“Anabaptists are very diverse in wonderful ways (languages, cultures, unique strengths to contribute to the larger family of Anabaptism). But the diversity of conviction on some very major issues (theology, ethics, mission) creates significant challenges,” says Tim Geddert.
As chair of the Faith & Life Commission (2025-2031), Tim Geddert leads the team’s effort in navigating these challenges.
Tim Geddert, part of the U.S. Mennonite Brethren Church, is emeritus professor at Fresno Pacific University and serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees, and as a member of USMB Board of Faith and Life.
During the MWC Commissions meeting on 12-14 May in the Netherlands, MWC Communications sat with him to reflect on his Anabaptist faith and the perspective he brings into the Faith & Life Commission.
He was born into a Mennonite Brethren family in Hepburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, where his father was a teacher at Bethany Bible College. “I have always been a member of a Mennonite church, with the exception of the three years when I lived in Scotland and we were the only Anabaptists in our village,” Tim Geddert said.
“While I grew up in a church context that was steeped in Mennonite culture, I only learned ‘Anabaptist theology’ when I attended seminary in Fresno, California, USA.”
Diversity, with foundational agreement
“I am not naïve about the challenges [of diversity within the global Anabaptist family], especially in a world that increasingly polarizes into ‘us’ and ‘them’ … ‘those who have it all figured out right’ and ‘those who are just plain wrong’,” Tim Geddert says. “But we can learn to do better. In fact, we must do better if we want to be faithful to Jesus.”
“We need to learn to give each other the benefit of the doubt, at least long enough to build meaningful relationships and have healthy conversations.”
To begin with, there are foundational agreements within the Anabaptist family, as expressed in the Shared Convictions.
“The centrality of Jesus in terms of theology, hermeneutics, ethics, interpersonal relationships, pursuit of peace and justice…these are high values for Anabaptists that are recognized as centrally important in many other Christian contexts.
“I am optimistic that we as Anabaptists have much to offer the wider Christian world. I am also convinced we have much to learn from others who do not share our Anabaptist labels but truly follow Jesus.”
“My hope and prayer are that we learn to dialogue with respect and with trust about the issues that threaten to divide us, and that we experience how much more important it is to build community together than to persuade everyone to believe the same. This is the essence of the work of Faith & Life Commission,” Tim Geddert says.
“So in this sense, I am excited to work with wonderful brothers and sisters from all around the world who have a passion for Jesus, for the church, and for the worldwide family of Anabaptists. “Even though it means that in California, USA, I have to get up at 6:00 am for online meetings so that my brother in Japan doesn’t have to start later than 10:00 pm his time, it is still exciting! Such are the challenges of a worldwide family…but the joys far outweigh the challenges.”