Six-week spiritual discernment preparation guide available online for delegates (Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board staff has released a six-week study guide designed to help delegates prepare spiritually for the Delegate Assembly at the denomination’s upcoming biennial convention, to be held June 30–July 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. The preparation guide, which starts May 19, draws on Luke 24 — the convention’s theme Scripture text — as well as selected psalms to... read more →
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Alyssa Rodriguez attends First Mennonite Church in Iowa City, Iowa and works as a Family Support Worker for marginalized populations while also learning the ins-and-outs of motherhood with her beloved daughter, Zulema. As I reflect on celebrating my first Mother’s Day as a mom soon, I must make one hard admission. I did not always celebrate earning the title, “mother.” I imagined carrying that title ... years from now. And there was so much to do before that moment. While I was making baby registries, occasionally browsing baby name apps on my smartphone and avoiding the pink aisle as I... read more →
(Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board (EB) is presenting a resolution on the status of Mennonite Church USA’s Membership Guidelines for consideration by the Delegate Assembly at convention in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 30 to July 5. In the background to the resolution, the board wrote, “Our interactions show that the church is divided on understandings of human sexuality and same-sex marriage. That is why we also support the resolution calling for grace, love and forbearance in the midst of our differences. We think it best to restate our commitment to the agreements made by delegates in 2001,... read more →
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Sarah Augustine is the co-director of Suriname Indigenous Health Fund, a private international charity, and Professor of Sociology at Heritage University where she is also the Director of Student Spirituality. Over the next several months she’ll be writing a special blog series on the Doctrine of Discovery. Last week, my local newspaper published a special edition to the Sunday paper entitled, “Stories from our Families.” It included several dozen stories recounted by my neighbors in the small farming community where I live with my husband and son. Many told of the proud legacies of families who settled this valley more than 150... read more →
[Español] (Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board (EB) met April 6–8 in Kansas City, Mo., to prepare agenda for delegates to process at this summer’s Delegate Assembly in Kansas City (June 30–July 5), update the goals in the Purposeful Plan, and discuss the possibility of having fraternal or associate relationships within Mennonite Church USA in the future. Gathered in a room with a large picture window, board members watched signs of spring breaking forth outside that echoed their sense that God is bringing new life in and through Mennonite Church USA. “I saw so many signs of hope,” said... read more →
Linda Dalke, Patrick Ressler and Jeremy Kempf awarded first place for individual compositions By Janie Beck Kreider (Mennonite Church USA)—Mountain States Mennonite Conference (MSMC) has awarded composers Linda Dalke of Dallas, Ore., Patrick Ressler of Philadelphia, Pa., and Jeremy Kempf of Glendale, Ariz., first place in the Anabaptist Songwriting Challenge (ASC). Seven more were honored in the top 10 list. The jury met Feb. 14 to choose the winners. MSMC leaders created the songwriting challenge “to promote the musical arts among Mennonite Church USA constituents and to broaden the musical spectrum of Mennonite congregational/communal music,” according to the ASC website. In... read more →
Español Mennonite Church USA’s Churchwide Immigration Statement has been revised after receiving feedback from delegates at Phoenix 2013, the Constituency Leaders Council in October, and congregations in November/December. We invite each congregation to engage in at least one of the five activities below between 2014 and 2016. Each action is illustrated by an example of ministry already happening in Mennonite Church USA. Which actions make sense in your context? My hope is that as a community of faith, you will delve into the statement and discern how God is calling you to respond. —Iris de León-Hartshorn, director of transformative peacemaking... read more →
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Janeen Bertsche Johnson is Campus Pastor and Alumni Director at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. In 1974, my family loaded up the station wagon and drove from central Illinois to St. Catharines, Ontario for the triennial sessions of the General Conference Mennonite Church. On the way through Ontario, we passed a camper that had pulled over to the side of the road. Mom noticed that the camper had a Kansas license plate, and remarked that it must be Mennonites also heading for St. Catharines. So, we turned around and headed back to the stranded camper. Not only was it Mennonites,... read more →
We, the members of the Mennonite Church USA Discernment Group convened to continue the work of healing and reconciliation in the wake of theologian John Howard Yoder’s abuse of women, are frequently asked questions about our work. In 10 questions below, we’ve captured the gist of the questions we frequently hear asked and offer responses with insight into the biblical, theological and pastoral grounding for our work. Each of the answers we provide could be expanded significantly, and no doubt there are many ways in which some readers will find them lacking. We offer them in the hope that... read more →
John Howard Yoder Digest: Collected Articles About Sexual Abuse and Discernment For those who are following the discussions related to John Howard Yoder’s sexual abuse of women and its theological and ecclesiological implications, here is a collection of articles that outline the conversation and developments. This is not necessarily comprehensive, so feel free to suggest other articles to add to this digest. In early June of 2013, responding to a book review written in The Mennonite, Barbra Graber created a Facebook note about John Howard Yoder’s abuses and what the church must do to work towards accountability and healing.... read more →
On Friday August 8, 2014, a survey was e-mailed to credentialed leaders (active, active without charge and retired) within Mennonite Church USA. Below you can read Executive Director Ervin Stutzman's letter of introduction to the survey, as well as a list of the survey questions. Please note that this is not the live survey, and you cannot submit responses through this page. The results of this survey will help to guide the work of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board as they prepare for the Delegate Assembly in Kansas City, Mo. from June 30-July 5, 2015. Also, please note that we are... read more →
Since the beginning of the Anabaptist reformation, Mennonites have sought to be a biblical people in ways that both borrowed from the Protestant reformation and differed from it. These youth bible studies and youth group activities follow in this same line of understanding, and are written by Anabaptist leaders, students, professors and pastors. Two Sided by Rod Miller Genesis chapter 1; Genesis chapter 2; in our image; likeness; Rod Miller; helper; Adam; Eve; creation What Happens When We Try to Be Like God by Isaac Landis Genesis chapter 3; tree of life; knowledge of good and evil; serpent; snake;... read more →
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We place our hope in the reign of God and in its fulfillment in the day when Christ our ascended Lord will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will gather his church, already living under the reign of God according to the pattern of God’s future. We believe in God’s final victory, in the end of this present age of struggle between good and evil, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the appearance of a new heaven and a new earth. There the people of God will reign with Christ in justice,... read more →
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We believe that the baptism of believers with water is a sign of their cleansing from sin. Baptism is also a pledge before the church of their covenant with God to walk in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believers are baptized into Christ and his body by the Spirit, water, and blood. Baptism is a testimony to God’s gift of the Holy Spirit and the continuing work of the Spirit in the lives of believers. Through the Spirit we repent and turn toward God in faith. The baptism of the Holy Spirit... read more →
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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal Spirit of God, who dwelled in Jesus Christ, who empowers the church, who is the source of our life in Christ, and who is poured out on those who believe as the guarantee of our redemption and of the redemption of creation. Through the Spirit of God, the world was created, prophets and writers of Scripture were inspired, the people were enabled to follow God’s law, Mary conceived, and Jesus was anointed at his baptism.1 By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus proclaimed the good news of the reign of God,... read more →