kindness a gardener of - the mennonite: a publication of ... · 10/2/2014 · 2 the mennonite...

12 Mennonite mystery writer

16 Wide open until you see God, then brake

18 Am I my brother’s keeper?

32 Hearing voices

www.TheMennonite.org February 7, 2006

a gardener ofkindness

Gloria Lizcano (right) with

her friend Ana in Colombia

Page 8

Ithink I am having a midlife crisis. I’m not thelittle red sports car type. Instead I enrolled in aDoctor of Ministry program at Lancaster (Pa.)

Theological Seminary. It seemed the right thing todo in response to my crisis.

As my 50th birthday looms ever larger, I’vefound myself asking questions of personal and pro-fessional meaning. Does what I do matter? Does itcount for anything beyond the proverbial vanity?Has my work resulted in anything lasting, inchanged hearts or minds or behaviors? Was it,whatever it may be, worth it?

I’ve come to realize that these personal midlifequestions form the backdrop for the subject of myD.Min. work. I am interested in learning what con-nection there may be between worship and ethics.More specifically, I’d like to know how worshipforms us into better, more Christian, people. Dothe practices of worship, things such as prayingand Communion and baptism and hearing theScriptures read and interpreted, make us moreChristlike? Do they shape not only our spirituallives but also our behavior?

When I consider the history of Christianity, Iadmit the evidence does not seem to support anaffirmative answer. The church’s failings, past andpresent, are too many to count. On the face of it,one would be hard pressed to argue that Christianworship has resulted in a holy, just, peaceful orcompassionate people of God. Our sins are myriadand continue to beleaguer us some 2,000 yearsafter our Savior’s birth.

In a recent conversation about my project, a fel-low student said, “You’re going to have to writeabout sin.” She was excited about this prospect. Iwas less so. But she is right.

Thinking of Christian formation requires think-ing about human sin, that great countervailingforce against which our practices work. It is ourown sin that makes our history so riddled with

failures of every kind and proportion. It is right to say that the practices of Christian

worship work against or resist the effects ofhuman sin. The practice of confession, for exam-ple, calls our sin by name and makes us aware ofthe need for God’s mercy and grace. The practiceof assurance or absolution reminds us that suchmercy and grace are not only available but freelygiven. The practice of reading Scripture remindsus of our place in the created world and in God’ssaving work. The practice of prayer reminds usthat we are not independent actors but dependentcreatures preserved by and accountable to theCreator.

Engaging in these practices reveals the truthabout us human beings and about the God we wor-ship. That truth, particularly when proclaimed reg-ularly in worship, cannot help but move us at leasta little closer to the image of God in Christ.

The practices of worship are not magical actsthat have within themselves the power to remakeus. They are not good works for which we canexpect to be rewarded.

And whatever power they have to transformdoes not come from us. What is transformativeabout such acts is the presence of God in andthrough them.

It is that transformative power of God that I amexcited about exploring. Not so I can bottle it up orpackage it, having found some perfect formula forpersonal and congregational formation. Our prac-tices depend too much on the Spirit for any suchscheme. That Spirit, we know, moves and gifts andempowers according to God’s designs, not ourown.

It may be that what I really want to know in mymidlife is not so much how well I have done buthow much God has done. How am I, how are we,being transformed daily by God’s power? That’s amidlife question worth pursuing. TM

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

2 TheMennonite February 7, 2006

Transformed by God’s power

The Mennonite is the official publication of Mennonite Church USA. Ourmission is to help readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents ofhealing and hope in the world. The Mennonite (ISSN 1522-7766) is normal-ly published on the first and third Tuesdays of each month by the boardfor The Mennonite, Inc. Periodical postage paid at Scottdale, PA 15683-1999. Canada Post international publications mail sales agreement no.40033185, GST no. R122192453. Subscription rates: $41.95 (U.S.) per year.Group rates available. Scripture references are from the New RevisedStandard Version unless otherwise noted. The views expressed in this pub-lication do not necessarily represent the official positions of MennoniteChurch USA, The Mennonite, or the board for The Mennonite, Inc.

Postmaster

Send form 3579 to:

The Mennonite

1700 S. Main St.

Goshen, IN 46526

Editor: Everett J. Thomas

[email protected]

Associate Editor: Gordon Houser

[email protected] Coordinator: Kristene Miller

[email protected] Manager: Rebecca Helmuth

[email protected] Assistant: Nora Miller

Design: Dee Birkey

Cover image of Gloria Lizcano and friend Anaby Emily S. Will

Offices:

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

722 Main St., P.O. Box 347Newton, KS 67114phone: 866-866-2872fax: 316-283-0454

Web site

www.TheMennonite.org

TheMennonite Vol. 9, No. 3, February 7, 2006

Ron W. Adamsis pastor at East

Chestnut Street

Mennonite

Church in

Lancaster, Pa.

C O N T E N T S

February 7, 2006 TheMennonite 3

8 A gardener of kindness

Remembering Gloria Lizcano—Emily S. Will

12 Mennonite mystery writer

Author Judy Clemens writes about bikers and Mennonites.—Cathleen Hockman-Wert

14 Maximize the gift of strength

The stewardship of health—Roy E. Bronkema

16 Wide open until you see God, then brake

A racing analogy can help Christians and congregations reflecton our approach to faith and action.—Sharon K. Williams andDavid Wolfe

19 Massive survey to study MC USA beliefs

Church Member Profile 2006 follows research conducted in1972 and 1989.

20 ABC-TV airs mental health program

Response overwhelms staff at Mennonite Media inHarrisonburg, Va.—Melodie Davis

21 Burkholders minister to Katrina victims

22 Leaders are reminded to rest and pray

23 MC Canada looks at membership issues

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 Grace and truth

Transformed by God’s power—Ron W. Adams

4 Readers say

6 News digest

18 Speaking out

Am I my brother’s keeper?—Bill Hartwell

25 For the record

30 Real Families

Traveling in our legacies—Michael A. King

32 Editorial

Hearing voices—Everett J. Thomas

7

6

16

13

R E A D E R S S A Y


This publication wel-

comes your letters,

either about our con-

tent or about issues

facing the Mennonite

Church USA. Please

keep your letters

brief—one or two

paragraphs—and

about one subject

only. We reserve the

right to edit for

length and clarity.

Publication is also

subject to space limi-

tations. Send to

Letters@TheMenno-

nite.org or mail to

Readers Say, TheMennonite, 1700 S.

Main St., Goshen, IN

46526-4794. Please

include your name

and address. We will

not print letters sent

anonymously,

though we may with-

hold names at our

discretion.—Editors

Stop publishing letters

Continuing to print letters and articles regardingHyattsville (Md.) Mennonite Church’s votingrights being removed and their support for gaymembership is harmful to the Mennonite churchas a whole. Though I believe every voice shouldbe heard, a minority stance should not be in issueafter issue of The Mennonite. It was our denomina-tion’s same method of listening to this minorityvoice for too long during our recent merger thatlost us so many churches and many members(thus our financial woes). When a vote finally wasallowed to happen, our denomination overwhelm-ingly supported our current stance of not allowingpracticing homosexual membership. Continuallyrevisiting this issue in our magazine gives the per-ception to many members and the outside worldthat our denomination is actually considering gaymembership, yet we are not. Hyattsville discus-sions should be with their conference.—WesCulver, Goshen, Ind.

Congregation not free to redefine sin

Melvin Schmidt is right when he says thatMennonite Church USA conferences ought to beconsistent in how they call congregations to beguided by our confession of faith (“HyattsvilleMennonite Church Follows Jesus,” Dec. 20, 2005).However, the logic of his application is flawed.The problem is that congregations that welcomepracticing gays and lesbians as members haveestablished policies that welcome “believers” whohave committed themselves to regularly yield totheir besetting sin rather than repenting of andseeking to resist that sin.

Any congregation establishing a policy that wel-comes “believers” who regularly yield to sins ofmurder, sexual abuse, adultery, theft, greed orgossip should be disciplined in the same way. But

Mennonite Church USA congregations thatrespond redemptively to sin in the lives of theirmembers by calling them to repentance and livesof faithful discipleship are doing the work of thekingdom, and should be considered congregationsin good standing. The real issue in this case iswhether congregations should be free to redefinesin in ways that differ from the confession of faithyet remain in good standing within the denomina-tion. Schmidt says yes, but Allegheny MennoniteConference and the Constituency Leaders’ Councilhave correctly said no.—Karl Landis, Lancaster,Pa.

Where is loving dialogue?

I have been wondering if and when MennoniteChurch USA will engage in “loving dialogue” onthe subject of homosexuality called for in theHuman Sexuality Statement adopted at Saskatoon’86 and Purdue ’87. I do appreciate the bits of dia-logue we have in Readers Say, but sometimesthese comments are not “loving” or helpful inunderstanding another’s point of view.

By the way, does anyone know what happenedto the report of the Listening Committee forHomosexual Concerns back in the early 1990s? Ithought the committee was supposed to be aninstrument for “loving dialogue,” listening to peo-ple on both sides of this issue and then sharingtheir findings. I don’t recall ever reading about thatreport.—Ruby S. Lehman, Harrisonburg, Va.

Editor’s note: The report is available from Menno-nite Board of Congregational Ministries files in theMennonite Church USA Historical Committeearchives in Goshen, Ind.

We are no longer thankful worshipers

Re the changing “giving” patterns amongMennonite Church USA members and a loweredcommitment to supporting the ministries of thedenomination (“Stewardship Surprises,” Jan. 10):The problem is not in where the money is going.The problem is where it is coming from and why itis given in the first place.

We live in the midst of a super-consumer socie-ty where “getting your money’s worth” has be-come the motivation behind putting something inthe offering plate on Sunday morning, and wherewe behave as if Always Low Prices (the WalMartslogan) is the highest form of stewardship.

The truth is that giving to denominational pro-grams is falling because we are no longer thankfulworshipers giving in response to God’s love for us.Rather we have become demanding consumersbuying good feelings as cheaply as possible. We

I N T H I S I S S U E

The story about the life and death of Gloria Lizcano—amodern-day Dorcas (Acts 9)—embodies the genuine lovedemonstrated by the original St. Valentine (page 8). “One

person committed to living out the gospel of Jesus Christ cangrow flowers in places that need them—not just gardens ofactual blossoms but virtual gardens of kindness,” writes EmilyWill. Lizcano died on Nov. 26, 2005, when struck in the streetby a motorcycle in the Colombian president’s motorcade. Asecond extraordinary story is the success another woman isfinding as she writes mystery novels (page 12). Judy ClemensSmucker’s most recent book should be read by all Mennoniteministers “because of the way it talks about issues of thechurch,” says one minister (who is also her father).—Editor

R E A D E R S S A Y


have become careful investors looking for the bestreturns for our donations.

I fear that unless we begin worshiping God withour offerings instead of our own need to bepleased or prudent, the Mennonite Church USAelectricity bill will need to be paid by the last per-son to leave the office when it finally closes forgood. To quote an eminent theologian from thepast, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”—Lynn Miller, MMA stewardship theologian

Church people should do better

In “Church People Should Do Better” (Nov. 15,2005), Al Albrecht pointed out procedural prob-lems at the Great Lakes Conference’s meeting onOct. 13, 2001. In response, Dale Shank (ReadersSay, Dec. 6, 2005) justified the Great Lakes deci-sion to allow no amendments to the main motionby saying the decision was not his alone. I wouldhave preferred that Shank defend what he and oth-ers did by sharing their arguments for such a pro-cedure. Tom Kauffman and Allen Rutter (also inReaders Say, Dec. 6, 2005) justified the decisionsto permit absentee votes because of schedulingconflicts, prior consultations and the seriousnesswith which the absentee delegates took theirassignments.

A number of points made by Albrecht deservefurther consideration. The requirement for a supermajority has always been troublesome for me. Theargument is often made that a proposed actionrequires a super majority in order to ensure sub-stantial support for the course of action. Whatabout the majority whose will is denied? Does thispermit a small group that resist change to frus-trate the will of the majority? Fortunately, Albrechtsuggests other courses of action such as a mem-ber of the majority (not the minority) making amotion to reconsider the action.

Even better, is Albrecht’s suggestion that sup-port can be determined before a course of actionis taken. Those in support of a particular course of

action and those that are opposed should thenhave the opportunity to present their point of viewin light of new information.—Earl Sutter, Goshen,Ind.

The bigotry of low expectations

In “Hope Amid Fear” (Editorial, Dec. 6, 2005),Everett J. Thomas lauds Jordan as an icon of digni-ty and reason in responding to it’s own “9-11”tragedy. Unfortunately, Thomas’ inspirational piecequickly became an essay in rewriting historicalfacts. To their credit, Jordan is the only countrythat liberated refugees from U.N.-sponsoredcamps by offering them citizenship instead.However, the number of Palestinian refugees thatfled the wars against Israel are less than 1 millionin total and scattered among countries includingLebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

“In 1967, Israel took part of [Jordan’s] countrythat is on the west side of the Jordan river,”Thomas writes. Correction: Israel captured thisterritory in a defensive war it was fighting for itsvery existence. In addition, this territory betweenIsrael and the Jordan River did not legally belongto Jordan. It had been set aside by virtue of a U.N.vote in 1948 for a Palestinian state, a decisionrejected by every Arab state including Jordan,which illegally occupied it from 1948 to 1967. Andas far as Jordan being a country that “acceptsresponsibility as custodian for so many importantbiblical sites,” as Thomas says: Does the desecra-tion and destruction of the world’s oldest andlargest Jewish cemetery in 1948 count as responsi-ble custodianship?

Don’t misunderstand. Jordan is the best of allArab governments in the Middle East and looksgood next to all of them. But let’s not be guilty ofthe bigotry of low expectations. Unfortunately,Christian pacifists like Thomas constantly mistakepacifism for feel-good comfort—even going so faras to change important historical facts.—AkivaGavriel, Chicago

Pontius’ Puddle Joel Kauffmann

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

I read murdermysteries(67 votes):

Sometimes

(30%)

Often (15%)

Never (55%)

Check out the new

poll question at

www.

TheMennonite.org

Correction: In

Harold Miller’s

letter in Jan. 24

Readers Say,

the dates for

Saskatoon and

Purdue were

reversed. It

should read

Saskatoon ’86

and Purdue ’87.

N E W S D I G E S T

CPTers’ captors release video, make demandCHICAGO—The insurgent group holding four kid-napped Christian Peacemaker Teams activists hasgiven U.S. and Iraqi authorities a “last chance” tofree all detainees in their custody. Though nodeadline was set, the Swords of RighteousnessBrigade said it would kill the four activists if theirconditions were not met.

The latest demand—the first word of the fourCPTers since before Dec. 10, when a previousdeadline set by the captors passed—came in avideo aired Jan. 28 on the Aljazeera network.

The four CPTers—Briton Norman Kember, 74,American Tom Fox, 54, and Canadians JamesLoney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32—wereseized at gunpoint in Baghdad on Nov. 26.

The latest video, which was dated Jan. 21,showed the four CPTers standing by a wall, andthen seated. They appeared to be speaking to thecamera, but their voices could not be heard.

In a statement released Jan. 28, CPT said: “All

of us in Christian Peacemaker Teams remain verydisturbed by the abduction of our teammates. Wepray that those who hold them will host them withthe grace that so many of us in CPT have receivedas guests in Iraq. James, Harmeet, Norman andTom are peace workers who have not collaboratedwith the occupation of Iraq and who have workedfor justice for all Iraqis, especially those detained.”—CPT

Hispanic Ministries director connects culturesELKHART, Ind.—Last month, Mauricio Chenlobegan as Hispanic mission training academy pro-gram director, a new position created through apartnership between Iglesia Menonita Hispana

(Hispanic MennoniteChurch) and MennoniteMission Network. Chenlojoins the Mission Network’sU.S. Ministries team, allowingthe North Carolina-based pas-tor and church planter towork with conferences, con-gregations and partnershipsto help them developHispanic programs based ontheir individual strengths.

A native of Argentina, Chenlo says children offirst-generation Hispanic immigrants are beingeducated in the United States through high school,college and seminary, bridging gaps betweenhome cultures and North America. He believesthat promoting leadership programs for youngadults who have the language and cultural skills tothrive in traditional multiple ethnic cultures will bekey to the future of the church.

While the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista(Anabaptist Biblical Institute) offers biblical andtheological training, Chenlo says churches “alsoneed a set of tools to organize a group of people toplant a church”—his mandate is to help providethose tools. He says IBA, IMH and MennoniteMission Network will work together with theHispanic Mennonite community as it evolves.

Chenlo is associate pastor for youth at Raleigh(N.C.) Mennonite Church and an urban ministrydirector for Mennonite Mission Network in part-nership with Virginia Mennonite Board ofMissions and the Eastern Carolina District.—Mennonite Mission Network

Nursing program addresses Kansas shortageHESSTON, Kan.—The director of the nursing pro-gram at Hesston College says the program isdoing all it can to tackle the shortage of nurses inKansas.

I N B R I E F

Music and worshipleaders weekendMore than 240 peo-

ple gathered Jan. 6-8

at Laurelville Menno-

nite Church Center,

Mt. Pleasant, Pa., for

the 19th annual

Music and Worship

Leaders Weekend.

Participants repre-

sented 84 congrega-

tions from California

to New York and

Ontario to Florida.

Well-known song-

writer, storyteller

and preacher John

Bell, from the Iona

Community in

Scotland, spoke

about the Psalms.

Ken Nafziger, profes-

sor of music at

Eastern Mennonite

University,

Harrisonburg, Va.,

introduced Bell as

someone at the top

of his “truthteller list,

speaking with clarity

and directness.”

—Cheryl Paulovich

Project to supportearthquake-affected familiesThrough the next

year, Mennonite

Central Committee

will support 10 fami-

lies, or about 100

people, in a Pakistan-

controlled area of

Kashmir devastated

by an Oct. 8, 2005,

earthquake. MCC is

working through

JAKCISS Oriental

Rugs, an artisan

group of Ten

Thousand Villages,

on the multifaceted

project, which

includes identifying

job opportunities

such as woodwork-

ing. MCC will also

provide aid for food

and basic necessities

for these families

and assistance in

building temporary

homes and earth-

quake-resistant

houses.—MCC

Jumping for joy in the family of GodWorship in South African Pentecostal churches can be

extremely active, says Phil Lindell Detweiler, but after

hearing stories of God’s work in church members’ lives,

he sees there are reasons they jump for joy. The Lindell

Detweiler family moved last December to South Africa,

where they serve as church-based community develop-

ment workers with Mennonite Mission Network. They

are members of Pleasant View Mennonite Church in

Goshen, Ind. —Mennonite Mission Network

Way

ne G

ehm

an

Mauricio Chenlo


I N B R I E F

More soldierswant CO statusThe number of sol-

diers applying for

conscientious objec-

tor status has been

growing, according to

the Washington Post(Dec. 31, 2005)—

some 110 in 2004, or

four times the num-

ber in 2000. The GI

Rights Hotline operat-

ed by the Center on

Conscience and War

said it received more

than 36,000 calls in

2005 from soldiers

asking about how

they can get out of

the service, compared

with fewer than 1,000

a year before the war

in Iraq began.—TheChristian Century

Six nations topearth-friendly list;U.S. is 28thA pilot study of envi-

ronmental perform-

ance shows that just

six nations—led by

New Zealand, fol-

lowed by five from

Northern Europe—

have achieved 85 per-

cent or better success

in meeting a set of

critical environmental

goals, including clean

water, low ozone lev-

els, sustainable fish-

eries and low green-

house gas emissions.

The study, jointly pro-

duced by Yale and

Columbia universities,

ranks the United

States 28th overall,

behind most of

Western Europe,

Japan, Taiwan,

Malaysia, Costa Rica

and Chile. Called the

2006 Environmental

Performance Index,

the study was intend-

ed to focus more

attention on how var-

ious governments

have played the envi-

ronmental hands they

have been dealt.

—New York Times

N E W S D I G E S T

Director Bonnie Sowers reports that 88 of the104 graduates (85 percent) during the past threeyears took their first nursing job somewhere inKansas. The other 16 are working in other states.Solid statistics aren’t available for the 1,088 gradu-ates from Hesston’s nursing program since thefirst class of 13 graduated in 1968, but Sowers esti-mates at least half live and work in Kansas.

A report submitted to Governor KathleenSebelius and the 2006 legislature by the KansasBoard of Regents last month indicated the statewill need more than 11,000 new nurses by the year2010.

At the request of the Hesston College Board ofOverseers about two years ago, Sowers and herfaculty and staff began increasing the number ofstudents enrolled in the college’s nursing programto address the shortage and to assist more stu-dents in meeting their career goals. The aim wasto admit the maximum number of studentsallowed by the Kansas State Board of Nursing—48per class.

In the fall of 2003, 40 freshman and 30 sopho-

mores were admitted, a pattern similar to the pre-vious fall. Then in the fall of 2004, 48 freshman and46 sophomores matriculated, an increase of 31 per-cent over the fall of 2003.

Last fall, 48 freshman and 48 sophomores wereaccepted for admission, while 10 additional fullyqualified applicants were not accepted and wereplaced on a waiting list. “I would be surprised if wedon’t have a significant wait list for next fall,”Sowers says.—Hesston College

EMS honors pastors for 50 years of ministryHARRISONBURG, Va.—Eastern MennoniteSeminary in Harrisonburg honored veteran pas-tors Jan. 18 for 50 years of church ministry.

H. Michael Shenk, William M. Weaver, EldonKing and M. Lloyd Weaver Jr. received plaquesand letters of commendation during a banquetheld during the annual School for LeadershipTraining.

Their spouses—Peggy B. Shenk, Viola Weaver,Dorothy King and Sarah M. Weaver—were alsocited for their “significant supportive roles” overthe years.

Ervin R. Stutzman, dean of Eastern MennoniteSeminary, made the presentations at the recogni-tion ceremony. “These pastors represent persever-ance and success in ministry,” Stutzman said. “Butmore importantly, they have demonstrated a pas-sion for evangelism where they are and have beenmentors to others.”—Eastern Mennonite Seminary

—compiled by Gordon Houser

Dus

tin C

omb

s

Goshen sings gospel on Martin Luther King DayAt Goshen College’s 13th annual all-school Martin

Luther King Jr. Study Day Jan. 16 (left to right) senior

Will Velez, junior Samuel Nicholson, junior Victor

Oyeyemi, first-year Danielle Nelson and first-year

Samantha Gordon, members of Goshen’s Voices-n-

Harmony Gospel choir, sing songs of praise. Voices-n-

Harmony includes students, faculty, staff and communi-

ty members from a diverse mix of cultural backgrounds

and ages.—Goshen College

Kansas church works with Brazilians on churchMary Goering helps prepare a renovated grocery store for

painting before it was dedicated as a church on Jan. 21. She

was one of 10 people from First Mennonite Church, Newton,

Kan., who responded to an invitation sent by the Mennonite

Church in Brazil to Mennonite Mission Network for a work

team. For nearly two weeks last month, the group worked side

by side with the Brazilian congregation, Comunidade

Evangélica Menonita, which anticipates greater ministry and

outreach opportunities from its new location in a commercial

area. The group had maximized and outgrown a house in a

nearby residential area.—Mennonite Mission Network

Linda Shelly


A gardener

y;

gp


I n Acts 9, we read of the grief-stricken Christians inJoppa upon the death—sudden and unexpected—ofthe beloved disciple Dorcas, a woman bursting withgood works and charitable deeds. So great weretheir feelings of loss that they asked the apostle

Peter, visiting the nearby town of Lydda, to come help themthrough their mourning.

Last fall a current-day Dorcas, Gloria Lizcano of Bogotá,Colombia, was killed, leaving a mourning community similarto that of Joppa. Those who knew and loved her reside notjust in Bogotá but in many other parts of the world as well.Upon learning of her death, they turned to email and theInternet to console one another and share information in aneffort to ameliorate their pain. I know because that’s what Idid as part of the extended Christian community shocked tolearn of the abrupt death of this virtuous woman.

The facts of her accidental death were easier to understandthan what they implied about the state of Colombian society.The facts are that on the evening of Nov. 26, 2005, on a citystreet near the small apartment she shared with her twogrown children, Gloria was run over by a motorcycle, part ofthe Colombian president’s motorcade. She died shortly there-after. She was 55.

Gloria was walking home after having picked up the church bulletins at the homeof Peter Stucky, pastor of Teusaquillo Mennonite Church. (The Stuckys, Lizcanos andseveral other church families live within walking distance of one another in theTeusaquillo neighborhood of central Bogotá, near the national university.) Gloria


by Emily S. Will

of kindnessRemembering Gloria Lizcano

Last fall a current-day Dorcas, Gloria Lizcano ofBogotá, Colombia,was killed, leaving a mourningcommunity similarto that of Joppa.

Continued on page 10

Emily W

ill; Bogota iStockphoto

picked up the bulletins every Saturday evening. Athome, she folded them so they’d be ready for thefollowing morning’s two services.

Oasis of kindness: Gloria wanted Sunday churchservices to feel hospitable—both to regular partici-pants and newcomers. Bogotá, the capital, can be aharsh city, and it has become the destination(often of last choice) for people around the coun-try who are pushed from their homes by armedgroups vying for Colombia’s considerable wealth.Teusaquillo Mennonite Church sponsors pro-grams to help some of the displaced, and someattend Sunday worship services. Who needs awarm reception more than these homeless, oftenpersecuted souls? Gloria wanted to make sure thatall who came through the doors felt welcomed.She could help create an oasis of kindness andfriendliness in an impersonal city. Among otherthings, this meant she was the first to arrive atchurch on Sunday mornings and the last to leavein the early afternoon.

Last July, I was on the receiving end of Gloria’sconviviality. I was in Colombia with two othermembers of a sister-church delegation fromShalom Mennonite Fellowship in Tucson, Ariz. Ifirst met Gloria when she stopped by to pick meup, to accompany me to her apartment the secondand last week of our visit. As soon as I met her Iknew I was in good hands. I was not mistaken. Wegot along from the get-go. Gloria was not just kind;she was also fun and funny, with an impish senseof humor.

Since learning of Gloria’s passing, I’ve sharedthe congregation’s grief. I’ve also felt anger at the

country’s wealthy and powerful. Gloria’s death wasnot intentional, in the sense that an armed grouphad targeted her. Yet she was just one more ofcountless unnecessary victims—“collateral” casu-alties—in the death engine that drives Colombia.

The motorcade that transports President ÁlvaroUribe drives at recklessly high speeds throughcity streets. The speeding is purposeful, an effortto shield the president from anyone who may wantto harm him. His comings and goings are keptunannounced, and his convoy moves quickly.Pedestrians are not necessarily a factor in thissecurity calculus, in this everyone-for-himselfmentality.

Gloria did not accept a me-first attitude. It didn’tgel with whom she was. What’s more, it was partof a mindset she had cast off when she became aChristian. In his sermon at Gloria’s funeral, PastorStucky explained how this came to be and whyGloria became tireless in doing good. When Gloriawas a new Christian in the 1980s, a friend in herchurch (Berna Mennonite, in south centralBogotá) was diagnosed with cancer. Gloria wantedto do something special for her but didn’t getaround to it, and the friend died.

“This left a profound lesson in her, which shesummarized in the phrase, ‘Whatever we can do inlife, we must do,’” Stucky says.

Contagious smile: Gloria became a cheerfuladherent of her chosen motto. I doubt anyone inthe Teusaquillo congregation has a photo of Gloriasitting down. There are photos of her standing bythe church door, where she posted herself to greetarrivals, to care for anyone needing help or to be


Continuedfrom page 9

Gloria wanted to make sure that all who came through the doors felt welcomed. She could help create an oasis of kindness and friendliness in an impersonal city.

A legacy like Dorcas: Gloria Lizcano (right) with Ana

y

able to intervene in any situation that might dis-rupt church services. There are photos of Gloriaat church with a tea towel over her forearm, of herhelping her elderly friend Ana prepare after-ser-vice coffee. There are photos of Gloria embracingAna in a big hug. In all the photos, Gloria wearsher contagious smile. But there are no photos ofGloria sitting and taking it easy.

Only death could bring Gloria to rest. PresidentUribe and his wife, Lina Maria, did attend Gloria’sfuneral. The president’s military guard even con-ceded to the congregation’s request that no

weapons be brought into the church. (Ironically,Gloria’s son John, who works on behalf of consci-entious objectors in this militarized country, satnext to Uribe at his mother’s funeral.)

As one of Gloria’s close friends, MarthaSantanilla, put it, “I’m sure President Uribe neverwould have guessed that Gloria was a woman whowas so appreciated by so many, surrounded by acommunity that loved her dearly, a communitythat speaks for peace, forgiveness and for anotherreality distinct from the violence around us.”

Gloria, a woman simple by the world’s stan-dards—no big degrees, few material goods, rent-ing a small, rundown apartment in an old area ofBogotá—was beloved. Phone calls and emails ofgrief and shocked disbelief poured in from friendsthroughout Colombia and from other counties,including some from displaced people now livingas political asylees in Canada.

‘Adorable women’: A church member workingas a volunteer in Brazil wrote: “I always sat at the

ushers’ table dur-ing the servicebecause I felt socomfortable nextto those smilingwomen, amongthem Gloria, whoalways greeted mewith a sinceresmile and hug. Shewould prepare acup of healthyherbal tea for me,and she carried abag of roundcoconut cookiesthat she took outto share. Of all thethings I most miss being here, it is that welcomefrom the church from those adorable women.”

More than coconut cookies, Gloria was knownfor her flowers, especially her roses. She coaxed aflower garden into existence in a postage-stampplot next to her apartment building. She would cutsome blooms and take them to those who weresick, shut in or in need of a listening ear. She alsohelped her friend Ana plant and tend a petite gar-den at the nursing home where Ana lived. Gloriahad a special heart for older people and frequentlyvisited the home for the elderly run by theMennonite churches of Bogotá.

Gloria leaves a legacy similar to that of the bibli-cal Dorcas. Her testimony, like Dorcas’, is that oneperson committed to living out the gospel of JesusChrist can grow flowers in places that needthem—not just gardens of actual blossoms but vir-tual gardens of kindness. May the Holy Spiritgrant strength to those who mourn her loss, espe-cially to her two adult children, John and Andrea,as they carry on without her.

Emily Will is a member of Shalom MennoniteFellowship in Tucson, Ariz.


Gloria had a special heart forolder people and frequentlyvisited the home for the eld-erly run by the Mennonitechurches of Bogotá.

Marth A

ngel

Emily W

ill

Study the cover of Three Can Keep a Secret to find the first clues that this isn’t atypical mystery novel. A grainy black and white photo pictures a plainlydressed woman with covering strings dangling from her hair. Holmes-calibersleuths will identify the drawing underneath as a bit of folk art fraktur.

Open the book, and before the story begins notice a pair of scene-setting quota-tions: the first a 1755 Mennonite statement against taking up “Arms to defend ourKing, our Country or our Selves,” the second the motto of the Hell’s Angels: “Threecan keep a secret, if two are dead.”

If this isn’t enough of a study in contrasts, read on and meet Stella Crown: a pricklyBucks County, Pa., dairy farmer with a special place in her heart for motorcycles—andfor her Franconia Mennonite Conference friends. She’s the hero of a new series ofmysteries by Judy Clemens, a member of Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora, Ohio.

Breaking further with tradition: neither Three Can Keep a Secret nor the series’ award-winning first book, Till the Cows Come Home, opens with a corpse in the first chapter.

Is this a kinder, gentler, Mennonite way to write mysteries? “Not really,” Clemenssays. “I love mysteries, but I can get bored real quickly with that formula where themain character is always stumbling across dead bodies. It’s just not real. I wanted totry something different.”

Part of that difference is to create characters and scenarios that break down stereo-types—such as the image of big, bad motorcyclists. In their prechildren life, Clemensand her husband, Steve Smucker, were avid bikers. And as she puts it, “None of thepeople we rode with finance a string of brothels, produce methamphetamines or pub-lish hard-core porn. They are simply nice folks who love the feel of the wind in theirhair and the rumble of their bikes in their ears.” She wanted to portray the good guysbeneath the leather.

Clemens wasn’t necessarily planning to focus on another group of folks often stereo-typed by their clothes. “But after my first book, when my editor found out that I’mMennonite, she said, ‘Oh, you have to write about Mennonites. People love to hearabout Mennonites.’ ”

Thus developed Three Can Keep a Secret, in which an outlaw biker gang and anMYF youth group play key roles, and Harley-Davidson chrome contrasts with aMennonite pastor driving, naturally, “an ancient Corolla.” Scrapple, Martyrs’ Mirror,Mennonite Disaster Service, hymn #606/#118, MMA, Lancaster Conference, “welcom-ing” congregations, funny cake, national assemblies, “healing and hope” and Herr’spotato chips all make appearances.

Yet the book presents more than the trappings of Mennonite life.“I wanted to talk about some of the things Mennonites don’t talk about,” Clemens

says. A prime example is conflict. As one character puts it: “Mennonites … are not


by Cathleen Hockman-Wert

Author Judy Clemens writes about bikersand Mennonites.

While not paintingan overly rosy picture ofMennonite culture,Three Can Keep aSecret highlightswhat Clemens considersMennonitestrengths.

writer

Mennonitemystery

good at confrontation. It’s much more common tokeep everything inside or to talk to everyone butthe person you have an issue with.”

The book acknowledges disagreements amongMennonites today, such as over women in churchleadership. Such struggles or flaws are simply partof being real, Clemens says.

Sometimes it’s easier to raise this kind of issuein a fictional story than, say, a letter to TheMennonite or at an assembly. “If I get up to talkabout things like this, I just cry,” Clemens says.But, she continues, if the Stella Crown books getdifficult topics out in the open and prompt discus-sion about actual relationships and congregations,all the better.

While not painting an overly rosy picture ofMennonite culture, Three Can Keep a Secret high-lights what Clemens considers Mennonitestrengths: how Mennonites come together intimes of crisis, creative, peaceful ways of workingthrough problems (“I’m going to do this theMennonite way,” one woman states grimly. “I’mgoing to kill them with kindness.”) and the por-trayal of a loving pastor.

“I grew up as the daughter of a minister,”Clemens says, “and my dad—well, he’s my dad, ofcourse he’s going to be supportive—says he wish-es all ministers would read Three Can Keep aSecret because of the way it talks about issues ofthe church, and how the different congregationsin the book relate to each other.”

While the series doesn’t contain much violence(few references to blood and guts are more graphicthan the first book’s opening scene: a cow C-sec-tion), it does have a sprinkle of profanity. Readersfrom eastern Pennsylvania will spot familiar land-marks. Telford, where Clemens used to live, is nevernamed, but Perkasie and Bethlehem Pike are.

Boosted by enthusiastic fans, Till the CowsCome Home was nominated for two “best firstnovel” mystery awards, the Agatha and theAnthony. After finding a publisher for the first twoStella Crown books herself, Clemens has now,with the help of an agent, signed a contract towrite three more in the series. The next, To ThineOwn Self Be True, takes its name from theShakespearean quote tattooed on Stella’s arm andcontinues Clemens’ stereotype-busting work with a

focus on the tattoo industry. It is scheduled forrelease in August.

In June 2004, Clemens’ one-act play “Attics” wasperformed at Bethany Christian Schools’ 50th-anniversary celebration, and it too is now beingpublished. To learn more about it and the StellaCrown books, visit www.judyclemens.com.

For someone rooted in a church that oncebanned the reading of such novels, it is a twist tobecome a mystery writer, Clemens admits. “But Ihope the message the books get across is aboutChristian morals—about love, taking care of eachother, being honest, having integrity,” she says.“The second book doesn’t have the intensity a lotof mysteries have, but most people say they like itbetter than the first. It’s a book about family.”

Cathleen Hockman-Wert is a member of Corvallis(Ore.) Mennonite Fellowship.


Stella Crown’s take on Mennonite dressA few elderly women still bore the coverings Mennonites had worn for so

long, a white mesh bonnet pinned lightly to the backs of their heads. Not

practical for anything, the coverings are merely a symbol of submission to

God. Ma had chosen long ago to stop wearing hers, but it was mostly

because she was ready for a more stylish hair-do. She thought her hair

would work better in a short cut, and once she got it done she decided the

covering looked … well, a bit silly.

I thought the whole idea of coverings is ridiculous, but then, no one cares

what I think.—From Three Can Keep a Secret by Judy Clemens (Poisoned PenPress, 2005)

I wanted to talk about someof the things Mennonitesdon’t talk about. —JudyClemens

Courtesy p

hoto

Six months after my wedding, my new wife and several of her close relativeswere in a tragic car accident. Her father was killed instantly, and Nancy,next to him in the front seat, was hospitalized with major head trauma,severe facial injuries, broken ribs and punctured lungs. She was rushed to

the hospital in South Bend, Ind., where we spent a frantic and horrific six weeks.My wife’s most profound loss was her memory. Nancy did not know me for

about three weeks. Her memory was wiped out for a significant period oftime, and she had to learn who I was all over again. As a result, we

spent an intense, often emotional rebuilding period. For a longtime, the physical and emotional injuries overshadowed

everything and colored our world gray.One significant thing God taught me as a result of her

injuries (and her lengthy but complete recovery) wasnot to take health for granted. Many of us tend to

believe the strength and resilience of our youth is aright we will possess forever. But the truth is weare vulnerable to illnesses, accidents, and physi-cal and mental frailty, all the more as we age,bringing us face to face with our stewardshipof a precious gift given to us from God: health.

The Bible states in poetic terms God’s per-spective of our physical bodies: “We havethis treasure in jars of clay, to show that thisall-surpassing power is from God and doesnot come from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). TheScripture paints our health as frail and fleet-ing, and our bodies as temporary. We are not

superheroes; leaping tall buildings and racingspeeding bullets is not our right at any age. The

Bible says “the days of our life are 70 years, orperhaps 80, if we are strong” (Psalm 90:10).

In 1846, former president John Quincy Adamssuffered a stroke. Although he returned to Congress

the following year, his health was clearly failing. DanielWebster described his last meeting with Adams:

“Someone, a friend of his, came in and made particularinquiry of his health. Adams answered, ‘I inhabit a weak, frail,

decayed tenement; battered by the winds and broken in upon by the


by Roy E. Bronkema

The stewardship of health

Maximize the

Courtesy MMA

We must guard our health as aprecious jewel, because withoutit, our capacity for effective ministry and giving is lessened.

storms, and from all I can learn, the landlord doesnot intend to repair.’ ”

Our bodies are meant to be replaced when wefinally see Jesus. Until then we will live with weak-ness and illness. If we don’t watch with care overthe gift of our health, we may not be able to maxi-mize other gifts we have. The scope and frequencyof our ability to be good stewards of our other giftsis affected as health declines. Though many peoplewith physical problems maintain productive lives, ittakes more effort. We must guard our health as aprecious jewel, because without it, our capacity foreffective ministry and giving is lessened.

As believers we must understand that properstewardship of our health and well-being meansthat we treat our bodies with respect and withtheir design in mind. The worship of the churchcan help deepen our knowledge of physical andmental care. Congregations can play a more activerole in helping us stay healthy, helping us use ourresources wisely and responsibly in the pursuit ofgood health and help us see how ill-health impactsothers. This can be taught to all ages andaddressed with the particular needs of each agegroup in mind.

The care of our bodies is not motivated by a fearof dying but by good stewardship of limited life.Because we teach and preach a biblical worldview,the church can face the issue of mortality from amore balanced perspective. Rather than avoidingdeath, the church can advocate embracing life,both here and in God’s new creation someday.Instead of fearing what is lost as we grow older,believers should seek to appreciate the unique giftsthat each season of life brings. Instead of trying toremain young, we can communicate that agingshould be accepted in wisdom and community.

For a long time, the church at large has


remained strangely silent on issues of health. Weseem embarrassed by the mention of bodies orsickness, as if that instruction were somehow notas spiritual as preaching on the inner life. ButMMA, the stewardship agency of MennoniteChurch USA, is helping churches bring a biblicalperspective to bear on health issues. For example,MMA’s Stewardship University offers health class-es and seminars on a variety of topics, such ashealthy foods, diet comparison, exercise as spiritu-al discipline, stress management and aging issues.The hope is to foster better and longer periods ofmaximized health for church members, which inturn promotes better stewardship of all other giftsand resources.

The church can also encourage improved stew-ardship by not neglecting practical health issues,such as scheduling blood pressure screenings,promoting immunizations and discussing mentalhealth and other related issues regularly.

A study conducted by sociologists at PurdueUniversity (Spokesman Review, October 1992) veri-fied that 4 percent of those who regularly went tochurch reported poor health, compared with 9 per-cent of those who did not attend a house of wor-ship. Why the difference? It has been shown thatfreedom from guilt, worry and fear has an enor-mous positive consequence on health. As a com-

gift of strength

As a community of faith, we must helpeach other rejoice in the gift of life,while also providing accountability,forgiveness and healing when ourlives sometimes seem broken.

Continuedon page 17

Courtesy M

MA

Correction: In the

Jan. 10 issue,

page 15, line 7,

the word “hus-

tlers” should be

“hostlers.”

of braking. It’s in the curves. The racecar drivermust not hesitate but accelerate. Going fast is easyon the straightaway. The secret to a fast lap isbeing smooth through the turns. The driverbrakes at the last moment, slowing the car, down-shifting and steering into the turn. Just after reach-ing the turn’s apex, the driver is full on the gasand wide open until the next turn.

You don’t have to drive a racecar to enjoy thisthrill on a smaller scale. Here on the East Coast,many of us encounter winding back roads in oureveryday travels. When your car works well andyou know the road, you can exceed the speed limitand know just the amount of braking needed togracefully take the curves. Long straight roadsare, well, boring.

Other sports, such as horseback riding, also uti-lize this wide open and braking phenomenon.Whether doing competitive or pleasure riding, therider and horse can experience a oneness in move-ment that is freeing and exhilarating. That’s whyit’s so much fun to do it or even just watch it.

Wide open until you see God doesn’t mean liv-ing in a reckless, brakeless state. Rather, it calls usto use our brakes appropriately to achieve swift,forward movement toward and with God. It givesnew meaning to “there is no shadow of turningwith Thee” (“Great is Thy Faithfulness”). It’s livingas the apostle Paul describes: “By enteringthrough faith into what God has always wanted todo for us—set us right with him, make us fit forhim—we have it all together with God because ofour Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throwopen our doors to God and discover at the samemoment that he has already thrown open his doorto us. We find ourselves standing where we alwayshoped we might stand—out in the wide openspace of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and

W ide open … till you see God. Davesaw it a few years ago on a T-shirtat a gathering of sports car enthu-siasts. One day, while mowing thelawn, he wondered what this T-

shirt theology means for us who follow Jesus.Then he tested it as a devotional for a men’sprayer breakfast at his church.

“There must be a zillion scriptures that wouldsupport that image,” Sharon said.

“Absolutely,” Dave said, “like, ‘You shall love yourGod with all your heart, soul and mind and yourneighbor as yourself.’ And I guess the braking parthappens when we get to heaven. Then we can brake.”

What does it mean to live wide open until we seeGod? We may come close to it in a few moments ofpassionate commitment. Or desperation. Can we,with our human limitations and inhibitions, evenhope to live this in any sustainable way?

That is the challenge. It involves being willingto take risks, to focus on the goal and drive awayfrom all distractions and easy ways out.

The race car driver’s sole passion is to completethe course as quickly as possible—wide open, footto the floor, pedal to the metal. Lap times aremeasured in thousandths of a second. How willour Christian lives be measured? Would that wecould live so passionately for the purposes of God.

Then brake. Later, we contemplated the purpose


by Sharon K. Williams and

David Wolfe

AA rraacciinngg aannaallooggyy ccaann hheellpp CChhrriissttiiaannss aanndd ccoonnggrreeggaattiioonnssrreefflleecctt oonn oouurr aapppprrooaacchh ttoo ffaaiitthh aanndd aaccttiioonn..

The challenge. It involves being willingto take risks, to focus on the goal anddrive away from all distractions andeasy ways out.

iStockphoto


We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed inwith troubles because we know how troubles can developpassionate patience in us and how that patience in turnforges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for what-ever God will do next.

shouting our praise” (Romans 5:1-5, The Message).There’s more to come: We continue to shout

our praise even when we’re hemmed in with trou-bles because we know how troubles can developpassionate patience in us and how that patience inturn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keepingus alert for whatever God will do next. In alertexpectancy such as this, we’re never left feelingshortchanged. On the contrary, we can’t round upenough containers to hold everything God gener-ously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.

So what kind of driver are you as it pertains toyour Christian life? Are you pursuing a “wide openuntil you see God” philosophy for your life? Or areyou tapping the brakes regularly, perhaps even onthe straightaway?

This discipline also applies to the church. Ifyour congregation is blessed to have even a few

wide-open people, do they often experience thedown drag of the rest who have a collective, heavyhand on the emergency brake? What are we miss-ing if we are not a “wide open until we see God”kind of congregation? It could make all the differ-ence between being a missional church or a main-tenance church.

Wide open faith, wide open prayer, wide openservice … until we see God. The analogies abound,and we hope they will engage your imagination,too. Brothers and sisters, start your engines.

Sharon K. Williams is a senior consultant withDesign For Ministry and a worship leader at NuevaVida Norristown New Life Mennonite Church inNorristown, Pa. David Wolfe is a member of theMadison Avenue Church of the Brethren in York,Pa. ©2005 Design For Ministry™

munity of faith, we must help each other rejoice inthe gift of life, while also providing accountability,forgiveness and healing when our lives sometimesseem broken.

Caring for our health is a part of being a trustedsteward of God’s grace. One man’s willingness toadapt wisely to his changing health situation is anexample of this kind of wise stewardship of health.Dennis LeFevre, an MMA counselor in Hesston,Kan., made a conscious effort to have regularcheckups and preventive tests as he approachedage 40. When he was diagnosed with high choles-terol, Dennis worked with his doctor to find a wayto improve his health. Together they decided thatDennis should try changing his diet and adding arunning regimen in his busy life.

In the first six months, Dennis saw his choles-terol drop, precluding the need for medication.And as an additional benefit of his hard work, helost about 20 pounds.

“It is a lifestyle change,” Dennis acknowledges.“I know I will always need to be active. If I’m not,the cholesterol could be a problem and there maybe a point in time when I can’t counteract thatanymore and have to take medication. It’s been apositive change.”

Dennis’ willingness to adapt wisely to hischanging health situation is an example to all of usof good stewardship. Since life is limited andhealth is finite, we must be the best guardians ofour well-being we can be, knowing that if we arefaithful, we can better serve and glorify God.

Roy E. Bronkema is a free-lance writer specializingin work for churches and Christian organizations.Roy and Nancy, his wife, reside in Niles, Mich. Nextmonth’s article will explore the holistic stewardshipof time.

Associated resources• Health-related educational materials are available at the MMA

Bookstore (http://bookstore.mma-online.org).

• Look for a local MMA Stewardship University event in your area at

MMA-online, under Education and resources.

• “Making your wishes known,” a resource on putting your medical care

wishes in writing, available at MMA-online under Insurance services.

• “The continuum of health insurance in the United States,” a resource on

increasing the understanding of various types of health insurance, available

at MMA-online, under Insurance services.

• “The gift of health,” an insert in the Summer 2005 issue of MMA’s

Sharing magazine, focusing on the gift of health and what it means to be a

good steward of our health.—Roy E. Bronkema

Maximize the gift continued from page 15

iStockphoto

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven ourdebtors.—Matthew 6:12

Reflecting on the past 11 years of being a chap-lain in prison ministry, I have discovered justhow powerful God’s Word is. One would

think that people would have made peace withGod by considering the sacrifice of his Son on thecross for our sins.

There should be no enmity within peopletoward God. By the wonderful fact of God’s lovefor us, new ways of thinkingshould be happening. A new per-spective could open our lives togreat spiritual moments. Weshould now begin to see othersthrough the eyes of Jesus.Others simply need to seeChristians trying to practiceGod’s principles, trying to moldour lives according to the truthin God’s words.

Wouldn’t it be great if gooddeeds could overwhelm all thebad ones? But the reverse seemsto be happening today. We’redrowning in a sea of lawlessnessand rebellion. Crimes growmore and more vicious.Lawlessness can violate anddestroy the most trusted rela-tionships.

Our society just tries to manage or confine the“perpetrators.” But wait a minute, what about allthose men and women behind prison walls? Isthere any hope for them? Once again the questioncomes: Am I my brother’s keeper? Thanks be toGod because there is good news. God’s Word canmake a difference even among men and womenwho have grown up without a clear sense of rightand wrong.

In prisons, during Bible study, I introduce theWord of God. By encountering God’s absolutetruth, hearts and minds are awakened. They seeprecisely what they have been doing wrong, howthey have been thinking wrong. God gains afoothold in their hearts and begins to transformthem. “I was naked and you gave my clothing, Iwas sick and you took care of me, I was in prisonand you visited me” (Matthew 25:36).

My heart becomes flooded with such joy when Ilook at all the names of inmates who accepted

Jesus as their Lord and Savior.So numerous are the names thatI can’t remember the faces, butGod can.

I receive letters from as faraway as the Medical Center forFederal Prisoners in Springfield,Mo., the Federal MaximumSecurity Prison in Waseca,Minn., the U.S. FederalPenitentiary in Leavenworth,Kan., the Federal TransferCenter in Oklahoma City and asnear as Tecumseh (Neb.) StateCorrectional Prison and Lincoln(Neb.) State Prison. On averageI receive four to five letters perweek. I answer them all by post-cards mailed to me by relativesfrom out of state. These post-cards allow the inmates to see

outside while inside.Paul said, “Let no despise your youth, but set

the believers an example in speech and conduct, inlove, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

I am often asked, “How do you handle whatmust be a really difficult job?” I answer that Godkeeps me supplied with a daily diet of his love andstrength to feed my faith. I have learned to placethe sins of the inmates on the shoulders of God,who has all the answers to any problems. I don’tjudge those to whom I minister; I am compelled tolove as Jesus did. Yes, Jesus hates our sins butloves the sinner.

Am I my brother’s keeper? My answer is no. Iam my brother’s brother. TM


S P E A K I N G O U T

Am I my brother’s keeper?

Bill Hartwell is

an ordained

prison chaplain

in Omaha, Neb.

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

• Thank you for zebra mussels, Asian ladybugs

and sharing?—Arthur Paul Boers

• Chattering monkeys, trembling hands and loving

embraces—Anita Cleeton Greening

• The first Christmas song—Jan Johnson

We should now beginto see others through

the eyes of Jesus.Others simply need tosee Christians trying

to practice God’s principles, trying to

mold our lives according to the truth

in God’s words.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessar-

ily represent the official positions of The Mennonite, the

board for The Mennonite, Inc., or Mennonite Church USA.


Mennonite Church USA has begun a two-yearstudy of members from 120 congregations;it is called Church Member Profile 2006.

The study, which will also evaluate two otherAnabaptist denominations—Church of theBrethren and Brethren in Christ—will serve as afollow-up to surveys done in 1972 and 1989.

The primary goal is to collect data on churchmembers’ beliefs and opinions and whether orhow they have changed since 1972 and 1989.Those leading the study also hope to gain insightinto Mennonite Church USA’s increasing numberof racial-ethnic members and congregations.

Conrad L. Kanagy, associate professor of sociol-ogy at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and anordained minister in Lancaster (Pa.) MennoniteConference, will direct the study of MennoniteChurch USA congregations. The Young Center ofElizabethtown College will conduct the survey,and Donald B. Kraybill will serve as senior projectdirector. Carl Bowman will direct the study for theChurch of the Brethren.

“We can use this to capture 35 years of change,”Kanagy says. “A lot has happened since that lastsurvey in 1989; this study will give us a sense ofwhere people are as well as where we are going asa church. This is a significant opportunity to get apicture of the church.”

By evaluating how members’ opinions havechanged since 1972, Kanagy said churchwide lead-ers—ranging from the executive director to con-ference ministers and congregational pastors—willbe able to examine what the denomination’s futurewill or should look like. The study’s findings willbe presented at San Jose 2007, and at least onebook may be written on the data collected.

The questionnaire for Church Member Profile2006 was created after consultation with more than100 people across the denomination includingscholars, conference ministers, agency leaders andpastors. It includes questions about each respon-dent’s faith story, devotional practices, religiousbeliefs, family life and background, congregationalinvolvement, evangelism, political views and more.Questions from previous surveys also will beincluded.

More than 3,000 members from 120 congrega-tions will receive the questionnaire in mid-February. The sample was randomly selected fromcongregational membership lists, and between 15and 30 people were chosen from each congrega-tion, depending on its size. The study includescongregations of various sizes and from each ofMennonite Church USA’s 21 area conferences.

The project includes an intentional effort to sur-

vey members of Mennonite Church USA’s racial-ethnic congregations. They represent 18 percentof the denomination’s congregations, and mem-bers have been underrepresented in previous sur-veys.

“Some of the largest and most rapidly growingcongregations in Mennonite Church USA are theracial-ethnic congregations,” Kanagy says. “Yetknowledge about our brothers and sisters in thesecongregations is often fairly limited.”

Kanagy is hopeful the study’s results will enablethe denomination to understand and hear the sto-ries of God’s work among those congregations aswell as “bring about forums for developing newconversations and strengthening relationshipsacross racial-ethnic boundaries that remain in thechurch.”

“My prayer is that the responses of members tothis survey will help provide clarity and directionfor pastors, congregations, area conferences andagencies who are discerning God’s plans and pur-poses in this new century. I trust that God’s Spiritwill use this project to provide new insights, sharp-en our sense of identity and motivate each of us todo our part as we move toward the fulfillment ofGod’s reign,” Kanagy says.

Nearly 35 years ago, Howard Kauffman andLeland Harder opened a new window of under-standing into Mennonite faith and practicethrough their survey of members in fiveAnabaptist denominations. Conducted in 1972,their study was entitled Church Member Profile I.Along with Leo Driedger, they repeated the studyin 1989. Major findings of both projects were pub-lished by Herald Press as Anabaptists FourCenturies Later: A Profile of Five Mennonite andBrethren in Christ Denominations (1975) and TheMennonite Mosaic: Identity and Modernization(1991).—Mennonite Church USA

Massive survey to study MC USA beliefsChurch Member Profile 2006 follows research conducted in 1972 and 1989.

What’s changed since 1972?Changes among North American Mennonites since 1972, the date of the first

Church Member Profile, include the integration of the General Conference

Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church to create Mennonite Church

USA and Mennonite Church Canada. About 25 percent of current Mennonite

Church USA congregations joined or have been founded since 1972, and

other congregations have left Mennonite Church USA since its formation.

Generational change is another significant factor. Some respondents who

were part of the earlier surveys are deceased and have been replaced by

their children and grandchildren. For example, Baby boomers who answered

the first Church Member Profile Survey in 1972 are now approaching or

entering retirement. The fastest growing part of Mennonite Church USA is

racial-ethnic congregations. It’s a population that for the most part has

joined the denomination since 1972. Racial/ethnic congregations now repre-

sent about 18 percent of all Mennonite Church USA congregations.

—Mennonite Church USA

A lot has happenedsince that last survey in 1989;this study will give us a sense ofwhere peopleare as well aswhere we aregoing as achurch.—ConradKanagy


John Clark, 49, has been homeless, without avehicle at times, without adequate funds andoften hospitalized with bipolar disorder and

chemical sensitivities following an on-the-job injuryin 1989. On New Year’s Day, he watchedMennonite Mission Network’s Shadow Voices:Finding Hope in Mental Illness documentary onABC-TV.

Clark could relate. He ordered a copy of theprogram and then wrote a follow-up letter.

“Like all the mental-health problems men-tioned,” Clark said, “and the people shown on yourprogram, my disability problems are debilitatingand frustrating as well.”

He wants to learn more from the video so hecan advocate for people with mental-health impactsand disabilities.

To date, more than 800 viewers (and somerespondents who have only heard of the programby word of mouth or on the Internet) have beenmoved enough by the Mennonite Media-producedprogram to order a DVD or VHS copy for them-selves. Almost 150 have posted their own story onthe program’s Web site, www.ShadowVoices.com.

Hundreds more (not tabulated) calledMennonite Media’s toll-free number just to talk orget information. Staff members answered phonecalls live at the close of most of the releases—including New Year’s Day and many Sundays—sothat people might connect with a real person whenthey call.

After viewing Shadow Voices (aired at varioustimes at the discretion of local stations), manycallers wanted to talk at length and tell their sto-ries. Some broke down, such as one woman whosaid, “This is the first time I’ve ever talked tosomeone about my illness.”

At the program’s Web site, a man named Garyresponded to another woman who had writtenabout her depression and just “waiting to die.” Thewoman responded to Gary, thanking him for hisencouragement, which he in turn shared withMennonite Media.

A woman in New York state found out about theprogram online, emailed a note and then phoned.She desperately wanted to find a Mennonitechurch in her area, about an hour north ofManhattan. Staff members sent her informationabout the closest churches in Pennsylvania.

“I want to thank you for reaching out to familiesin this way,” she said repeatedly.

A man named Ross emailed saying: “I can’t real-ly remember the last time I said thank you tosomeone. I’m bipolar and tried suicide five yearsago. I saw your TV special [and] for the first time,I smiled and cried. Finally someone knows what Ifeel like, and I know it’s not just me. It is such ataboo subject, and my friends, very few now, darenot even bring it up.”

Burton Buller, director of Mennonite Media,says the response was gratifying, especially “aftera year of intensive work, to have over 70 percent ofABC local stations air the program for free andviewers responding like John Clark.”

Clark compares his injury to the same type thatan unsupervised child might incur by inhaling tox-icants from paint cans or aerosols, causing braininjury or death. Living in an Illinois-run apartmentfor senior citizens and the disabled, and living on amonthly disability payment, Clark said he is adjust-ing to living slowly in a world set to warp 10.

“It has been a slow and painful journey of dis-covery, discouragement and depression, but alsofilled with hope, abilities, vision, potential, continu-ing hard work—blood, sweat and tears,” Clarksaid.

“I live an austere, close-to-poverty lifestyle, asmany mental health and disability-impacted peopledo. I have gone hungry many times, at one pointgrowing and eating snails [when he lived in awarmer climate] for protein.”

Now he grows a garden to help provide food forthe Rockford (Ill.) Rescue Mission and works at avariety of hobbies, including some level of profi-ciency on seven musical instruments.

Callers wanting to connect with professionalhelp or support groups were referred to NationalAlliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 888-999-6264,a national advocacy group that consulted withMennonite Media throughout the production ofthe documentary.—Melodie Davis of MennoniteMission Network

ABC-TV airs mental health programResponse overwhelms staff at Mennonite Media in Harrisonburg, Va.

Correction:Mennonite

Publishing

Network raised

about $85,000 by

the end of

November 2005

for new Sunday

school curriculum

development.

The amount

reported in a Dec.

20, 2005, article

was incorrect.

Lois Hertzler

responds to

callers at Menno-

nite Media after

releases of the

Shadow Voices:Finding Hope inMental Illnessdocumentary on

ABC-TV.

Way

ne G

ehm

an


As soon as he learned of the ravages ofHurricane Katrina, Leonard Burkholderwanted to go south. Through his Eastern

Mennonite Missions work with the Asian commu-nity in northern U.S. cities, he had numerous con-nections to the hard-hit Vietnamese, Laotian andCambodian communities clustered in the low-lyingareas of the Gulf Coast. Burkholder serves asEMM field staff for language group churches,based in EMM’s offices in Salunga, Pa.

Burkholder proposed a sabbatical that wouldtake him south with time to reach out to Asiansaffected by the disaster. His EMM administratorsscratched the sabbatical plans, but blessed hismove to work in Alabama and Mississippi at theinvitation of Good News Fellowship (GNF), anEMM partner conference.

From mid-October 2005 through January,Burkholder and his wife, Anna Mary, lived in anapartment owned by a member of Way of LifeCommunity Fellowship, a GNF church in Mobile,Ala., and connected with local Asian communities.

“The devastation is absolutely shocking andindescribable,” Burkholder says. “And in the midstof the wider disaster, the Vietnamese are a forgot-ten community. Many are desperately poor. Somewere brought over illegally to work in the shrimp-ing industry and cannot access federal assistance,[which] is, of course, limited.”

He cited the example of numerous landed fish-ing boats. The cost for transporting the huge ves-sels four to five blocks back to the sea is rumoredto be $60,000 plus—a cost that is not covered byfederal funding.

As the Burkholders networked with local Asianchurches and communities, they focused theirefforts in Bayou La Batre, a fishing village 30miles south of Mobile. Katrina’s storm surge inBayou La Batre reached 12 to 13 feet. In the townof 6,000, one third of the people are Asian, mostlyVietnamese.

The Burkholders put a lot of energy into plan-ning a special Christmas and New Year’s celebra-tion for the local Asian community.

“Our purpose is to introduce Jesus Christ as thehealer,” Leonard says. “There is a spirit of discour-agement and depression within the communityhere. Our hope and prayer is that by lifting Jesusup, he will break strongholds and draw people tohimself.”

During the week between Christmas and NewYear’s Day, a team of 19 from the VietnameseAmerican Mennonite Church of Delaware wentsouth to assist with work projects and the celebra-tion. They split into three groups. While one group

rebuilt a house that had had water up to the ceil-ing, another group set up for the celebration, andanother produced nearly 500 egg rolls, mounds ofnoodles and other New Year’s delicacies for themore than 50 guests who showed up eachevening.

After the celebration, which included livelymusic and an evangelistic message, the ministryteam received 23 response cards from guests whoindicated that they wanted to learn more aboutGod.

In the weeks following the celebration, Leonardand Anna Mary visited the homes of people whohad filled out response cards. They also offeredgifts of the Jesus film on DVD in severalVietnamese languages.

Burkholder says he is hoping and praying that aVietnamese pastor will be able to continue follow-ing up the relationships they’ve been able to estab-lish during their southern sojourn.

“Although I’m not officially on sabbatical, I’veenjoyed the change of pace that allows me to focuson evangelism and the initial steps of a possiblechurch plant,” Burkholder says.

Bayou La Batre has three Buddhist temples butno evangelical Vietnamese church. Regardless ofwhether their work results in an actual churchplant, Burkholder says their time in the South hashelped strengthen ties with GNF and create good-will within the Asian community.—Jewel Showalterof Eastern Mennonite Missions

Burkholders minister to Katrina victimsEastern Mennonite Missions workers connect with Asian communities.

Lam Nguyen, a

member of a

group from

Delaware, deep-

fried some of the

500 egg rolls out-

side the Way of

Life Community

Church in Mobile,

Ala.

Leonard Burkholder

TheVietnameseare a forgottencommunity.Many are desperatelypoor.—LeonardBurkholder


It sounds so obvious and necessary, but it is sodifficult to achieve. The need to spend regulartime in contemplation, reflection, rest and com-

muning with God amid busy schedules was under-scored repeatedly at the annual School for Leader-ship Training held Jan. 16-19 at Eastern Menno-nite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va.

Some 250 pastors, lay leaders and seminary stu-dents attended corporate sessions and classesaround the theme, “Embodying God’s Wholenessin a Frenzied World,” based on texts from theGospel of John.

In three messages, principal speaker DuaneBeck, pastor of Raleigh (N.C.) Mennonite Church,

reflected on differences between “being busy andbeing fruitful” in pastoral ministry.

Beck, former lead pastor of Belmont MennoniteChurch in Elkhart, Ind., for 21 years, opened eachsession with corporate “stretching exercises”aimed at helping participants reach toward andbless God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and bringfresh awareness of their empowering presence.

“What do we do when things become frantic inour lives?” Beck asked. “Those things that canhelp us change for the better—quiet reflection,contemplation and communion with God—fall bythe wayside.”

Beck stressed the need for people to undergo“pruning processes” in order to become more pro-ductive and fruitful, noting that “the more we dealwith the unredeemed areas of our lives the morewe can experience God’s healing and grace in ourlives.”

Beck quoted author Leslie Newbigin: “The min-ister’s leadership of the congregation in its missionto the world will be first and foremost in the areaof his or her own discipleship, in that life of prayerand daily consecration … is the place where theessential battles are either won or lost.”

“Pay attention to [what’s happening] in yourdaily lives,” he advised. “Let your bodies catch upwith your souls in order to embody God. Ourinner lives need to dwell where Jesus dwells.Staying near God’s heart shapes and transformsus as ministers. Go back to your baptismal call andreceive it anew. Know that God loves you andreflect on the awareness that ‘you are my belovedchild.’ ”

Beck recommended developing a personal calland mission statement as a framework for regularspiritual disciplines that include meditation onScripture, prayer and a regular period of retreatand acquiring a spiritual director or mentor.

Judy Zook, pastor of New Holland (Pa.)Mennonite Church, affirmed the conferenceemphasis on “abiding in Jesus,” noting that min-istry flows from establishing boundaries of quietspace with God that empowers pastors to live in afrenzied world with the peace and joy of God’sholy presence in their lives.

“I was renewed and energized,” said SamThomas, pastor of Landisville (Pa.) MennoniteChurch, “to continue being an ambassador of thegospel of Christ by the profound reminder that inmy baptism, God’s Spirit came upon me and I wasnamed God’s beloved. Renewed in God’s love forme, I’ve been renewed to embody that love toothers.”—Jim Bishop of Eastern MennoniteUniversity

Leaders are reminded to rest and prayEastern Mennonite Seminary event focuses on spiritual disciplines.

MLK Day Celebration

Martin Luther King Jr.’s primary

message “was more about repentance

and reconciliation than about a dream,”

declared Cheryl Sanders, senior pastor

of the Third Street Church of God in

Washington and professor of Christian

ethics at Howard University School of

Divinity. We begin at the wrong place—

with [King’s] dream rather than with his

call to repent and be reconciled to God

and each other, said Sanders on Jan. 16

at the opening session of the annual

School for Leadership Training at

Eastern Mennonite Seminary,

Harrisonburg, Va.—Jim Bishop ofEastern Mennonite University

School for

Leadership

Training speaker

Duane Beck

stresses the need

for practicing

spiritual disci-

plines as a vehicle

for transforma-

tion in pastoral

ministry.

Jim

Bis

hop

Jim

Bis

hop


In the spring of 2004, Mennonite Church BritishColumbia (MCBC) began a discernmentprocess regarding the desire of some congrega-

tions to be provincially active only. And a five-yearagreement between MCBC and MennoniteChurch Canada to offer provincially active onlystatus on a trial basis will expire in 2006.

MC Canada’s General Board has given thisissue top priority for its newly formed Faith andLife Committee. The group is working to have arecommendation available for testing by delegatesat Edmonton 2006—the next time representativesfrom congregations across Canada will meet.

Rudy Baergen, chair of the Faith and LifeCommittee and pastor at Bethel MennoniteChurch in Winnipeg, wants to apply theologicalrigor to the question. Baergen is keenly aware ofthe need for congregations to be and feel heard.

“We need to respect congregations that chal-lenge the wider church,” Baergen says.

One of the screens the committee will apply tothe discernment process will be to identify paral-lels between congregational and wider churchmembership. For example, members of the samecongregation may not all agree on everything butcan still be in communion with one another.

But even the word membership has baggage,says Lorin Bergen, pastor at Living Hope, Surrey,B.C., a congregation with a membership predomi-nantly under age 50.

“With that demographic,” says Bergen. “wehave clearly seen a hesitancy to become a memberon paper of the church. There is a question ofWhy is membership important? I am coming here;I am putting myself under the authority andaccountability of the church; I’m going to a smallgroup regularly, I am ministering and using mygifts. … We’ve got people who aren’t memberswho are more committed than members. We’reseeing a move away from official membership.”

George Hoeppner, pastor at First MennoniteChurch Greendale, Chilliwack, B.C., concurs withBergen. He says that while some older membersin his congregation lament the loss of being con-nected to a wider church body, “the younger gen-eration is not tied to anything as far as denomina-tion goes.”

Practical reasons for belonging to a widerchurch body at the denominational level includeconsiderations such as benefits (e.g., pensionplan) for pastors and congregational staff, teachingresources, Sunday school curriculum and opportu-nities to engage in international ministries. But theyounger demographic is more likely to researchand use supports from a wide range of sources

outside the denomination—easy to do in theInternet information age.

Although such thinking can help broaden per-spectives beyond the Mennonite body, Baergensays, there can be risks.

“I’ve seen that in Colombia,” says Baergen,“[where] independent churches run into seriousdifficulties because they are drinking from somany different wells they get this total mixture oftheological understandings within their congrega-tion, and when they develop a problem or crisis it’sreally difficult to resolve because you’re just notunified in anything and you don’t have any com-mon ground to stand on.”

Baergen says the discernment of a wider bodyoffers some comfort. “If we can develop a sense oftrust with one another in the wider church, thenperhaps we don’t need to feel as though every con-gregation needs to wrestle alone with every issuethat comes along. The question is, Are we betteroff to work at this as part of a larger body?”

Indeed, there is doubt about the trust issue.Lorin Bergen says the homosexuality issue is asymptom of deeper disillusionment with thedenomination and its polity.

“There is an incredible lack of trust in leader-ship and a real dissatisfaction with the polity thatwe have in MC Canada,” he says. “We find it fairlyalarming that our MC Canada leaders can’t ap-proach a church—using the example in Ontario—about a clear break in our confession of faith be-cause that would be stepping on the toes ofMennonite Church of Eastern Canada, and peoplewould be saying … ‘I just can’t understand that.’ ”

Baergen acknowledges the accountability andauthority issue—and how wearisome it must getfor a handful of congregations to be the little fishswimming upstream in a big river. On the otherhand, he says, “If we disagree on something, weneed to hang in there and keep on insisting thatthis is wrong, we don’t agree, why are we doing itthis way? That’s the accountable thing to do.”

A significant part of the committee’s work willbe studying and discerning what Scripture saysabout followers belonging to a wider discerningcommunity of believers. There is some biblical evi-dence to support the notion of being one body andholding on to unity, if not official membership,says Baergen.

It’s hard and sometimes painful work, whetherchurches leave the wider communion or committo stay with a long view of working at disagree-ments. Finding respectful ways of dealing withboth circumstances is another part of the chal-lenge.—Dan Dyck for Mennonite Church Canada

MC Canada looks at membership issuesSome congregations want to be active in provincial body, not national church.

Rudy Baergen

There is an incrediblelack of trust in leadershipand a real dissatisfactionwith the polity that we have in MC Canada.—LorinBergen


After 46 years and waves of history to wadethrough, it’s hard to remember details ofMartin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Bethel

College, North Newton, Kan., on Jan. 21, 1960.Nevertheless, people who were there say he leftan indelible impression. Many had their memoriesstirred when Mark McCormick, a columnist forthe Wichita Eagle, wrote about King’s visit toBethel in his column on Jan. 15—King’s birthday.

Blanche Spaulding of North Newton is thewidow of former economics professor J. LloydSpaulding. Spaulding chaired the committee thatplanned the Memorial Hall Series that broughtKing to Bethel.

“Lloyd was an enthusiastic supporter and fol-lower of Dr. King’s work,” Spaulding says. Sincethose were the early days of the civil rights move-ment in the United States, and since King was notyet widely known, she thinks it was probably herhusband’s personal interest in King that helpedput him on the Memorial Hall Series roster.

Like many of those who remember being at thefaculty and board dinner for King the evening ofJan. 21, 1960, and his speech following, Spauldingrecalls few details.

“It was an occasion,” she says. “ It was one ofthe high points of our time at Bethel.”

John O. Schrag, North Newton, was chair of theBethel College board at the time. He and his wife,Esther, sat on either side of King at the dinner,held in the basement of Memorial Hall, which wasthen the dining hall.

“I have vivid memories of having that access tohim” Schrag says. “I’d forgotten how much ani-mosity there was” in the wider community towardKing.

“I remember the enthusiasm at Bethel [for hiscoming] but also the question: What will happen?”says Spaulding.

By all accounts the event went smoothly.

According to the 1960 Bethel College yearbook,King’s “forceful lecture, in which he stressed theimportance of love and nonviolence in the futureof the Negro movement toward equality and jus-tice, was well received by a full house in MemorialHall.”—Melanie Zuercher of Bethel College

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Go ahead –raise the roof

Lenten worship videosDeepen your Lenten journey with short stories of anger, pain and redemption. Look for these worshipful presentations on a DVD mailed to congregations in January.

For a preview and related resources, visit www.MennoniteMission.net/Resources

Together, sharing all of Christ with all of creation

Photo by Mark Wassar

Bethel College remembers King visitFormer board chair remembers animosity in the Newton, Kan., community.

A gospel choir made up of community members and Bethel

College students sang as part of the college’s annual cele-

bration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (left to right):

Keith Hiebner, Kiara Sterling (front), Morgan McCray, Bridget

Kratzer, Chelsea Hahn and Sara Dick.

[MartinLuther King Jr.] stressed the importanceof love andnonviolencein the futureof the Negromovementtowardequality andjustice.—BethelCollege yearbook

Vada Snider

C A L E N D A RA reunion of all missionaries who have

served in Japan under Mennonite andrelated mission boards is being held atCamp Mack, Milford, Ind., May 17-19. Call574-534-1783 for further information.

Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society,27th Annual Lancaster Family History

Conference for Genealogists and Family

Historians, March 31-April 1, Lancaster,Pa. For more information, contact 717-393-9745 or [email protected]. Visit online atwww.lmhs.org.

W O R K E R SBrubaker, Shirley Yoder, was installedJan. 8 as interim pastor at Carpenter ParkMennonite Church, Davidsville, Pa.

Jantzi, Beryl, ended Dec. 31, 2005, as pas-tor at Harrisonburg (Va.) MennoniteChurch. He began with Mennonite MutualAid in January.

B I R T H S & A D O P T I O N SGeiser, Jethro David, Sept. 20, 2005, toOlin and Karen Gerber Geiser, Dalton, Ohio.

Helmuth, Emma Palida, Nov. 7, 2004,recieved for adoption Jan. 10, by Todd andRebecca Helmuth, New Paris, Ind.

Helmuth, Sienna Rose, Dec. 22, 2005, toTodd and Lisa Mullett Helmuth, Sarasota,Fla.

Hicks, Gracyn Taphena, Dec. 23, 2005, toTommy and Shawny Nelsen Hicks,Dorchester, Neb.

King, Caleb Edward, Dec. 5, 2005, to Jimand Angel Fessler King, Bellefontaine, Ohio.

Maury, Mikayla Joy, Dec. 28, 2005, toDoug and Elizabeth Heatwole Maury,Hesston, Kan.

Morris, Regan Olivia, Jan. 19, to Steveand Sharon Faul Morris, Hutchinson, Kan.

Roth, Gannon Heiland, Nov. 9, 2005, toLandon and Alicia Heiland Roth, KansasCity, Kan.

Schrag, Ava Joleen, Nov. 6, 2005, to MylesSchrag and Shelley Smithson, Urbana, Ill.

Shelly, Brandt Victor, Jan. 18, to Jasonand Renita Bergey Shelly, Telford, Pa.

Steiner, Isaac Ray, Jan. 23, to Rob andSarah Burkholder Steiner, Goshen, Ind.

Stoltzfus, Shania Noel, Dec. 25, 2005, toDaryl and Kimberly Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa.

Yoder, Caitlyn Elizabeth, Oct. 16, 2005, toJustin and Corrie Gardner Yoder, Orrville,Ohio.

Yordy, Luke Jonathan, Dec. 28, 2005, toEric and Kristy Shellenberger Yordy,Goshen, Ind.

M A R R I A G E SAbdul/Willer: Jonathan Abdul, Hartville,Ohio, and Alana Willer, Canal Fulton, Ohio,Jan. 7 at Hartville Mennonite Church.

Fransen/Weidner: Kay Fransen, Cincinnati,Ohio, and Mark Weidner, Cincinnati, Jan.14 at Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship.

Gerber/Stice: Sonya Gerber, Kidron, Ohio,and Nicholas Stice, Westville, Okla., Nov. 19,2005, at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church,Kidron.

Gingrich/Wenden: Michelle Gingrich,Mountville, Pa., and Chris Wenden,Sydney, Australia, Jan. 14 at Landisville(Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Graves/Spaulding: Brian Graves, Auburn,Ind., and Heidi Spaulding, Auburn, Sept.17, 2005, at Maplewood MennoniteChurch, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Keene/Walker: Debbie Keene, Columbus,Ohio, and Christopher Walker, Dayton,Ohio, Oct. 15, 2005, at Columbus Menno-nite Church.

Longenecker/Webel: Christopher Longe-necker, Bellefontaine, Ohio, and AllisonWebel, Youngstown, Ohio, Dec. 3, 2005, atColumbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Mereness/Schrock: Ann Mereness,Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jeff Schrock,Wakarusa, Ind., Nov. 12, 2005, atColumbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Monzon Paz/Stoltzfus: Marco MonzonPaz, San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala,and Jessi Stoltzfus, Lakewood, Colo., Dec.3, 2005, in San Marcos La Laguna.

Paulson/Schmell: Robert Simeon Paulson,Cassopolis, Mich., and Rebekah LeeSchmell, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Dec. 30, 2005, atMaplewood Mennonite Church, Ft. Wayne.

D E A T H SAmstutz, Sidney, 64, Elkhart, Ind., diedJan. 1 of a heart attack. Parents: Rufus andClara Amstutz. Funeral: Jan. 6 at Kidron(Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Bucher, Mildred L., 78, Salunga, Pa., diedDec. 9, 2005, of Parkinson’s. Spouse: JohnC. Bucher. Parents: Harvey and SusanAlderfer. Children: John Paul, Kenneth,Ruth Mellinger, Nancy Rotfort; 12 grand-children; four great-grandchildren.Funeral: Dec. 12, 2005, at ErismanMennonite Church, Manheim, Pa.

Buller, Harold W., 83, Beatrice, Neb., diedJan. 4. Spouse; Anne Wiebe Buller. Parents:Peter J. and Anna Wiens Bulller. Children:Paul, Glenn, Mary Ann Triller; four grand-children. Funeral: Jan. 7 at First MennoniteChurch, Beatrice.

Chaika, Sylvia I., 74, Robbinsdale, Minn.,died Jan. 5. Spouse: Kenneth Chaika(deceased). Parents: Henry M. andAganetha Harder. Children: CynthiaRoberts, Kenny; one grandchild; threegreat-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 10 atFirst Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake,Minn.


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

“For The Record”lists obituaries for

those who died

during the past

three months.

Additional

information

about the

deceased may be

submitted to

The Mennonite at

www.TheMenno-

nite.org. We will

forward all infor-

mation to

MennObits, the

research Web site

sponsored by

the Historical

Committee of

Mennonite

Church USA. To

receive the

obituary form as

an MS Word

document, email

Editor@themen-

nonite.org.

To receive a

paper copy of

the obituary

form, call 574-

535-6053.

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Claassen, Marie M. Jantzen, 99, Salina,Kan., died Jan. 4. Spouse: John P. Claassen(deceased). Parents: Cornelius and AnnaEnsz Jantzen. Children: Doris Locke, EllenBerger, Judith Goertzen; seven grandchil-dren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan.9 at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice.

Esh, Virginia May Smucker, 84, Columbus,Ohio, died Dec. 22, 2005. Parents: Clarenceand Clara Martin Smucker. Children:Samuel, Ellen Wiseman, Steven; fivegrandchildren. Memorial service: Jan. 2 atColumbus Mennonite Church.

Jackson, Joyce B., 70, Wellsville, N.Y., diedNov. 10, 2005. Spouse: Millard U. Jackson.Parents: James and Flossie S. Brownell.Children: Richard, Denis, Suzanne Mix,Andrew; seven grandchildren. Funeral:Nov. 13 at Yorks Corners MennoniteChurch, Wellsville.

Keyser, Alma Koffel, 85, Souderton, Pa.,died Nov. 19, 2005. Parents: Nathan andAnna Mary Keyser. Funeral: Nov. 22, 2005,at Souderton Mennonite Homes.

King, Floyd Robert, 72, Belleville, Pa.,died Jan. 13. Spouse: Orpha Stoltzfus King.Parents: Cletus and Mary Leah Yoder King.Children: Floyd Robert Jr., Judith EllenBender; four grandchildren. Funeral: Jan.17 at Maple Grove Mennonite Church,Belleville, Pa.

Kirkton, Hugh Max, 83, Chenoa, Ill., diedJan. 10. Spouse: June Oyer Kirkton.Parents: Hugh and Jeannetta DruryKirkton. Children: Sharon Hughes, James,Dean, Rick; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 13 atMeadows Mennonite Church, Chenoa.

Krauter, Vesta May Lowenberg, 84,Donnellson, Iowa, died Jan. 3 due to com-plications from pneumonia. Spouse:Christian Frederick Krauter (deceased).Parents: Edward J. and Lydia R. HandrichLowenberg. Children: Edward, Kristi Keller,Stephen, Donna Vogel; 10 grandchildren;one great-grandchild. Funeral: Jan. 6 atZion Mennonite Church, Donnellson.

Kraybill, Orpha E., 95, Lancaster, Pa., diedJan. 7. Spouse: Norman R. Kraybill(deceased). Parents: David and MinnieWitmer Erb. Children: Harold, Helen Miller,Herbert; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 13 atElizabethtown (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Landis, Howard D., 64, Lebanon, Ore.,died Dec. 18, 2005. Spouse: Joan Landis.Parents: Louis and Ruth Landis. Children:Becky Savage, Amy Dannen, Kevin; sixgrandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 21, 2005, atLebanon Mennonite Church.

Landis, I. Marvin, 90, Lancaster, Pa., diedJan. 15. Spouse: Anna Mae Landis. Parents:Phares B. and Martha Landis Groff.Funeral: Jan. 19 at Forest Hills MennoniteChurch, Leola.

Landis, Ruth Shank, 90, Albany, Ore., diedJan. 6. Spouse: Louis Landis (deceased).Parents: Eli and Esther Lapp Shank.Children: Rosalee McElmurry, Lois Justus,Esther Hofer, George; 14 grandchildren; 22great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: Jan. 10 in Albany.

Leatherman, Ida Mae Brunk, 89,Waynesboro, Va., died Dec. 7, 2005, of can-cer. Spouse: Richard Wismer Leatherman(deceased). Parents: Samuel H. and MollieW. Brunk. Children: Betty See, Richard; 10grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 14, 2005, atFirst Mennonite Church, Richmond, Va.

Lyndaker, Leslie R., 85, Croghan, N.Y.,died Jan. 19. Spouse: Vera LehmanLyndaker. Parents: Joseph and SarahYousey Lyndaker. Children: Vernon, Marlin;five grandchildren; six great-grandchil-dren. Funeral: Jan. 22 at First MennoniteChurch of New Bremen, Lowville, N.Y.

Mast, Elvin, 45, Parkesburg, Pa., died Dec.28, 2005, of multiple myeloma. Spouse:Carol J. Blank Mast. Parents: Elmer andBarbara Stoltzfus Mast. Children: Kim,Keith. Funeral: Dec. 31, 2005, at MapleGrove Mennonite Church, Atglen, Pa.

Nissley, Vera Becker, 78, Manheim, Pa.,died Nov. 10, 2005. Spouse: Clayton R.Nissley. Parents: Jacob and Mary Becker.Children: John D., Jay W., Barbara NissleyGood, Mary Ellen August; 13 grandchil-dren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral:Nov. 14 at Erisman Mennonite Church,Manheim.

Nolt, Miles O., 89, Manheim, Pa., died Oct.31, 2005. Spouse: Irene E. Nolt. Parents:Clayton and Lizzie Nolt. Children: Fay E.Landis, Glenn E., Clair E., Dale E.; ninegrandchildren; six great-grandchildren.Funeral: Nov. 4 at Erisman MennoniteChurch, Manheim.

Obold, Eleanor A. Diefenderfer, 87,Hesston, Kan., died Jan. 9. Spouse: JamesFrederick Obold (deceased). Parents:James T. and Elise Troelsch Diefenderfer.Children: Fred, Kathryn OboldHunsberger; four grandchildren; sevengreat-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 12 atSchowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston.

Roggie, Pearl N., 80, Croghan, N.Y., diedJan. 19. Parents: John and Anna HershRoggie. Funeral: Jan. 23 at CroghanConservative Mennonite Church.

Roth, Clarence Daniel, 88, Archbold,Ohio, died Jan. 7. Spouse: Marjorie Roth.Parents: Enos and Fannie Roth. Children:Joyce, Lonnie; four grandchildren; 13great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 10 atFairlawn Chapel, Archbold.



AssociatedMennoniteBiblicalSeminary

Elkhart, IN 465171 + 800 964-2627

More than 20 offerings!

Principles of Youth Ministry

Andy Brubacher Kaethler, M.A.; May 26–June 2

Anabaptist History and Theology

Karl Koop, Ph.D.; May 30–June 16

Seminar in Theology: Faith, Film, Fiction

Gayle Gerber Koontz, Ph.D.; June 5–16

Turnaround Strategies for the Local Church

Art McPhee, Ph.D.; June 12–18

Celebrating Christian Ritual in Worship

Marlene Kropf, D.Min; June Alliman Yoder, D.Min; July 31–August 11

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

Jon Hoover, Ph.D.; and Jacqueline Hoover, M.A.; July 5–14

Vision, Identity, and Task: Studies in Ephesians

Tom Yoder Neufeld, Ph.D.; August 4–11

See details at www.ambs.edu

AMBS–Great Plains: www.ambs.edu/GreatPlains

Winnipeg, Man.: www.ambs.ca/WCMS

Contact: [email protected].

Check outoursummercourses

“For The Record“ lists

obituaries for those

who died during the

past three months.

Additional informa-

tion about the

deceased may be

submitted to

The Mennonite at

www.TheMenno-

nite.org. We will for-

ward all information

to MennObits, the

research Web site

sponsored by the

Historical Committee

of Mennonite Church

USA. To receive the

obituary form as an

MS Word document,

email Editor@the-

mennonite.org.

To receive a paper

copy of the obituary

form, call 574-535-

6053.

Ropp, Ardith Hershberger, 80, Kalona,Iowa, died Jan. 4. Spouse: Ernie G. Ropp(deceased). Parents: Samuel and CoraBrenneman Hershberger. Children: Phil,Myron, Warren; seven grandchildren; sixgreat-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 7 atKalona Mennonite Church.

Rufenacht, Maynard E., 83, Archbold,Ohio, died Jan. 21. Spouse: (1st) ElverdaNofziger (deceased), (2nd) BerniceNofziger. Parents: Elias and LouisaAschliman Rufenacht. Children: JeanHartzler, Jim, Corwin, Terry, Lonnie; 11grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.Memorial service: Jan. 25 at West Clinton(Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Rupp, Marie Flaming, 98, Westminster,Colo., died Dec. 26, 2005. Spouse: Carl H.Rupp (deceased). Parents: Peter andAganetha Flaming. Children: Carla, Larry;three grandchildren; one great grandchild.Funeral: Jan. 1 at West Zion MennoniteChurch, Moundridge, Kan.

Snyder, Lula H., 83, Elkhart, Ind., died Jan.14 of cancer. Spouse: William Snyder(deceased). Parents: Charles and LauraHahn. Children: Marlene Hartman, ElaineYoder, Duane; nine grandchildren; 18great grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 18 atOlive Mennonite Church, Elkhart.

Stockton, Lorraine M., 96, West Liberty,Ohio, died Jan. 11. Spouse: John M.Stockton (deceased). Parents: James andNellie Flynn Maley. Child: Patricia Zook;three grandchildren; two great-grandchil-dren. Funeral: Jan. 15 at Bethel MennoniteChurch, West Liberty, Ohio.

Stutzman, Lester S., 96, Milford, Neb.,died Dec. 28, 2005. Spouse: VelmaStutzman. Parents: Sanford and LizzieKhuns Stutzman. Children: Richard,Dorothy; 10 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchil-dren. Funeral: Dec. 31 at BellwoodMennonite Church, Milford.

Vercler, Wayne Weldon, 90, Washington,Ill., died Jan 14. Spouse: Edna Vercler.Parents: Christian and Susan WagnerVercler. Child: Richard; four grandchildren;six great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 18 atCalvary Mennonite Church, Washington.

Weaver, Dorothy Kandel, 87, Dalton,Ohio, died Jan. 4. Spouse: Ralph A. Weaver(deceased). Parents: William and MarthaHochstetler Kandel. Children: Larry,Gordon, Twila Snyder, Mary Shoup,Martha Hoover, Cheryl Wengerd, CarolScheufler; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 7 at MartinsMennonite Meeting Place, Orrville, Ohio.

Ward, Clinton Robert, 67, Lebanon, Ore.,died Dec. 31, 2005. Parents: Robert andEllamarie Baysinger Ward. Children: DonnaLorraine Curry, Kenneth, Wendy Sisko.Funeral: Jan. 9 at Lebanon MennoniteChurch.

Weldy, Evelyn Elnore Kauffman, 69,Glendale, Ariz., died Jan. 11. Parents:William and Edna G. Lehman Kauffman.Children: Jonathan M., Patricia A. Murray,Glenda F. Oakley; six grandchildren.Funeral: Jan. 21 at Trinity MennoniteChurch, Glendale.

Yoder, Erma Sigler, 89, Goshen, Ind., diedDec. 28, 2005. Spouse: Harold A. Yoder.Parents: D. Dallas and Montez M. EvansZigler. Children: Miriam Kauffman, Glen;one grandchild; four step-grandchildren.Funeral: Dec. 31, 2005 at First MennoniteChurch, Middlebury, Ind.

Yoder, Stanley Emerson, 81, Sarasota, Fla.,died Nov. 19, 2005, of cancer. Spouse: (1st)Anna Pauline Weaver (deceased), (2nd)Roxie Shank (deceased), (3rd) ElvaKornhaus (deceased). Parents: Earl andBarbara Allgyer Yoder. Children: Alan G.,Jan. S., Virginia (Ginny) E. Wright, David B.,Anne M., Nathan L.; eight grandchildren;three great-grandchildren. Memorial serv-ices: Dec. 3, 2005, at Bethel MennoniteChurch, West Liberty, Ohio, and Dec. 16,2005, at Bahai Vista Mennonite Church,Sarasota.



To submit event

information to TheMennonite, log on at

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org and use the “For

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4794

New from Cascadia, copublished Herald Press

www.CascadiaPublishingHouse.comcontact@cascadiapublishinghouse.com

Herald Press: 1-800-245-7894

Without the Loss of One: The Story ofNevin and Esther Bender and Its

Implications for the Church Today,yyDon, Mildred, and Titus Bender.

“Here is a beautiful picture ofunusual honesty and clarity,

painted with words.“—Ruth S. Weaver

278 pp. with photos, $15.95

Creating the Beloved Community: A Journey with the Fellowship of

Reconciliation, Paul R. Dekar, whosebook “speaks . . . to all who reject the

means of violence to break and kill andthe simplistic bifurcation of the world

into good guys and bad ones.”—Donald B. Kraybill

326 pp. with photos; $23.95

Viewing New Creations with AnabaptistEyes: Ethics of Biotechnology,ed. Roman J. Miller, Beryl H. Brubaker,James C. Petersen. “This work comeswith a passion for integrity as well asthe sanctity and beauty of the createdorder.” —Myron S. Augsburger310 pp. with illustrations; $23.95


C L A S S I F I E D

Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania seeks a direc-

tor of development to provide leadership in the areas of churchand community relations, fund-raising and membership growth.Responsibilities include organization and management of adevelopment program, donor and contact information, coordi-nating public relations activities and fund-raising events, buildingrelationships with members, churches and donors. See full jobdescription at www.mhep.org. Interested candidates should sendtheir resumé to Sarah Heffner, Director, MHEP, PO Box 82,Harleysville, PA 19438 or [email protected].

Bluffton University (Ohio) seeks applicants for the position ofcampus pastor. The campus pastor nurtures and coordinatesspiritual life and serves as a pastor to the campus community. Thecandidate will have an appreciation for and be supportive of theAnabaptist-Mennonite faith perspective and possess a Master ofDivinity (or equivalent degree). More detailed information aboutthis position is available athttp://www.bluffton.edu/about/employment/.

Portland (Ore.) Mennonite Church is seeking a ¾- time sum-

mer pastor to provide leadership during the sabbatical of ourlead pastor, from May 15 to Aug. 27. Areas of responsibilityinclude worship, administration and pastoral care. For more infor-mation, contact PMC at 503-234-0559 [email protected].

Executive director sought for western Pa. church camp who has avision and passion for camp ministry. A professional degree orexperience in a related field is necessary. Experience in supervi-sion and business management is required. Grant writing experi-ence is a plus. Send resumé to Search Committee, c/o Camp

Harmony, Inc., P.O. Box 158, Hooversville, PA 15936-0158 or [email protected]. Deadline is March 31.

Goshen College invites nominations and applications for theposition of vice president for institutional advancement. A suc-cessful and experienced professional is sought to lead this well-established and historically productive advancement program.The vice president for institutional advancement is the chiefdevelopment officer of the college reporting directly to the presi-dent and is a member of the President’s Council.

For more details and to apply, visit the specific positionannouncement on the Goshen College Web pagehttp://www.goshen.edu/employment/.

New position: Independent living manager

Seeking a mature individual who is self-motivated and com-fortable being responsible for 150 residents and coordinating ateam of 45 associates. A college degree and/or experience inworking with older people is required. This full-time administra-tive position will focus on programming for independent living,catered living, assisted living and a new Alzheimer’s program.Current facilities include the retirement home, the Commons, theMeadows and a projected campus center.

Walnut Hills is a privately owned, continuing-care retirementcommunity that offers four lifestyles (skilled nursing, assisted liv-ing, catered living, independent living) to 250 residents in themiddle of Ohio’s Amish community since 1971. Interested peopleshould contact David A. Miller, President, at 330-893-3200 orwww.WalnutHillsLiving.com.

Atlantic Coast Conference seeks part-time (50 percent) confer-

ence minister to join conference ministry team in providing lead-ership resources and oversight ministry with member congrega-tions. For additional information and to apply, please contactWarren Tyson, phone 800-238-0126 or 717-355-0550;[email protected]; 115 East Main St., New Holland, PA17557.

Advertising space in

The Mennonite is

available to congre-

gations, conferences,

businesses, and

churchwide boards

and agencies of

Mennonite Church

USA. Cost for one-

time classified place-

ment is $1.15 per

word, minimum of

$30. Display space is

also available.

To place an ad in

The Mennonite, call

800-790-2498 and

ask for Kristene

Miller, or email

Advertising@

TheMennonite.org.

Together, sharing all of Christ with all of creation

They’re BackMennonite Mission Network is providing new banks and teaching tools for children in Mennonite Church USA congregations. Use them to shape giving habits and mission

awareness in Sunday school, vacation Bible school

and other settings.

Remember globe-shaped mission banks? Available May 151-866-866-2872www.MennoniteMission.net

MID-ATLANTIC FLOWERSAND PLANTATIONS

March 22 - 29, 2006

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Enjoy an early springtime of flowers & historic plantations along the Atlantic coastline.

• Jekyll “Golden” Isle, theresort of millionaires

• Wesley’s Christ Churchon St. Simons Island

• The 21 squares ofSavannah in full bloom

• Tour JAARS Mission HQ• Site of novel by Eugenia Price

• Stroll Magnolia and Ortonantebellum plantations

• Nature tram through 60 acres of blooms and scents• Waterfront carriage ride to old

mansions of Charleston• Luncheon cruise in Wilmington• Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand

(pick-ups possible along tour route in MD and VA)


R E S O U R C E S

Cinéma Divinité: Religion, Theology andthe Bible in Film, edited by Eric S.

Christianson, Peter Francis and William R.

Telford (SCM Press, 2005, $29.99), is an

interdisciplinary study of theology and film.

Its 17 essays consider case studies of films,

filmmakers and genres and look at religion

in film. For serious students.

Finding St. Paul in Film by Richard Walsh (T

& T Clark, 2005, $22) finds a Paul who is a

stranger to our questions and ideologies. As

Paul does not appear often in film, the films

the book brings into dialogue with Paul

have primarily metaphorical connections

with the Paul of Christian theology.

Creating the Beloved Community: AJourney with the Fellowship ofReconciliation by Paul R. Dekar (Cascadia

Publishing House and Herald Press, 2005,

$23.95) is a history of FOR in the United

States that shows FOR members have been

practical dreamers, both imagining a more

peaceful world and working to realize the

dream.

Viewing New Creations ThroughAnabaptist Eyes: Ethics of Biotechnology,

edited by Roman J. Miller, Beryl H. Brubaker

and James C. Peterson (Cascadia Publishing

House and Herald Press, 2005, $23.95),

investigates the promise and perils of cur-

rent genetic biotechnology.

Without the Loss of One: The Story ofNevin and Esther Bender and ItsImplications for the Church Today by Don,

Mildred and Titus Bender (Cascadia

Publishing House and Herald Press, 2005,

$15.95) surveys a life of ministry ranging

from Greenwood, Del., to Philadelphia,

Miss., and beyond and tells how Nevin and

Esther found the church a place of both joy

and disappointment.

Writing Peace: The Untold Stories of GreatWar Mennonite Objectors by Melanie

Springer Mock (Cascadia Publishing House

and Herald Press, 2005, $23.95) analyzes

and publishes the diaries of Mennonite con-

scientious objectors from the First World

War. Historical, biographical and literary

approaches reveal the significant role of

these diaries in telling the story of the

Mennonites and of wartime in America.

The Next Generation: ContemporaryExpressions of Faith by Patricia C. Pongracz

and Wayne Roosa (Eerdmans, 2005, $60)

features the work of 44 North American

artists in media ranging from painting and

sculpture to photography and mixed-media

collage, showing the creative breadth of

present-day art inspired by the Judaeo-

Christian tradition. It includes full-color

reproductions of each piece.

War and Faith in Sudan by Gabriel Meyer,

photographs by James Nicholls (Eerdmans,

2005, $20), is a stirring account of the tragic

civil war in Sudan—as endured by the Nuba

people of central Sudan. Nicholls’ 44 strik-

ing photos put a human face on the tragedy

of modern Sudan.

A Lifelong Apprenticeship by Cam Stuart

(Kindred Productions, 2005, $6.99) is part of

the Description of a Growing Disciple series.

It is a guide for believers who want to

explore what it means to be growing disci-

ples in a group setting. Each session intro-

duces one of six qualities of a growing disci-

ple and presents spiritual disciplines for

individual and group practice.

Hope of a Better Tomorrow (MCC, 2005) is

a 13-minute video and DVD from Menno-

nite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500,

Akron, PA 17501-0500, www. mcc.org.

Colombians tell of their lives and recount

how increased U.S. military aid to Colombia

adversely affects them.

She says, “Michael, thank God you had such astrong personality, so you could survive allthe wrong moves I made as an inexperienced

parent.” I like the sound of that. I imagine myselfback then, tough little kid standing for truth, jus-tice and the American way when my parents got itwrong, which is what I mostly thought they did.

But even now that I’m 51, my mother catchesme in her sly traps. In exactly the same tone shecontinues, “And thank God I was one strong moth-er, so I could survive all thethings I shouldn’t have had toput up with.”

In those two sentences mymother captures key challengeschildren and parents face in ourjourneys with each other. Shealso pulls my mind toward twoclassic Bible texts: “Train chil-dren in the right way, and whenold, they will not stray”(Proverbs 22:6) and, “Honoryour father and your mother, asthe Lord your God commandedyou” (Deuteronomy 5:16).Indeed.

But as my mother’s confes-sion helps highlight, such versescan be used to force submissionto the parent’s presumed superi-or insight when in fact no parenttrains any child in exactly theright way—because all parentsare wounded by their parentsand pass wounds down. So chil-dren are often right to thinkthey see things their parentsdon’t. Because children live notonly within the airbrushed reali-ty of their parents’ public livesbut also in the shadows of their parents’ brokenlives. Children see past parents’ PR efforts to thetruth.

On the other hand, my conversation with mymother comes soon after my oldest daughter’smarriage, as my middle daughter neared the endof college and as my youngest daughter nearedthe end of high school. Suddenly my years of train-ing children still in the nest are nearly over.

Now I’m the parent hoping what I’ve taught andmodeled and wished for them, including when Ihad to be strong enough to survive them, hasnourished them. And now I’m all too aware that

the demons I confronted, defeated and enduredwere there all the time I raised my daughters andpassed into them. I pray they’re strong enough tosurvive me.

Then I find myself grateful my parents are stillalive. Because finally I’m old enough to grasp this:Not only have I survived them, I owe them morethan I dreamed when I was that whippersnapperseeing only what was wrong with them.

Train children. Honor mother and father.Indeed. But in our training andour honoring, what rutted life-time roads through the cliffs andvalleys and badlands of ourrespective broken parts we trav-el!

Then my dad reports theyhave their hearts set on a snazzyPT Cruiser. So their 1990Subaru Legacy needs an owner.My heart leaps. I don’t want aPT Cruiser. I want that Legacy; Iwant it as a symbol of my par-ents’ legacy to me.

I suppose it will wear off even-tually, but even months later Istill can’t shake the feeling,every time I drive the Legacy,that here at last it has all some-how come together. I drive thatcar where I, not my parents,need to. I use it to live my life inall its similarities with and differ-ences from my parents. It’s up tome now to fuel it, maintain it,decide when to repair it, pass iton or junk it. But oh how they’rein it. How much I draw fromfeeling—in its seats, its growlySubaru engine my dad has so

lovingly cared for, its surefooted four-wheeldrive—all the living and feeling, the hurting anddreaming my parents have done across its manymiles.

I find a paper towel squeezed behind the radia-tor. I can’t throw it away; my dad used it to checkthe oil.

In the back window is a pillow.“What’s that doing in there?” someone asks. “It

doesn’t look like you.”“Of course it doesn’t,” I answer. “It’s my moth-

er’s pillow. It looks like her. That’s why it has tostay there.” TM


R E A L F A M I L I E S

Traveling in our legacies

Michael A. Kingis pastor of

Spring Mount

(Pa.) Mennonite

Church.

I find myself grateful my

parents are stillalive. Becausefinally I’m old

enough to graspthis: Not only haveI survived them, I

owe them morethan I dreamedwhen I was that

whippersnapperseeing only whatwas wrong with

them.

Real Families is a

new column that

will appear

monthly.


www.goshen.edu/peace

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERSFOR THEY WILL BE CALLEDTHE CHILDREN OFGOD. – MATTHEW 5:9 Goshen College’s Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies

program is built on decades of scholarship, a unique and nationally admired study-abroad program, a community that seeks diversity and Christ-centeredcore values rooted in the peace church tradition.

You might choose a major or a minor in a peace studies program, enhance another area of study wtih conflict mediation training, sign up for a semester of urban peacemaking study in Indianapolis, join the Pax of Eco-Pax student clubs and engage significant issues with guest speakers as well as your own professors and classmates.

We invite you to visit out welcoming campus to find out more – on your journey as a peacemaker.

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We can tell you.We can tell you.

E D I T O R I A L


Everett J.

Thomas

Hearing voices

Some of our readers want each page in thismagazine to speak a clear and unambiguousword about what Mennonite Church USA

believes and then advocate only for those beliefs.This request often emerges from a yearning forthe church to be less polarized.

“Many of us are longing for peace,” wrote onereader who did not want her letter published. “Ifwe can’t stop talking and writing about our differ-ences and spreading discord among the members,how in the world do we expect Jews and Muslimsto get along? Just stop writing about our differ-ences. It’s not helpful.”

We regularly receive counsel similar to hers.The reason relates to the role this magazine playsin Mennonite Church USA. The logic seems to bethat since The Mennonite is the official periodicalof our denomination, the only content in its pagesshould be those things about which we all havepublicly and officially agreed.

But delegates to Charlotte 2005 adopted purpos-es for The Mennonite, and one of them is to serveas “a forum for the voices within the denomina-tion.” Since there are widely divergent beliefs andconvictions in Mennonite Church USA, and sincethe delegates in their wisdom authorized these

pages to be a forum for those voices, readers willregularly see the opinions of sisters and brotherswith whom they may disagree. It seems that somereaders want us to change the rules so that thosewith whom they disagree will not have a voice.

But that is not what it means to be church.Peace is not the absence of conflict. Lack of publicdisagreement does not mean we are at peace witheach other. Furthermore, public and spirited dis-agreements need not polarize us further. Listeningfor a small grain of truth in what someone elsesays is a spiritual discipline. It also demonstrates ahumility that acknowledges our own limitationsand can help us agree or disagree in love.

I discovered one such grain of truth when wepublished a Speaking Out last fall. John Stoner’sopinion piece (“We Need a Larger Purpose,” Nov.1, 2005) was critical of Rick Warren’s popular bookThe Purpose-Driven Life. It sparked many ReadersSay letters that we published in November andDecember.

I like that book and consider it personally help-ful. And I admit that I found most of Stoner’s com-plaints excessive and his tone extreme. But in fol-lowing his complex arguments, I realized thatthere are a few things about which Anabaptistsought be careful. I also believe that the church isstronger after focusing on the issue; Stoner did usa service by writing something so provocative.

However, any forum for the voices withinMennonite Church USA is not the same as dia-logue. Rather, it is a collection of monologues.When the cumulative affect of those monologuesbecomes destructive, the forum purpose hasreached the limits of its effectiveness. This maga-zine bumped up against that limit seven years ago.

In 1999, former editor J. Lorne Peachey called ahalt to any more letters and articles about ouremerging denomination’s teaching position onhomosexuality. I have continued that moratoriumduring the past five years. The reason: the prenatalhealth of our nascent denomination was so heavilystressed by the “unloving” debate that it threat-ened the future of our denomination even before itwas born. Consequently, both supporters and crit-ics of that teaching position must find anothermedium for their debate—at least until we can finda way to have “loving dialogue” in print.

We tread a fine line at The Mennonite. On theone hand, we provide a place for the many mem-bers of Mennonite Church USA to share their con-cerns regarding matters they consider important.But we limit this privilege if such sharing becomesscreaming and shouting and, in our judgement,dangerous for the church.

I have heard it said that when three Mennonitesgather in a room there are at least four opinionspresent. That’s OK. We need each other’s perspec-tives to be strong as a church; we also need aforum for hearing each other’s voices.—ejt

Listening for that small grain of truth in what someone else says is also a spiritual discipline.

kindness a gardener of - the mennonite: a publication of ... · 10/2/2014 · 2 the mennonite...

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