Inside Legacy of ‘The Clock’ 14 Sexuality Is About More Than Just Sex 19
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October 27, 2014 Volume 18 Number 21 ‘What is truth?’ pg. 4 inside Legacy of ‘the clock’ 14 Sexuality is about more than just sex 19 PM40063104 R09613 ‘Choose hope’ for climate 25 2 Canadian Mennonite October 27, 2014 Editorial worshipped together. The admonishers and those admonished likely had an ongoing relationship with each other, and out of that relationship came (hopefully!) the needed teaching and moral guidance. Lower the Jump ahead 20 centuries. We can now fire off an angry e-mail, leave a snarky com- ment on Facebook, send an anonymous let- pointing finger ter or launch a written string of Bible verses Virginia Hostetler at a person we don’t know personally. It’s Interim co-editor easy to “admonish”—read “criticize”—a brother or sister one has never met. everal months ago, our editor inform how we see the world. He writes, A Facebook friend of mine recently heard complaints from someone “What we have found . are competing posted a thought from author Philip Swho wanted Canadian paradigms, each purporting to Yancey. In the photo an accusing hand Mennonite to stop carrying let- be the truth.” Sometimes we lack points at a cringing person who is trying ters to the editor because letters the insight into another person’s to shield his face. The quotation reads, often cause too much friction. paradigm and simply respond “I’ve yet to meet someone who found A small confession: We like to out of frustration. Sometimes our their way to faith by being criticized.” hear from our readers. As the main opinions gain too much emo- In his latest book, Vanishing Grace: conversation venues for members tional intensity when a contrary What Ever Happened to the Good News? of Mennonite Church Canada, our printed point of view causes us to confront our Yancey speaks of a “crisis of grace” in magazine and online presence offer op- own fears and doubts. How might we talk current North American Christianity. He portunities for people across the church to to each other—in helpful ways—from points out that sometimes the ungracious weigh in on what matters to them. When within our own worldviews? way we treat others belies the beliefs we you send us letters, leave thoughts on our There’s the route of admonishment. claim to hold. website, and comment on our Facebook The Apostle Paul instructs believers to The world is hungry for examples of page, we know that you want to be engaged “admonish the idlers” (I Thessalonians grace. I challenge us to demonstrate ways with others in our faith family. 5:14) and to “teach and admonish one of disagreeing with each other that offer But I’ve been wondering recently about another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16, hope to each other and to our cynical certain types of responses—the finger- both quotes NRSV). culture. Might we have a moratorium on wagging kind, the kind that disparages the As it relates to Christian sisters and long-distance admonishing? Let’s us give beliefs of another individual or enumerates brothers, Jacob Elias defines the word up the impulse to correct any belief that the faults of the entire church. This kind of “admonishing” as teaching, nurturing, we deem wrong. Let’s encourage each response suggests arrogance: So-and-so has instruction, offering moral guidance, and other and learn what it means to bear an absolutely wrong belief and it is my duty warning in I and 2 Thessalonians from with each other in love. Instead of criti- to correct that belief; how stupid/sinful of the Believers Church Bible Commentary cizing, let’s seek to listen deeply to each so-and-so to think that way! series. Elias does not give as synonyms other’s stories. Let’s invigorate the practice It’s easy to carry out angry arguments the words reprimanding, scolding or ridi- of gathering around the Bible—together— on Facebook, and writers of strong culing. In fact, in many New Testament to seek the Spirit’s guidance. opinions can hide behind anonymity in letters, believers are more often urged to We can lower our pointing fingers, online comments. Uncharitable things encourage each other, to bear with each trusting that the Holy Spirit will give insight get said and conversation gets shut down. other in love, and to forgive each other. even to the sisters and brothers with whom Relationships are broken. If the early believers practised ad- we most fervently disagree. May we also In this issue’s feature article, Dave monishing, likely they did it face-to- have the humility to realize that we, too, Rogalsky writes about paradigms that face, in households where they ate and desperately need that wisdom from above. About the cover: Circulation: Please contact Lisa Jacky toll-free at In this famous painting, Pilate presents a scourged Christ to crowds in 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 or by e-mail at office@ Jerusalem. Eastern Canada correspondent Dave Rogalsky explores the canadianmennonite.org for subscriptions and ad- meaning of Pilate’s famous question, ‘What is truth?’ in his feature of the dress changes. Subscriptions can also be ordered at same name beginning on page 4. our web site. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada ARTWORK: ‘ECCE HOMO’ (DETAIL) BY ANTONIO CICERI, 19TH-CENTURY Periodical Fund for our publishing activities. ISSN 1480-042X PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 What is truth? 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO CANADIAN MENNONITE contentsAs the world turns from modern to postmodern and from 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5 WATERLOO ON N2L 6H7 Christian to post-Christian, Eastern Canada correspondent Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 Dave Rogalsky explores the changing meaning(s) of Web site: canadianmennonite.org truth. Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Lessons from those who left 16 General submission address: [email protected] Senior writer Will Braun offers his thoughts on what Mennonites Readers Write: [email protected] have to learn from the recent Ex-Mennonite/Near Mennonite Milestones announcements: [email protected] Obituaries: Michael Hostetler, [email protected] Conference in Winnipeg. Calendar announcements: [email protected] Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/Obituaries/Calendar” ‘They are not alone’ 20 by postal mail or fax to our head office. Mennonites remember missing and murdered indigenous Reprint requests: [email protected] women at Winnipeg vigil, reports Manitoba correspondent Evelyn Rempel Petkau. Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing Mennonites in Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Anabaptist perspective. We do this Encouraged to keep working 27 through an independent publication and other media, working with our church partners. Saskatchewan community developer Ray Funk is awarded Goshen Guiding values: (Ind.) College’s Culture for Service Award. Hebrews 10:23-25 • Accuracy, fairness, balance • Editorial freedom • Seeking and speaking the truth in love • Open hearts and minds in discerning God’s will • Focus on Books & Resources 28-32 Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability Read book reviews by David Driedger, Barb Draper and Elma Martens Schemenauer. Plus, browse the Fall List of Books and Area churches and MC Canada financially support 38 percent of Canadian Mennonite’s Resources for Christmas gift ideas. annual budget. Young Voices 34-37 Board of Directors (by appointing body): ‘Values, views and visions’ by Kalynn Spain. ‘Supplementary reading’ by MC Canada: Les Klassen Hamm, Doreen Martens, Henry Krause, Bryan Moyer Suderman MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: Kuen Yee; Aaron Epp. ‘The Forks and the Road’ by Rachel Bergen. MC Saskatchewan: Marianne Harder; MC Manitoba: Ken Reddig; MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; Regular features: CMPS: Carl DeGurse, Roger Epp, Tobi Thiessen For discussion 8 Readers write 9 Milestones 15 Board Chair: Tobi Thiessen, [email protected], 416-622-7850 Pontius’ Puddle 15 Yellow Page 26 Calendar 38 Classifieds 39 Head Office Staff: 2 Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] (on sabbatical) Lower the pointing finger Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Virginia A. Hostetler Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] (interim co-editor) 9 Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Connecting passions Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Vic Thiessen Aaron Epp, Young Voices Co-editor, [email protected] 10 Rachel Bergen, Young Voices Co-editor, [email protected] That’s a lot of money! Virginia Hostetler, Web Editor, [email protected] (interim co-editor) Sherri Grosz Advertising Manager: D. Michael Hostetler, [email protected], The deadly sin of pride 11 toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 Melissa Miller Correspondents: Will Braun, Senior Writer, [email protected]; Online NOW! Amy Dueckman, B.C. Correspondent, [email protected], 604-854-3735; Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected], 780-436-3431; at canadianmennonite.org Donna Schulz, Saskatchewan Correspondent, [email protected], 306-232-4733; Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Manitoba Correspondent, [email protected], 204-745-2208; Web exclusives: Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada Correspondent, [email protected], 519-577-9987. • Why the choice to die is not personal or private One-Year Subscription Rates • South Sudanese trained in trauma awareness in conflict zones Canada: $44 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) • Six things you can do to prepare for PA 2015 U.S.: $66 International (outside U.S.): $89.10 Subscribe to our RSS feeds and find out when new stories are posted online. Printed in Canada Award-winning member of the Canadian Church Press Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno God at Work in the Church Feature “What is truth?” We have believed we can find the truth, have found the truth, and that this truth can be easily appropriated by others.