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To-Person GRACE and TRUTH www.TheMennonite.org March 6, 2007 Pages 8-15 12 A poet of peace 16 Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship 18 Do not answer violence with violence 32 Church-to-church, person- to-person GRACE AND TRUTH Of what spirit are you? n outcry arose over the tragic circumstances alignment with issues, of being directed by Christ surrounding the death of a young man (see of the cross, not driven by crisis in causes. A Jan. 16, page 6). On the eve of his wedding Rather than add our voices to the angry outcry day, police officers, whose sworn duty is to protect of the dissatisfied and distressed we use our voice life, took his. The incident was one more example to express the love of God in Jesus Christ. More of of an African-American man suffering from the us should strive to speak pastorally and passionate- excessive use of deadly force. Tens of thousands ly of God’s peace and intentional community. of people angrily called out for justice. Shouldn’t Jesus in Luke 9:55-56 reveals the correct moti- we add our voices to theirs? Shouldn’t we eagerly vation for action, and Luke 10:33-35 reveals the move to act for the peace we so earnestly pray for? constructive methods for action. Don’t limit the Shouldn’t we speak prophetically to the powers reign of God in the earth to simply aiding the that be, urging them to heed the truths we Chris- bruised and wounded. Those acts, however mean- tians espouse? I wrestled with those questions as ingful, are momentary. Work as peacemakers in pastor of a church, as a board member of African the spirit of Christ to transform society, transform- American Mennonite Association and intercultural ing those structures that leave people wounded Kenneth Thompson is relations committee and as a black man. and bruised. That’s significant and eternal. pastor of Peace as a basic tenet of Anabaptist history and Raise your sights to rescue the wounded and Friendship Mennonite faith expression positions us to serve repair Jericho’s road, making it safe. Bring togeth- Community the purposes of God in our time and in our world. er affected citizens, local authorities, municipal Church, Bronx, Our active sense of the presence of God, and the leaders and reconcile them. Supply the need of N.Y. kingdom as taught by Jesus Christ, gives us a those on the road who have not, and develop rela- vibrant spirituality, a distinct identity. It is a mis- tionships with the innkeepers along Jericho’s road take to think our nonviolent idealism translates who have, and reconcile the two. Bandage the into a noninvolvement that detaches us from the bruised and develop relationships with the medical reality of human experience. Our sense of beloved community so that medical care is accessible to all community, understanding what directly affects in need. Protect the lives of those who travel one indirectly affects all, won’t allow that mistake. Jericho’s road by protecting the future of the chil- How then should we respond to injustice? Luke dren; educate and empower at-risk youth so they 9:52-55 tells of an injustice suffered and how the don’t grow up and succumb to the temptation of disciples initially reacted. Jesus corrected their getting quick money by risking the lives of others. attitude and called them to have moral integrity in Ronnie Pride, pastor of Fellowship of Christ what they do. He corrected their theology, which Church in Rocky Mount, N.C., says: “The gospel is This article is mistook judgment for justice, condemnation for more than making people feel better—it means available as an audio file at conviction, retribution for restitution and might for making better people.” www.The right. The spirit of Christ elevates our “Pray for If we hope to realize the liberating themes of Mennonite.org Peace, Act for Peace” slogan to the higher “Pray the gospel shaped by the reign of God in our for Peace, Act in Peace.” Remember what spirit we world we must respond to conflict with inspired are of. Our interest is allegiance to Immanuel, not emotion and intelligent compassion. TM TheMennonite Vol. 10, No. 5, March 6, 2007 The Mennonite is the official publication of Mennonite Church USA. Our mission is to help readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents of Editor: Everett J. Thomas Offices: healing and hope in the world. The Mennonite (ISSN 1522-7766) is normal- [email protected] 1700 S. Main St. ly published on the first and third Tuesdays of each month by the board for The Mennonite, Inc. Periodical postage paid at Goshen, IN 46526. Sub- Associate Editor: Gordon Houser Goshen, IN 46526-4794 scription rates: $41.95 (U.S) or $60.60 (CDN) per year. Group rates avail- [email protected] phone: 800-790-2498 fax: 574-535-6050 able. Scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Assistant Editor: Anna Groff unless otherwise noted. The views expressed in this publication do not [email protected] 722 Main St., P.O. Box 347 necessarily represent the official positions of Mennonite Church USA, The Advertising, subscriptions: Rebecca Helmuth Newton, KS 67114 Mennonite, or the board for The Mennonite, Inc. [email protected] phone: 866-866-2872 Bookkeeper: Celina Romero fax: 316-283-0454 [email protected] Postmaster Editorial Assistant: Nora Miller 1251 Virginia Ave. Send form 3579 to: Design: Dee Birkey Harrisonburg, VA 22802 The Mennonite phone: 540-434-2556 1700 S. Main St. Web site: www.TheMennonite.org fax: 540-434-5556 Goshen, IN 46526 2 TheMennonite March 6,2007 CONTENTS 12 17 8 Not an impossible dream The life story of Luis Padilla—Jim Bishop 11 No strangers in Fred’s life A tribute in memory of Fred Schmidt—Margaret Loewen Reimer 12 A poet of peace The life and influence of Yorifumi Yaguchi—Anna Groff 20 14 The song leader A tribute to Professor Walter E. Yoder—Dwight E. Weldy 16 Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship A profile in photos 19 K-12 schools now evaluated by MC USA Mennonite Education Agency’s first-ever accreditations use Catholic protocols.—Gloria Y. Diener 20 MC USA delegation sees Congo growth 21 Churches offer alternatives to Carnival 22 Group plans ‘nonference’ to save fuel 21 DEPARTMENTS 2 Grace and truth Of what spirit are you?—Kenneth Thompson 4 Readers say 6 News digest 18 Speaking out Do not answer violence with violence—Vernon K. Rempel 25 For the record 30 Real families Retrieve, rehab, recover—Gerald Shenk 32 Editorial Church-to-church, person-to-person—Anna Groff Cover: Photo illustration by Dee Birkey March 6,2007 TheMennonite 3 READERS SAY Profile mixes apples and oranges ing age. Regardless of whom we compare our- The results from the 2006 Mennonite Member selves with, the reality of this decline remains. Profile (Feb. 6) are intriguing. But I question the —Conrad Kanagy, Church Members Profile 2006 accuracy (or interpretation) of two of the reported results. The profile reveals that attendance at Number of young Mennonites will decline church more than once a week and at Sunday Re the Feb. 6 issue and the latest profile of This publication wel- school are both significantly down since 1972. Mennonite Church USA members: Most disheart- comes your letters, either about our con- Conrad Kanagy fears this means a serious drop in ening was the statistic that now the number of tent or about issues church involvement. However, since 1972 there Mennonites under age 45 is only 30 percent, a facing the Mennonite Church USA. Please has been an explosion in congregational small number declining by 24 percent since 1972. As I keep your letters groups that meet in members’ homes. How much continued to read on I came to the news story, brief—one or two paragraphs—and does this offset the decline in Sunday school or “Recommendation to Ordain Women Fails.” about one subject midweek services? Also I find it hard to believe Something is wrong when we as a denomina- only. We reserve the right to edit for that a much smaller percentage of Mennonites are tion encourage new leadership, educate women for length and clarity. under age 45 (30 percent) than is true in mainline ministry in our church schools, then follow that up Publication is also subject to space limi- Protestant denominations (42 percent). I suspect by refusing ordination to women in one of our own tations. Send to that a common category (membership?) is being conferences. As a young woman who attended a Letters@TheMenno- nite.org or mail to interpreted differently, resulting in an invalid Mennonite college for training in pastoral ministry, Readers Say, The apples and oranges comparison.—Ryan Ahlgrim, I and my husband entered into conversation with Mennonite, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN Indianapolis conference ministers when seeking a pastoral 46526-4794. Please placement. During one conversation I was asked include your name and address. We will Kanagy responds whether or not if we were called to a congregation not print letters sent Thank you for these questions. Here are my I would be OK with having the same responsibili- anonymously, though we may with- responses: In 1989, 63 percent of members attend- ties as my spouse but not holding the title of pas- hold names at our ed Sunday school every Sunday, and 44 percent of tor. Refusal to ordain these women is not a far discretion.—Editors members were involved in a small group that met leap—a subtle form of emotional abuse that needs regularly.
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