Inside Killing Her Softly 4 Legacy of a Holy Hostess 12 PM40063104 R09613 PM40063104 Church Anniversaries 18-19 2 Canadian Mennonite July 9, 2012
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July 9, 2012 Volume 16 Number 14 The world comes to the farm pg.22 inside Killing her softly 4 Legacy of a holy hostess 12 PM40063104 R09613 PM40063104 Church anniversaries 18-19 2 Canadian Mennonite July 9, 2012 Editorial personal experiences of struggle, per- haps grief and loss, perhaps new spurts of growth and joy, or new insights and Gift discernment? knowledge, the latter sometimes coming Dick Benner from their fellow travellers, sometimes Editor/Publisher from outside sources and influences. And so it should be. Healthy congrega- ift discernment,” as prac- work of the congregation; tions are in dynamic development mode. tised in many of our • Openness to giving and receiving But it is a dynamic that is self-conscious “Gcongregations, is neither. counsel; and intentional, not one driven by default This sometimes agonizing ritual of finding • Seeking to be good stewards of our or the tired refrain of “we always do it enough willing members to fill the slots time, personal gifts and money; this way.” Developing gifts and using needed to keep the faith community func- • Participating in congregational gifts should be part of the same process. tioning on an annual basis is often discernment and decision-making; Perhaps before asking anyone to fill any an arduous task for those assigned or spot, the congregation should take ac- to find those volunteer bodies. • Renewing our membership in count of where it is in this development It is neither an in-depth look at an annual celebration and renewal process and set up specific new goals for the various spiritual gifts of the of our covenant? the new church year. congregation nor a serious process I am reminded of an encounter with of discernment that takes into Has the congregational leadership one of our Anabaptist cousins several account the Spirit’s nudging and “calling” forgotten its promise to: years ago when I was working with an for congregants at various points of their inter-Anabaptist group. A Church of the spiritual journey, nor is it a careful look at • Be a discerning community that Brethren pastor in Dayton, Ohio, told our the cutting edge of changing needs in the identifies congregants’ gifts and calls, and group he had no problem with “filling the development of a congregation. supports them in the exercise of these spots with volunteers.” More and more “gift discernment com- gifts in the service of the church and to Fred Barnhart, a person with a vision mittees” hear that dreadful response that others in need? for planting a new church on the out- “I am just too busy to take anything else skirts of this southwestern Ohio town, on” when attempting to fill positions each “Gift discernment,” as we too often who grew his flock from some 50 con- fall. This appears to be a recent pattern vaguely both describe and practise it, is a gregants to more than 600, told us with emerging in several congregations. two-way street: namely, the responsibil- a confident smile, “I have no problem It would be far too harsh to imply that ity of church leadership to intentionally getting the work of my church done.” much of the language in our covenants of work at identifying the spiritual gifts of His strategy? commitment and membership vows are the congregation and the commitment “Whenever a newcomer shows signs of so much high-sounding rhetoric, but there of the members to then use those gifts in committing to regular attendance [and, is a need to take a new look at what has equipping the saints for the building up consequently, membership], the first become not a joy, but a burden of manage- of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). thing I do is spend an hour with him or ment, as we attempt to function as the Neither congregations nor their her talking about their gifts. I take careful body of Christ in a congregational setting. individual members stand still in notes and put this into a database that Have we forgotten what we said as in- this ongoing discernment process. becomes an ‘inventory of spiritual gifts,’ ” dividuals, either at baptism or in joining Congregations change from year to year, he said. “Then, when it comes time to fill a new fellowship of believers, when we demographically, in leadership and in all those volunteer spots and positions, I committed to: what they hold as priorities in worship just go to my inventory list and the spot is and service. Individuals are on a spiritual filled. The person has already told me his • Active participation in the life and journey, defined and refined by their or her gifts, so they can hardly say no!” About the cover: Circulation: Please contact Lisa Jacky toll-free at The world comes to the farm. Gerald Dyck of 4-D Farms, Springstein, 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 or by e-mail at office@ Man., talks about oats to women from Somalia and Egypt, part of a canadianmennonite.org for subscriptions and ad- class of English-as-an-additional-language students who meet at Bethel dress changes. Subscriptions can also be ordered at Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, who made the trip out of the city this our web site. We acknowledge the financial support spring. See story on page 22. of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund for our publishing activities. ISSN PHOTO: REYNOLD FRIESEN, BETHEL MENNONITE CHUrcH, WINNIPEG 1480-042X PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Killing her softly 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO CANADIAN MENNONITE contentsDomestic abuse is still abuse even when it leaves no 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5 physical scars, B.C. correspondent Amy Dueckman WATERLOO ON N2L 6H7 discovered while investigating this troubling topic that is as Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 prevalent in church circles as it is in the general population. Web site: canadianmennonite.org Please send all material to be considered for publication to: CMU announces $11-million capital project 16 General submission address: [email protected] Canadian Mennonite University hopes to begin building a new library Readers Write: [email protected] and learning commons, and a pedestrian bridge over a busy Winnipeg Milestones announcements: [email protected] thoroughfare next year. Obituaries: Graeme Stemp-Morlock, [email protected] Calendar announcements: [email protected] The world comes to the farm 22 Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/Obituaries/ Our cover story reports on a visit by students from 11 different nation- Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. alities to a Manitoba farm this spring, where the owner, Gerald Dyck, Reprint requests: [email protected] recounted how his ancestors had once been newcomers to this country like them. Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing Mennonite Church Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Suspicious hospitality 24 Anabaptist perspective. We do this through a regular publication and other media, Senior writer Will Braun reports on the federal working with our church partners. government’s decision to reduce health coverage for Guiding values: refugees, while Eastern Canada correspondent Dave Hebrews 10:23-25 • Accuracy, fairness, balance • Editorial freedom • Rogalsky covers the 25th-anniversary celebrations of Seeking and speaking the truth in love • Open hearts and minds in discerning God’s will • the Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support. Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability Investment in ministry pays off in Argentina 29 Area churches and MC Canada financially support 44 percent of Canadian Missionary Mario Snyder fondly remembers the Canadian support Mennonite’s annual budget. he received for his education in return for his promise to continue his Board of Directors (by appointing body): parents’ work in South America. MC Canada: Ed Janzen, Les Klassen Hamm, Doreen Martens; The reponsibility of youth 34 MC B.C.: ; MC Alberta: ; Linda Matties James Moyer David Zentner writes of the need for Mennonite young adults to take MC Saskatchewan: Marianne Harder; MC Manitoba: Al Friesen; seriously their responsibility for the sins of their forebears in this country’s MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; CMPS: Carl DeGurse, Roger Epp, Tobi Thiessen residential school abuse scandal. Board Chair: Tobi Thiessen, [email protected], 416-622-7850 Regular features: Head Office Staff: For discussion 7 Readers write 8 Pontius’ Puddle 11 Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] Milestones 15 Schools Directory 33 Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] Calendar 38 Classifieds 39 Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Gift discernment? 2 Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Emily Loewen, Young Voices Co-Editor, [email protected] Dick Benner Rachel Bergen, Young Voices Co-Editor, [email protected] Where goes the neighbourhood? 9 Advertising Manager: Graeme Stemp-Morlock, advert@canadianmennonite. Phil Wagler org, toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 Pondering covenant 10 Correspondents: Henry Kliewer Will Braun, Senior Writer, [email protected]; Amy Dueckman, B.C. Correspondent, [email protected], 604-854-3735; Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected], 780-436-3431; Karin Fehderau, Saskatchewan Correspondent, sk@canadianmen- Online NOW! nonite.org, 306-933-4209; Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Manitoba Correspondent, [email protected], 204-745-2208; Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada at canadianmennonite.org Correspondent, [email protected], 519-579-7258. ‘Love of God’ tops most-sung in song survey: Award-winning Michael Spory, MennoMedia member of the Wiens: Rising political star in Paraguay: Dick Benner Canadian Church Press Killing her softly Domestic abuse is still abuse even when it leaves no physical scars By Amy Dueckman B.C.