Prayers of gratitude and intercession

I have been the coordinator of the Argentine Chapter of the Latin American Youth Inter-Religious Network of Religions for Peace for four years (position that I will be retiring from at the end of the year).

Our community (Iglesia Anabautista Menonita de Buenos Aires) is part of the above network. We understand that as a historic peace church we are called to inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

On Friday, August 9, we were invited to participate in the celebration of Id Al Fitr Al Mubarak, the Breakfast Feast in the Culmination of the Holy Month of Ramadan, organized by the Islamic Center of Argentina (CIRA in Spanish).

We took the opportunity to invite young Cristian Vidal, who was also present and is a current member of Iglesia Anabautista Menonita Puerta del Rebaño (Concepción – Chile) who is currently in Argentina along with his wife Danitza for study purposes, to join the delegation, which was formed by leaders of the Focolare Movement, YMCA, the National Commission of Youth Pastoral of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina and the Latin American Jewish Council.

The General Secretary, Omar Ahmed Kabbara, warmly greeted us. Also, attending the meeting, were officers of the National Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, diplomats from different Islamic countries, politicians, officials and religious representatives from different communities of faith.

Peace

Luis Ma. Alman Bornes

 

Mbuji Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo – A pastor in the Communauté Evangélique Mennonite au Congo has spearheaded a ministry of compassion to suffering prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jean-Richard Muteba Wa Mbuyi spends a lot of time ministering inside La Prison Centrale de Mbuji Mayi. His outreach began in March 2013, when, while walking by the prison, strains of a song from inside the prison walls gripped his attention: “We are dying of thirst / No water for days.”

Muteba laid aside all other responsibilities and entered the prison gates. He was quickly granted access to the rooms where approximately 800 people were being held while awaiting trial. All were desperate for water to drink.

In Congo, people accused of a crime are guilty until proven innocent. It can be several years before a judge reviews their cases. During this time, prisoners struggle to survive in cramped conditions.

Though prisoners’ families are expected to provide food for them, the prison normally ensures the availability of enough water to sustain life – except when water shortages in the nearby city create a scarcity.

Muteba carried the news of the thirsty prisoners to the Sangilayi Evangelical Mennonite Church, where he is part of the pastoral team. The church leaders decided to disburse some funds to pay for water for the parched prisoners.

With these funds, Muteba paid for several loads of water to be sent to the prison. The delivery system consists of men and boys going to streams with six 50-gallon jugs strapped to their bicycles.

In addition, Muteba visits the prison weekly to provide pastoral counseling to the prisoners. He used to fill his hours in the prison with preaching. However, Muteba has also learned through his theological studies at the Protestant University about the restorative power of listening.

Muteba hears about people who have been locked up for years on false charges, and about people who are starving because they have no family members in Mbuji Mayi to bring them food. Some people have been acquitted in a long-awaited trial, but remain in prison because they have no money for the exit fee.

Sometimes, the Sangilayi church’s prison ministry funds also pay the exit fee. Many of the prisoners join the congregation when they are freed. One of them, Daniel Kasongo, is now part of the pastoral team.

Muteba reports that his visits are a source of hope for the prisoners he visits. Rarely does Muteba enter the prison without hearing many thanks for the water his church provided when they were desperate – water that increases the fruitfulness of the gospel seeds he plants.

From a Mennonite Mission Network release by Lynda Hollinger-Janzen

 

Goshen, Indiana – Nearly 30 people from 18 countries gathered at Goshen College on 29 July-02 August to launch the Mennonite World Conference “Global Anabaptist Profile.” The MWC project, which is organized and funded by the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College, will be the first systematic study of how the MWC “Shared Convictions” are finding expression among the 25 groups participating in the study.  

The project will also shed new light on the demographics of the rapidly growing global Anabaptist family and create a digital library of testimonies from pastors and lay members of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations around the world.

“The size of the Anabaptist-Mennonite global fellowship has nearly tripled in the past three decades,” said John D. Roth, director of the Institute and secretary of the MWC Faith and Life Commission, “with most of the growth coming outside of Europe and North America. Yet we really don’t know very much about the lived experiences – the beliefs, practices and challenges – of our global body. We hope this project will provide a clearer understanding of who we are as a global family and deepen our sense of a shared identity.”

According to Roth, the project has been in development for nearly three years. “In 2010, I participated in a gathering of international church leaders from 12 conferences to interpret the results of the Multi-Nation Anabaptist Profile, a study undertaken by Eastern Mennonite Missions. When I saw the energy generated in those conversations, I was convinced that MWC could benefit by a similar project that was more representative of its member groups and focused on its Shared Convictions.”

Roth soon found ready allies in Conrad Kanagy, professor of sociology at Elizabethtown College, who had directed the Multi-National Anabaptist survey, and César García, newly appointed general secretary of MWC. 

In 2011, Roth helped to establish the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College and initiated a series of conversations with MWC, Mennonite Central Committee, and the mission agencies of various Mennonite conferences regarding the global survey.  Following the approval of the project by MWC’s Executive Committee and General Council in 2012, Roth forged a partnership with Kanagy, who has extensive experience with similar church member profiles. Kanagy will serve as a co-director of the project.

The 25 MWC member conferences that are participating in the Global Anabaptist Profile were selected randomly, with proportional representation within each of MWC’s five continental regions. In the spring of 2013, church leaders from each group identified a Research Associate to carry out the project within their country. At the recent consultation in Goshen, the Research Associates met for four days to revise the survey, refine additional questions specific to their conference, and receive basic training in social research methods. They also spent time in daily worship, sharing, singing and prayer.

Participants in the consultation expressed resounding enthusiasm for the project. Tigist Tesfaye Gelagle, representing the Mesete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, said, “The task ahead is enormous, but I’m very hopeful that the project will help my church better understand where we are, where we are heading, and how we fit into the global church – the bigger Body of Christ.”  Francis Kamoto, of the Brethren in Christ church in Malawi, echoed those sentiments, adding that the project “will help us be known to other conferences who are also participating.”

“The research will be owned by our church,” said M.Z. Ichsanudin of the GITJ church in Indonesia, “so that our conference will have data that can help our decisions. This is a bridge for building brotherhood among the Mennonite churches all around the world.”

Roth acknowledged the complexities of the project, noting especially the cross-cultural differences in understanding theological terms, the logistical challenges some Research Associates will face in reaching remote congregations, the challenge of illiteracy in some contexts, and the fact that survey results can never fully capture the full reality of our beliefs and practices.

“Ultimately, the survey is more like an X-ray than a photograph,” commented Roth. “But we hope that it will give a better understanding of some basic trends and directions in our global family, and that the interviews can supplement the quantitative data with individual stories that provide greater texture and nuance.”

The project has received grants from Mennonite Central Committee and the Schowalter Foundation, with most of the financial support coming from individual contributions. Organizers hope that the Global Anabaptist Profile will be completed in time for Pennsylvania 2015, the MWC Assembly to be held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in July 2015.

As he departed the consultation, Jethro Dube, Research Associate for the Brethren in Christ church of Zimbabwe summarized his hopes for the profile. “It’s been wonderful to be reminded that we are no longer strangers, that we are part of the family of God, citizens with God’s people wherever we are in our little corners of the world. And that we have the responsibility of upholding each other up and maintaining our unity as a family.  The project emphasizes our connectedness as members of the faith and as God’s children. It will reveal to the members of the body in the remotest corners of my country that they are also part of the larger family, part of the bigger picture of the Body of Christ.”

MWC release

 

Akron, Pennsylvania, USA – They toured the site of the next global assembly and imagined the global faith family worshipping and relating in that space. They explored ways to increase funding of Mennonite World Conference as a growing global movement. These were several of the tasks that engaged members of the MWC Executive Committee during meetings held here 23-28 May.

The next Assembly – the 16th – will be at Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, 21-26 July 2015. Organizers say they are expecting around 6,000 participants and the site itself could handle up to 11,000. They said they will get a better idea of numbers once registration begins in August 2014.

“Walking With God” was the assembly theme agreed on after several rounds of intense discussion. A smaller task group had proposed “Walking in the Light of God.” Some liked the Biblical language, drawn from Isaiah. Others saw “light of God” as “insider” language and wanted a theme that would communicate to people both inside and outside of the church. Also in the discussion was a formulation emphasizing unity and diversity: “Many Members, One Body” or “Many Clans, One Tribe.”

The Executive Committee also appointed the members of the Program Oversight Committee for the 2015 Assembly (see related story) and heard plans for the Global Youth Summit – for youth age 18 and over – which will be held 17-19 July 2015 at Messiah College near Harrisburg.

Growth in networking capacity

One indication of MWC’s growth is the involvement, since 2010, of commission representatives in the Executive Committee meetings. In addition, this year candidates for some continental representative staff positions came to the meetings. These organizational structures have been put in place to help MWC be more than a global assembly every six years.

The leaders of the four MWC commissions – Deacons, Faith and Life, Mission and Peace – talked about how to accompany member churches in difficult times and how to help the global MWC community strengthen its Anabaptist identity. They made plans to add new resources to the Global Shelf of Anabaptist Literature. And they talked about ways to relate with existing service and mission networks and a growing number of other networks – for example, education, health – that would like to connect in some way with MWC.

The secretary for each commission has a part time salary – for less than one day per week. The other work is done by volunteers. The commissions have met in person only once since they were established in 2009. All commissions are hoping to meet in person at least one more time before the 2015 assembly, but funds are limited.

Continental caucuses are making plans to select part time staff so that they can set aside time to connect with churches in their respective continental regions. At this point, there is a half time staff position, held by Lynn Roth of Harrisonburg, Virginia, to relate with North American MWC members.

Also present at the Akron meetings were candidates for a part time – one day per week – regional representative position for Europe, and also for Asia and the Pacific. Given the geographic spread of Asia and the Pacific, the plan calls for a part time position in each of three regions in the area.

César García, general secretary, said he hopes that the continental representative positions for both Europe and Asia and the Pacific can be in place by the end of 2013 – if funds can be found. He would like to see similar positions in Africa in 2014 and Latin America in 2015.

One lunch a year idea

“An excellent car, but little fuel.” This is how treasurer Ernst Bergen described the situation currently facing MWC. He spoke highly of the qualified people on staff, on commissions and on the Young Anabaptists Committee. “But all these groups cannot work as they would like to, because they lack money.”

MWC has prepared an “opportunities budget” to identify the costs of increasing its networking capacity through initiatives such as regional staff appointments and increased commission activity. Until additional money is raised, however, MWC is committed to a balanced budget and the “opportunity” plans will not be implemented.

In response to the financial challenge, the Executive Committee took an initial step in reviewing the current per member Fair Share formula which is designed to cover the unrestricted or operating budget and the Travel Fund – a total of around $985,000 per year. According to reports, however, only about 25% of this amount comes in, since not every member conference pays the requested amount.

Other revenue for the unrestricted budget comes from individual, business and congregational donations. In addition, MWC needs to raise money for a number of restricted funds such as the Assembly Fund, Global Church Sharing Fund and Global Youth Summit Fund.

“No one is so poor they can’t give the equivalent of one lunch per year,” noted César García. If that were to happen, he added, the budget goal could be achieved. The idea was picked up by a number of others, who added the suggestion that congregations be invited to plan communal meals and to ask persons to contribute the equivalent cost of a lunch, however that is calculated in each country.

Staff were asked to do further work on how the “lunch per year” idea might be implemented. They were also asked to continue imagining ways in which the Fair Share formula could be made more effective. Any change to the funding formula would not come into effect until 2016.

Among other actions, the Executive Committee

• affirmed the appointment of Rodrigo Pedroza García of Mexico as the new chair of the Young Anabaptists Committee, replacing Kristina Toews, who is now serving as web communications worker in the MWC office in Bogotá, Colombia, and has been replaced as North American representative on the YABs Committee by Lani Prunés of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
• asked the Asia Caucus to prepare the World Fellowship Sunday materials for a Sunday close to January 21, 2014, which is the anniversary of the first Anabaptist baptism in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525;
• decided to create a task force to propose how MWC should celebrate its 100th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the first Anabaptist baptism in 2025, and also how it should participate in and collaborate with other church anniversaries occurring in the 10 years leading up to 2025, for example the 2017 500th anniversary of the Lutheran reformation;
• planted a tree on the grounds of the Mennonite Central Committee Welcoming Place in Akron, Pennsylvania;
• visited and spoke in numerous Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in the vicinity of Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Sunday 25 May.

News release by Ron Rempel, Chief Communications Officer

Mennonite World Conference is a communion (Koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness. MWC membership includes 101 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national conferences of churches with 1.3 million baptized members.

 

Guatemala City, Guatemala – The seminar “Active and Compassionate Listening”, given by Carolyn Holderread Heggen and Rhoda Shenk Keener of Mennonite Women USA was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, at the Latin American Anabaptist Seminary (SEMILLA) on Monday, 11 February. This was the intensive day for both men and women together, mostly pastors as well as SEMILLA students.

Very early Tuesday morning with great expectations we 60 women from the Mennonite Church and other related organizations got ready to participate in the Sister Care workshop. What happiness! All the countries of Central America and Mexico were represented in the group with the exception of Belize. After the welcome, we began our training. Each country had a time to lead morning devotions with singing, poetry, drama and prayers in very creative ways.

Some sisters shared the following in their testimonies: “The training took place amid powerful stories of pain. Many tears were shed and there was an opportunity to think deeply about important issues, such as accepting ourselves as beloved of God, taking care of and understanding ourselves, learning to set boundaries, listening with compassion and managing stress. It was a healing space for many of us.” – Gloria Chacón (Costa Rica)

“The workshop was definitely great, something to be lived, very real. For many of us what we achieved was beyond our expectations, and we returned with much deeper human qualities. We are ready to help others more effectively, and hopefully in the future we will give serious follow-up because in reality it’s what we need.” – Albania Molina (Honduras)

“What did I see and what did I hear? Sixty-one women praising, singing, telling stories of suffering and of pain, yet recognizing the presence of the Spirit of God in their lives. I saw and heard two women (Rhoda and Carolyn) share their experiences accumulated over the years, and address the participants’ questions with love, compassion and wisdom. I saw groups of women reflecting on and studying the word of the Lord and responding to questions on the topic. I saw women sharing joys and sorrows. I saw hugs and women growing closer with each other. I heard deep dialogue, sharing of knowledge, mutual support, friendship, and loving care among all. I heard words of gratitude and encouragement for the seminar, for the organization and administration. I saw SEMILLA staff always willing to serve, so that everything would go well and with the presence of our good Lord.” – Olga Piedrasanta

I personally experienced something different among us: new courage and energy to continue breaking new ground for women and men in each region. Hope and strength upon seeing that we are not alone on this path of the life that is ours to live. Beside us is our sister, friend and companion, also taking up the challenges of the Kingdom of God. Each is so different and yet we have so many things in common. This space was used to heal pain, express things that perhaps had been stored for a long time. It was a space created with freedom and confidence. The greatest impact of Rhoda and Carolyn has been open hearts, speaking from their own experiences, without masks.

In this setting we also celebrated the ten year anniversary of the Latin American Anabaptist Women Theologians Movement.

The history of the journey we have been on was recounted. This was very positive because many women said they were not acquainted with it. Since 2005 when the movement was brought to Latin America by women who took part in the Mennonite World Conference, Latin American women have been organizing and redefining their place in the church, learning what the Bible says about equality and justice. By putting forth great effort they have requested and have achieved increased participation of women in regional meetings, and more women in leadership positions.

We took part in a communion service with gratitude and happiness. The visual symbolism for our liturgy was a path made of grains of corn and lighted candles. These symbols helped us be grateful that Jesus, one with God, faithfully sustains us and always walks with us, supplying our needs and illumining our path with his Light. The bread yields life in each one and the cup, abundant life for two.

We do this in memory of God’s love, in memory of Jesus agreeing to the shedding of his blood and the breaking of his body for each woman and each man. We recall that whoever comes to the table to partake in the bread and the wine is invited to maintain just relationships with her neighbor. At the same time we remember Christ’s love and justice in including us in Christ’s plan of mission and also Christ’s call to take care of one another. We continue to expect Christ’s second coming and the consummation of Christ’s kingdom. In this way we minister to one another in a mutual commitment.

The next day we had a time of closure in which we listened to the commitments that each one of us took with us to our own countries. We were able to experience the moving of God’s Spirit bringing renewal and hope within each one of us. Many, like the 17 Honduran women who made up the largest group present, had to work hard at a number of fundraising activities in order to be able to come.

Many of the women that took part in this workshop are pastors or wives of pastors. They made a commitment to lead this workshop in their own congregations. While some women focused on self-help, the majority focused on working to bring changes. Some women, such as the Kekchi’ sisters of the province of Coban in Guatemala, face a double challenge: sexism and racism.

The activities planned by the women mainly centred in reproducing the workshop to spread Jesus’ liberating message for women. We envisioned putting a link on the women theologians’ blog where we could collect and publish writing that has already been done by women working in different areas within their own settings. We thought of the need to write new articles and publish them. These dreams have brought some women to experience profound changes such as learning to use technology and writing their experiences and testimonies.

Latin American women theologians have broken their isolation. We are very happy to be in contact with women of other countries and organizations. This workshop provides the opportunity for full, generous recognition of our sisterhood as women, the outburst of feeling, and the affirmation of experiences as sisters who are members of the Mennonite church body.

We express appreciation to all the institutions that cooperated in making this activity possible, especially Mennonite Central Committee, the Latin America Committee of the Council of International Anabaptist Ministries, and Mennonite Women USA, for the support given to Latin American women theologians and, of course, to Mennonite World Conference for giving us their coverage.

Ofelia Garcia, MWC Mission Commission. Translated from Spanish by Anna Mary Yoder.

Bogota, Colombia – After the March 13 election of Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis, Mennonite World Conference issued a letter of congratulations and also sent two of its leaders to March 19 and 20 inaugural services in Rome.

In a March 14 letter to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity (PCPCU), César García, MWC General Secretary, wrote: “Without a doubt the ministry of Francis as the first Latin American – and the first Jesuit – Pope will bring new impetus to our relationships.”

García expressed his belief that the history of MWC dialogues with the Catholic Church “will create important spaces for our churches under the pontificate of Pope Francis.” García referred to the 1998-2003 Mennonite-Catholic dialogue that led to the joint report “Called to Be Peacemakers.” He also referred to the more recent trilateral dialogue on baptism – involving Catholics, Mennonites and Lutherans – begun in December 2012.

“Please be assured of our love and prayers for your church in these days of momentous transition,” wrote García. He added, “Sharing in the same Latin American background, I was especially touched by Francis’ attitude when he bowed to the crowd after asking prayer from the many people that had come to receive him….his attitude of humility has been a special blessing for me as a Latin American.”

Attending the inaugural services in Rome, at the invitation of the PCPCU, were Rainer Burkart of Germany and Henk Stenvers of the Netherlands. Burkhart is a member of the MWC Faith and Life Commission and Stenvers of the Deacons Commission. They had an opportunity to meet representatives of other Christian World Communions and also greet the Pope personally.

“Pope Francis seems to be a very friendly and humble person,” they wrote. “It was our impression that he will take steps to let the papal office appear in a different way.” They noted several important “small signs.” For example, “the chair of the Pope during the audience [with ecumenical guests] was not standing on a podium but at the same level with everybody else. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, representing the Eastern Orthodox world was given the exact same kind of chair as that of the Pope.”

In an interview in a Dutch newspaper on March 20, Stenvers stressed the importance of the inauguration for the ecumenical movement. At the same time, he noted that many world political leaders and royalty also attended and he stressed the importance of the separation of church and state in the Anabaptist tradition.

MWC release

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – “A contribution to the public debate” – that’s what Fernando Enns, professor of Mennonite Peace Theology and Ethics calls euMENNet. This multimedia project aims to reveal the influence of five centuries of Mennonite migration, and to sharpen the Mennonite identity in Europe for the future.

For centuries the Anabaptists moved away, lingered, and moved on. The Anabaptist diaspora led the Mennonites throughout Europe, to countries like Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and others. Time and again there were reasons to stay and reasons to move on: oppression, economic malaise, economic prosperity, freedom of religion. To get to know our religious fellows, spread out all over Europe, the international multimedia project euMENNet has been conceived. This should be ready for use in the summer of 2014.

What connects this group of European Mennonites? And how much do they differ from one another? What is their story? What has been their influence on European history and societies? What can we learn from their stories? These questions will be answered by Mennonites throughout Europe, by videos, texts and data.

Fernando Enns, professor of Mennonite Peace Theology and Ethics at the Mennonite Seminary, is – together with others – in charge of the content element of the project. I met him at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, at the Faculty of Theology. All offices and workspaces have big glass walls, which gives this department a feeling of transparency. “Nobody here has a fixed workstation; they’re all flexwork stations,” Enns says. “That’s why it’s been built so transparent. Only we Mennonites have been given our own room, which is actually quite nice.”

This is in remarkable contrast with the story behind euMENNet: the Mennonites, who in Europe and worldwide always had to search for new places. At the VU the opposite has happened. Here they are the only ones to have a fixed place.

Identity

“EuMENNet will help us, European Mennonites, to get to know each other. Every six years we get together at the MERK (European Mennonite Conference). We worship together, have a good time together, and at the end we say goodbye and that’s it. Especially after the last MERK, I had the feeling that we will have to put more thought into creating a Mennonite identity in Europe, and I wasn’t the only one.” Enns thinks of euMENNet as one tool to do this. “It’s necessary to establish something which will shape the Mennonite identity in Europe.”

The project tries to develop this identity through the stories of the Mennonites themselves. “It’s not like scholars and church boards develop an identity and then tell the congregation what it is. We want to tell the stories from a bottom up approach with different facets from different regions. We’re not only looking for the history of Mennonites from various areas in Europe, but also for the goals they have and the challenges they are facing right now.”

Europe

This multimedia project is about Mennonites, by Mennonites, and is very interesting and valuable for Mennonites, but, according to Enns, is also of importance to other Europeans. “The story of the Mennonites has a lot to do with the story of Europe. In the areas where they were allowed to settle the Mennonites have always contributed to language development, economy, culture, politics and theology. They also contributed to technological progress, for instance in the field of agriculture.”

As an example of the latter, Enns mentions Ukraine and the Netherlands. “In the Ukraine the Mennonites, as ‘foreigners’ set up farming-equipment factories, and in the Netherlands it was the Mennonite Cornelis Lely who conceived of and designed the Afsluitdijk (the enclosing dyck).”

Mennonites also had their role in the political history of Europe. “In the times of the Reformation Anabaptists/Mennonites asked for the freedom to choose for (adult) baptism. They asked for freedom of speech. They asked for freedom from conscription. All these freedoms which the often oppressed Mennonites fought for as a minority back then, are now seen as universal human rights. Mennonites of course weren’t the only minority to ask for those freedoms.”

Enns feels that we can learn from all these contributions to history. “The citizens of Europe are incredibly varied. Nowadays everybody talks about the importance of religious freedom and tolerance. But in the meantime it is getting more and more difficult to actually deal with these concepts; we are facing the limits of freedom as well. How can we preserve diversity, without losing unity? As a minority which carries a lot of diversity within itself, yet always strives to preserve its unity, Mennonites can contribute to this debate.”

Public Debate

Enns does realise that the contribution to the public debate is only one thing. “Of course other religions and minorities have their stories, and they too can significantly contribute to this debate. But it is important that a Mennonite voice is heard, since many people don’t know the Mennonites. If we don’t tell our story, it might be lost.”

“Most churches have offices in Brussels and have regular contact with European politicians, but Mennonites don’t.” Enns feels that, compared to other churches, the Mennonites don’t let themselves be heard enough in the European public debate. “We must organize ourselves in a European context, and let our voice be heard. Mennonites hesitate to do this, but we do live in a democracy, and we do have the duty to join in shaping the future of our European societies.”

EuMENNet is not enough to shape this contribution to the European democracy, of course. But according to Enns it is a part of what needs to be done to come forward as Mennonites on this continent. “It is a way to determine our identity and show it to others. Other ways to do this would be appointing a European Mennonite Coordinator, or organising European meetings between Mennonites. Diversity within the European Mennonites will continue to exist. But we can try to answer the following questions: What is it that makes us call ourselves Mennonites? And how will we profile ourselves to the world around us?”

EuMENNet

As an initiative of Kees Knijnenberg (International Menno Simons Center) and Antoinette Hazevoet, five centuries of Mennonite Europe are being assembled with the help of euMENNet. Through a website which will be ready for use in 2014, a migration tour and other activities, stories of Mennonites throughout Europe will be told. EuMENNet is an international project to which various Mennonites in Europe are contributing.

Fernando Enns

Fernando Enns (48) is professor of Mennonite Peace Theology and Ethics at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He started the ecumenical programme Decade to Overcome Violence of the World Council of Churches (2001-2010). He was born in Brazil, studied in Germany and the US and is currently teaching in Hamburg (Institute for Peace Church Theology) and Amsterdam.

Article by Jan Willem Stenvers, one of the editors of Doopsgezind NL, a publication of the Algemene Doopsgezinde Sociëteit (ADS; General Mennonite Association) in the Netherlands.

Elspeet, The Netherlands – At the annual meeting of the leaders of European Mennonite conferences, interest in creating a centre of coordination was reaffirmed. The conference leaders also gave attention to the renewal of the peace witness and to the varied perspectives of the churches in Europe.

At the outset of the gathering, held 23-25 November at the end of the 2012 church year, Otto Bleker, the chair of the meeting, emphasized the calling of Mennonite churches in Europe to be peace churches. On the basis of Micah 4:3, he sketched out God’s intention for a lasting peace. In Bleker’s view, Mennonite churches are urged to be radical, non-violent communities.

Digging deeper into the theme of peace in his presentation, Fernando Enns of Hamburg explored the social challenge facing the churches of Europe and the importance of a lived peace witness. Membership in the churches of Europe is shrinking, and the voice of the church is growing ever more faint. Despite this, longing for peace remains undiminished. But today religion is no longer central to the identity of Europeans as was the case in the 16^th century, when the Anabaptist movement emerged.

To be a movement of opposition, as then, is no longer sufficient since many of the core concerns of the Anabaptists are accepted today. Enns views European Mennonites as facing the challenge of defining Mennonite identity anew. What is the calling of Mennonites in Europe today? Who is working on this, and what is the platform with which to realize such a calling? These questions pertain not only to peace, but to the role of the church today. For Mennonites, God’s comprehensive shalom for both church and world is central to its mission. Peace is thus not an option but lies at the heart of the gospel.

The conversation following the presentations made it clear that there are many opportunities for congregations and conferences for the work of peace in society, and thus to make visible and experiential our calling toward society. The tenor of the discussion indicated agreement that be it in friendship circles, home, or congregation, peacemaking is our opportunity and calling. Despite such clarity of insight, for now the attempt to define concrete steps was not undertaken. For that, the coordination centre for Mennonite conferences in Europe could be of assistance.

Part time position for 69,000 Mennonites

Following the consensus at its last meeting in 2011 to establish a part time position of coordinator for the 69,000 Mennonites in Europe, no further steps could be taken. Interest in such a position was confirmed, including by the Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee Europe. Now, however, the reworked profile and the financing of the 20% position is to be discussed by the conferences.

César Garcia, the general secretary of MWC brought greetings and motivating examples from the global Mennonite community, emphasizing the importance of the European sisters and brothers for the rest of the world community. The essential importance of a global community is experienced especially in times of distress and persecution, when we need God and each other most especially, and when we say to each other “You are not alone” – as sisters and brothers in Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Panama, or the Philippines experience today. He invited the Europeans to participate in great numbers in the next global assembly in July 2015 in Pennsylvania, USA. Garcia reminded the leaders of the conferences, “The importance and dimension of global community is understood best by experiencing it.”

Regional/country reports: Congregations are being challenged everywhere

All participants greatly valued the MERK (European Mennonite Regional Conference) conference in Sumiswald, Switzerland in May 2012 as well the enrichment sisters and brothers from around the world brought to the event. Henk Stenvers, secretary, stated in the report of the conference of leaders that, “If we only look at what we do not have, then we will not organize large gatherings such as the MERK. But if we become aware of what we have, and reach out in faith to what we need, then we will receive it, including an event such as a MERK.”

After numerous jubilee celebrations in 2012, the congregations of Holland invested in communication by launching a new periodical and e-newsletter, and refreshing the church’s presence on the internet. In addition, the decision was taken that congregations would devote the next 5 to 7 years to the themes of peace, justice, and identity.

Since the 1980’s there is no longer a conference in Belgium, only one congregation. For a long time the Mennonite Centre in Brussels played a significant role in raising awareness on matters of peace and mediation. When support from North America ended, the centre near the European Union institutions was closed. There are plans to plant a congregation in the area of Brussels. Regret was also expressed at the closing of the Mennonite Centre in London, for many a home and place of inspiration in past years.

In France the youth are experiencing a spirit of awakening. Youth pastors are being hired and new congregations planted. Congregations are also getting involved in interreligious dialogue and in conversation with Muslims.

In Switzerland 2012 was marked by large international meetings, the MERK in the Emmental and the Mennonite World Conference General Council meeting in Basel. Congregational life was enriched by the many visitors and exchanges. The conference has engaged in a renewal process, new leadership is being sought, and structures reworked.

The conferences in Germany are working at various tasks. As in other countries there is a shortage of personnel and financial resources. Whereas for some the theme of identity is central, for others it is dialogue with Muslims and foreigners. The growing presence of the German military in the schools is also a concern. Congregations are concerned to address the youth. Moreover, the AMG (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mennonitischer Gemeinden) conference has decided to move to a consensus method of decision making.

The meeting concluded with the conference leaders meeting for worship in the Singelkerk in Amsterdam, one of the oldest Mennonite congregations in the world. Mennonites met for worship in the Dutch metropolis already in 1530. Psalm 146 became a focus of worship. The text “God is help and hope of his people” served both to sum up the meeting and to anticipate the future. The visitors each received the congregational brochure, which concludes with the question: “Would you like to have contact with a Mennonite congregation?” Good question.

Markus Rediger, Bern, Switzerland, member of the MWC Executive Committee

(For additional photos, click here)