A special section on child safety Racial healing in the church - Anabaptist World
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INSIDE: • A special section on child safety • Lead us not into temptation • Editorial: Do we need a new • Racial healing in the church • Does church publishing matter? hymnal?
Growing together
The deep stewardship roots of MMA and Mennonite Financial are growing together in a
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Join with us as we become Everence later this year. Learn more at www.mma-online.org.
A ministry of Mennonite Church USA and other churches.
2100836
September 2010 | Volume 13, Number 9 CONTENTS
12 Drawn to worship
—Everett J. Thomas
18 A special section on child safety
18 Let the children come —Jeannette Harder
21 A cautionary tale
23 Many voices, one goal —Julie Prey
Harbaugh
26 Racial healing in the church
—Glen Alexander Guyton
28 Giving up veto power
—Joanna Shenk
29 The aha moment
—Glen Alexander Guyton
31 Lead us not into temptation
—Brian Miller
37 Delegation of 21 goes to Arizona to ‘listen’
38 MCC worker killed in Afghanistan
—Anna Groff
39 Prison ministry nurtures sisterhood
—Laurie Oswald Robinson
40 Volunteers make San Antonio home
—Hannah Heinzekehr
42 Youth conventions pave road for faith jour-
neys—Laurie Oswald Robinson
46 Why do so many not know the Bible?
—John Longhurst
50 Program changes the way leaders lead
31 —Anna Groff
23
D E PA R T M E N T S
4 Letters 37 News
6 Grace and Truth 52 For the Record
7 Poetry 56 Classifieds
8 News Briefs 58 New Voices
10 Miscellany 59 Mediaculture
40 12 Features 61 Puzzle
34 Leadership 63 Mennonite Church USA
35 Real Families 64 Editorial
ON THE COVER: Photo by Everett J. Thomas 36 Opinion
September 2010 | TheMennonite 3
LETTERS
September 2010 | Volume 13, Number 9
The Mennonite is the publication of Mennonite
This publication welcomes your letters, ple. Yvonne Diaz (Editorial, July)
Church USA, which established three purposes
either about our content or about issues makes an excellent suggestion as she
for the magazine: to provide a forum for the
facing the Mennonite Church USA. asks us to use our creativity to make
voices within the denomination, to promote the
ministries within Mennonite Church USA and to Please keep your letter brief—one or two this a teaching moment for the church.
offer an editorial voice distinct from but
paragraphs—and about one subject only. This is an opportunity to (a) share in
collaborative with other leadership voices. The
We reserve the right to edit for length the lives of our Hispanic brothers and
Mennonite (ISSN 1522-7766) is published on the
and clarity. Publication is also subject to sisters in Arizona, (b) challenge the
first Tuesday of each month by the board for The
Mennonite, Inc. Periodicals Postage Paid at space limitations. E-mail to state on what this law does to us as we
Goshen, IN 46526 and at additional mailing
letters@themennonite.org or mail to follow Christ’s call to serve those in
offices. Subscription rates for one year: $43.95
Letters, The Mennonite, 1700 S. Main St., need and (c) model how a diverse faith
to U.S. addresses and $51.45 USD to Canadian
Goshen, IN 46526-4794. Please include community can experience the Spirit’s
addresses. Group rates available. The views
expressed in this publication do not necessarily your name and address. We will not print leading in creative conflict resolution.
represent the official positions of Mennonite
letters sent anonymously, though we may When our brothers and sisters are
Church USA, The Mennonite, or the board for
withhold names at our discretion. hurting, Christ calls us to surround
The Mennonite, Inc. Scripture references are
—Editors them with love, understand their situa-
from the New Revised Standard Version unless
otherwise noted. tion and engage them in bringing heal-
ing and hope to all humanity. Phoenix
POSTMASTER send form 3579 to: Boycott Arizona? 2013 is an invitation for us to be the
The Mennonite On decision-making about holding a body of Christ, siding with the poor,
1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526
convention in Arizona in 2013: Everett bringing healing to the world. I trust
STAFF Thomas’ editorial (July) unfortunately God’s Spirit to guide people who meet
Editor: Everett J. Thomas lays a parameter of creativity that may to find reconciliation for this situation.
everettt@themennonite.org
Associate editor: Gordon Houser
predetermine the outcome. I hope the Our theology says it can be done.
gordonh@themennonite.org following factors are significantly ad- Can we accept the challenge to make it
Associate editor: Anna Groff dressed in the decision-making happen?—Don Blosser, Goshen, Ind.
annag@themennonite.org process: What are the key assumptions,
Advertising, subscriptions: Rebecca Helmuth
rebecca@themennonite.org
and how accurate are they? What is the Love, sex and marriage
Bookkeeper: Celina Romero ideal outcome? Does the decision in- Thanks for publishing Sandra Fribley’s
Editorial assistant: Nora Miller clude input from all angles? Does the timely article “Love, Sex and Mar-
Design: Dee Birkey decision deal with causes or symp- riage” (July). Without condoning cohab-
WEB SITE www.themennonite.org toms? How does the decision maximize itation in any way, what if congrega-
our key strengths and support our tions respectfully confronted couples
OFFICES overall purpose? who are living together as having al-
1700 S. Main St.
Certainly discernment includes ready entered into a marital bond, as
Goshen, IN 46526-4794
phone: 800-790-2498 prayer. It led to the original decision to follows:
fax: 574-535-6050 go to Arizona, which raises a question: “Whenever you (a) ‘leave father and
722 N. Main St. If the original decision was made with mother’ (form a separate social unit
Newton, KS 67114-1819 God’s leading, do we change it because and become publicly recognized part-
phone: 866-866-2872 of a change in circumstances? Too often ners), (b) ‘cleave to each other’ (are an
fax: 316-283-0454 people are coerced into decisions by exclusive couple committed to fidelity)
504 West Choctaw Drive group-think, emotionalism and loud, ar- and (c) ‘become one flesh’ (are sexually
Whiteriver, AZ 85941 ticulate voices claiming to have God’s intimate), we will hold you to the same
phone: 717-606-6853
answer. Maybe we need to hear more standard of lifelong faithfulness we ex-
humble prayers on behalf of our gov- pect of legally married couples.
ernments, and less sniping might make “While the Genesis 2:24 text quoted
a difference.—Phil Bontrager, Berrien by both Jesus and Paul predates man-
Springs, Mich. dates like a marriage license or a cere-
Mennonite mony, we nevertheless believe you
Church “To go or not to go” identifies an op- should take the step of registering and
USA portunity for Mennonite Church USA solemnizing the de facto (‘common
to be the community of reconciliation at law’) marriage you have entered into.
the core of our Jesus-centered theol- “We understand you might see this
ogy. The Phoenix 2013 convention is a step as a mere formality involving ‘just
dilemma because we are a diverse peo- a piece of paper,’ but we consider it at
4 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.org
LETTERS
least as important as having a baptismal Please pass on my thank you to White suspect?
certificate, a passport, a vehicle regis- whomever it deservedly goes. Is his faith open to question because
tration or a deed to a new house. But Additionally, the redesign is really he doesn’t have a “Mennonite” last
whether documented or not, we see good. It maintains interest, has eye ap- name? If so, that is an extraordinarily
your joining together in the manner de- peal, excellent content and flow. The offensive reason. The church has been
scribed above as a profound and emo- articles have always been good. It is greatly blessed by people named
tionally bonding form of ‘marriage.’ head and shoulders above some of the Guyton, Hinojosa, Risingsun, Teng,
And were you to terminate your undoc- major well-known religious publica- even Morton, as well as others who are
umented union, we would consider it a tions I have seen in the past. Keep on not of some idealized and idolized eth-
de facto divorce. We pray you will keeping on.—Robert J. Zani, Tennessee nicity. Furthermore, even having a
choose to have your union blessed by Colony, Texas “Mennonite” last name doesn’t neces-
God and by a caring community of be- sarily mean having Mennonite beliefs.
lievers and so will be able to celebrate Editor’s note: Readers who wish to Is it because White’s academic ca-
a truly joyful and faithful life until contribute to the fund that pays for sub- reer has been in schools that are not
‘death do you part.’ ”—Harvey Yoder, scriptions for prisoners can do so by Mennonite-affiliated? There are count-
Harrisonburg, Va. designating the contribution for the less Mennonites working in colleges
Prisoners Fund. and universities of other denomina-
Sandra Fribley’s cover article, “Love, tions. There are also countless people
Sex and Marriage” (July), was cre- Need a Mennonite name? in other denominations who may not be
atively and provocatively written. Religious beliefs are an essential crite- members of a Mennonite congregation
Although the article was well re- rion in evaluating any candidate for but have beliefs fully compatible with
searched and cited numerous books leadership in a church institution. But I ours.
and published studies, one book was am disturbed by the insinuations of Does Morton believe the Bethel
conspicuously absent—the Bible. Why Karla Morton’s letter (August) lament- board ignored White’s faith in selecting
is that?—Micah Shristi, Kathmandu, ing that the announcement of Bethel him as president? I’m an undeniable and
Nepal College’s new president did not include unrepentant “glass half-empty” person,
any description of his church involve- and even I’m not so cynical to think
A prisoner says thanks ments. Religious resumés have not that the school would pick a leader
I observed that my prisoner subscrip- been standard in news reports of new whose beliefs are inappropriate for a
tion has been renewed. It is appropriate college presidents—and that appar- Mennonite college. Assuming White’s
to say thank you (Luke 17:11 and fol- ently has never generated concerns religious beliefs fit with Bethel, I’m
lowing). But I do not know to whom. such as Morton’s. So why is Perry (Continued on page 62)
IN THIS ISSUE
S
eptember marks the beginning teacher but spent the last 27 years says, “Mennonite Church USA proba-
of the Sunday school—or Chris- helping congregations think about bly falls somewhere in the middle.”
tian education—year for many worship and spiritual formation. She In this issue we also publish Sara
congregations. That means a new retires this month from her position Wenger Shenk’s last Real Families
curriculum. But Ron Rempel, execu- as denominational minister of wor- column, as she has now moved into
tive director for Mennonite Publish- ship. her role as president of Associated
ing Network, asks, “Does church We also provide two special theme Mennonite Biblical Seminary in
publishing matter?” (Leadership, sections: one on child safety (page 18) Elkhart, Ind.
page 34) as we consider spiritual for- and a second on dismantling racism in Returning to Rempel’s question:
mation needs in our congregations. the church (page 26). To help our In addition to curriculum, hymnals
Our cover story features a leader readers understand the language are an important part of MPN’s min-
who, perhaps more than any other often used in conversations, we pub- istry. After reading the editorial (page
Mennonite, has thought and taught lish—for the first time—the contin- 64), we invite you to vote through
about spiritual formation and educa- uum used by many trained in our website poll in response to the
tion. Marlene Kropf (page 12) began Damascus Road’s antiracism work. question, “Should MPN plan now for
her career as a high school English Glen Guyton is generous when he a new hymnal by 2016?”—Editor
September 2010 | TheMennonite 5
GRACE AND TRUTH
A word from pastors
Living a life of gratitude
T
his summer our congregation is focusing on over and over until the music is not only in the
the book of Philippians. We are paying spe- mind but in the fingers of the pianist.
cial attention to the ways Paul was calling So it is in developing an attitude. We practice
the church at Philippi—and us—to a life of joy. until it becomes automatic. If we practice negativ-
This is especially notable, considering he was ity, a pessimistic outlook on life will be the result.
writing from prison and not knowing if he faced Paul tells us there is a better way to live our
more of this earthly life or life eternal. Reading lives—a life of gratitude leads to a joyful and posi-
and rereading Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a tive outlook on life.
good way to spend the summer. As I write, it is easy for me to be grateful. I am
Donna Mast Each Sunday morning we begin with Paul’s writing during a family vacation. My sister was
serves half-time as words to rejoice in the Lord, to not be anxious, given a week’s vacation at a three-storied chalet
a pastor at but instead, through prayer and petition, with in Tennessee. She invited my parents, siblings
Scottdale (Pa.) thanksgiving, to bring every situation to God, and and families to join her for the week. I am grate-
Mennonite Church the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds ful.
and half-time as in Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7) We are sent out with I am grateful for a family that loves each
interim conference Paul’s encouragement to think about the good and other and wants to be together. I am grateful for a
minister for positive things of life, live the way Paul has taught family that is willing to set aside differences of
Allegheny Menno- us to live, then promised that the God of peace opinion about how the world should be run and to
nite Conference. will be with us (4:8-9). Paul is not glossing over respect one another. I am grateful that my parents
the hard or discouraging things of life. His situa- are still alive and healthy enough to join us in this
tion was anything but rosy. Paul is telling us that place of beauty. I am grateful for the cheerful en-
there are better things for us to focus on. Life is ergy, confident trust and absolute adorableness of
hard, but God is good. Focus on the good things of my nephews, as well as the discipline and security
God. their parents are instilling in them.
If we choose to focus on the negatives of this Yesterday we took a long hike. It was more dif-
world, there are certainly plenty to capture our at- ficult than the guidebook had indicated. I am
tention. This was true for Paul, and it is true grateful for my legs and feet that carried me
today. There are times in our lives when it seems safely over the rocks. I am grateful for a healthy
impossible to find anything good, let alone focus heart that insisted on beating as I trudged up the
on it. Paul knew the hardness of life. But he also path. And I am grateful for the sight of the water-
knew the joy of forgiveness by and relationship fall and the coolness of the moist breeze that was
our destination point on the hike.
The day before, we went to an aquarium in
Gatlinburg. I saw sea creatures I didn’t even know
If we choose to focus on the negatives of this world,
existed. What variety! And this variety is not lim-
there are plenty to capture our attention. ited to life under the sea. The varieties of plant
life, birds, animals, people and scenery is amazing.
I am grateful for the night sounds of the insects
with Jesus. This was his focus. He practiced a life and the morning sounds of the local hawk. I am
of gratitude out of his relationship with Jesus. grateful for the many tastes of the great food
Practice is the key. If we concentrate on notic- we’ve been eating together. And I am grateful for
ing the goodness of God, we will begin to see the the incredible imagination of our Creator, who
positive things God provides, even while we live made all this possible.
in the midst of difficult times. If we nurture this Most of all, I am grateful for this Creator
way of living when times are good, it is easier to God who desires relationship with us—wants re-
find the good when times are difficult. lationship so much that Jesus came to show us the
A basketball player shoots hoops over and over face of God. What are you grateful for today? If
so that when the time comes for a free-throw, not you are like me, you can begin a list, but you
only the player’s mind but the body will have won’t finish it, because as you practice gratitude,
memorized what it takes to send the ball through it will grow. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
the hoop. A piano player plays a piece of music it again, rejoice.
6 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.org
POETRY
Provision
By Tania Runyan
To those who proclaim consider Leviticus 19,
that God helps those which commands the farmers
who help themselves, to leave the margins
of their fields unplowed
who believe that the hungry
slouch through the streets and to leave the grapes
with their bootstraps hanging that have fallen in the vineyard
loose around their ankles, during harvest
who see Jesus whipping so that the poor can come
immigrants out of the temple and gather them
and writhing on the cross at the end of the day,
so the rich can keep alone with their God,
more of their gold, consumed by that sweet, red fire.
Tania Runyan lives in Lindenhurst, Ill.
MorgueFile.com
September 2010 | TheMennonite 7
NEWS BRIEFS
News from the Mennonite world
2015 MWC Assembly may Four CPTers arrested Bridgefolk conference
be in Pennsylvania CHICAGO––Chicago police arrested explores footwashing
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia—The execu- four members of Christian Peacemaker COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.––A voluntary
tive committee of Mennonite World Teams (CPT) July 19 on charges of group of North American Mennonites
Conference, meeting here from July 28 trespass for praying inside The Body and Catholics met July 22-25 in Col-
through Aug. 4, unanimously stated a Shop during a noon-hour vigil at the legeville, Minn., for conversations
preference for holding the next MWC downtown store. The Body Shop pur- about the faith which unites them—and
Assembly in Pennsylvania in 2015. The chases palm oil from Daabon Organics, the issues which divide them. This was
committee also unanimously decided to a Colombian company involved in the the ninth consecutive year the group
consider Indonesia as the alternate forced eviction of 123 families from has met. The Benedictine community
choice for 2015—if plans for the United their ancestral lands in Las Pavas, at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville
States do not work out—and as the Colombia. The four sat down by the hosted the gathering, as it has six pre-
first choice for the site of the 2021 as- door, near products that contain Colom- vious ones.
sembly. bian palm oil, where they prayed, sang This year’s topic was the practice of
“We need two items in order to and broke bread together until police foot washing, which has emerged in
move forward with the USA as the lo- arrested them 40 minutes later. All previous conferences as a common
cation for our next global gathering,” were released that night and will be ar- practice that both groups have tradi-
said Larry Miller, MWC general secre- raigned on Aug. 31. Participants in tionally shared and that participants in
tary. “We need to discuss with the CPT’s peacemaker training organized the Bridgefolk movement have found
MWC member churches in the USA the witness. Those arrested were they can share despite the divisions
whether they desire to host the next Marcus Armstrong, Lor Breyley, Jo that still exist between the two com-
assembly. And, if they do, we need to Ann Fricke and Carol Rose, CPT co-di- munities.––Bridgefolk
do a feasibility study of the site they rector.––CPT
propose.” New curriculum on sex
U.S. member churches invited the WINNIPEG, Manitoba––Sex is every-
Liesa Unger
2009 Assembly to be held in eastern where—the media, movies, books, ads,
Pennsylvania. MWC instead accepted the Internet. It’s also in the Bible,
an invitation from the Paraguayan which talks about how we are created
member churches.—MWC male and female in God’s image and
encouraged to “be fruitful and multi-
Newton office won’t close ply.” But sexuality is hard to talk about
GOSHEN, Ind.—Contrary to rumors in church. The goal of Body and Soul:
sparked by a consultant’s recommenda- Healthy Sexuality and the People of God,
tion, the Mennonite Church USA of- a new four-session study and worship
fices at 722 Main Street in Newton, resource from Faith & Life Resources,
Kan., will not be closed in the foresee- is to help adults, youth and families find
able future. ways to talk about this important sub-
“By 2011, the denomination should ject in the context of Christian commu-
designate only one location as its offi- nity. Topics include our bodies and how
cial headquarters,” wrote LaVerne we see them, the need for intimacy
Yutzy in his Jan. 12 report to the Exec- Reconciliaton with and the place of sexual expression.
utive Board. Lutherans Body and Soul is available at
“The Yutzy recommendation said During a Lutheran-Mennonite service of www.mpn.net/bodyandsoul.––Menno-
we should use the Elkhart office as reconciliation on July 22 in Stuttgart, nite Publishing Network
headquarters [for Mennonite Church Germany, Larry Miller, Mennonite World
USA],” says Marty Lehman, Menno- Conference general secretary, presented Blog created for young
nite Church USA’s director of opera- an image of Anabaptist Dirk Willems adults
tions, “but we will continue to have rescuing his pursuer who had fallen HARRISONBURG, Va.––Two alumni of
multiple offices.” through the ice. Miller said, “Such stories Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Har-
Open houses are tentatively planned have sometimes led Anabaptist-Men- risonburg have created a blog and quar-
for the Newton office on Oct. 11 and nonites to adopt the martyr tradition as terly web magazine to provide a forum
12. Currently 35 denominational staff for young adults who are committed to
a ‘badge of superiority.’”—MWC
members work in the Newton office. staying in the institutional church but
—Everett J. Thomas want to discuss what that means.
8 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.org
NEWS BRIEFS
—compiled by Anna Groff
Minneapolis church re-
sponds to triple murder
MINNEAPOLIS––Donna Minter, a
member of Faith Mennonite Church in
Minneapolis, had a passion for discov-
ering how restorative justice and peace
building could play a role in healing
from trauma. When a triple murder oc-
curred in a Somali-immigrant-owned
business several blocks from FMC in
January, the need felt all the more ur-
gent. With the support and guidance of
FMC’s Missions and Service Commis-
sion, Minter organized a four-day
workshop called Strategies for Trauma
Awareness and Resilience (STAR) that
was developed at Eastern Mennonite
University’s Center for Justice and
Peacebuilding-Practice Institute. This
multicultural, multireligious event was
held on the campus of neighboring
Norristown church celebrates 20th anniversary Augsburg College June 23-27. Elaine
Emily and Emmanuel Mwaipopo dedicated their daughter Kianna at the Nueva Vida Zook Barge, STAR’s program director,
Norristown (Pa.) New Life Mennonite Church’s 20th anniversary July 17-18. In July facilitated the workshop with Minter’s
1990, NVNNL was formed by the joining of three “legacy” Mennonite congregations assistance. For more information see
in town—Fuente de Salvación, Bethel and First. An offering for the multifaceted capi- www.emu.edu/cjp/pti/star/.—Faith
tal campaign, Enlarging Our Place in God’s World, was received.––NVNNL Mennonite Church
Changes on horizon for
“Work and Hope: Finding Christ in Bluffton launches new London Mennonite Centre
the Church” (www.emu.edu/blog/work- MBA program LONDON—The London Mennonite
and-hope) was created by Jeremy BLUFFTON, Ohio––Starting this fall, Centre has been a stopping point and a
Yoder, a 2010 graduate currently living Bluffton University will offer evening place of hospitality for Mennonites in
in Baltimore, Md., and Laura Lehman classes in social work and a new London since it opened in 1953. Now,
Amstutz, a 2006 alumna, a Harrison- health-care management concentration after 57 years, the property is for sale.
burg resident. The first issue of the for its traditional master in business In a meeting on June 14, trustees of
magazine was launched July 20 and fo- administration program (MBA). the Centre decided that selling the
cused on the theme “Why am I [still] Bluffton’s MBA with a concentra- house was in the best financial interest
Mennonite?”––EMS tion in health-care management will of the local Anabaptist community. But
help health-care professionals become the decision to sell grew from a larger
Goshen offers domestic familiar with new trends, regulations process of revisioning and goal-setting
Study-Service Term and state-of-the-art management tech- that will support current work and
GOSHEN, Ind.––This summer, four niques. Classes will be held one move the community into a new era.
Goshen College students participated evening per week. The two-year MBA The discernment process revealed a
in the first Latino Studies Semester in program will develop a general set of strong commitment to Anabaptist val-
Northern Indiana, the first domestic management skills in a variety of areas, ues and a continuing desire to be an
SST location. Ana Juarez, director, said while the concentration will focus on Anabaptist witness in the United King-
that all four students grew up around health-care management practices dom and provide a place of hospitality,
Goshen, and this is “changing their through specialized elective courses even if it’s not in the current space.
perspectives on their community, even such as Health Care Financial Manage- The trustees have made the deci-
though it is the same place.” See ment, The Health Care Environment sion to remain in London while seeking
http://latino-sst.b.goshen.edu/ for web and Health Care Informatics.––Bluffton space that’s more accessible and adapt-
updates and photos.––Goshen College University able.—Mennonite Mission Network
September 2010 | TheMennonite 9
MISCELLANY
Items of interest from the broader church and world
Many polls on public views of global warming are innacurate
N
ational surveys released during the last eight months have that only 18 percent of respondents said they
been interpreted as showing that fewer and fewer Americans thought policies to reduce global warming would
believe that climate change is real, human-caused and threat- increase unemployment, and only 20 percent
ening to people. said they thought these would hurt the nation’s
But a closer look at these polls and a new survey by his Political economy. And only 14 percent said the United
Psychology Research Group show just the opposite, writes Jon A. States should not take action to combat global
Krosnick, professor of communication, political science and psychol- warming unless other major industrial countries
ogy at Stanford, a New York Times piece June 8. “Huge majorities of like China and India do so as well.
Americans still believe the earth has been gradually warming as the What about those other polls that showed
result of human activity and want the government to institute regu- people’s scepticism about global warming? Kros-
lations to stop it,” Krosnick writes. nick writes: “Questions in other polls that sought
In the survey, 1,000 randomly selected American adults were in- to tap respondents’ personal beliefs about the
terviewed by phone between June 1 and 7. When respondents were existence and causes of warming violated two of
asked if they thought that the earth’s temperature probably had been the cardinal rules of good survey question de-
heating up over the last 100 years, 74 percent answered affirma- sign: ask about only one thing at a time, and
tively. And 75 percent of respondents said that human behavior was choose language that makes it easy for respon-
substantially responsible for any warming that has occurred. dents to understand and answer each question.”
“For many issues, any such consensus about the existence of a Krosnick concludes: “Even as we are told
problem quickly falls apart when the conversation turns to carrying that Americans are about equally divided into
out specific solutions that will be costly,” he writes, “but not so here.” red and blue, a huge majority shares a common
Fully 86 percent of the respondents said they wanted the federal vision of climate change,” and 72 percent think
government to limit the amount of air pollution businesses emit, and most business leaders do not want the govern-
76 percent wanted the government to limit business’s emissions of ment to take steps to stop global warming.
greenhouse gases in particular.
“Large majorities opposed taxes on electricity (78 percent) and
don’t believe believe in
gasoline (72 percent) to reduce consumption,” Krosnick writes, “but in global w
warming
arming global warming
warming
84 percent favored the federal government offering tax breaks to en-
courage utilities to make more electricity from water, wind and solar
power. And huge majorities favored government requiring, or offer-
ing tax breaks to encourage, each of the following: manufacturing
cars that use less gasoline (81 percent), manufacturing appliances
that use less electricity (80 percent) and building homes and office
buildings that require less energy to heat and cool (80 percent).”
don’t believe
What about arguments against remedial efforts? Krosnick reports in pie charts
Pontius’ Puddle Joel Kauffmann
10 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.orgMISCELLANY
—compiled by Gordon Houser
The most significant export the Origins of Monopoly
New research traces the origins of the board
[United States] contributes to the wider game Monopoly to the political activism of Eliza-
world is not McDonald’s or popular TV beth Magie, a Virginia Quaker. She invented a
shows. It is a sweeping set of cultural more complicated version called The Landlord’s
Game to teach people the evils of land monopo-
instructions on how to live, whether lism. It eventually morphed into today’s Monop-
sanely or insanely. oly, reputed to be the world’s most popular
—David Augsburger in The Christian Century game.—The Marketplace
Hymn Society meets in Alabama
Hymns, praise music, Negro spirituals, Christian rock, sacred harp and 8 ways to save on gas mileage
Gregorian chant may seem like starkly different styles with little in 1. Start earlier. Starting just five minutes earlier
common, but they share one means you’re less likely to speed on the way to
thing: They can all be heard in work, soccer or your hair appointment.
Water in your wine churches across the United
States. That’s what brought 2. Avoid drive times. My work day usually starts
• number of gallons of water to at 9 a.m. When I made it to work at 8:30 or 8:45
about 220 Catholics, Baptists,
brew a gallon of beer: 7 a.m., I missed an average of five long waits at red
Methodists, Presbyterians,
• number of gallons of water to lights.
Episcopalians, Mennonites and
brew a gallon of wine: 17
dozens from other denomina- 3. I’m not Evel Knievel. Don’t pay for the thrill
—The Marketplace
tions together for a five-day of driving like a maniac. According to the EPA,
meeting of the Hymn Society, jackrabbit starts and sudden braking use more
which ended July 15 at Sam- gas than driving at top speeds.
ford University in Birmingham, Ala.—Religion News Service 4. Turn it off. Your mileage is negative when you
idle for more than one minute. Turn off the engine
Does Twitter affect our brain? at railroad tracks and the drive-up bank.
According to Steven Pinker, “Experience does not revamp the basic in-
5. Skip long warmups. Modern vehicles have
formation-processing capacities of the brain. Speed-reading programs
automatic chokes, so you don’t need to step on
have long claimed to do just that, but the verdict was rendered by
the gas pedal before starting the engine. Most
Woody Allen after he read War and Peace in one sitting: “It was about
cars need only 30 seconds to warm up. In cold
Russia.” Genuine multitask-
weather just drive slowly until the engine reaches
ing, too, has been exposed as a
Industrial waste myth. … Moreover, as the
proper operating temperature.
psychologists Christopher 6. Premium myths. If your owner’s manual does-
• Estimated cost of the environ-
Chabris and Daniel Simons n’t say “Premium Unleaded Only,” don’t use pre-
mental damage caused each
show in their new book The mium fuel and save 20 to 40 cents a gallon. (If it
year by the world’s 3,000 largest
Invisible Gorilla: And Other does call for 91 octane, however, you have to use
companies: $2.2 trillion
Ways Our Intuitions Deceive it or hear that irritating pinging sound.)
• Portion of the companies’ total
Us, the effects of experience 7. Overdrive: There for a reason. My manual
profits this represents: 1/3
are highly specific to the expe- transmission’s default setting is “Overdrive Off,”
• Number of industrial facilities
riences themselves. If you but I learned I could save gas by using overdrive
found by the EPA to have been
train people to do one thing for speeds over 30 to 40 mph.
in continuous violation of the
(recognize shapes, solve math
Clean Air Act since 2007: 2,000 8. Because it’s there? Accelerating when driving
puzzles, find hidden words),
—Harper’s uphill uses up enormous amounts of gas and
they get better at doing that
taxes your engine. If your car has an instanta-
thing but almost nothing else.
neous-gas-mileage display, watch your mileage
Music doesn’t make you better at math, conjugating Latin doesn’t make
plummet when you floor it on an incline.—Kate
you more logical, brain-training games don’t make you smarter. Accom-
Forgach, www.freeshipping.org/blog
plished people don’t bulk up their brains with intellectual calisthenics;
they immerse themselves in their fields.”—New York Times
September 2010 | TheMennonite 11As a 30-something high school
English teacher in the late
1970s, Marlene Kropf had a
revelation during a Sunday
morning worship service that
changed the trajectory of her
By Everett J. Thomas
Marlene Kropf teaching a class at Associated
Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., on
July 16. Kropf will continue to teach at AMBS
through the 2010-2011 school year.
12 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.orgMarlene Kropf, denominational minister of worship, retires this month
after 27 years of promoting worship and spiritual formation.
life. During the last three decades, it has also Christians, but they practiced contemplative
changed worship practices in Mennonite congre- prayer. Soon members of the congregation were
gations. interested, and she and her pastor, Marcus
“One morning at Portland Mennonite Church,” Smucker, began leading retreats together.
she says, “I thought, If this were my classroom, I Marlene is rooted in Oregon. So how did she
would be worried. It felt like worship was way too end up in Elkhart, Ind., in 1983? “I came to Indi-
passive for so many people. Everything was hap- ana because my experience of God was outstrip-
pening up front. That’s where my interest in re- ping my theological foundation,” she says.
newing worship began.” Marlene first said no to a 1983 invitation to join
While other young adults may have come to the the staff at the (now defunct) Mennonite Board of
same conclusions in their Sunday morning wor- Congregational Ministries (MBCM). Several
ship services and done nothing about it, Marlene months later she realized she had made the wrong
took action. Looking for ways to renew congrega- decision. The half-time position was still open,
tional worship, she first visited other congrega- and she could begin taking classes at Associated
tions. But it was a 1977 trip to Woodland Park, Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart.
Colo., to visit the Fisherfolk community that she In the meantime, Stanley, her husband, had
and some friends found a place to start. been invited to serve as the Mennonite Church’s
“They were doing the liturgical-charismatic finance secretary. So Marlene and her two young
Episcopal liturgy and interesting things with children moved to Elkhart in August 1983, while
music and drama,” Marlene says. Stanley stayed in Portland to sell their house and
After returning to Portland, she helped start a his business. Both sold within six weeks; Stanley
Sunday evening service that drew from liturgical moved to Elkhart in October.
and charismatic streams combined with Anabap-
tist traditions. I came to Indiana because my experience of God
“We began with vesper services during Advent,
with a lot of experimental things,” Marlene says. was outstripping my theological foundation.
“We started inviting unchurched friends to ves- —Marlene Kropf
pers. By the end of the year there were about as
many people attending as in the morning service. Because AMBS had almost no courses in wor-
That created tension. I learned some things about ship or spiritual formation, Marlene was able to
dealing with conflict.” take the classes she needed at Notre Dame (Ind.)
During those young adult years, Marlene was University and have the credits transferred to
also given leadership opportunities in the (for- AMBS. She finished her degree in 1988.
mer) Pacific Coast Conference. Through her con- “I felt like I had received the gifts I needed
ference involvement, Marlene was invited to be most,” she says.
part of a silent retreat sponsored by the national Since 1983, Marlene has been a key leader
Women’s Missionary and Service Commission in the creation of Mennonite worship re-
(WMSC) and led by Mary Herr. sources and spiritual formation material and
“Something happened that weekend that has helped lead six spiritual pilgrimages and nu-
renewed my relationship with God,” Marlene merous music and worship retreat weekends. She
says. “As we prayed the Scriptures, I heard a per- has introduced a variety of spiritual disciplines
sonal hearing of God’s voice. Mary said, ‘Go home across the church. “The main focus of my interest
and pray the Scriptures for six months before you in worship transformation,” Marlene says, “has
talk about it with anybody.’ So I did. This personal not simply been a conversion from passive to ac-
hearing of God’s voice was happening over and tive behavior in worship but rather toward a more
over again.” active encounter with God.”
Marlene eventually began telling people about At the end of September, Marlene will retire
Everett J. Thomas
her experience. A neighborhood group asked her from her work with Mennonite Church USA. She
to take them on a retreat, teaching them what she plans to teach one more year at AMBS, or per-
had learned. Not all members of the group were haps longer, until they sell their Elkhart house.
September 2010 | TheMennonite 13Marlene with lunch in her and Stanley’s sailboat on Lake Michigan Photo provided
A new menu for Communion Then she and Stanley will move back to the Northwest. Sev-
It was a cool Sunday morning in the mountains of eral years ago they purchased a building lot in Port
Venezuela. The congregation had gathered to worship, and it Townsend, Wash.; their cottage plans are drawn and waiting
was Communion Sunday. The leaders of worship were to be built.
preparing to serve Communion. The bread was ready, but “I needed some sense of personal call to this stage of life
where was the juice? Everyone looked around. No juice any- and this new place,” Marlene says. “After we visited
where. Someone was sent searching, and still no juice could churches in Port Townsend, I sensed a call to be a Mennon-
be found. Then one of the servers had an idea. Weren’t there ite where there are no Mennonites. The Mennonite church
some packages of powdered Jello in the kitchen cupboards? has known me as a public figure for several decades. [In Port
Yes, there were. All they had to do was mix the jello with Townsend] I will get to discover and experience the church
water and, voila, Communion juice. in that place as an ordinary, interested lay member. We do
So the preparations were completed; juice was poured in a expect to attend and be members of either Seattle Mennon-
pitcher, and bread was set out in a basket. ite Church or Portland Mennonite Church. But we will find a
The service began. The congregation sang and sang. They local church home in Port Townsend.”
prayed and prayed some more. The preacher preached and Marlene says she and Stanley researched “the rule of life”
preached. And then finally it was time for Communion. that can shape daily activity during their retirement years.
The presider spoke the words of institution, blessed the The rule includes work, prayer, leisure and service.
bread and broke it, lifted the pitcher to pour the juice into a “After such a structured life for so many years,” she says,
goblet—but nothing came. The presider tried again, but still “it will feel good to live life as it comes.
no juice. The presider shook the pitcher and discovered, to There is a need to discover who you have
his horror, that the jello-flavored drink had already set. There become through the work you do. Hope-
would be no drinking that day. fully, who I am is more than my work.”
So this became the Sunday when the congregation par-
took of bread and Jello for Communion.—Marlene Kropf, Everett J. Thomas is editor of The Men-
from a story told by a former AMBS student nonite.
14 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.orgQ&A with Marlene Kropf
When you began, what needs in Mennonite hungry for, but we haven’t discovered or received
worship patterns and spiritual formation did the freedom to offer those treasures beyond our-
you want to address? selves. Our singing, stories and prayers, rituals of
The central need I discerned was the lack of a healing, and the bounty of the Lord’s Table belong
direct encounter with God. There was too little in the world as well as in worship.
Scripture and too little prayer in corporate wor- What have been the greatest changes in
ship. We were content to talk about God and re- Mennonite worship and spiritual formation
luctant to encounter God personally and during your tenure?
corporately. Though we loved to sing, we didn’t A major change has been the advent of more va-
realize that singing is more than a horizontal, riety in Mennonite worship and spiritual forma-
community-building experience; it is our most tion. We have borrowed freely from other
significant way of praying together. The absence traditions—charismatic, evangelical, liturgical and
of the arts in worship kept many doors closed to other free church resources. Sometimes we’ve
encounter with God. Our fear of ritual kept other discerned and chosen wisely; at other times
doors closed. We were far too dependent upon we’ve been less discriminating.
words. Too much of the action was centered on We use more Scripture today in our worship,
the front, and too little of it directly engaged peo- perhaps from the influence of the Revised Com-
ple in the pews. mon Lectionary. We’re more attentive to the sea-
We were not teaching people to pray. Neither sons of the Christian year and are telling the
were we offering an adequate path of spiritual for- Jesus story in more creative and substantial ways.
mation—an intentional, sustained process for We’ve enlarged the role of praise and confession
growing our faith in the midst of a secular, post- in worship, largely because of the way these acts
modern world. Young people were growing up of worship have been ordered in Hymnal: A Wor-
without hearing and knowing the voice of God, ship Book but also because we’ve discovered a
personally and in corporate worship or witness. deeper need to recognize and name who God is
Adults lacked structures for relationships and ac- and who we are in worship. The altar call of past
countability, such as spiritual friendship, effective generations has been transformed into a variety of
small groups or spiritual direction. rituals of response. We’re more emotionally ex-
All these needs required a careful look at the pressive in many congregations, though emotion
church’s traditions of worship and spiritual forma- is still suspect in some places. In many congrega-
tion—patterns and practices that went back to the tions, the arts—especially music, drama, dance
early church. We also needed to assess how other
churches were nurturing a livelier awareness of
God. What paths were bringing new life?
What needs to be addressed now?
What has changed dramatically since I began
my work in 1983 is an increased openness to the
world of the Spirit. We’re no longer afraid to
anoint one another and pray for healing; we come
to the Lord’s Table more often; we can create rit-
uals for joyful occasions or times of lament and
sorrow when we need them; we can even dance.
We’ve lost our fear of sacraments and are ready to
acknowledge that God works and speaks in mate-
rial ways, in words, silence, relationships, sym-
bols, mystery—in fact, in any way God chooses.
What we need to do now is take our worship
into the world. We have enormous and precious Marlene and Stanley on the 2010 Celtic Pilgrimage standing in the nunnery
gifts in our tradition that the world around us is ruins at Iona in Scotland (celebrating their 46th anniversary) Photo provided
September 2010 | TheMennonite 15and the visual arts, have a far more central role. years ago we could count on one hand the number
One significant change in worship is the shift of trained spiritual directors in the Mennonite
from male-led to female-led worship in many con- church. Now there are probably close to 200. And
gregations and conferences. When I first began while their one-with-one ministry is significant,
leading public worship, I was often the only even more important is the way spiritual direction
woman involved, except for the children’s leader. has renewed the spiritual life of the church.
These days I have to make sure there are enough Church councils, committees and groups like the
men involved. Men tell me they don’t feel as com- Executive Board now pause to “dwell in the
fortable leading worship when creativity and spiri- Word” or practice various forms of prayer as they
tuality seem to be required. engage their work. The separation between work
During my tenure as denominational minister of and worship has diminished.
worship, we’ve lived through the “worship wars,” What have been disappointments?
which were basically power struggles or disagree- I don’t leave my work with a sense of disap-
ments about musical taste. Thankfully many con- pointment but with gratitude. There have been
gregations have quit fighting and are finding their times of discouragement, but the generous people
I’ve worked with and the vision that has guided us
Ken Nafziger and have been stronger than any defeats on the way.
Marlene Kropf at One disappointment is that I could not do more.
Laurelville Menno- I had hoped for a team of area conference leaders
nite Church Center, who would care for leadership training in worship,
Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in music and spirituality.
January 2009 at the Will someone pick up this work?
annual Music and Not in an office known as Denominational Min-
Worship Leaders ister of Worship. But during the past seven years,
Weekend. Photo by I’ve worked hard to train and mentor people to
Brian Paff carry on specific tasks—such as overseeing the
development of worship resources for Leader
magazine, creating hymnals or providing support
way to more creative solutions. Our two hymnal for spiritual directors. That work will continue,
supplements, Sing the Journey and Sing the Story, but there will be no one to answer the many calls
have helped with their remarkable variety of of pastors and worship and music leaders who
styles, which helps congregations sing whatever want to talk to a trusted leader about their ques-
helps them express their faith and worship God tions and concerns.
“in spirit and in truth.” How have you balanced your passion for
What are your greatest achievements the work with a contemplative life?
through your denominational assignments? It’s difficult not to keep saying yes when you
Three things stand out as pivotal, but none was love the work and there’s so much to be done.
my work alone. First was the development of And unfortunately, women feel pressure to work
what came to be called the Congregational Disci- harder and better than men.
pling Vision, an organic way of looking at the Several key practices have sustained me: a con-
church as a worshiping community of disciples in gregational small group I meet with weekly that
mission. Its Trinitarian focus was the center of nurtures and challenges my faith; a spiritual
everything I did. friendship that has endured for more than 20
Second was the resounding success of Hymnal: years; a regular meeting with a spiritual director
A Worship Book and the two supplements that fol- with whom I can be candid and who holds me in
lowed, as well as the extensive use of church- love and prayer; the ongoing Sunday worship of
wide worship resources published first in Builder, Belmont Mennonite Church.
then in Leader magazine. The resources we use in Also I’ve been drawn to centering prayer in re-
common do more than bind us together in the cent years and find this wordless way of praying a
present; they also create a vision that will shape path to clarity and peace. I take regular retreats—
who we become in the future. a day and a night at a nearby retreat center, where
Third is the expanding network of spiritual di- I sink into God’s presence and find myself loved,
rectors who now serve the church. Twenty-five healed and renewed.
16 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.orgPerhaps the most important balance has been important—small pauses at dawn or dusk, in the
my spouse, who loves to sail and persuades me to midst of work or at mealtimes to recognize the
go along and who cooks such extraordinary food Source of Life. Both traditions loved story, art,
that anyone would be a fool not to stop and savor music and ritual. Both understood the importance
the good gifts of the earth every morning and of kinship, fidelity to relationships and justice in
night. When we pray together at mealtime from the community. They shared an understanding
our Celtic prayer book, the tensions from my and experience of the “communion of saints,” the
work world recede, and all is well. unseen hosts who cheer us on our way to faithful-
Has the dialogue with Catholics enriched ness and to union with God.
Mennonite worship life? A major difference between the two traditions
I had no idea such a rich friendship would de- was that missionaries who came to Celtic lands
velop among Mennonites and Catholics in Bridge- honored and respected local traditions. Looking
folk. Though this grassroots 10-year friendship for places of connection with the faith that was al-
hasn’t been without pain, the gifts have far out- ready practiced, they evangelized through a
weighed the challenges and difficulties. From process of inculturation rather than confrontation.
Catholics we’ve learned so much about the sacra- Native Americans experienced a rejection of their
mental life—prayer and ritual. But Catholics also spirituality and rituals and suffered enormous
long for the life of community, discipleship and losses, even death, at the hands of Christians.
peacemaking that Mennonites take for granted. Who have been your primary co-laborers?
Our friendship brings Catholics and Mennonites I’ve been blessed with extraordinary co-labor-
closer to Christ, which is what really matters. ers: pastors, worship leaders, artists, musicians
Has your leadership been of value prima- and spiritual directors who stay in close touch,
rily to white congregations? help me interpret the church’s needs and give me
It’s likely true that resources such as hymnals feedback about what works and what doesn’t.
and supplements as well as worship ideas in I’ve often collaborated with Ken Nafziger, a Marlene Kropf at
Leader magazine are used more often by white music professor from Eastern Mennonite Univer- Laurelville Mennon-
congregations. Many racial/ethnic congregations sity (Harrisonburg, Va.) with an extraordinary ite Church Center,
are less tied to the mainstream of Mennonite wor- imagination for interpreting music and an amazing Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in
ship or to paper resources in worship. However, gift for calling forth the church’s song. We have September 2009 at
we always invite racial/ethnic leaders to partici- admired and worked with John Bell of the Iona a weekend training
pate in resource development projects and find Community (Scotland) and been influenced by his event for worship
their perspectives challenging and enriching. vibrant, creative, justice-oriented approach to and music leaders.
I’m impressed with what happens when a re- worship and spirituality. Photo by Brian Paff
source, such as the Minister’s Manual, is trans- Other musicians—Marilyn Houser Hamm and
lated into Spanish and then taught and promoted Randall Spaulding, those who worked on the hym-
by Hispanic leaders. It takes bridge-builders like nal supplements, and Stanley, my husband, a con-
Gilberto Flores (and others) who can interpret the gregational song leader all his life—have been
importance of such a common resource and train significant conversation partners along the way.
people to use it who make a difference in whether Many of my seminary faculty colleagues have
or not the whole church uses a resource. influenced my work in the denomination—Mary
You worked with Steve Cheramie Risingsun Oyer, June Alliman Yoder, Rebecca Slough, Daniel
on Celtic and Native spirituality and the Schipani, John Rempel, Alan Kreider and others.
traits they share. What are those traits? Seminary students from near at home and
As pre-Christian traditions, both Native Ameri- around the world have also been significant collab-
cans and Celtic peoples have been described as orators behind the scenes.
having “an Old Testament faith.” When the Chris- My most important collaborator in spirituality
tian faith was proclaimed to them, they quickly was Marcus Smucker, the first person I worked
made connections with what they already knew with. We hammered out a Mennonite theology of
about God. Both claimed the Psalms and their spiritual formation that sustained our teaching and
vivid experience of God in the created world. training of pastors and spiritual directors.
Both were drawn to the figure of Jesus—his And I’ve had good bosses who respected my
teaching and healing ministry and his refusal of vi- work, provided good critique and gave me free-
olence. In both traditions, “little prayers” were dom to guide the church.
September 2010 | TheMennonite 17Keeping children safe from abuse and neglect
C
hildren are a delight. They make us smile. that doesn’t hurt. They need us to protect them,
They bring new life to us unlike any other value them and give them life again.
source. Children are also a great responsi- As recorded in Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus com-
bility. They are unbelievably vulnerable and some- mands us to “love the Lord your God with all your
times lacking in common sense. They need us to heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
protect them and provide their most basic and mind.” He goes on to command us to “love your
constant needs for food, shelter, clothing and neighbor as yourself.” The children in our fami-
safety—day in and day out, for many, many years. lies, our churches and the communities where we
Sadly, scores of children are hurt every day by live and work are our neighbors. We must do all
those responsible to care for them. Some children we can to keep children safe and provide them
are even killed by the people closest to them. what they need to grow and thrive.
Through abuse and neglect, the light in these chil- Child abuse: a real problem
dren’s eyes is fading. They are giving up on the Child abuse and neglect is a problem of vast
hope that someone will ever love them in a way proportions. In the United States in 2007, 3.2 mil-
lion reports were made to Child Protective Serv-
ices (CPS), involving 5.8 million children as
In 2007, nearly 80 percent of perpetrators of alleged victims of child abuse and neglect. Nearly
abuse were the parents of the victim(s). And of two-thirds (59 percent) of these reports were for
some type of neglect. The remainder were for
the parental perpetrators, nearly all (88 percent) physical abuse (11 percent), sexual abuse (8 per-
cent), emotional abuse (4 percent) and other types
were the biological parents, and 7 percent were of abuse or neglect (16 percent). Even more
other relatives. alarming is the large number of children being
abused or neglected in which the situation is
never reported and safety and help are not pro-
vided. These children are out of the reach of pro-
tection, and their families are not being given the
services they need to provide a safe and healthy
environment for these children.
It is important to teach our children about
“stranger danger,” but it is also important for us
to realize that more children are hurt by their
caretakers or other people they know and trust.
According to CPS records in 2007, nearly 80 per-
cent of perpetrators of abuse were the parents of
the victim(s). And of the parental perpetrators,
nearly all (88 percent) were the biological parents,
By Jeannette Harder
18 TheMennonite | September 2010 | www.themennonite.orgYou can also read
