believe scales are droppingfrom the eyes of Mennonites as they respond towho they are as God’s sent people. The two leadersare co-chairs of the missional church team.

“In decades past, we asked who God was andthen asked what God wanted us to do,” Jim Schragsays. “But with this shift in focus, we’re turningthat around. We’re asking what God is doing in theworld and then asking who we need to become.This is not just another new methodology. It is arenewal movement, and it has a lot of potential fortransforming our self-understanding.”

Stanley says, “I’m excited that in the 21st centu-ry in Mennonite Church USA, we’re recovering ouridentity and are being revitalized to be missionalpeople who engage our world with the good newsof Jesus Christ, both at home and around theworld.”

Laurie L. Oswald is news service director forMennonite Church USA.

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Continuedfrom page 9

We’re asking what God is doing in the world and then asking who we need to become.—Jim Schrag

A passion forwelcoming: Fromleft, DustyRhodes, seniorpastor BerylJantzi andDarlene Landes,members ofHarrisonburg(Va.) MennoniteChurch, enjoy aWednesdayevening fellow-ship meal at thechurch.


Twenty years ago this summer, when RonSider electrified a relatively small groupof Mennonites with his speech atthe1984 Mennonite World Conference(MWC) assembly, no one imagined how

far the ripples from his words would spread.No one but Gene Stoltzfus, perhaps.Sider, a Brethren in Christ professor at Eastern

Baptist Seminary near Philadelphia, gave a keynoteaddress at the MWC gathering in Strasbourg,France. In the speech, he outlined a vision forsomething like “teams of Christian peacemakers”who would go to places of conflict in the world andstand peacefully between the warring factions.

The idea took hold with what was then called thePeace Section of Mennonite Central Committee.Peace Section staff produced one pamphlet andConrad Grebel University College in Waterloo,Ont., another. Between 1985 and 1986, studygroups in Mennonite congregations across NorthAmerica used the materials to talk about and helpflesh out Sider’s idea.

In late 1986, at a meeting of the Council ofModerators and Secretaries of what was then theMennonite Church and General ConferenceMennonite Church, as well as the Brethren inChrist and Mennonite Brethren, met in Techny, Ill.,and decided to form a steering committee for an

organization to be called Christian PeacemakerTeams (CPT).

In August 1987, that steering committee hired ahalf-time director for CPT, Gene Stoltzfus.Seventeen years later, Gene leaves the helm of anorganization that has literally changed the meaningof “Mennonites” to people around the world.

Says Susan Mark Landis, current CPT SteeringCommittee member, “There was a time when peo-ple outside Mennonite circles knew us throughJohn H. Yoder. Now they know us through [CPT],and they don’t have to be able to read a book pub-lished in English to do so.”

Gene came to CPT with more than two decadesof peace and justice work behind him, in Vietnam,the Philippines and the United States.

Organized platoons: “I started to think aboutorganizing peacemaker teams in the 1960s, when Iwas working in Vietnam,” he says. “If the militarycan put together disciplined, organized platoons,Christians should be able to do the same in areas inthe world where there is armed conflict. I alwaysfelt that Christians should be much more focusedand disciplined in their peacemaking.

“In the early 1980s, we had the example ofWitness for Peace in Central America. There was awider cultural conviction in the peace and justiceworld that a group of people committed to peace

by MelanieZuercher

A look at the first 20 years ofChristian Peacemaker Teams underthe leadership of Gene Stoltzfus

CPTturns 20

Biblical mandate:CPT director GeneStoltzfus, wearingthe CPT red hat,with people inNajef, Iraq

CPT

pho

to

Continuedon page 12

CPTturcould ‘get in the way’ of armies and violence. RonSider articulated that from an authentic Christianperspective, which was a significant contribution.”

One of the most important changes in CPT overthe years, Gene says, has been the ecumenical char-acter it has developed (see box). However, Menno-nites were the core of CPT and remain the singlelargest denomination or group to contribute to CPTboth financially and in terms of delegation members.

“When I go into Mennonite churches to speak,I’m often asked: ‘Why are you talking to us—aren’twe the choir?’ ” he says. “My response: ‘I under-stand what Mennonites believe, but I’m not surewe’re a choir.’ A choir requires training, learning tointerpret, being willing to submit to a group. Youdon’t just throw anybody together and call that achoir. We Mennonites have been very individualis-tic in our peacemaking.”

The ongoing challenge has been to build the“teams” in CPT’s name. A big boost to CPT’s self-confidence came in 1990, during the MennoniteWorld Conference assembly in Winnipeg.

CPT organized a witness at a Minuteman II mis-sile silo in North Dakota. “We didn’t know whatkind of response we’d get,” Gene says.

They got plenty—six buses and 30 cars and vansfull of Mennonites, about 350 participants, enoughto surround the silo site. “When we stopped inWinkler [Man.] for supper on the way back, therewas such a sense of energy and buoyancy,” Genesays. “It felt like we had the support out there—people wanted to do this.”

Big splash: With the MWC witness, CPT alsomade its first big splash in the media (in this case,Winnipeg’s), a tool the organization has continuedto use with great effectiveness.

Perhaps no time was there so much publicity asin late 1990, when CPT sent its first delegation toIraq, right before the outbreak of the first Gulf War.Among them, the 13 members of that delegationmade at least 1,000 public appearances related totheir visit to Iraq.

There has been almost as much publicity recent-ly, as CPT was months ahead of the mainstreamU.S. media in reporting abuse of Iraqi prisoners byU.S. military personnel and has been inundatedwith requests for interviews and information bythat same media since they caught on as well.

In between, CPT has carried out projects direct-ly with or in support of First Nations people inLabrador, New Brunswick, Quebec and northernOntario, as well as with Lakota activists in SouthDakota; in Haiti; in eastern Europe (Chechnya andBosnia); with indigenous people in Chiapas,

Mexico; on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico; withPalestinians in Hebron (ongoing) and other parts ofIsrael-Palestine; in the inner cities of Washington,D.C., and Richmond, Va.; and in Colombia (alsocurrent). Local CPT groups all over North Americahave regularly called attention to the sale of violenttoys by large retailers and, with April 15 actions atpost offices, to the amount of U.S. income taxesgoing for military purposes.

In the fall of 1992, CPT held its first ChristianPeacemaker Corps training, from which emergedfour full-time Corps members and three part-timePeace Reservists. “During this time,” Gene says,“we were being pushed and cajoled to come toHaiti, and eventually we started our first long-termproject, in Jérémie, Haiti.

“It was our quietest project—we were still learn-ing. But it kept the Haitian military on notice thatthe world was watching. There was no phone con-tact in Jérémie, and this was before any kind of reli-able email. But we learned that our presence canmake a difference.

“We learned that functioning as an unapologeti-cally Christian group is the way to go. We learnedthat short-term delegations can complement thework of the long-term people. Our full-timers couldnot do the public events because they weren’t inPort-au-Prince, but the delegations could.”

As CPT’s work expanded, it continued to learnlessons. CPT decided to establish a long-term pres-ence in Hebron, West Bank, in 1995 because it wasone of the few places in Israel-Palestine that had nopermanent human rights groups.

Selective public witness: “In Hebron, we cut ourteeth in terms of learning how a small group couldbe effective doing selective public witness,” such assymbolically opening the Hebron market, whichremained closed despite the peace agreement man-date to open it. “We developed our confidence in ourability to relate to the larger diplomatic community.”

Although CPT’s presence in Hebron has “gener-ally been positive,” Gene says, “it’s discouragingthat no fundamental change has happened. ButHebron is on the map in a way it wouldn’t havebeen otherwise.”

CPT’s work in Chiapas, Mexico, caused theorganization to think more about developing localChristian Peacemaker groups, which in Chiapaswould have combined the poorer indigenous peopleand more middle-class Ladinos. The effort wasn’tsuccessful there, but the CPT groups currently inColombia include Colombians.

Developing such groups is one of the challengesGene sees for CPT in the future. “This has major


We learnedthat function-ing as anunapologeti-cally Christiangroup is theway to go.—GeneStoltzfus

Continued from page 11

ns 20implications for how we understand ourselves asmulticultural, multiethnic and multilingual.”

Other challenges include how to respond to farmore requests for CPT presence in hot spotsaround the world than CPT can possibly fill andconstant work on the whole “team” nature ofCPT—perhaps more so as the organizationbecomes increasingly ecumenical. From its originalMennonite and Brethren in Christ base, CPT addedthe Church of the Brethren and Friends UnitedMeeting (Quakers) as supporters who are repre-sented on the Steering Committee. In recent years,CPT has seen more Catholics and mainlineProtestants in its delegations.

“The peace community is sort of like Menno-nites—there are a lot of stubborn people who thinkthey have a corner on what’s right and righteous,people who also have big hearts. Stubbornness is agift in terms of facing overwhelming and intract-able problems, but it can make for difficult groupdynamics. It’s hard to integrate the strong soloistsinto the choir, but it can be done.”

For now, Mennonites remain CPT’s strong base.“We started this in the midst of denominationalmerger [between the Mennonite Church and theGeneral Conference Mennonite Church], but wenever felt like we were told to go away. Instead itwas, ‘We’re really glad you’re doing this—keep oneven if it seems like no one’s paying attention.’

“It’s important that Mennonites and other peacechurches warmly and consistently embrace this work.It’s really basic: You don’t kill someone just becauseyou disagree with them. That’s the biblical mandate.”

Gene isn’t sure exactly what he’ll do after heconcludes his time as CPT director on Aug. 31, buthe expects to stay involved in peace work and tocontinue to support CPT. “For me, looking into the

face of crisis and conditions that strike you withtheir violence—after a while, you get weary. I needsome time to clean out,” he says.

However, he adds quickly, “Crisis is the opportu-nity for transformation. That’s not just nice lan-guage—I’ve experienced it.”

“God’s Spirit flows through Gene in a gushingriver, and he is willing to give his entire being tostay with the flow,” says Susan Mark Landis. “Hehas a sixth sense for nonviolence organizing. Heknows how to network with justice groups aroundthe globe. He prays and lives intimately with God.He’s intense, compassionate and an honest friend.”

Adds Kathleen Kern, who’s been involved withCPT since 1992, “I will miss the way that he gen-uinely loved CPTers and took our concerns andneeds seriously.”

Carol Rose, who began July 12 as CPT co-direc-tor, working in the Chicago office while DougPritchard is co-director from the Ontario office,says, “One thing I value, that I hope I’ve learned todo from Gene, is his gift for taking the many-faceted and complex realities of social organiza-tions, peace movements, wars and being able tolook at that big picture and say, ‘This is the direc-tion God is moving,’ or, ‘This is where we’re stuck.’Maybe that’s political analysis. Maybe it’s ‘discern-ing the signs of the times,’ to put it in more reli-gious terms.”

“The bottom line is that as Christians, we won’tkill,” says Gene. “We’ll find some other way. Thechallenge is: How do you do that in the modernworld? What’s God’s Spirit calling us to?”

Melanie Zuercher is writer/editor in the communica-tions office of Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., anda member of Shalom Mennonite Church, Newton.

TM


No. of full-time Peacemaker Corps members: 32No. of part-time Reservists: 126Supporting denominations: Church of the Brethren, Friends United

Meeting, Mennonite Church USADenominational breakdown of Peacemaker Corps members:

Mennonite – 15Catholic – 4Quaker – 3Lutheran – 3Methodist – 2Episcopalian – 2No specific denomination – 2Church of the Brethren – 1

Denominational percentages in Reserve Corps:Mennonite – 37Catholic/Catholic Worker – 11

Quaker – 10Church of the Brethren – 9Presbyterian/Reformed – 7Non-specific Christian – 5Non-religious/secular – 5Episcopalian/Anglican – 4Methodist – 3United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ – 3Baptist – 2Lutheran – 2Unitarian –1 United Church of Canada – 1

No. of full-time staff members: 9 (5 are full-time Corps members, oneis a Mennonite Voluntary Service worker)

No. of part-time staff members: 2 (both are CPT reservists also)Budget (Year 2003): $893,000

Crisis is theopportunityfor transfor-mation. That’snot just nicelanguage—I’ve experi-enced it.—GeneStoltzfus

CPT today

it was my last week in Baghdad before leav-ing for the United States. And what a fullweek it was! A week of more bombing andviolence but also a week of courageous andloving work that doesn’t usually get report-ed. I was part of the hopeful vigil in Kerbala,

the march to the CPA [Coalition ProvisionalAuthority] headquarters, and the last regular vigilat Tahrir Square. I went to our Iraqi friends, sayinggood-bye and “Insha’alla—I will be back again.”And I had a last visit to the Holy Family school andthe orphanage.

Several changes had taken place in the orphan-age since September. Two new infants, Mustafa andZiad, added to the melee of the playroom. New toysabounded and new chairs allowed these disabledchildren to sit more comfortably. A group of U.S.soldiers came several afternoons a week to playwith the them. While the soldiers were there, aHumvee and tank stood guard on the street in frontof the door. But there was no change to the playfulnoises and sense of family. Because of my busyschedule, I had been able to join them only aboutonce a week.

This day, while I sat among the children, singingand helping a large stuffed animal talk to them, awoman walked in hesitantly to greet them. She gen-tly shook her head with a look of pity on her faceand then left.

Her sentiment seemed out of place in this playfulscene. Silently my heart shouted, “No! You are mis-taken. They are not things to be pitied. They arereal people. They are Nurah and Amid and Nashua.When I see Dunia’s mischievous smile as she grabsa handkerchief out of my pocket or watch Ziad’ssparkling eyes and trusting look, I don’t see themas a girl with cerebral palsy or a boy with braindamage. I see them as beautiful little people whohave much to give.”

Pity and love don’t go together. Pity distances;love connects. With pity they are looked at andtreated as a tragedy or as misfits. With love theyare seen as fully human and good. Love stops see-ing the deformity and watches for the beauty anduniqueness to emerge in a smile or twinkle of theeye, or even in the stormy cry of pain or anger.

I think of a similar kind of sentiment many havewhen they think of a group of people suffering waror poverty, as the Iraqi people are today. If pitied,we can distance ourselves from their humanity andthrow them some crumbs. We can feel generousbecause we are giving them something rather thanfully embracing them as deserving of every goodthing that others in our world enjoy and as fullycompetent to decide how their country should berestored.

With pity, we can begrudgingly pull somemoney out of our pockets to rebuild what theUnited States has destroyed, then give that moneyto our companies who “know best how to do itright” (and in the process put large profits in theirpockets). With pity we can believe that we need toguide the Iraqis into democracy, thinking we knowwhat is best for their society. We can use pity tocover up all kinds of paternalistic, dominating oroppressive policies.

In our CPT [Christian Peacemaker Teams] workamong the Iraqi people, pity has no place. There’ssuffering, brokenness, anger and pain, but we areprivileged to be among them to see their strength,generosity and creative spirit.

A newly arrived sister from India walked me tothe door of the orphanage as I was ready to leave.As she thanked me, I said, “Thank you. I alwaysreceive more than I give.” She responded, “Yes,that’s the way it is with love.”

It was March 15, 2004, and our CPT Iraq teamhad gathered for worship. Jane read the Scripturefrom John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness did not overcome it.” She asked,“What does this Scripture passage say to us in thissociety torn by violence?”

In the time of quiet reflection I thought of oneyear earlier in the last days leading up to the war


by Peggy Faw Gish

An excerpt from Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace

Pity and love don’t go together. Pity distances; love connects.

S p i r i t u a l


and during the bombing. The war seemed to bedriven by the circle of decision-makers in the Bushadministration. With jets poised and an ultimatumgiven to Saddam, war seemed inevitable.

But some of us resisted this way of thinking tothe very end. We found ourselves engaged in akind of spiritual resistance. Some thought us unre-alistic and impractical. It wasn’t that we had anyillusions about the Bush administration’s capabilityof doing such a thing or thought it couldn’t happen.We didn’t want to get caught in a mindset thatbought into it, got stuck in it and could no longersee possibilities for creative action. We did not wantthe culture of fear and hopelessness to paralyze usand to swallow up the light in this intense unleash-ing of violence.

Do we make statements of faith and then let thedarkness creep into our consciousness? Do we letthe darkness take over and shape our worldviewand lead us to believe that the answer to theworld’s problems lies with having superior force orthat this war was the only way to deal with or getrid of an evil dictator? Christians even create the-ologies of how Jesus couldn’t have really meantthat we should love our enemy or that nonviolent,suffering love is more powerful than violence orevil. Some say, “We have to be practical in today’sworld.”

One powerful way the Iraqi people defied thedarkness during the war was to start the call toprayer every time the bombing would start. Overthe loud speakers of the mosques, we would hear,“Allah Akbar! (God is the greatest, or God isgreater!)” God is more powerful than the greatestmilitary power in the world. This call to prayer didnot stop the bombing, but it helped prevent thebombing from breaking the spirit of the people.

Some of it may have been our own craziness orstubbornness mixed in, but I couldn’t help butthink that our resisting the inevitability of war hadsome connection with the passage about the lighttriumphing over darkness.

In our CPT work today we resist getting caught inthe mindset of the occupation system, which seesthe Iraqi people through the eyes of fear and suspi-

cion. We refuse to accept the mindset that anyoneresisting the U.S. occupation is a terrorist. Weresist seeing either Iraqi or U.S. soldiers as ourenemies or believing that violence is the only wayto combat terrorism. We choose to see thingsthrough the worldview of Jesus and the prophets,so we believe that the only way to solve the prob-lems in Iraq is through turning around, changingdirections (repentance) and establishing justice.But that means giving up U.S. domination in Iraq.

Is it possible to walk, live and work in a systemof horrendous, overt structural violence withoutbeing overcome by it? How can we do it today herein Iraq, the United States or any other nation?

This article is excerpted with permission from Iraq: AJourney of Hope and Peace by Peggy Faw Gish, justpublished by Herald Press. Since 1995, Peggy hasbeen involved with Christian Peacemaker Teams inthe West Bank and Iraq.

TM

We believe that the only way to solve the problems in Iraq is through turning around, changing directions (repentance) and establishing justice.

Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace by Peggy Faw Gish (Herald Press, 2004,$17.99) is just out. In it readers get a glimpse of what it’s like to serve withChristian Peacemaker Teams. Twenty years after the germ of the idea forthis organization (see story, page 11), CPT is activearound the globe in various hot spots, includingColombia, the West Bank and Iraq. Gish offers a per-sonal account of being a committed worker forpeace in a situation of conflict that leads to war. Thebook’s epigraph, a quote of Dorothy Day, populariz-ing a saying by Fyodor Dostoevsky, is telling: “Love inaction is a harsh and dreadful thing, compared tolove in dreams.” We learn from this book that dream-ing of peace and working for peace are two differentthings. Working for peace is messy, heartbreaking,filled with daily choices that require courage and com-mitment to Jesus’ way of peace. Gish is honest abouther fears and questions: “Were we crazy, as many hadsuggested?”Yet she clings to the “armor we hoped touse: that of truth, faith and ‘the readiness that comesfrom the gospel of peace.’“ This timely book gives us a different view of Iraqthan what we get from the mainstream U.S. media. It lets us see the humanbeings whose lives are being turned upside-down by this war. Gish showsthe importance of prayer and worship to the work of CPT. It is less a politicaldiatribe than a testimony of the power of the gospel, Jesus’ good news thatGod is the One who rules.—Gordon Houser

resistance


No one created in God’s image and for whom Christ diedcan be for me an enemy, whose life I am willing to threatenor to take, unless I am more devoted to something else—toa political theory, to a nation, to the defense of certain priv-ileges, or to my own personal welfare—than I am to God’scause: his loving invasion of this world in his prophets, hisSon, and his church.—John Howard Yoder, He CamePreaching Peace

T he people of the United States and in manyother nations remember the events of Sept.11, 2001—the horrific sight of the terroristattacks and collapse of the Twin Towers, andthe heroic actions of firefighters, police offi-

cers and ordinary folks. On that day three years ago, wesaw the stark contradiction between those willing to taketheir own lives to take the lives of others and those will-ing to risk their lives to save the lives of others.Commentators likened 9-11 to the attack on PearlHarbor, “a day that will live in infamy.”

One year ago, the United States witnessed another daythat should “live in infamy.” On Sept. 3, 2003, the state ofFlorida executed anti-abortion activist-terrorist and for-mer minister Paul Hill for the murder of an abortionist

and his escort in 1994. This event showed us anotherglaring contradiction. In the name of “we the people,” agovernment killed a man who had been willing to killanother using the same perverse logic—namely, killing adefenseless person in the name of defending the defense-less lives of others. This event singularly revealsAmerica’s descent along a spiral of violence toward a cul-ture of death.

This death spiral took three turns. Some sought to endcertain problems by abortion; and another willingly andlegally aided in the killing of the unborn. Yet another,who claimed to believe life is sacred, sought to end abor-tion by killing the abortionist. The state, whose laws donot protect equally the life of the abortionist and theunborn, sought to end murder by killing the murderer.

This calls to mind Sophocles’ classic play Antigone.While it is obvious that both Creon and Antigone areheadstrong, we are inclined to think one of them shouldhave yielded first. But this misses the depth of thetragedy. Each character is zealously devoted to a causehe or she believes is worthy of sacrificing life: Polyneices

is devoted to seizingpower, Creon toentrenching his authority,Antigone to her family andpiety, Haemon to his betrothedand Eurydice to her son. All theactors are blinded by their zealfrom seeing wisdom, representedin the figure of the blind prophetTeiresias, and this bondage to passionprevents them from acting prudentially.And therein lies the tragedy. Polyneices’act of treachery begets Creon’s act ofarrogance, which begets Antigone’s act ofdefiance, which sets off a spiral of death: adeath sentence is followed by suicide, whichis followed by attempted murder and acciden-tally self-inflicted death, which is followed byanother suicide.

Our real-life story parallels the classic drama.We are tempted to blame the tragic outcome ofSept. 3, 2003, on one of the principal players. Theproblem, some said, is that Paul Hill’s character wasfatally flawed by moral contradiction. The state’sstubborn insistence on a death penalty, othersargued, only made a martyr of Hill, strengthening hisvigilante cause. The root of the problem, said others, isthe women who sought abortions and the abortionistswho performed them—or the circumstances that“necessitate” the “choice” of abortion in the first place.Each explanation may have some merit, but each missesthe crucial point.

Each of the principal figures is zealously devoted to apolitical or moral cause that supposedly justifies violence,the deliberate taking of life, if necessary—the abortionistis devoted to “pro-choice,” the activist-terrorist to “pro-life” and the state to “justice.” Yet all the actors are blind-ed by their zealotry to the image of God in each person.Bondage to passion prevents them from seeing the otheras one for whom Christ died. And therein lies thetragedy. Elevating their respective causes to ultimatevalue, each sees the life of another not as a redeemablegift of God but as a mere means that can be sacrificed tosome other end. For the abortionist, the unborn is anobstacle to “liberation”; for the activist-terrorist, the abor-tionist is a threat to “life”; for the state, the activist-terror-ist is an offense against “justice.” Thus a tragic sequenceof zeal, violence and death ensues: The state takes thelife of the activist-terrorist for taking the life of the abor-tionist for taking the life of the unborn.

As the people of God, we are no longer to adapt our-

by Darrin W. Belousek

Tragiczeal

As the people of God, we are no longer to adapt ourselves to this tragic pattern of this age.

selves to thistragic pattern

of this age.Such nonconfor-

mity requires thespiritual remaking

of our minds so thatwe may discern the

way of God, the way oflife and peace, from the

way of the world, the wayof destruction and death.

This transformation entailsnot only viewing our world

through a biblical lens butreading the Bible critically to

uncover even there the patternof tragedy so that we may see

what is usually kept hidden fromview.

Consider Samson. The conven-tional interpretation portrays Samson

as a tragic hero of inspired strengthwho is fatally weakened by a character

flaw—not unlike Antigone or Paul Hill.Despite being devoted to God from

before birth, Samson obeys his passions,what pleases and angers him, and habitu-

ally breaks his nazirite vow. Lack of self-control leads to defilement with foreign

women, which brings about his downfall.However, this reading fails to uncover the

story’s tragic dynamic.The story of Samson comprises a cycle of

vengeance and violence between Samson andthe Philistines. This cycle takes five turns

toward tragedy:• Samson murders 30 men to restore his

honor after being humiliated by his wife’s betrayalat his own wedding (Judges 14:5-20).

• Humiliated a second time when his wife isgiven away to the groomsman, Samson again

avenges his honor by burning the fields, vineyardsand olive groves of the Philistines (15:1-5).

• The Philistines murder Samson’s wife and herfather to avenge their loss; Samson outdoes them by

killing them “with great slaughter” (15:6-8).• The Philistines come to capture Samson in order to

do to him as he did to them. Though delivered into theirhands by fellow Israelites, Samson gains a surpriseadvantage and slaughters 1,000 Philistines (15:9-17).

• Betrayed by Delilah and taken captive by thePhilistines, Samson gains vengeance for the humiliationof having his eyes gouged out by bringing down thePhilistine temple, killing thousands of people (16:4-31).

Both Samson and the Philistines are captive to a vio-lent zeal for vengeance that sanctions the sacrifice of lifefor the cause of saving honor. The spiral of vengeanceand violence consummates in a mass murder-suicide thatconsumes the lives of both Samson and the Philistines.Samson thus plays a counterpart to the 9-11 terrorists:He takes his own life to take the lives of others, eveninvoking God to vindicate his vengeful cause. Althoughthe narrator attempts to conceal zealous violencebeneath “the spirit of the Lord,” Samson’s final wordsreveal his descent into the pit of tragedy: “Let me diewith the Philistines.”

Having discerned the tragic pattern of this world—whether in biblical narrative, classic literature or themorning news—we should zealously devote ourselves topeaceably cultivating a “seamless garment” of respect forlife. We are called to holy nonconformity, a consistentethic of life and peace that contrasts with and witnessesto a world on the path of destruction and death. We musttherefore contend faithfully against every force of vio-

lence and desolation—rape, domestic abuse, abortion,infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide, capital punish-ment, torture, terrorism, war, poverty, racism and ecolog-ical ruin—that threatens God’s image.

In The Original Revolution: Essays on ChristianPacifism (Herald Press, 1971), John Howard Yoder writes:“What is wrong with the Zealot path for Jesus is not that itproduces its new order by use of illegitimate instrumentsbut that the order it produces cannot be new. An ordercreated by the sword is at the heart still not the new peo-plehood Jesus announces. It still, by its subordination ofpersons (who may be killed if they are on the wrong side)to causes (which must triumph because they are right),preserves unbroken the self-righteousness of the mightyand denies the servanthood which God has chosen as histool to remake the world.”

Darrin W. Belousek teaches philosophy at LithuaniaChristian College.

TM


The spiral of violence, vengeance and death

We are called to holy nonconformity, a consistent ethic of life and peace that

contrasts with and witnesses to a world onthe path of destruction and death.

W hen many Mennonites hear about JubileeUSA Network, they are surprised. Severalmembers of East Chestnut Street Menno-

nite Church in Lancaster, Pa., told me they attend-ed the Jubilee demonstration in April 2000 butthought the organization no longer existed.

The Jubilee movement is still working for thecancellation of debts owed to the World Bank andInternational Monetary Fund bythe world’s poorest countries. Inthe next few months the networkis calling for people of faith torally again.

“This is an absolutely criticalmoment in the struggle for free-dom from debt, which is literallybleeding countries in Asia, Africaand Latin America of resourcesthey desperately need to fightAIDS, poverty and disease,” saysMarie Clarke, national coordina-tor of Jubilee USA Network.

At this June’s 6-8 Summit, ameeting of the leaders of theworld’s most powerful coun-tries, the United Kingdom pro-posed 100 percent debt cancella-tion. Though they failed to actthen, the finance ministers ofseven wealthiest nations maymake the decision when theymeet on Oct. 1.

For every day on which poornations’ debt is not fully can-celled, 19,000 children die from treatable diseases,14,000 adults and children are infected with theHIV virus and more than 1 billion people lackaccess to clean water.

With a current debt of $333 billion, African coun-tries pay $1.51 in debt service for every $1 they getin aid. Money sent by churches through MennoniteMission Network and Mennonite Central

Committee often pays for services such as educa-tion, health care and sanitation, which are tooexpensive for the average citizen of a poor nation.When debt has been cancelled, governments havebeen able to provide services to their people. InTanzania, 1.6 million children returned to schoolafter user fees, required with World Bank and IMFreforms, were removed.

With government providingsocial services, money fromchurches could go to leadershiptraining, peace building or work-ing with youth.

This summer, Jubilee USANetwork, with the help of mem-ber organizations such asMennonite Central Committee,launched a countdown to free-dom from debt.

“The people of faith and con-science that are part of JubileeUSA across the country will beturning up the heat on the WhiteHouse and Treasury,” saysClarke. “The global communityneeds action on debt, and wehave a deadline: Oct. 1.”

Churches that travel with mis-sion or service trips to a develop-ing country can use that opportu-nity to talk to people in thatnation about how external debt isaffecting them, then relay thatinformation to decision makers in

the United States.Churches can also help build the Jubilee move-

ment by talking about debt and its connection toglobal poverty in Sunday school classes, sewing cir-cles, youth groups or peace committees.

This could be the year when 100 percent cancel-lation of debts for many of the world’s poorestcountries is achieved.

“The Judeo-Christian Jubilee Scriptures compelnations and communities to cancel debt in order tobuild right relationships,” says Adam Taylor, aBaptist minister and Jubilee board member. “In thisworld broken by AIDS, war and economic injustice,there is no time to waste.” TM


S P E A K I N G O U T

Help eliminate global debt

Celeste Kennel-Shank, a Goshen(Ind.) Collegesenior, spent the summer ascommunicationsintern atJubilee USANetwork. Sheattends Commu-nity of Christ inWashington andAssembly Menno-nite Church inGoshen.

I N T H E N E X T I S S U E

• Are Mennonites sacramental?—Tom Finger

• In celebration of everyday worship—Richard L.Bowman

• Why we pray for the president but cannotsupport the war—Levi Miller

For every day on which

poor nations’ debt is

not fully cancelled,

19,000 children die

from treatable dis-

eases, 14,000 adults

and children are infect-

ed with the HIV virus

and more than a bil-

lion people lack access

to clean water.

The views expressed in this publication do not neces-sarily represent the official positions of The Mennonite,the board for The Mennonite, Inc., or Mennonite ChurchUSA.


H oward Keim is the Hesston(Kan.) College presidentialsearch committee’s candi-

date of choice. Norm Yoder ofHenderson, Neb., chairs thesearch committee and made theannouncement on campus Sept. 3.

Keim is vice president of aca-demics and student developmentand associate professor of com-munications at Tabor College,Hillsboro, Kan. Tabor is a four-year liberal arts institution ownedand operated by the MennoniteBrethren Church.

Keim will visit the Hesstoncampus Sept. 7-8 to meet with various groups andindividuals. The search committee will review inputfrom this process and make a final recommenda-tion on Keim’s candidacy early this fall. Hesston’spresident is appointed by Mennonite EducationAgency (MEA) with the recommendation of theHesston board.

“MEA represents Mennonite Church USA and isa partner with the Hesston College board in boththe search process and presidential appointment,”says MEA executive director Carlos Romero.

MEA board chair Rosalind Andreas of EssexJunction, Vt., expressed appreciation for this part-nership.

“We on the MEA board are most grateful to thesearch committee for its dedicated and vigorous

work … resulting in a candidateof Dr. Keim’s qualifications andexperience. We look forward tohis visit with the HesstonCollege community and the dis-cernment that will follow there,”she said.

Keim, who lives in Hesston,received a doctorate in commu-nication studies from the Univer-sity of Kansas, a master’s degreein interpersonal and public com-munication from Central Mich-igan University and a bachelor’sdegree in speech and dramaticarts from the same institution.

He also studied at the University of Iowa and is a1972 graduate of Hesston. His wife, Tami, graduat-ed from Hesston and has directed its EarlyChildhood Education Program since 1987.

Keim has been a professor and administrator atTabor College since 1996. He taught at Hesstonfrom 1987 to 1996, including directing its PastoralMinistries Program. He was pastor of Kalona(Iowa) Mennonite Church from 1979 to 1987 andyouth minister at Fairview (Mich.) MennoniteChurch prior to that. Keim has served his congre-gation, Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston,as an elder. He is a former moderator of SouthCentral Mennonite Conference of MennoniteChurch USA and serves on the conference minis-terial commission.

“Dr. Keim’s experience as an academic dean,teacher, pastor and director of Hesston’s PastoralMinistries Program gives him valuable leadershipexperience,” Yoder said. “His collaborative leader-ship style would serve Hesston well. HesstonCollege has a great future, and Dr. Keim has thevision to help good people do great things.”—jointrelease from Hesston College Board of Overseers andMennonite Education Agency

Keim is Hesston’s presidential candidate The former professor returns after eight years as dean at nearby Tabor College.

Name changeBluffton (Ohio) College has officially changed its nameto Bluffton University. On Aug. 1 the new name wasunveiled at the new entrance to campus by StephenJacoby (left), chair of faculty, and Lee Snyder (right),president.

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HesstonCollege has agreat future,and Dr. Keimhas the visionto help goodpeople dogreat things.—Norm Yoder


H urricane Charley, rated a category four hurri-cane and packing winds up to 145 mph,ripped through many communities in south-

west Florida on Aug. 13. In the wake of its path,many homes were destroyed as roofs were rippedoff; mobile homes went down like matchsticks.Oaks that had stood for years are now splinteredand broken. Many other trees are uprooted, whichleaves us feeling shattered.

One of the communities in which the stormwreaked havoc is Arcadia, an inland town that feltsafe from coastal hurricanes. Two Mennonite con-gregations are in Arcadia: Pine Creek Chapel, amember of Southeast Mennonite Conference andPeace River Mennonite Church, member ofEastern Pennsylvania Conference. Both churchessustained roof damage.

A team from Pine Creek Chapel that hadreceived Red Cross training helped direct the morethan 1,200 evacuees who came to the large TurnerAgri-Civic Center in Arcadia on the day of the hur-ricane. The building was selected by the RedCross as a shelter because it was built to be wind-resistant.

But as the vicious storm moved over the center,a corner of the high-domed roof buckled andwhipped open, exposing open sky. The Pine Creekteam reported that at first people wondered if theroof would collapse on them or if they would die.But these questions were soon replaced by a feel-ing of God’s wings sheltering those inside. All camethrough it safely.

Even without electricity, the Pine Creek congre-gation gathered two days after the storm on Sundaymorning to hear each other’s stories, talk abouttheir feelings and sing praise to God. People saidthat God came through with his presence in a timeof uncertainty and fear.

Within days after the storm, about 25 volunteersarrived to do emergency roof repair on two church-es, and a day later more volunteers rolled into ourcommunity, bringing heavy Bobcat equipment andmany chain saws.

The whirl of chain saws is already speaking tounchurched neighbors. It is a testimony of God’slove to those hurting. As carloads of supplies andfood arrived at Pine Creek Chapel in the followingdays, we realized what an opportunity of ministryGod was giving to us as we saw our neighbors com-ing through the church doors to receive aid, thenstaying on to talk about their hurts and fears. Weexpect to see many miracles in people’s lives asthey experience this outpouring of God’s love in theweeks and months ahead, which could lengtheninto years. God’s presence has not been demol-ished.—Esther Kniss

Hurricane Charley leads to God’s lovePine Creek Chapel in Arcadia, Fla., finds new ministry opportunities.

Dave and Esther Kniss, Arcadia, Fla., stand by the storm damage at their home.Dave is the former pastor of Pine Creek Chapel, and both are still members there.

An unidentifiedvolunteer makesa cell phone call outside PineCreek Chapel.The roof from thechurch’s pavilionlies in the back-ground.

Mar

lin B

irkey

Marlin Birkey


A S S O C I A T E G R O U P S ’ B I E N N I A L C O N V E N T I O N S

Leaders make plans to pass on legaciesAfrican-American Mennonite Association celebrates financial recovery.

L ast spring, when the Ingelwood, Calif., policewere caught on videotape beating DonovanJackson, ministers expected their African-

American neighborhoods to erupt in violence simi-lar to the reaction after the 1992 Rodney King beat-ings. So they began working to keep the peaceeven before the verdict was announced.

“We put signs and banners up saying, ‘PeaceAfter the Verdict’ and people began to ask whatthey would do,” said Alvin Isaacs, pastor at CalvaryChristian Fellowship in Inglewood. “After the ver-dict, we opened up the churches … and nothinghappened. It was perfect peace.”

That kind of proactive peacemaking was thefocus of Isaac’s address to the African-AmericanMennonite Association convention Aug. 14 atBethel Community Church in Chicago. The storyreminded AAMA leaders to pass on a peacemakinglegacy to the next generation.

“It’s imperative that we start thinking about thenext generation,” AAMA president Leslie FranciscoIII said in the convention’s opening session. “I tellmy congregation I’ve done what I’m going to do,and it’s time to get the next generation involved.”

Francisco leads the 2,000-member CalvaryCommunity Church in Hampton, Va., and serves asbishop for congregations in his Virginia MennoniteConference district.

The next generation was clearly involved at thisAAMA convention. More than 30 youth from con-gregations across the country joined the conven-tion for the opening session. The three plenaryspeakers focused on what current leaders want topass along as their legacies. In addition to peace-making in urban settings, AAMA leaders said theywanted to pass along legacies of worship and directinvolvement in their communities.

“There was a price to pay for the freedoms wehave today,” said Francisco. “It is a travesty whenan election comes along and we don’t exercise thatright.”

But several speakers also described rights thatare not yet afforded to African-American membersin the Mennonite church today. Mennonite CentralCommittee staff member Michelle Armster report-ed on the difficulties confronting people of color inthe MCC Central States office; MCC determinedlast year that the North Newton, Kan., office’s workenvironment was hostile to people of color (see“MCC Administrator Asked to Resign,” Oct. 7,2003). Armster challenged AAMA members to getinvolved in such situations or risk losing relevancyfor the next generation of African Americans.

“Young people of color are leaving the churchbecause they don’t want to take it,” Armster said.“There are more people of color working in church

institutions … but the environment has been hos-tile. Let’s not forget that we were once slaves.”

Kenneth Lee Thompson, pastor at FriendshipCommunity Church in Bronx, N.Y., confirmed thechallenges in Mennonite Church USA during hisclosing message and called for action.

“We need to be sure our people are as welcomein Mennonite Church USA board rooms as they arein MCC food pantries,” said Thompson. “We cannotrest until every person of color has full opportunityfor employment and full access to ministry.”

The convention’s business session hit a celebrato-ry note as AAMA board member Zenobia Sowell-Bianchi presented a positive financial statement. In1996, the AAMA budget had a deficit of $16,237 butnow has assets totaling $39,563.

“We are in the black, and that’s a blessing,” saidSowell-Bianchi. “The debt has been cancelled.”

Francisco wanted AAMA members to know,however, that the debt was cancelled “because wepaid it, not because it was wiped away.”

The financial news was not so positive for one ofthe key programs AAMA counts on for trainingcongregational leaders—the Lark program.Director Karla Francisco, whose husband, Stephen,died unexpectedly on July 6 (“Pastor’s DeathShocks Church,” July 20), announced that for thefirst time the program cannot accept new students,after disbursing $41,495 for 11 students last year.

“All available funds are depleted,” KarlaFrancisco said. Four applicants for the 2003-2004academic year were denied funding as well as threesummer students. Jacqueline Rozier, a churchplanter in Ohio, was the lone Lark graduate for the2003-2004 academic year. She received a Master ofArts in Christian Ministry from Ashland (Ohio)Theological Seminary in June.—Everett J. Thomas

More than 30youth from acrossthe United Statesjoined the 2004African-AmericanMennoniteAssembly’s biennial conven-tion in ChicagoAug.13-15.

Rozier

Everett J. Thomas


T he biennial Native Assembly was held jointlyby Mennonite Indian Leaders Council (MILC),United Native Ministries (UNM) and Native

Ministries of Canada (NMC) July 26-29 in Riverton,Man., at the Riverton Recreation Center. RivertonFellowship Circle hosted the assembly.

“Our Help Comes from the Lord” was the themefor the week. Youth spent the week at MathesonIsland and had a program that ran concurrently.Children had their program across the street fromthe main assembly.

The opening ceremony included a presentationof banners from the various Native churches and amini gospel jamboree. The week included lots ofsinging and sharing from all the native churches. Ahighlight of the assembly for many of the partici-pants was the inclusion of cultural activities andtours of nearby Native lands. Speakers for the wor-ship services were Lawrence Hart, Howard Jolly,Juanita Nunez and Barbara Shoomski.

One speaker referred to mountains where Godspoke and a mountain that had significance in hislife. Another spoke about the names and attributesof God and who we are in him.

Another encouraged people to know their storiesand not forget who they are because they areChristians. She said that we don’t all need to be thesame and asked how Christian people of all nationscan become equal under God. She also said that ithurts when people come to Native people like theyare teaching them something new.

Many workshops were offered, including twodesigned to give direction on the Native organiza-tions. One gave information on the proposed newMennonite Church USA Native organization. Theother talked about the vision for Native ministry inCanada and an upcoming staff transition.—from areport by Kenyetta Aduma of Mennonite ChurchUSA’s Office of Intercultural Relations

Biennial convention joins Native peopleThree organizations hear proposal for new Mennonite Church USA group.

The 235 peoplethat gathered forNative Assembly2004 includedthis Choctawgroup fromPhiladelphia,Miss., that sangfor the gathering.

2004-2006 LeadersMennonite Church

Racial/Ethnic Associate Groups

African- American Mennonite Association (AAMA)• President Leslie Francisco III

Newport News, Va.

Iglesia Menonita Hispaña (IMH)• Moderator Byron Pellecer

Miami

Mennonite Indian Leaders Council (MILC)• President Marvin Yoyokie

Kykotsmovi, Ariz.

Native Ministries Canada (NMC)• Director Marvin Franz

Winnipeg, Manitoba

United Native Ministries Council (UNMC)• President Olivette McGhee

Atmore, Ala.

Dan D

yck

[A speaker said]it hurts whenpeople come tonative peoplelike they areteaching them something new.



I glesia Menonita Hispaña (the HispanicMennonite Church) came into being two yearsago in Goshen, Ind. At its first biennial meeting

since then, Aug. 19-21 in Kansas City, Mo., IMHfocused on unity and continued to work at develop-ing its new identity.

Part of that work of identity was looking at a con-stitution. IMH represents more than 120 congrega-tions in nine regions. (A region consists of at leastfive congregations.) Each region has a representa-tive on the IMH board. One of those regions isCanada (six congregations in Alberta and BritishColumbia), and the question remains whether or notCanadian congregations will be members. Of the 37delegates at this meeting, none was from Canada.

The sermons in the three worship times focusedon John 17 and the theme “United That the WorldMay Believe,” and executive director Juan Montes

called for a spirit of unity in which all the regionsfeel a part of IMH. Each region represented gave areport, as did those representing youth, womenand education.

The education commission is looking at the ideaof a missional academy, said Rafael Barahona,director of the Hispanic Ministries program atGoshen (Ind.) College. The commission recog-nizes, however, that it will want to work with semi-naries and with Mennonite Education Agency.“Everything is in process,” he said.

Barahona also lamented the paucity of funds foreducation coming from IMH congregations.“Education is expensive, but ignorance is evenmore expensive,” he said.

The delegates discussed a proposal to meetjointly with other racial-ethnic groups in two yearsbut left the decision to the IMH executive commit-tee. They also passed three resolutions: (1) to allowIowa congregations to be part of the Illinois-Indianaregion, (2) to support the pastoral ministry ofwomen and (3) to oppose racism and ask Menno-nite Church USA to conduct a racism audit.

IMH elected Samuel Lopez of New Holland, Pa.,moderator-elect. Marco Güete of Cedar Hill, Texas,turned over his duties as moderator to ByronPellecer of Miami. A listening committee reportasked, What is the purpose of the IMH assembly?Beyond the worship, fellowship and business, thatis still being worked out in this young organiza-tion.—Gordon Houser

Hispanic Mennonites develop identityDelegates agree to support women in pastoral ministry, work on education.

Family membersof the musiciansjoin in interces-sory prayer(above) whilenew IMH modera-tor (facing cam-era, bottom left)Byron Pellecerjoins otherleaders.

Gordon H

ouserG

ordo

n H

ouse

r

The questionremainswhether or notCanadian con-gregations willbe members of IMH.



MEDA gets $5.6 million to fight mosquitoesMennonite Economic Development Associates hasreceived a two-year, $5.6 million contract from thegovernment of Tanzania to expand its war againstmosquitoes and malaria in Africa. The contract willmake MEDA the logistics contractor for the newTanzania National Voucher Scheme, which aims tomake insecticide-treated mosquito nets affordable tolow income families. The two-year contract, fundedby the Global Fund for Malaria and several otherorganizations, is the largest project ever managed byMEDA.

MEDA will manage the entire logistics componentof the National Voucher Scheme. This involves allactivities related to printing and distributing thevouchers, the retail distribution systems and collect-ing and redeeming the discount vouchers from par-ticipating businesses. A special target for promotionwill be prenatal clinics, as pregnant women are high-ly vulnerable to malaria. The project, managed byJerry Quigley (right, with a supply of the nets), mayend up employing 45 people in Tanzania.—MEDANews Service

AMennonite Church USA-sponsored consulta-tion July 13-15 in South Bend, Ind., helped par-ticipants—pastors, theologians, educators,

peace group representatives and members ofMennonite Church USA’s executive leadershipteam—consider greater cooperation and under-standing with other Christian traditions, includingProtestant, Catholic and Orthodox.

Seeking new relationships does not mean diffus-ing Anabaptist distinctiveness, participants said.But it will mean airing differences in the light ofGod’s grace and sharing gifts and strengths, as wellas needs and weaknesses. It will mean promotingmutual growth in theological understandings anddreaming of future joint efforts in peacemaking andevangelism.

“Jesus’ calling for unity in John 17 is an impera-tive to be obeyed and not something we do only ifwe feel like it,” said Al Meyer, volunteer director forMennonite Church USA interchurch relations andplanner for the consultation.

Panel discussions helped participants grapplewith what it means to be “mutual pioneers” withthose from other traditions. Non-Mennonite pan-elists included Stanley Hauerwas, professor of theo-logical ethics at Duke University Divinity School,Durham, N.C.; Rodney Clapp of Brazos Press;David Burrell, C.S.C., former chair of the theologydepartment at Notre Dame University, South Bend;and Glen Stassen, professor of Christian ethics atFuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif.

“What you bring to the table is an extraordinaryrethinking of Christian theology, and the great dis-covery at the heart of your movement was simply,

Jesus,” Hauerwas said. “Michael Sattler looks kindof simple next to Martin Luther, but that is part ofthe genius.”

Clapp said he believes that Mennonites are themost realistic of all Christians.

“You remind us all that we cannot see the worldas it really is outside the realism of Christ,” he said.Stassen encouraged Mennonite-Anabaptists tochoose Pentecostals as dialogue partners.

“Pentecostals praise Jesus and follow Jesus anddon’t have a thick exegesis but simply say, ‘Here’swhat it means to follow him,’ ” he said. “They beganas pacifists but lacked the deep arguments, andthese convictions got lost.”

After receiving challenges from panelists andworking in small groups for two days, participantssuggested some possible next steps on the pathwayto relationships with other traditions.

Their suggestions for Mennonite Church USAincluded building relationships with peace fellow-ships in other denominations, joining a churchassociation such as Christian Churches Together inthe USA, and encouraging Mennonite congrega-tions to join other churches in reaching out to theircommunities.

It also may include helping Anabaptists reconcileover divisive issues by eliciting the help of itinerantevangelists, ensuring that the scope of interchurchexploration includes networking locally, regionallyand globally, creating practical ministries and con-tinuing the healing of memories with such groupsas the Catholics, Lutherans and Reformers overissues that caused Anabaptist martyrdom.—LaurieL. Oswald of Mennonite Church USA News Service

Denomination leads interchurch talksOther Christians could help Anabaptists reconcile over divisive issues.

Jesus’ calling forunity in John 17is an imperativeto be obeyedand not some-thing we doonly if we feellike it.—AlMeyer

Correction:The MennovilleMennoniteChurch buildingin El Reno, Okla.,was built in 1893.The date wasincorrect in theAug. 17 issue


H is body is weak and in pain, but he can stillshare a smile with others. His age and hisname are unknown, though he can speak.

Until today the abandoned boy has remainedunknown to any of the village elders. The orphanswho discovered him have named him “Perdu,”which in French means “lost.”

They surround him protectively, draping armsover his shoulder and swatting away flies from hisface. They know what it is to be abandoned andhave adopted him as one of their own, providingwhatever food they can spare. But it is not enough.

“The first thing we must do is give him a propername,” says Levy Madjibe, West Africa representa-tive for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).According to Levy, the boy was most likely aban-doned by his mother, too weak from AIDS to takecare of him any longer and ashamed to ask forhelp.

It is a common story, and children taking care ofchildren is no longer an uncommon sight in Chad,a country of 9 million, where the AIDS rate hasnearly doubled in the last two years, climbing to anestimated 8 percent of the population.

One of the many cascading problems resultingfrom the epidemic is the growing number of AIDSorphans. In N’djamena, the capital, local MCC part-ners are flooded with requests from orphans andfamily members for aid. Not all can be helped, andfamilies are often turned away or separated.

“The rest are for God to take care of,” says anorphan coordinator at Centre d’Education a la VieFamiliale, an MCC partner in N’djamena. “Somedaywe will take care of all the orphans,” she adds hope-fully. The orphans that are received are foundhomes and supplied with sacks of cereal as well asclothing and tuition for school.

The problem of AIDS orphans is not limited tothe city and extends throughout the countryside.Those who would help orphans have difficulty find-ing them due to the remote geography and limitedroad access to many village populations. In addi-tion, AIDS remains a taboo subject in most ruralareas. Many AIDS victims are reluctant or unableto make arrangements for their children due tolocal prejudice and discrimination. The best way tolocate new orphans is often through other orphans.

In many families where subsistence farming is away of life, the oldest brother or sister simplybecomes the head of the household after the par-ents die. In Pala, Sahba, 19, and his sisterGapnonta, 16, are taking care of two younger sib-lings after losing their parents to AIDS.

Gapnonta attends school in the morning andtends fields in the afternoon. Her own childhood isover, but she does her best to ensure her siblings

are provided for and able to smile once in a while.An MCC partner, the Ethics, Peace and Justice

Department (EPJ) of the national ProtestantCouncil of Churches, has enlisted local churches tosupport orphans. Pastor Yasa, the director of EPJ,hopes the churches will take a more active role incaring for the orphans. He invokes several pas-sages from Deuteronomy regarding the churches’responsibility to care for orphans while discussingthe problem.

“This is the churches’ work,” he says. “Pastorsmust set the example.”

Yasa repeats this message to pastors and churchcommittee members in rural villages. Some walklong distances to listen to his testimony. Yasaexplains that even small donations like one cup ofmillet per week from church members can help anorphan significantly. Church leaders say they areeager to organize their congregations to aidorphans in their communities.

“Right now we are crawling,” says one pastor.“But soon we will walk.”

As AIDS spreads, Perdu and many otherorphans are relying on whatever help their commu-nities can provide.

Levy Madjibe says, “That boy may very well beJesus Christ walking among us today, curious tosee our response.”—Jed Payne of Mennonite CentralCommittee News Service

Mugabe Andrew(left) was one ofthe first AIDSpatients toreceive suppliesfrom a MennoniteCentral Commit-tee AIDS Care Kit,which includessoap, towels,sheets and othersupplies. Andrewis suffering from anumber of AIDS-related illnesses.Nurse ChristineNabulya (right)from the MengoHospital HomeCare Team, anMCC partnerbased inKampala, handsout supplies fromthe kits forpatients to use intheir homes.

Dave Klassen

That boy mayvery well beJesus Christwalking amongus today, curi-ous to see ourresponse.—Levy Madjibe

AIDS takes Chad parents from familiesPastor asks churches for one cup of grain each week for orphans left homeless.

W O R K E R SBurkholder, Brian Martin, was ordainedJune 13 as campus pastor of EasternMennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Crockett, Maria, was ordained Aug. 8 aspastor at House of Power Fellowship,Elkhart, Ind.

Kniss, Carl D., was ordained and installedAug. 8 as pastor at Marion MennoniteChurch, Chambersburg, Pa.

Martin, Gary, began July 1 as interim pastorat Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen,Ind.

Sancken, Joni, began Sept. 1 as interimpastor at Germantown (Pa.) MennoniteChurch.

B I R T H S & A D O P T I O N SCorrection: Malia Ann North Bauman'sname was incorrectly listed as Malai NorthBauman in the Aug. 17 issue.

Balzer, Seth Austin, Aug. 2, to Paul andJanet Roesler Balzer, Hurley, S.D.

Boller, Julia Ann, July 21, to Jeff and CarolBoller, Kalona, Iowa.

Buckwalter, Lauren Anna Jia, received foradoption Aug. 2 by Gregg and WendyHarkcom Buckwalter, Greencastle, Pa.

Echeverri, Camille Rose, July 17, to Markand Christine Echeverri, Pasadena, Calif.

Flaming, Kylie Danae, Aug. 16, to William“Bill” and Amy Grant Flaming, Inman, Kan.

Friesen, Keegan Anthony, June 15, toJames and Andrea Wishart Friesen,Rosenfeld, Man.

Gerber, Ashlann Bayley, July 23, to Karstenand Joanna Haman Gerber, East Greenville,Pa.

Goentzel, Ian Hart, June 20, to JarrodGoentzel and Laura VanderHart, Cambridge,Mass.

Goldberg, Levi Schirch, Aug. 7, to WilliamGoldberg and Lisa Schirch, Harrisonburg, Va.

Gouldey, Danae Anneliese, Aug. 19, toMichael and Kalyn Gerber Gouldey,Souderton, Pa.

Horning, Dylan Miguel, May 11, 2003,received for adoption July 4 by Chad andMichelle Yoder Horning, Goshen, Ind.

Huebert, Savannah Lynn, July 28, to Jerryand Pamela Richards Huebert, Aurora, Neb.

Janecek, Ella Julianna, May 9, 2003,received for adoption July 19 by ShariPeterson Janecek.

Jordan, Kyle Steven, Aug. 10, to Randalland Jayme Moyer Jordan, Sellersville, Pa.

Knight-King, Lucy Olive, July 7, to Zachand Kelsey Knight-King, Washington, D.C.

Kraybill, Mara Joy, Aug. 12, to Galen andDeb Kraybill, Lancaster, Pa.

Kume, Macy Jade, July 19, to Eric andAdrienne Kauffman Kume, Albany, Ore.

Kurtz, Emily Elizabeth, April 1, to KellyBruce and Diana Lapp Kurtz, Sarasota, Fla.

Landes, Tyson Blake, July 26, to Phil andJana Bennett Landes, Bridgewater, Va.

Miller, Gavin Paul, July 31, to LaVon andGretchen Newcomer Miller, Shipshewana,Ind.

Miller, Jaicey Arlene, July 2, to B.J. andJana Graber Miller, Wayland, Iowa.

Moreland, Samuel Cole Miller, Aug. 2, toTom and Rachel Beth Miller Moreland,Lancaster, Pa.

Plank, Meleah Elizabeth Qiau, June 11,2003, received for adoption June 29 byGalen and Sherri Hollenberg Plank, FortWayne, Ind.

Ramos, Benjamin Rosendo, Aug. 7, toAntonio and Gloria Keener Ramos,Chambersburg, Pa.

Regier, Bryan Jason, June 12, to Jasonand Tori Gantz Regier, Hutchinson, Kan.

Reimer, Jacob David, Aug. 7, to Charlesand Elizabeth Rogers Reimer, Topeka, Kan.

Rhodes, Miriam Elizabeth, June 19, toJason and Laura Lehman Rhodes,Harrisonburg, Va.

Rinner, Maggie Kara, May 9, to Tye andDiane Stille Rinner, Wayland, Iowa.

Shingler, Anne Elise, July 27, to John andLanda Lepley Shingler, Wooster, Ohio.

Swartley, Paige Madison, July 29, toMichael and Sandy Harris Swartley,Sellersville, Pa.

Tyler, Colby Ryan, June 25, to Brent andMary Sauder Tyler, Pioneer, Ohio.

Weaver, Katilyn Marie, July 3, to Brianand Tanya Fitzgerald Weaver, Greenville, Va.

Yoder, Norah Callista, June 28, to Gregand Sarah Yoder, Washington, Iowa.

M A R R I A G E SBontrager/Walton: Karen Bontrager, Iowa,and Zach Walton, Ohio, July 31 at FirstMennonite Church, Bluffton, Ohio.

Brenneman/Konzelmann: BeckyBrenneman, Kinzers, Pa., and MikeKonzelmann, Narvon, Pa., July 3 at SummitView Brethren in Christ Church, NewHolland, Pa.

Clark/Stuckey: Ashley Clark, Elkhart, Ind.,and Matt Stuckey, Somerset, Mich., May 1at Northside Baptist, Elkhart.

Cole/Thornburg: Adam Cole, Urbana,Ohio, and Emily Thornburg, West Liberty,Ohio, July 24 at Ohio Caverns, West Liberty.

Collins/Penner: Keith Collins, Altona, Man.,and Tannis Penner, Altona, July 9 inWinnipeg, Man.

Danner/Smith: Greta Danner, Buhler, Kan.,and Troy Smith, Buhler, June 19 at BuhlerMennonite Church.

Derstine/Detweiler: Kara Derstine, Telford,Pa., and Anthony Detweiler, Harleysville, Pa.,July 24 at Franconia (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Enns/Rempel: Carl Enns, Altona, Man., andKim Rempel, Altona, Aug. 21 in Altona.

Friesen/Friesen: Bryon Friesen, Altona,Man., and Courtney Friesen, Altona, June 26.

Gillespie/Krauss: Amanda Gillespie, Lititz,Pa., and Brian Krauss, Syosset, N.Y., Aug. 1at East Petersburg (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Gordon/McGuckin: Donald Gordon, Jr.,and Jennifer McGuckin, Hartville, Ohio, July24 at Hartville Mennonite Church.

Hiebert/Hildebrand: Michael Hiebert,Altona, Man., and Jocelyn Hildebrand,Altona, July 10 at EMMC, Altona.


F O R T H E R E C O R D

Kliewer/Waltner: Jeffrey Kliewer, Omaha,Neb., and Kimberly Waltner, Freeman, S.D.,Aug. 7 at Swan Lake Christian Camp,Viborg, S.D.

Martin/Stark: Nicole Martin, Harrisonburg,Va., and Zac Stark, Bradford, Pa., July 31.

McNeal/Smith: Jeffrey McNeal, Fishersville,Va., and Elizabeth Smith, Harrisonburg, Va.,July 24 at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.

Ortman/Smoker: Sara Ortman, Moundridge,Kan., and Jason Smoker, Lancaster, Pa., July31 at First Mennonite Church, Halstead, Kan.

Scheifele/Scrivens: Kevin Scheifele, WestLiberty, Ohio, and Candice Scrivens, Elyria,Ohio, July 3 at Greensburg (Ohio) UnitedMethodist Church.

Shuman/Troyer: Stephen Shuman,Hartville, Ohio, and Kellie Troyer, Uniontown,Ohio, Aug. 7 at Hartville Mennonite Church.

D E A T H SAugsburger, Sharon Daniel, 71, Sarasota,Fla., died July 26 of cancer. Spouse: GarnietaBrenneman Augsburger. Parents: Clarenceand Estella Augsburger. Children: DarleneRamsey, Wayne, Keith; five grandchildren.Funeral: July 29 at Bahia Vista MennoniteChurch, Sarasota.

Benner, Kathryn C., 81, Hatfield, Pa., diedAug. 17. Parents: Joseph M. and EllenCramer Benner. Funeral: Aug. 21 atSouderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Blough, Robert, 82, Bluffton, Ohio, diedJuly 22. Spouse: Celia M. Blough. Parents:Samuel and Ruth Horner Blough. Children:Neal, Keith, Laurie Miller; six grandchildren.Funeral: July 27 at Immanuel LutheranChurch, Deshler, Ohio.

Dirks, Katherine Dick, 93, Inman, Kan.,died June 16. Spouse: Elmer Dirks(deceased). Parents: Klaas M. and MariaFranz Dick. Child: Keith; two grandchildren;three great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 20at Buhler (Kan.) Mennonite Church.

Dueck, Jacob F., 72, Altona, Man., diedJune 20. Spouse: Elsie Hiebert Dueck.Parents: Jacob S. and Sarah Deuck. Children:Gary, Ron, Brian, Jim, Joel, Tom, PaulineFriesen; 13 grandchildren. Funeral: June 24at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Eck, Viola Becker, 96, Dallas, Texas, diedJuly 25. Spouse: Joel D. Eck (deceased).Parents: Barney and Anna Smith Becker.Children: Doris Eck Swartz, Norma Eck Koehn,Jo Ann Eck Isaac, Gloria Eck Struble, Wayne;16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren;19 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: July29 at Hesston (Kan.) Mennonite Church.

Friesen, Diedrich D., 85, Altona, Man., diedJuly 6. Spouse: Sue Falk Friesen. Parents:Peter P. and Justina Dueck Friesen. Children:Judith Seesahai, Gloria Penner, Raymond,Bruce, Laureen Iris Crampton; 13 grandchil-dren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral:July 9 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church,Altona.

Friesen, Peter S., 94, Altona, Man., diedAug. 9. Spouse: (1st) Sarah Hamm Friesen(deceased), (2nd) Neta Klippenstein BraunFriesen (deceased). Parents: Jacob J. andElizabeth Schmidt Friesen. Children: Bernie,Esther, Menno; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 13 atBergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Gamber, Arthur, 93, Lancaster, Pa., diedMay 13. Spouse: Ruth Whistler Gamber.Parents: David S. and Emma BeamsderferGamber. Children: Joanne G. Markley,Emma Jean Fitzmaurice, Geraldine K.Charles, Darlene G. Fenstermacher, A. Dale;10 grandchildren; three great-grandchil-dren. Burial: May 16 in Lancaster.

Goertzen, Eldon, 82, Hesston, Kan., diedAug. 7. Spouse: Susie Flaming Goertzen.Parents: Daniel and Pauline SchmidtGoertzen. Children: Brenda Buller, Stanley;four grandchildren; one great-grandchild.Funeral: Aug. 11 at Tabor MennoniteChurch, Newton, Kan.



To submit eventinformation to TheMennonite, log on atwww.TheMennonite.org and use the “Forthe Record” button toaccess our on-lineforms. You can alsosubmit by email, faxor mail:

•[email protected]

•fax 574-535-6050

•1700 S. Main St.,Goshen, IN 46526-4794

Hartman, Ellen Pellman, 77, Harrisonburg,Va., died July 27. Spouse: Dwight Hartman.Parents: LeRoy and Elizabeth LauverPellman. Children: Jim, Jeanne HartmanRinker, Curt; seven grandchildren; threegreat-grandchildren. Funeral: July 30 atPark View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.

Herr, Elmer Grant, 99, Harrisonburg, Va.,died Aug. 3. Spouse: Sara Graybill Herr.Parents: Elmer J. and Fannie Miller Herr.Children: Kenneth D., Lowell G.; four grand-children; three great-grandchildren. Funeral:Aug. 13 at Park View Mennonite Church,Harrisonburg.

Kandel, Olen, 84, Fisher, Ill., died July 24.Spouse: Eunice Kandel (deceased). Parents:Abe and Amanda Kandel. Children: RitaSmith, Frank, Ernie, Jeanette Unzicker;seven grandchildren. Funeral: July 27 atEast Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher.

Kornhaus, Mary Shoup, 99, Orrville, Ohio,died July 23. Spouse: Russell Kornhaus(deceased). Parents: Henry and Sara ZiglerShoup. Children: William, James; nine grand-children; 25 great-grandchildren. Funeral:July 27 at Orrville Mennonite Church.

Kuntz, Emily, 51, Delta, Ohio, died Aug. 6.Spouse: Rod Kuntz. Parents: Malcom Peirceand Clara Thompson. Children: Lisa Miller,Ian, July Bame; three grandchildren. Funeral:Aug. 14 at North Clinton Mennonite Church,Wauseon, Ohio.

Lehman, Earl M., Goshen, Ind., died July 2.Spouse: Phyllis Maltby Lehman. Parents:Joseph and Mollie Zehr Lehman. Children:John, Clark, Sidney, Stephen; 11 grandchil-dren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: July 10 at TheMeeting Place, Greencroft, Goshen.

Martin, Aden, 79, Elmira, Ont., died Aug. 7.Spouse: Alice Bearinger Martin (deceased).Parents: Emerson and Barbara SauderMartin. Children: Virgil, Neil; three grand-children. Funeral: Aug. 10 at St. JacobsMennonite Church, St. Jacobs, Ont.

Martin, Luella Zehr, 79, Crohgan, N.Y.,died June 28. Spouse: Alvin Martin.Parents: Christian and Martha Moser Zehr.Children: Thomas, Harry, Peter, LouAnnMartin, Sara Adams, Kay Lyndaker. Funeral:July 1 at Crohgan Mennonite Church.

Miller, Harold J., 94, Goshen, Ind., diedJuly 31. Spouse: (1st) Ethel Norwood Miller(deceased), (2nd) Evelyn Esch Miller(deceased). Parents: John D. and MelindaMiller. Children: Margaretha Brubacher,Genevive Kehr, Eva Burroway, Daniel B.;stepchildren Elinor Surgener, Lora Miranda,Karen Patrick, Carl Esch, Thomas Esch; 27grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; 41great-grandchildren; 26 step-great-grand-children. Funeral: Aug. 3 in Goshen.

Moser, DeEtta Zehr, 68, Crohgan, N.Y.,died July 3. Spouse: Lyle Moser (deceased).Parents: Harold and Edna Martin Zehr.Children: Daniel, Lyle Willard, SherylMartin, Juanita Van Dyke; nine grandchil-dren; three great-grandchildren. Burial:July 7 at Crohgan Mennonite Church.

Rittenhouse, Howard S. “Jim”, 87,Souderton, Pa., died June 23. Spouse:Shirley Snoke Rittenhouse. Parents: Josephand Ella Nora Metz. Funeral: June 25 atSouderton Mennonite Homes Fellowship.

Rupp, Lucretia Sauder, 95, Archbold,Ohio, died July 27. Spouse: Lawrence Rupp(deceased). Parents: Daniel and AnnieSchrock Sauder. Children: Geneva Wyse,Marlin, Mabel Ann Kauffman, Glenden,Janette Yoder; 30 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchil-dren. Funeral: July 31 at North ClintonMennonite Church, Wauseon, Ohio.

Schrock, Roger V., 70, Orrville, Ohio, diedJune 22 of a heart attack. Spouse: CarolSchloneger Schrock. Parents: Vernon andAda Miller Schrock. Children: Kim Mullet,Wendy Mann, Von; six grandchildren.Funeral: June 25 at Smithville (Ohio)Mennonite Church.

Simons, Cecil, 95, Indianapolis, died June15. Spouse: Ruth Simons (deceased). Child:Larry G.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.Funeral: June 19 at G.H. HermannGreenwood Funeral Home, Indianapolis.

Stuckey, Gary, 56, West Unity, Ohio, diedAug. 7 from burns received during a farm-ing accident. Spouse: Marlene GerigStuckey. Parents: Loren and RuthedaGrieser Stuckey. Children: Timothy Lee,Chris Allen, Ryan Gary, Amy Lynne Stevens;four grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 12 atLockport Mennonite Church, Stryker, Ohio.

Unruh, Lena Wiens, 101, Moses Lake, Wa.,died July 24. Spouse: Edwin Unruh(deceased). Parents: Abraham and MaryBrown Wiens. Children: John, Lois Reimer;10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.Funeral: July 31 at Memorial ChapelHillsboro, Kan.

Wyatt, O. Earl, 85, Albany, Ore., died Aug.13. Spouse: Pauline Widmer Wyatt. Parents:James and Hester Duncan Wyatt. Children:Marcine Jackson, Miriam Rasmussen; twograndchildren. Funeral: Aug. 18 at AlbanyMennonite Church.

Zimmerman, Titus N., 79, Ephrata, Pa., diedJuly 28. Spouse: Ursula B. DenlingerZimmerman. Parents: Mahlon and EstherNolt Zimmerman. Children: Robert, Mark,Roy, Clair, Marie Miller, Sharon Good; 28grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.Funeral: Aug. 2 at Ephrata MennoniteChurch.




C L A S S I F I E D

Vice president of health services. Hillcrest, is a 400-residentCCRC and Church of the Brethren facility in La Verne, Calif. Hillcrestseeks vice president (assisted living, Alzheimer, skilled nursing andresidential living). Candidate must have excellent communicationskills, leadership abilities and collaborative abilities. NHA required.RCFE preferred. Resumés accepted until Sept. 17. Contact RalphMcFadden; email [email protected]; fax 847-742-5160.

Rosedale Bible College is seeking applicants for the position ofpresident. The ideal candidate will have a high view of Scripture,an advanced degree, administrative experience, a clear vision forthe school and strong communication and public relations gifts,and must be fully supportive of the theological positions ofConservative Mennonite Conference. The position will be availableJuly 1, 2005. Send resumé to Levi Sommers, 2950-B Central Ave.,Canon City, CO 81212, or email [email protected].

Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) is seeking an executivecoordinator to lead in the implementation of “Partnership Africa,”AIMM’s renewed vision for an international and inter-Mennonitemission venture in and from Africa. While responsibility for actualprogram decision-making is being shifted to Partnership Councilsoperating in the country of mission activity, certain networkingand facilitating responsibilities will be required centrally. HenceAIMM will maintain an International Central Council (ICC) with asmall central office staff.

The executive coordinator will work on behalf of and beaccountable to the AIMM ICC. The actual full-time equivalent (FTE)of the position is negotiable. It will, however, be the responsibilityof the executive coordinator to ensure that all the necessary func-tions of the central office are professionally attended to, either bythe executive coordinator or other staff. A list of these central officefunctions is available on request.

The successful candidate for this position should have the fol-lowing qualifications: (1) an Anabaptist/Mennonite approach toChristian faith and mission, (2) experience and knowledge of mis-sion in Africa, (3) fluency in English and French, (4) ability to buildand coordinate a new organization.

Currently the AIMM administrative office is located in Goshen,Ind., but the executive coordinator may be located elsewhere inNorth America or in Africa. The position may begin as early as Jan.1, 2005, or as late as July 1, 2005. Salary, benefits and FTE nego-tiable. Applications should be received by Sept. 15. Letters of appli-cation or other inquiries should be sent to Dave Dyck, TransitionCoordinator, 660 Bardal Bay, Winnipeg, MB R2G 0J2; email [email protected]; phone 204-663-4342.

Youth are sweet. Jesus is sweeter, yo! If you agree, consider com-ing to love and lead our youth at Gingrichs Mennonite Church,Lebanon, Pa. For information on a position as full-time youthdirector, contact Cathy Boshart 717-272-8723 [email protected].

Franconia Mennonite Church, located in Franconia, Pa., is seek-ing a talented, energetic individual to fill the position of musicdirector and lead a congregation of over 735 members in ourmusic ministry. This very important role will give leadership to allmusic areas within the church, including adult and children choirs,music planning for worship services and congregational singing.For more information or to request a detailed job description,please contact Keith Berger at 215-723-3320. Resumés may be sentto [email protected].

Provident Bookstores is looking for a full-time assistant manag-er to work at our Goshen bookstore. Experience in supervision anddesire to provide excellent customer service required.

Send resumé to PBS Human Resources, 1625 Lititz Pike, Lancaster,PA 17601; email [email protected].

Adriel, a Mennonite children’s agency, seeks a full-time campuspastor. Responsibilities include spiritual guidance for youth andstaff, coordination of summer program and relating to broaderchurch. Bachelor’s degree in social services, education or ministryrequired with seminary degree/degree in youth ministry preferred.Contact Karla Gingerich at 937-465-0010 ext. 137, [email protected]. EOE.

Clinton Frame Mennonite Church in Goshen, Ind., a 500+ mem-ber church is seeking a youth/associate pastor. Our junior youthand MYF have an enrollment of 80 plus. Applicants should be onfire for Christ with personal devotional time daily, love for servingand mission, Anabaptist belief, team player, good teacher, prefer abachelor’s degree and possibly some seminary education andexperience working with youth. Our desire is to have this positionfilled by someone who is following God’s calling toward youth pas-tor as a long-term ministry. If your gifts fit our needs, please con-tact Bob Yoder at IN-MI Mennonite Conference, 800-288-8486 oremail [email protected].

Advertising space in The Mennonite is available to congregations, conferences, businesses, andchurchwide boards and agencies. Cost for one-time classified placement is $1.15 per word, minimumof $30. Display space is also available.

To place an ad in The Mennonite, call 800-790-2498 and ask for Marla Cole, or [email protected].


R E S O U R C E S

Francis of Assisi: Performing the GospelLife by Lawrence S. Cunningham (Eerdmans,2004, $14) argues that Francis was a devot-edly orthodox Catholic whose life must beunderstood as a response to reforming ele-ments abroad in the church of his day.

The Lord Is My Shepherd: Psalms toAccompany Us on Our Journey ThroughAging by Albert Michael Lewis (Eerdmans,2004, $15) reflects on Psalm 23, Psalm 98and Psalm 121 and relates them to a journeythrough aging.

To an Angel Who Is New by Arno Bohlmeijer(Eerdmans, 2004, $15) consists of writings bythe author to his wife, Marian, who was in acoma and later died after they and their twoyoung daughters were in a bad car accident.

Sacred Rhythms: Finding a Peaceful Pacein a Hectic World by Christine Sine (BakerBook House, 2004, $12.99) describes howour lives can reflect God’s rhythms of peace,celebration and rest instead of the world’sstressful, hurried pace.

Lord, Show Me Your Glory: 52 WeeklyMeditations on the Majesty of God byEthel Herr (Christian Publications, 2004,$14.99) is available from the author [email protected], www. ethelherr.com.

Building on the Gospel Foundation: TheMennonites of Franklin County,Pennsylvania, and Washington County,Maryland, 1730-1970 by Edsel Burdge Jr.and Samuel L. Horst (Herald Press, 2004,$49.99) tells the stories of three centuries offaith and life among the Washington County(Md.) and Franklin County (Pa.) Mennonites.

Us & Them: Bridging the Chasm of Faithby W.C. Scheurer (Interfaith Journey, 2004,$8) consists of 20 brief essays on such topicsas humility, conscience, compassion, idolatryand skepticism.

The Way of Jesus, edited by Tony D’Souza(Eerdmans, 2004, $12), is a modernization ofan anonymous mystical masterpiece discov-ered in 1516 and first published by MartinLuther. It consists of 54 short, pithy chapters.

Hafiz: The Mystic Poets and Tagore: TheMystic Poets (SkyLight Paths, 2004, $16.99each) introduces poetry fans and spiritualseekers to classic mystic poets. Each book inthe series includes a brief introduction to thepoet’s time and place, a summary of thepoet’s major themes, essential selectionsfrom the poet’s works and a preface by acontemporary spiritual writer. Hafiz was aSufi master from Persia who died in 1389.Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, playwright,

painter and educator from the Indian sub-continent who was awarded the Nobel Prizefor Literature in 1913.

Fasting by Carole Garibaldi Rogers (SorinBooks, 2004, $12.95) and Pilgrimage byEdward C. Sellner (Sorin Books, 2004, $12.95)are two new books in the series Exploring aGreat Spiritual Practice, which combines eas-ily understood practice tools with compre-hensive, credible information about the ori-gin, theory and contemporary relevance ofthe practice.

What Do You Know About Hunger? (ChurchWorld Service, 2004) is a 24-page bookletwith simulations, skits, bulletin inserts andworship materials that congregations canuse to lift up the issue of hunger. Up to 10copies are free. Order from CWS, P.O. Box968, Elkhart, IN 46515; 800-297-1516.

Katya by Sandra Birdsell (Milkweed Editions,2004, $24) is a novel published earlier inCanada with the title The Russlander. It tellsthe story of the Russian Revolution throughthe eyes of a young Mennonite girl.

Our People: The Amish and Mennonites ofOhio by Levi Miller (Herald Press, 2004,$7.99) is the third edition of this book, whichincludes photos by Doyle Yoder.


E D I T O R I A L

Everett J.Thomas

Picking presidentsFor where your treasure is, there your heart will bealso.—Matthew 6:21

Two Mennonite colleges are in presidentialsearch processes. Mennonite EducationAgency, the umbrella organization for schools

within Mennonite Church USA, is partnering withboth Hesston (Kan.) College and Goshen (Ind.)College in their searches.

Hesston and Goshen are making seminal choic-es. Both colleges must choose new presidents thatwill bring their campuses and faculties even closerto Mennonite Church USA. We need our collegesto provide fresh generations of leadership for ourfledgling denomination as we work at being a mis-sional church (see page 8).

“The selection of a president is one of the mostimportant decisions [for a college] because it has atremendous impact on the ethos and life and futureof the institution,” says MEA executive directorCarlos Romero.

Leading a church college today is a dauntingtask. There are many constituent groups—includ-ing equally articulate faculties, alumni, parents anddonors—that expect the institution to move in thedirection they want. So complex has become the

task of leading colleges—especially four-year, liber-al arts colleges—that higher education leadershiphas become an academic discipline in itself. Sosearch committees may place a high value on can-didates who already have training in this emergingacademic speciality. But specialization in this or arelated field does not necessarily mean a strongcommitment to Mennonite Church USA.

The next presidents of Hesston and Goshen faceincredible pressure to value things other than thedenomination that created them. Most common isthe temptation toward academic elitism. However,when a campus yields to this temptation and such avalue becomes the treasure toward which its heartis inclined, the church loses. Furthermore, it is

usually a dead-end for the college: After instillingthis elitism into its students, alumni pass it along totheir children, who then want to “move up” to amore prestigious school. Mennonite Church USA isthen no longer the treasure toward which the nextgeneration of students inclines their hearts.

Another temptation is to focus on the geographicregion—and an attractive non-Mennonite market—in which the school is located. A campus culturethat resonates with the values and worldview of itsregion can be a powerful form of missional educa-tion. But if the campus culture becomes too assimi-lated and the percentage of Mennonite studentsdrops to marginal levels, the college runs the riskof being more an expression of its locale than anexpression of Mennonite Church USA. Alumni maybe loyal to the school and send their children therebut not because they have a heart for our church.

On June 1, we published a news release fromMennonite Education Agency that showed thegrowth or decline of student populations in eachlevel of Mennonite schooling (“Mennonite SchoolsSee Combined Gain”). All sectors grew except ourcolleges. MEA provided no analysis of this differ-ence, but I contend it is happening becauseMennonite elementary schools, high schools andseminaries have remained closer to the churchthan have most of our Mennonite colleges.

Drawing closer to the church is the critical issuefacing the search committees at Goshen andHesston. At the end of each new president’s tenure,each institution will be either closer to MennoniteChurch USA or further away. Fortunately, both col-leges have been on trajectories bringing them clos-er to being “church-owned,” with accountability tothe denomination rather than ambiguously“church-affiliated” and at arms length from thechurch. It is critical for Mennonite Church USAthat both colleges remain on this path.

The search committees and MennoniteEducation Agency have a challenging task beforethem as they discern the best leaders for Goshenand Hesston. Both institutions belong to thechurch. But both will remain church-owned only ifMennonite Church USA is the great treasureburied deep in the hearts of the new presidents andthe campus culture that emerges.—ejt

Colleges must choose presidents who will bring

their campuses even closer to Mennonite Church USA.

Note: We receivednews about thepresidential can-didate at Hesston(Kan.) College asthis issue wasgoing to press.See page 19.

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