Finding the right fit
A pastor who doesn’t fit in one place might flourish somewhere else. In two important cases recently, good pastors had to move on (without leaving their congregations). The reasons, and the changes that...
[read more]Anabaptist Iceland
Despite being well-suited for Anabaptists, Iceland is devoid of them. Perhaps the most literate country in the world just hasn’t heard about our brand of faith yet. Maybe Arctic Circle agriculture’s brief...
[read more]Always among you?
One of the most abused Bible verses is John 12:8, where Jesus says, “You will always have the poor among you.” It’s been interpreted to justify indifference to poverty, as if Jesus were turning away from...
[read more]How free is your church?
Amish Heritage Foundation executive director Torah Bontrager said her Amish upbringing restricted her from thinking critically about how to interpret the Bible or questioning her church’s rules. Yet she grew...
[read more]No space for force
The flaming, flying wheel came out of the sky to whisk Ezekiel off on a grand journey. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. The “rims...
[read more]Now, no exceptions
Pope Francis’ declaration that the Catholic Church opposes the death penalty in all cases, without exceptions, marks a historic milestone in the Christian witness for nonviolence. The Catholic position...
[read more]Don’t silence the hurting
Sexual-abuse survivor and victims’ advocate Trudy Harder Metzger preaches an important word when she says we should not expect survivors simply to forgive and move on after abuse has stopped. Survivors need...
[read more]Mysterious initials
There’s nothing sacred about the word “Mennonite.” Nor is it anything to be ashamed of. Somewhere between those extremes is a venerable religious identity with a rich history, many positive connotations...
[read more]Peace network overdue
For five centuries, Anabaptists have faced the challenge of pursuing peace. On every continent, in every culture, a defining trait that sets them apart is a commitment to nonviolence. Many conferences and...
[read more]Press on the upward way
Because church life has its ups and downs, we can be sure that some who study Mennonite Church USA’s new Pathways curriculum are looking for traction to higher ground. Whether they’ve felt moderate stress...
[read more]Moderate justice
The Supreme Court occupies the U.S. political spotlight after the retirement of Anthony Kennedy and President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. With the remaining eight justices evenly split on many...
[read more]Immortal works
Far from the tourist crowds, the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome is a haven of solitude. In a tree-shaded corner we found the grave of the poet John Keats, who died in 1821 at the age of 25. As he desired, no...
[read more]Twisted Scripture
To the horror of Christians and resigned shrugs of fatigued non-Christians, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions turned to the Bible. He quoted Scripture to justify ripping families apart by separating...
[read more]Beyond our fears
Anxiety affects nearly one-third of the U.S. population, making it the most common mental-health disorder. Youth particularly feel its crushing weight. Record numbers of college students are seeking treatment...
[read more]Understanding ‘seekers’
An interesting group of people who can be found at conservative Anabaptist events are those who have no Mennonite (or Brethren or Hutterite or Amish) background but want to join a plain church group. They’re...
[read more]An honest broker?
Peacemakers believe it is possible to earn the trust of both sides in a conflict. They are careful not to divide the parties into friends and enemies. It’s a narrow path to walk, but Mennonites are trying to...
[read more]Members only
Christ as revealed in Scripture possessed miraculous powers. But at least one thing escaped his abilities. He couldn’t baptize himself. Being a Christian isn’t a solo mission. A church of one is not a...
[read more]Devotion in action
“I participated . . . and it made me think,” says Minyoung Jung of South Korea, writing of her work with a food-distribution program in Kenya by a Mennonite Central Committee partner. Her article on page 6...
[read more]Evangelical Anabaptism
What is “evangelical Anabaptist”? It’s a designation claimed in some form by Mennonite Brethren, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Evangelical Mennonite Conference and Evana Network — which takes its...
[read more]Precious in God’s sight
Heard any good prophecy lately? Not the kind that predicts the future. The kind that awakens the moral conscience, rebukes sin and energizes hope. Mennonite Church USA has received just such a prophecy this...
[read more]Criminally Christian
Christianity was an illegal movement in its infancy. The first adult baptisms were punished by death in 1527. Christians, especially Anabaptists, have often faced the choice to obey God or the state. Defying...
[read more]Ancient obedience
In The Great Emergence, Phyllis Tickle writes that about every 500 years the church undergoes a massive transformation. It “cleans out its attic and has a giant rummage sale.” If that’s true, it could...
[read more]Publishers’ proposal
Almost 100 years ago, the founders of Mennonite World Review took a bold step into the future. Three years after starting the German-language Der Herold, editor H.P. Krehbiel recognized the need for an English...
[read more]Small but inspiring
Though tiny, a multicultural Mennonite Brethren conference on the tip of one corner of Europe might be the continent’s clearest embodiment of the global Anabaptist church. The relatively short but diverse...
[read more]Never again
Never again. These words have a specific connection to the Holocaust. But their power is not limited to remembrance of Nazi genocide against Jews. In the United States in 2018, they are the cry of youth who...
[read more]About Me
