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For those who are following the latest 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. [updated periodically] 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. A lively discussion ensued and she continues to add to...
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Not long ago, a pastor friend told me a painful story that he had just heard about his deceased maternal grandfather, a respected longtime minister in the Mennonite church. My friend’s mother had confided that her father had sexually abused several of his daughters, a pattern that continued over some years. The most troubling aspect of the account was that his grandfather’s fellow ministers were aware of these acts of incest but they did little to stop it. I would to God that such stories were not...
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The following report was originally submitted to the leadership of Indiana-Michigan Conference. It is re-posted here with Derrick's permission. by Derrick Ramer, Youth Pastor at Emma Mennonite Church, Topeka, IN “Biblical leadership: Leadership is an influence relationship between leaders and followers that intends real change according to mutual purposes”. – John Stahl-Wert Youth Ministry Council (YMC) was held at Amigo Centre in Sturgis Michigan over May 7-10, 2013. Each conference in MC USA is invited to send a representative to Youth Ministry council, specifically the conference youth pastor if there is one on staff. YMC is also comprised of church-wide...
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[Español] By Johnny Kauffman and Annette Brill Bergstresser ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA)—In addition to traditional convention activities such as worship, seminars and fellowship, Mennonite Church USA’s July 1–6 convention in Phoenix will include 53 “learning experiences.” Depending on their content, they are either two or four hours in length and will be held primarily on Wednesday, July 3, in the afternoon and on Thursday, July 4, in the morning. Convention planners say that while each learning experience is unique, the events share the common goal of offering an extended time for in-depth study or participatory and experiential learning to...
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Subgroups focusing on mentoring, monologues, empowering resources, undoing sexism [Español] ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Women in Leadership Project (WLP), whose goal is to address the systemic obstacles that stand in the way of women becoming church leaders, continues to generate interest and gather support from across the country. “We are blessed to be joined by many who are committed to volunteering their time in order to move this work forward,”...
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Mennonite Church USA This is the second of a Bible study series by different authors on the key Scripture texts for Mennonite Church USA’s next biennial convention, to be held July 1-6, 2013, in Phoenix. The convention theme is “Citizens of God’s Kingdom: Healed in Hope,” and the Scripture texts are Psalm 24:1, Philippians 3:20-21, Romans 5:1-5 and Ephesians 2:14-22. See www.mennoniteusa.org/convention. By Hyun Hur Hyun Hur lives with his wife, Sue—who contributed her insights and editing to this piece—and their three children in Temple City, Calif. Five years after planting and pastoring a Korean Mennonite...
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Leadership Development office invites video submissions for Call Wall exhibit at Phoenix 2013 By Jenn Carreto (Mennonite Church USA)—What qualities are important for a pastor to have? What are the essential elements of a ‘calling congregation’? The Leadership Development office of Mennonite Church USA hopes that congregations across the country will take up the challenge to answer these questions in 59 seconds or less. Congregations and individuals are invited to submit short videos that will be featured as part of the Call...
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[English] Por Wil LaVeist LEESBURG, Virginia (Red Menonita de Misión / Agencia Menonita de Educación / Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU.)—Más de 60 líderes raciales/étnicos de la Iglesia Menonita de...
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By Joanna Shenk First, I realize that many Mennonites have been skeptical of the feminist movement in previous generations and even today. Although I identify as a feminist I donot believe that the movement, and even the definition of the term, are without problems. I think at times the movement has been an excuse to demonize men rather than think about the ways men are also diminished by sexism. I think the term...
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[Español] By Hilary J. Scarsella ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Church USA)—In a time of heightened polarity around issues such as politics, immigration and human sexuality, area conferences across Mennonite Church USA have been making efforts to address controversy in creative ways that strengthen relationships. At the delegate assembly in Columbus,...
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Mennonite Church USA Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, and his wife, Bonnie, spent 13 days in Indonesia in September with Sunoko Lin, pastor of Maranatha Christian Fellowship (an Indonesian Mennonite congregation in Northridge, Calif.), and Natalie, his wife. The first part of the trip consisted of ministry visits; the Stutzmans and Lins spent four vacation days together at the end. What was the purpose of the trip and your hopes for the...
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Planning ahead makes all the difference By Tim Yoder We typically make plans for the future – for marriage, vacation, retirement. But it’s harder to prepare for the end of life. As a funeral director, about half of the families I meet with have preplanned and prepaid funerals, saving a surviving spouse or children from significant guesswork. I often hear from someone who’s preplanning, “I am doing this so our family won’t have to.” That’s planning driven by love. Preplanning can control expenses. Without it, decisions must be made quickly and during a highly emotional time. That’s not a good...
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What if each household came up with 12 Scriptures they believe to be most formative for Christian life today? (En español) By Cindy Snider (Mennonite Church USA)—Cincinnati (Ohio) Mennonite Fellowship (CMF) was one of the first congregations to engage the Twelve Scriptures Project after it was introduced in the March 2012 issue of Mennonite Church USA’s online newsletter, On the Way. The project invites congregations to identify their 12 most important Scripture texts. Keith Lehman, a member of CMF’s worship committee, says that the congregation’s leaders didn’t want the discernment process to be “heavy”. “We have plenty of opportunity to do...
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By Laurie Oswald Robinson Mennonite Church USA—In the centuries-long flow of the Anabaptist story, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) staff members believe that the decision to transfer MCC’s archival collections from the Mennonite Church USA Archives in Goshen, Ind., to the MCC U.S. offices in Akron, Pa., is a short-term stirring of the waters for long-term benefit. However, some Anabaptist historians and archivists are concerned that the relocation of a major portion of MCC’s historic...
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Mauricio Chenlo discusses the benefits of pastors of new church plants maintaining a second job [versión en español] By Wil LaVeist ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network/Mennonite Church USA)—If you feel called to plant a church in these tough economic times, it’s a good idea to maintain another job. It’s likely that a small church of less than 100 members—Mennonite Church USA recommends having at least four to five households to begin a church plant—will not be able to support a full-time pastor. However, holding a second job...
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