April 24, 2017 Volume 21 Number 9
CeremoniesUnsettling Mennonite of belief stories pg. 4 inside Fraught with possibility 7 An idea worth sharing 15 PM40063104 R09613 ‘Diversity as a blessing’ 20 2 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
Editorial the previous model might not have been able to accommodate. Change, I welcome you Already, there are signs of renewed hope for the future church. Witness Tobi Thiessen the energy that surfaced spontaneously Publisher from students and young church leaders to form the Emerging Voices Initiative. nxiety about change abounds. It There are twin forces fuelling anxiety This group is injecting new ideas, critical is a natural response to uncer- in the communications environment of questions and encouragement to our Atainty, but I tire of reading about Mennonites in Canada, but I am reso- revisioning process. it. Newly taking up my role as publisher lutely hopeful: Witness the energy of the working of this magazine, I would like to be bold groups and reference groups that have and announce, “Change, I welcome you.” I • First, to state the obvious, the print been established to further shape the would also like to praise the staff medium is in decline. It is equally proposed regional church model. By at Canadian Mennonite for taking obvious that online communica- my count, there are nearly 100 church our new leadership structure in tions are flourishing. Although members from across the country, of all stride, welcoming me in and being print publications have some ages, bringing their own diverse opinions, open to new ideas and possibilities. benefits that will never be experience and theological perspectives Executive editor Ginny Hostetler recreated online, there are new to the questions posed by the 11 working introduced herself in the previ- ways of engaging with each other and reference groups. These are encour- ous editorial with snapshots of the church online that print could never achieve. For aging signs of engagement in the funda- influences and past experiences that led her a church as spread out geographically as mental questions about who we are as a to this new calling at Canadian Mennonite. Mennonites are in Canada, we should church family and what we do together. Going forward, Ginny will continue to embrace the new options. Change, I Witness, further, the spin-off effect write editorials, and will oversee the print welcome the benefits you will bring to our that the working groups are having. To and digital aspects of the magazine. My church in terms of more immediate and fulfill their mandates, they are inviting role as publisher is to strengthen church- more interactive communication with one others to contribute ideas and counsel wide partnerships during these turbulent another. on the future of our church programs. times; work on ways to adapt and improve • Second, and more difficult to -ac For example, the International Witness/ our communications across the church; cept than the decline of print, is the idea Relationships Working Group is surveying and be responsible for the financial side of that Christianity is in decline. This large pastors and congregational leaders to help our organization. societal shift helps explain the context for determine how to make our international Many have asked if this is a new po- the five-year Mennonite Church Canada ministries most effective. You can find it sition. No. It’s a re-organizing of respon- process led by the Future Directions at futuredirectionsmc.ca, if you would like sibilities. Formerly, Canadian Mennonite Task Force. One outcome of that process to add your own voice. Change, I welcome had a full-time position called “editor/ was the recommendation to reorgan- the new engagement that the Future publisher” and a half-time web editor. ize our church structure into a network Directions process generated. Now we have a half-time publisher and of regional churches. Because there are Anxiety about change is understand- a full-time executive editor responsible many uncertainties about what will be lost, able. At Canadian Mennonite, we wrestle for print and online media. Our goal is and whether the new model will serve our with the twin impacts of the decline of the same as it has been since 1953: to congregations well, there is tremendous print and the challenges to Christendom. offer Mennonites across Canada a forum anxiety. Recently, I heard a few people call Yet amidst the anxiety over all that might in which to connect, inform, inspire one the new model “deconstructionist.” But be lost, there are signs that much is to be another and dialogue about issues facing from my perspective, the idea of structural gained through change. Praise God for Mennonites in Canada. change brings us new opportunities that change that brings renewal.
About the cover: A 1952 re-enactment of The Trail of the Conestoga in front of Meyers Garage in Kitchener, Ont., includes the ‘capture’ of the Conestoga wagon by ‘Indians’ of all ages. Read about this and other ‘unsettling Mennonite stories’ in our page 4 feature, ‘Ceremonies of belief.’ PHOTO: DAVID L. HUNSBERGER, MENNONITE ARCHIVES OF ONTARIO ISSN 1480-042X April 24, 2017 / Vol. 21, No. 9 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Ceremonies of belief 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO : contents‘Stories matter a great deal. Much more than many CANADIAN MENNONITE, of us tend to think,’ writes Robert Zacharias, 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5, agreeing with Cherokee author Thomas King, who WATERLOO, ON, N2L 6H7 insists, ‘The truth about stories is that that’s all we are,’ Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 so ‘you have to be careful with the stories you tell.’ Web site: canadianmennonite.org
Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno ‘A beautiful way to make peace’ 16 Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Saskatchewan correspondent Donna Schulz reports on a meeting General submission address: [email protected] between two Syrian refugee couples and a Grade 10 class of students at Readers Write: [email protected] Rosthern Junior College. Milestones announcements: [email protected] Paid obituaries: [email protected] Calendar announcements: [email protected] God’s love trumps politics and policies: Franklin Graham 18 Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/ Mennonite church leaders in British Columbia join their ecumenical Obituaries/Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. counterparts in responding to the American evangelist’s confrontational [email protected] Reprint requests: ways, reports senior writer Will Braun. 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 Catalysing mission 22 perspective. We do this through an independent publication and other media, work- ing with our church partners. Haitian-born Bernard Sejour’s role as MC Eastern Canada’s mission catalyst involves looking for church leaders, including those with no Guiding values: Mennonite background, whom he evaluates and then coaches. 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 • Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability Jan Fretz wins two U. of W. art awards 23 ‘Unveiling Misogyny’ was named the 2017 Mayor of Waterloo Award- Area churches and MC Canada financially support 38 percent of Canadian Mennonite’s annual budget. winner, which will hang at city hall for the next year. Board of Directors (by appointing body): Young Voices 27-29 MC Canada: Doreen Martens, Henry Krause, Rod Wiens, Elmer Hildebrand; In ‘Walking forward changed,’ reflects on a pilgrimage MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: vacant; MC Saskatchewan: vacant; Brandi Friesen MC Manitoba: Ken Reddig; MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; she took in Nigeria with the World Council of Churches. Plus, YV editor CMPS: Lois Epp, Ally Siebert, Bryce Miller Aaron Epp profiles a Rosthern (Sask) Junior College grad now making Board Chair: Henry Krause, [email protected], 604-888-3192 her presence felt at the University of Saskatchewan. Head Office Staff: Tobi Thiessen, Publisher, [email protected] Virginia A. Hostetler, Executive Editor, [email protected] Regular features: Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] For discussion 6 Readers write 9 Milestones 13 Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] A moment from yesterday 13 Online NOW! 23 Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Yellow Page 24 Calendar 30 Classifieds 31 Aaron Epp, Young Voices Editor, [email protected]
Advertising Manager: D. Michael Hostetler, [email protected], Change, I welcome you 2 toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 Tobi Thiessen Correspondents: Will Braun, Senior Writer, [email protected] A church in transition 9 Amy Dueckman, B.C. Correspondent, [email protected] Willard Metzger Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected] Donna Schulz, Saskatchewan Correspondent, [email protected] Party with piecaken 10 Beth Downey Sawatzky, Manitoba Correspondent, [email protected] Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada Correspondent, [email protected] Melissa Miller One-Year Subscription Rates Just imagine 11 Canada: $46 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) U.S.: $68 International (outside U.S.): $91.10 Sherri Grosz Subscriptions/address changes: (e-mail) [email protected] Printed in Canada Award-winning (web) canadianmennonite.org CMCA member of the AUDITED (phone) 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 Canadian Church Press God at Work in the World Feature Ceremonies of belief Unsettling Mennonite stories
By Robert Zacharias
everal years ago, my Russian Mennonite grandmother told me a story about her childhood that I think about often. When she was just a young girl living somewhere southeast of Winnipeg, her parents un- expectedlyS lost their farmland. With no land, no money and no prospects, they packed their few belongings onto the first train out of town. Some time later, the whole family climbed out at a random stop somewhere in northern Saskatchewan. According to my grandmother, her father swung his axe into the first tree he saw, turned back to the family and said “Welcome home.” The ‘Indians, [my grandmother] She went on to tell me all about what it was like grow- explained, would occasionally take ing up as a pioneer in the 1930s—about impossibly long winters, poor crops and stubborn cows. vegetables from the garden without “And of course there were the Indians,” she added, asking, which her exhausted mother late in the conversation. “Nobody liked them much.” The “Indians,” she explained, would occasionally take found endlessly frustrating. ‘But vegetables from the garden without asking, which her then whenever one of us children exhausted mother found endlessly frustrating. “But then whenever one of us children fell sick, they would come fell sick, they would come and and heal us,” she noted. “So I suppose it was all fair in heal us,’ she noted. ‘So I suppose the end.” Having read plenty of Mennonite literature over the it was all fair in the end.’ years, I do know her story, if not totally factual, is pro- foundly true in its larger arc: a sense of injustice towards Mennonites in one place, followed by migration to an unfamiliar land and, finally, the hard work of settlement, leading to new rewards. This is a story we Mennonites have been telling ourselves for a long time. The stories we tell Stories matter a great deal. Much more than many of us tend to think. According to the Cherokee author Thomas King, our most foundational beliefs are not simply reflected in the stories we tell, but are con- structed by them. “The truth about stories,” King insists, Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 5
PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGE
Issued on Aug. 28, 1974, to mark the centenary of Mennonite settlers in Manitoba, this eight- cent stamp recalls almost 8,000 Mennonites who arrived between 1874 and 1980, and settled on two reserves on the east and west sides of the Red River.
“is that that’s all we are.” And that’s why, Shall Destroy Many. Wiebe’s story is of the Day, tells the story of how one of King suggests, “you have to be careful about Russian Mennonites settling in those Mennonites marries a local Métis with the stories you tell.” Saskatchewan, where they are attempting man and the general hilarity—but really Here’s another story. This one was to recreate the colonies they lost in the mostly the challenges and hardship—that told by Mabel Dunham in 1924 and was Russian Revolution. These Mennonites, ensues. Read together, the two novels published as The Trail of the Conestoga. too, face many challenges, including an show a broader history underlying that Her tale is about the Swiss Mennonites’ impoverished Métis community on the pattern I noted earlier in many Russian- arrival near the Grand River in south- outskirts of their village. Mennonite stories: of how colonialism western Ontario following the American Wiebe’s thoughtful young protagonist informed their violent departure from the Revolutionary War. The historical sympathizes with the “Indian” commu- old country, how colonialism facilitated romance emphasizes the challenges over- nity and even reaches out to it through their arrival in this new country, and how come by the Mennonites as they rambled Sunday school lessons, and several it has continued to inform their experi- up from Pennsylvania in their sturdy tentative Mennonite/Métis relationships ence. Together, Birdsell’s stories remind us Conestoga wagons. emerge over the course of the book. that the story of our arrival has yet to be It’s one of those stories we like to tell But Peace Shall Destroy Many is a story finished. ourselves, celebrating the Mennonites’ about the Mennonites’ fraught attempts The last published story I want to share simple faith, dogged perseverance and to separate themselves from the world, is another hard one, but it’s also one of indefatigable good cheer. William Lyon and their leaders work hard to frame any my current favourites. North End Love Mackenzie King, then the prime minister contact between the two communities as Songs is a poetry collection about a Métis of Canada, liked it so much he wrote a a form of contamination. This story isn’t woman whose brother goes missing in laudatory preface for the first edition. quite as happy as Dunham’s account, and the “nortend” of Winnipeg. It is a moving As you may have guessed, both Mennonites were not as happy to see it in portrait of familial devotion in a beautiful Mackenzie King and Dunham forgot to print. place, set against the enduring legacies mention that the settlement was on the Now there isn’t space here to recount of Canadian colonialism in a city with Haldimand Tract, contested land that all the stories we Mennonites have told the largest concentration of Russian had been promised to the Six Nations ourselves about our arrival in Canada, Mennonites in the world. It was told by indigenous community just a few years but I do want to tell you a few more, be- Katherena Vermette, who, like Birdsell, earlier, to “enjoy forever.” You can look for cause the stories have changed over the is of Métis and Mennonite heritage. She indigenous people in the book, but you’ll years. has published work in Mennonite literary find them only in a few passing refer- Sandra Birdsell, who is both Mennonite venues in the past, but in North End Love ences to the settlers’ fears and in their and Métis, likes to tell stories about how Songs the Mennonites are readable, if at otherwise palpable absence. her mother’s and father’s communities all, only through their absence. Placed be- Dunham’s story, popular as it was, have gotten along in Manitoba. Her book, side the other stories we have been telling is rarely discussed by scholars of The Russländer, tells the story of how ourselves about this land over the past Mennonite literature. When critics go the surviving members of a Mennonite century, however, I think this story, too, searching for the first novel of Mennonite family fled to Manitoba from what is has a great deal to teach us about who we literature in Canada, we usually end up now Ukraine following the Russian are, where we live and what we mean by finding Rudy Wiebe’s 1962 story, Peace Revolution. Her next book, The Children the word “we.” 6 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
Stories claim us continuing to enjoy all the benefits and closely to these stories and find our be- Here is one final story. I had a conver- privileges it has accorded us. We are liefs nudged into action? l sation with some childhood friends of made up of stories, it’s true, but we don’t mine last fall. The topic of Mennonites always get to choose them. Sometimes, Robert Zacharias came up, and a few of them insisted the stories claim us. is from Winkler, they weren’t Mennonites anymore. One In his book If This is Your Land, Where Man., on Treaty 1 wondered aloud if he ever was. This Are Your Stories? J. Edward Chamberlin land, and now lives surprised me, given that we had all grown suggests that stories are “ceremonies of with his family in up together in a small Mennonite com- belief as much as they are chronicles of southern Ontario, munity, and I had often attended their events.” He insists that we are made up where they attend Mennonite churches with them and their of stories, that our beliefs about who The Meeting House Mennonite families. we are and where we belong are formed (Brethren in Christ). He is an assistant But their claims are not unusual. and passed on through the stories we professor in the Department of English at Many Mennonites across Canada tell. I like Chamberlin’s account because York University in Toronto, on the tradi- have left their faith behind, and some it registers something of the relational, tional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Mennonite churches have even started spiritual component of stories, of the the Métis and, most recently, of the to remove the term “Mennonite” from significance of participating through Mississaugas of the Credit River. their names. Since I moved to southern listening, and of the power of stories to Ontario, where more Mennonites retain compel us into action. Originally published in a longer version traditional dress and other distinctive I wonder what might happen if we in ‘Yours Mine, Ours: Unravelling the markings—like horse-and-buggies—I Mennonites understood the stories we Doctrine of Discovery,’ a special fall/win- am informed with surprising regularity tell ourselves as our little “ceremonies of ter 2016 issue of Intotemak. Republished that I can’t possibly be a real Mennonite. belief.” Might we ask what, exactly, we by permission of Intotemak and the So the story my friends were telling, have been telling ourselves to believe? author. For more on this topic, it seems, is a common one: Since they Might we work to better locate our sto- visit canadianmennonite.org/ have left the faith or the villages of ries within the earlier and larger stories making-words-real. their youth behind, they aren’t really told in this land? Might we listen more Mennonites anymore. But here’s the thing about that story: It’s not true. Our past is not that easily dismissed. What’s more, it is never sim- ΛΛFor discussion ply ours to dismiss. After all, these friends 1. What are the stories about arrival in Canada, or other heritage stories, that are told of mine, like me, are in Canada precisely in your family or community? Do these stories become more or less important for because of our Mennonite identities. succeeding generations? How influential are these stories in shaping who we become? Russian Mennonites were invited to Do these stories play as large a role as Bible stories? settle in Manitoba a few years after the crushing of the Métis resistance. The 2. In what settings we do tell these stories of origin? In what circumstances do we generous terms of their arrival were ne- begin to ask whether these stories are based on accurate historical facts? In what ways gotiated specifically as Mennonites: land do these stories change over time? Does historical accuracy matter? was set aside for them to settle in clusters 3. Robert Zacharias says that Mennonite identity is not something that can be dis- as Mennonites. Freedom from military missed. Do you agree? What is the difference between “Mennonite” as culture or service, like the allowance to educate heritage, and “Mennonite” as faith? For how many generations can someone claim their children in their own language to be Mennonite if there is no faith connection? and traditions, was awarded to them as Mennonites. 4. Zacharias suggests that our stories should include more about those who lived By the time my friends and I grew on this land before our people did. What questions do you have about early settler/ up—yes, as Mennonites—on that land in indigenous relations in your community? What stories should we be telling to our the 1980s and ’90s, our town was nearly children? exclusively Mennonite, and we attended —By Barb Draper public schools at which German classes were mandatory and the Bible was read over the intercom. We are, inescapably, products of this past. We cannot simply See related resources at write ourselves out of this story or the www.commonword.ca/go/182 responsibilities it entails, especially while Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 7
PHOTO BY BRAD LEITCH
Hereditary chief George Kingfisher, left, and Mennonite landowner Ray Funk chat during a scene from the documentary film, Reserve 107, about land rights in Saskatchewan.
Viewpoint trend with two nearly full-time staff. The gardening program is gone, and while MCC has staff in Timmins, Ont., and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador— Fraught with possibility areas with large indigenous populations— it no longer places people in first nations By Will Braun themselves. This mirrors international Senior Writer work that leans toward work with local partners instead of sending people. ong before the Calls to Action ability to effect change. And many Similarly, MC Canada has become less from the Truth and Reconciliation Canadians question the current course, involved in specific communities, focus- LCommission or the celebrated understandably. sing more on engagement of Mennonite United Nations Declaration on the Rights Now we have the new Murdered and churches while building close ties to vari- of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), we Missing Indigenous Women inquiry ous indigenous academics and leaders. already had a 4,000-page report with 400 and a new wave of official optimism MC Manitoba also continues to facilitate recommendations that were praised by emanating from Ottawa. Where do we Partnership Circles that connect con- chiefs and church officials alike. Mennonites fit into this picture of peren- gregations directly with communities in The report of the Royal Commission nially frustrated hope? What are the ongoing relationships. on Aboriginal Peoples was thorough and highlights and challenges in our indige- In broad strokes, we as a church are daring: “In just 20 years the revitalization nous relations work? doing less work in first nations and of many self-reliant aboriginal nations With my personal history in these more work among ourselves—learning can be accomplished, and the staggering efforts, I recall a time when Mennonite tours, church presentations, publication human and financial cost of supporting Central Committee (MCC) had service of educational materials, MCC’s Myth communities unable to manage for them- workers in five indigenous communities Perceptions website (mythperceptions.ca), selves will end.” from coast to coast, as well as numerous films and the like. That was 21 years ago. office staff and summer gardeners in a Steve Heinrichs, MC Canada’s in- Cue the dusty shelf cliché. While dozen or so first nations. Now, despite digenous relations director, visits many gains have been made, orchestrated growing acceptance of indigenous people churches and publishes materials that in- dependence is still the modus operandi. within society and the church, MCC’s clude input from leading theologians and Government money finds limited trac- program capacity has shrunk. MCC thinkers. But he also says that if we do tion. The Indian Act remains. Ninety Canada is down from two full-time not move beyond listening and educat- percent of homes in Pikangikum lack positions in the mid-1990s to one. MCC ing ourselves, these can become “another plumbing. Suicide crises regularly fall Manitoba is down from as many as four, form of resource extraction.” Educating through the gaping holes in the collective to one. MCC Ontario is bucking the ourselves is a beginning, not an end. 8 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY OF LYNDSAY MOLLINS KOENE Lyndsay Mollins Koene uses the term there’s joy in the mess.” “listen into action” to express the same Another part of the messiness is having idea. As Indigenous Neighbours coordi- constructive discussions with people nator for MCC Ontario, she straddles who question the work. “I’m interested in education and action. She shares about going to the spaces where there’s all those an especially meaningful learning tour questions that people have roiling within that resulted in a group of northern their hearts,” says Heinrichs. He calls that elders making a reciprocal visit to the a “growing edge” for himself, something Leamington area. She speaks about send- that requires “a tonne of genuine respect” ing seed potatoes, instead of gardeners, and a willingness to understand where and responding to a request from the people are coming from, instead of shut- youth council of Attawapiskat to assist in ting them down. building a youth gathering place. As documents, inquiries and gov- She also talks about making the water ernments come and go, Mennonites run in Pikangikum, where the absence remain engaged in a wide range of gritty, of water and sewer infrastructure is relationship-based efforts, both with particularly severe. MCC collaborates first nations and among ourselves. While with Habitat for Humanity, the Anglican we could do much more—the needs are Church, the Assembly of First Nations severe and urgent—we have consider- and a couple of engineers to put plumb- A Sachigo First Nation woman grows ably more capacity for this sort of direct ing into homes of the most vulnerable tomatoes to provide food security for engagement than other denominations. people. Ottawa has agreed to match the herself and her family. With numerous seasoned staff in place, more than $400,000 the group has raised. the confidence of a rich history, a truly In Saskatchewan, MCC continues rare array of relationships and consider- to be instrumental in efforts to seek relationship with indigenous people is able interest in the pews, Mennonites redress for the Young Chippewayan “the most fundamental relationship to are well positioned to step up our efforts. First Nation, whose reserve land was heal and get right.” Perhaps the challenge now is to learn from given to Mennonite settlers in 1898. As One step is MCC Ontario’s involvement some of the best work being done, engage documented in the film, Reserve 107, this in a project that will restore the Mohawk genuinely with the doubters among us, contentious work has yielded deep con- Institute Residential School in Brantford get more people stepping boldly into the nections between Young Chippewayan, to its earlier state, as a reminder for future messiness of relationship and be prepared Mennonite and Lutheran people in the generations. Mennonite Disaster Service to follow the unpredictable paths to action area. In addition to facilitating rela- is also involved. that relationships yield. tionships, MCC did much of the his- While all of these projects follow The challenge may also include ex- panding our theology to better allow us In broad strokes, we as a church are doing less work to walk and grieve with people when, despite our efforts, society’s actions do in first nations and more work among ourselves— not match the stated optimism of the learning tours, church presentations, publication documents we hold up. l of educational materials . . . and the like.
torical research essential to the Young MCC’s decades-old practice of respond- Chippewayan struggle. MCC’s Leonard ing to indigenous invitations, they still Doell speaks with much fondness of the enter the fraught territory of giver-receiv- partnerships MCC has developed over er dynamics. his 20 years. Heinrichs says we should embrace that Back in Ontario, Rick Cober risk. “We often play it cautiously because Bauman—a one-time “native garden- we don’t want to mess up,” he says of the ing” participant who now heads MCC fear of slipping into colonial patterns. Ontario—notes that the MCC office, However, he encourages church groups Conrad Grebel University College and to carefully discern how to engage within numerous Mennonite churches in the the context of relationships rooted in lis- Fish is smoked over an open fire dur- Kitchener-Waterloo area sit on disputed tening, while recognizing that “it is going ing an aski (Cree translation for ‘land’) land. He says that, for Mennonites, the to be messy.” But, he adds, “that’s life, and learning tour. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 9
Viewpoints EE ‘Apocalyptic threshold’ is more than a few degrees
ΛΛReaders write Re: “Are we living in the last millennium?” Dec. 12, 2016, page 8, We welcome your comments and publish most letters from Phil Wagler’s column is a reminder that apocalyptic subscribers. Letters, to be kept to 300 words or less, are predictions are still out there after a history of more the opinion of the writer only and are not to be taken as than 2,500 years. Sadly for the would-be prophets, to endorsed by this magazine or the church. Please address date every one of them has been dead wrong. issues rather than individuals; personal attacks will not Now, apocalyptic predictions tend to be environ- appear in print or online. In light of the many recent letters mental in nature. By focussing on dire environmental on the topic of sexuality, we will edit any letter on this topic prophecies, some current trends are ominous. The to a paragraph and post the rest online at www.canadian- bad news is that our human exploitation of ecosystems mennnonite.org. All letters are edited for length, style and may cause an environmental apocalypse. The good adherence to editorial guidelines. Send them to letters@ news is that many of us are now trying to find ways to canadianmennonite.org and include the author’s contact ease generating negative reactions. information and mailing address. Preference is given to Real ecological science teaches us that the environ- letters from MC Canada congregants. ment functions as a set of self-organizing adaptive (Continued on page 10)
From Our Leaders worship patterns and Sunday schools; en- gaged in Bible study; ministered to youth, families, young adults and seniors; ex- A church in transition tended community outreach; supported camp workers; engaged with other Willard Metzger ministries in their regions; and partnered with Mennonite Church Canada Witness he times we live in seem to change walkers through treaty lands along the workers overseas. more rapidly with each passing way. The Future Directions process among Tday. In North America, Europe As of press time, the eldest participant is our area churches and national church is and elsewhere, protectionist sentiments, 87. The youngest, a nine-month-old baby the result of such congregational challenge growing nationalism and increased bor- girl, will travel the route on her mother’s and opportunity, and of dynamic and der controls are becoming commonplace. back. Kandace Boos, her mother, says, “I dramatic cultural shifts in our faith com- Fifty-four percent of worldwide am walking for every aboriginal mother munity and society. It emphasizes helping refugees in 2015 poured without access to solid prenatal care and congregations to be at their best as centres out of Syria, Afghanistan post-partum support, every foster kid who of worship and mission together with and Somalia, according doesn’t believe life will get better and for sister congregations in area churches and to the United Nations. In every baby girl growing up with a de- across Canada. Can we bring the same response, congregations pressed mother unable to get help.” generous rigour to this important task as have continued to do The Pilgrimage is a hopeful opportunity we have brought to the job of resettling what we do best by faithfully responding to show the rest of Canada and the world refugees and reconciling our relationships to Jesus’ call to love our neighbours, no that the church is willing to take respon- with indigenous peoples? matter where they are from. Across the sibility for its historically uninformed For all of the ways you love your country, we estimate that up to 40 per- treatment of indigenous peoples and it is neighbours as yourselves in these tenuous cent of our congregations are welcoming willing to embrace difficult conversations. times, I am humbly proud of you. Your newcomers to Canada. In our national church family, congre- actions are a reflection of faith and an Numerous congregations are work- gations are following Jesus as they wrestle inspiration. May we experience an ever- ing hard to understand what it means to with a variety of challenges and oppor- stronger call to serve God as a community reconcile our relationships with indige- tunities. Some congregations are experi- together united in worship and mission. nous peoples. On April 23, a 600-kilo- encing decreased energy, while others are metre Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights enjoying increased vitality. In both cases, Willard Metzger is MC Canada’s left Kitchener, Ont. for Ottawa, taking many churches have maintained regular executive director. 10 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
(Continued from page 9) new system order is established. systems. An adaptive system has built-in processes Some scientists fear that several degrees C of that adjust to disturbances and eventually return it to atmospheric warming may occur due to human- near its original state. When disturbance is so severe caused greenhouse-gas emissions, possibly initiating that a system cannot do that, it may slide into disarray an unpredictable climate-system state. But such a rise or chaos. But in nature, such a state never lasts, as a in temperature actually occurred 6,000 years ago, and variety of potential new system orders then arise spon- the result was adaptation and shifting ecosystems, not taneously, of which one eventually dominates, and a chaos and loss of system functions.
Family Ties Party with piecaken Melissa Miller
his isn’t really working out by car. Not too difficult so far, right? The finished piecaken the way I imagined,” I mused, In my mother’s kitchen, I prepared the “Tas my mother slept in her applesauce spice cake batter and placed chair while I worked on her birthday des- some of it in a spring-form baking pan. according to the request of the birthday sert. I had just ended a phone call with Then I flipped the pie upside down into person, a unique annual event in the my son, my consultant on the somewhat the cake batter carefully, to prevent the blur of a large family, and a tribute to my complicated-to-assemble treat. He was a piecrust from breaking apart. Are you mother’s phenomenal energy, resource- relative expert, having made two of them still with me? After the pie had been fulness and love. It is a blessing to share compared to my none. I had imagined nestled into the centre of the pan, the many years with one’s parent, enough that my mother, no slouch in the bakery remaining cake batter was spread around that one can reciprocate the kindnesses department, would be at my side add- the pie, and then baked until done. When of the past. ing her helpful advice to the process. the cake/pie cooled, it was removed from “Honour your mother and your father But a long morning trip to Walmart (her the pan, involving another flip so the that your days may be long,” instructs request) had sapped her energy, so she hidden pie turned right side up. Finally one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus snoozed quietly as I soaked up advice and a thick, delectable layer of cream-cheese 20:12). Jesus repeated it, and so did Paul, fortitude from my son. icing was applied. Voila! Piecaken. who emphasized its promise: “so that it The dessert is called a “piecaken,” An hour later, my mother woke up and may be well with you and you may live simply meaning a pie baked into a cake. came into the kitchen, surprised to see long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2). While Some months previously, when my son that the dessert was nearly complete. She the promises are appealing, I believe was making one, I had shared the idea made a valuable contribution, recom- that the honouring described in such with Mother in some of our many phone mending chopped pecans for the garnish birthday celebrations is motivated more calls. She loves novelty, and indicated she rather than whole ones (easier to chew by the pleasure of keeping traditions, by would like to try a pie- caken sometime. Since I It is a blessing to share many years was going to Pennsylvania with one’s parent, enough that one can to be with her for her birthday, I offered to make reciprocate the kindnesses of the past. it happen. Perhaps I made the process even more for those with dentures!). At the party the empathy and love, by bonding and family complicated than it needed to be. next day, she pronounced the piecaken ties. And a really good excuse to party The dessert began in Manitoba, where to be “quite good,” and was happy to have with a piecaken. I made the pastry and chopped pecans. I tried it. She added that she prefers her pie transported these by plane to my friend and cake to be separate. Melissa Miller ([email protected]) in Ontario, who supplied the remain- The whole experience reminded me of has a passion for helping people develop ing ingredients for the pecan pie. The the many birthday cakes Mom made for healthy, vibrant relationships with God, finished pie was carried to Pennsylvania her many children. Each one was created self and others. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 11
The apocalyptic threshold, then, likely is higher than EE When people ‘can’t digest a few degrees rise in temperature. The future can be what we are serving’ predicted only statistically, but to many of us it seems better to err on the conservative side than to take Re: “A new recipe for church” feature, Feb. 13, page needless chances. We need to act, but not in panic. 4. Henry Epp, Calgary Sometimes it helps to have an important concept presented in a refreshing way to stir our imagination. (Continued on page 12)
God, Money and Me
abundance mentality. As Christians, we Just imagine know we should not put our faith and hope in money and resources. God owns Sherri Grosz it all and has more than enough to meet our needs. ust imagine you are there, sitting on people about their charitable giving, both The single most effective tactic to the hillside, listening to Jesus. It’s during their lifetime and through their help foster an abundance mentality is to Jpast mealtime and your stomach estate. Most say that they learned to share what you have. The boy in John’s starts to rumble, but his words mesmer- give as children. Some came to Canada gospel could have kept his food for ize you and you don’t want to leave. You after the war and, despite not having any himself. Instead, he witnessed a miracle notice the disciples talking together and extra, their parents still found something of provision for those in need. Many of gesturing to the crowd. Then you see a to give to those in need. Others recall us spend much of our lives with a scarcity boy approach and offer a small bundle. growing up in comfort and their parents mentality. It can be challenging to think You watch Jesus open the bundle, offer giving generously to those who had less. differently, but making the shift has rich a prayer and begin to pass out the food. Many credit the church for teaching rewards. Indeed, those who think there You know it won’t reach all the way to them to live simply and to share gener- is enough for all experience more peace you; it’s just a small bundle after all. What ously. Some are a bit surprised and per- and happiness. a surprise when your neighbour passes haps a little embarrassed that they have At Abundance Canada, we have some bread and then some fish! Then so much. Others are delighted that they resources to help start the conversation more comes. Then still more. You eat and can share generously with their church and to encourage you in your decision pass some along to the people beside you. and other causes that are important. to be generous. “Giving Your First Fruits” Before long, the murmur of the crowd Whether you have a lot or a little in is a great starting place. “Your Will and rises again, as they had all eaten their fill. this world, it can be a challenge to choose Estate Planning Guide” provides prac- Baskets are passed around to gather the leftovers. You The single most effective tactic to help foster an recall the small bundle of food the boy had shared. abundance mentality is to share what you have. How is it possible that so many baskets of leftovers to share beyond your immediate family. tical information about end-of-life gifts. had been gathered? Truly a miracle! Culture tells us that there isn’t enough If you’d like to share your questions, I love the story of the loaves and fishes for everyone and that we must hoard dreams or hopes with someone, ask how found in John 6:1-14, and the boy in the what we have accumulated. Unlike the we can help. story fascinates me. He is confident and boy who shared his loaves and fishes, we independent enough to approach the dis- may not take risks because we’re afraid Sherri Grosz is a gift planning consultant ciples and to offer what he has. Is he old to lose what little we have. That type of at Abundance Canada serving generous enough to realize that what he has isn’t thinking—a scarcity mentality—is distin- people in Ontario and provinces to the enough to feed so many? Are his parents guished by anxiety and fear. We wonder if east. For more information on impulsive anxious about him giving away their we have enough and we’re afraid some- generosity, stewardship education, and es- meal? I often wonder where he learned to one else will take it from us. tate and charitable gift planning, contact be generous. Generous people, on the other hand, your nearest Abundance Canada office or I am privileged to speak with many have a different point of view: An visit abundance.ca. 12 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
(Continued from page 11) fight with love, faith and courage, so our families will This can help us to see light where there was darkness, not be destroyed. I also want to tell the children not and to focus on one another instead of our differences. to be afraid, because we are not alone. There are still We are all invited to the banquet. So what is the many people that have their hearts filled with love. problem? . . . Let’s keep together and fight for the rights. God is Carol Penner writes: “But what if the problem is with us.” not with the people walking away, but with the people Kristen Mathies, Waterloo, Ont. preparing the meal? What if we are continually cooking noodles for the gluten intolerant or meat for vegetar- ians? What if they just can’t digest what we are serving?” EE Reader sorry to lose Phil Restaurants and schools are becoming aware of pea- Wagler’s ‘deep insight’ nuts and other ingredients that are deadly for some, and taking it seriously. What about the church? I am truly sorry that Phil Wagler has written his There are many who struggle with a variety of issues last column for Canadian Mennonite. It was a column beyond their control, including mental illness and worth reading, and I never missed reading it. poverty. Unless we get to know them and truly care With a rare and deep insight, he gauged the spirit- about them, we will continue to serve toxic doses of ual temperature of the body of Mennonite Church blame and shame. Canada and he tried to help. In a loving and humble In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about how our caring for tone, he urged and urged us on to align ourselves with the neglected and rejected reflects on our relationship the teachings of the Bible and to stand firm on them. with him. Reach back a few issues and read again: “Are we Enos Kipfer, London, Ont. missing the mark?” (July 4, 2016); “Learning to follow the Jesus way” (Oct. 10, 2016); “Are we living in the last millennium?” (Dec. 12, 2016); and “Strengthen what EE Women marched ‘in remains” (Jan. 16, 2017). This final column is a last la- the service of justice’ ment to us, saying that we have lost what we had in the beginning. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Re: “Marching in the aftermath of inauguration,” Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:29). Feb. 13, page 18, and “Women marchers appropriated Thank you, Phil, for your columns. I will miss them. church logo” letter, March 13, page. 10. God bless you. Thank you to the women and men who represented Helen Redekopp, Winnipeg Mennonites at the Women’s March on Washington! In the face of violence and prejudice coming from an elected leader who boasts of assaulting women and EE Is the church on the becoming rich at the expense of others, the march- road to extinction? ers joined together in peaceful action, with joy and purpose, in the service of justice. Re: “Women marchers misappropriated church I was so grateful to the D.C. marchers who carried logo” letter by Steve Hoeppner, March 13, p. 10. the Mennonite church logo, who sang hymns and I know I do not share the same Anabaptist values as witnessed to their faith by their very presence. They some, but my hope with this letter is to open a broader joined their voices with those of other churches and conversation about unity in the church, humanity and faiths, and people who don’t profess faith but work the environment. with us. With so many things that divide us, what a Hoeppner writes, “In the church context, such joy to find common cause with more than 2.5 million behaviour should be appropriately disciplined to that people around the world of all beliefs, races, genders, prescribed in the New Testament. . . . Will history orientations and political stances. record that Mennonites proudly lent their name and The threatening letter to the editor in the March logo to such things?” 13 issue focussed on rude and violent comments by As Anabaptist believers, we affirm our faith in the one celebrity, but made no mention of the long list of Trinity: God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are three speakers calling for love, respect, kindness and justice distinct aspects of the mystery of God. for all and from all. Let us remember that God created all of creation. Six-year-old D.C. speaker Sophie Cruz represented And in that universe, a very small, tiny speck exists, and the march so well, as she stood in front of her brave on that speck we have the Earth with its chemical, min- undocumented parents, saying: “We are here together eral, plant and animal complexes. If we fail to see God in to make a chain of love to protect our families. Let us all of creation, we limit our vision and scope of God. We Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 13
begin to follow shallow interpretations and, in essence, years ago. And as the church grows, so does our we become blind. We turn our focus to the rules of the understanding of our world and our brothers and Bible, not the relationships that Jesus built with the poor sisters of different faiths. Dare I bring up evolution? and oppressed, “the least of my brothers and sisters.” The species that didn’t adapt to the changes of their Anabaptists are a diverse group of believers, and environments, their ecosystems became extinct. right now the church is evolving, just as it did 500 Peter Tiessen, Niverville, Man.
ΛΛMilestones Births/Adoptions Rempel—Albert, 88 (b. Nov. 20, 1928; d. March 9, 2017), Eden Mennonite, Chilliwack, B.C. Funk—Olivia Rae (b. Feb. 1, 2017), to Derek and Krista Funk, Wideman—Murray Allan, 81 (b. Dec. 23, 1935; d. March 21, Nutana Park Mennonite, Saskatoon. 2017), Breslau Mennonite, Ont. Roth—Scottie Mierau (b. March 5, 2017), to Kyle and Meghan Roth, Nutana Park Mennonite, Saskatoon. Canadian Mennonite welcomes Milestones announcements within four months of the event. Please Marriages send Milestones announcements by e-mail to milestones@ canadianmennonite.org, including the congregation name Neufeld/Suer—Baily Neufeld (Rosthern Mennonite, Sask.) and location. When sending death notices, please also and Ryan Suer, at Knox United, Saskatoon, Feb. 4, 2017. include birth date and last name at birth if available.
Deaths Bueckert—Katie, 87 (b. July 21, 1929; d. Feb. 24, 2017), Corrections Mount Royal Mennonite, Saskatoon. ΛΛ Giesbrecht—Tina, 89 (b. Aug. 25, 1926; d. March 22, 2017), • The letter Pastor Moses Falco read at the Mennonite Church Morden Mennonite, Man. Manitoba assembly contained his personal views, and not those of his Goerzen—Martin, 84 (b. April 24, 1932; d. March 20, 2017), congregation, Sterling Mennonite Fellowship in Winnipeg. Incorrect First United, Salmon Arm, B.C., formerly of First Mennonite, information appeared in “Being like a family,” March 27, page 16. Kelowna, B.C. • Harold and Pauline Reesor served in Joliette, Que., from 1959 to Kennel—Anson, 93 (b. Jan. 18, 1924; d. March 20, 2017), 1963, and Mario Marchand pastors Église Mennonite Ichtus in Quebec Steinmann Mennonite, Baden, Ont. City. Incorrect information appeared in “Evangelistic work still paying Nikkel—Margaret, 98 (b. April 9, 1918; d. March 21, 2017), dividends today,” March 27, pages 22-23. Bergthaler Mennonite, Altona, Man. Canadian Mennonite regrets the errors.
A moment from yesterday Firefighting in British Columbia was one of the tasks assigned to Canadian conscientious objectors (COs) during the Second World War. They were ‘the best firefighters we ever had,’ according to Jim Pedly from the forestry service. From spring 1942 to spring 1944, the COs spent 4,875 days training and on standby, and 8,470 days fighting 234 forest fires. Fighting fires in the B.C. forests with simple equipment such as that pictured must have been hot, dirty and tiring work. The men came away from their CO experiences with many new friends and with a new appreciation for service and country. Text: Conrad Stoesz / Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies Photo: Katie Funk Wiebe Photograph Collection / Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies
archives.mhsc.ca 14 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
Life in the Postmodern Shift course, this means we need to pray. We need to connect, converse and com- mune with God, who is the source of all Wisdom, where wisdom. Prayer is absolutely essential. However, what is most interesting to me in this passage is that James clarifies art thou? (Pt. 7) what is not a prerequisite for receiving wisdom. He says, “God who gives gener- Troy Watson ously to all without finding fault.” You don’t need to have your stuff together o how does one however much time and before you ask God for wisdom. Wisdom enrol as an appren- energy are required, make is not given to people who deserve her or Stice in the School whatever sacrifices are ne- earn her. God does not give you wisdom of Divine Wisdom? The cessary, be willing to chase because of who you are. God gives you Bible tells us there are a few dead ends and fail a thou- wisdom because of who God is, namely, prerequisites. sand times along the way. generous to all. The first one is found in You will chase wisdom like The truth is, God wants to give you Proverbs 4:7: “The begin- Thomas Edison chased wisdom. One reason for this is because ning of wisdom is this: Get his dream of creating the God knows it is only by gaining wis- wisdom, and whatever you first practical incandescent dom that we will be able to make better get, get insight.” light bulb, which he later choices that in turn make the world a The first time I really paid attention to described as “1 percent inspiration and better place for ourselves, others and this verse, I thought, “Are you serious? 99 percent perspiration.” the rest of creation. God knows we need Thanks for the detailed map to wisdom Why would anyone pursue wisdom the wisdom to figure out how to walk in free- you’ve drawn for us there, Solomon!” way Edison pursued the light bulb? Or dom from the seductive tyranny of sin But I have finally come to understand the way NHL players chase the Stanley and selfishness. It is only by wisdom that the brilliance of this succinct piece of Cup? Why? Because she is worth it. She we can understand which of our faults we advice. Solomon is saying that if you want is worth far more than gaining a reputa- need to work on and which of our faults to find wisdom, you have to want her. tion as one of the greatest inventors in we must simply accept. Really want her. history or winning the most stunning Our faults don’t disqualify us from The pursuit of wisdom begins with sports trophy the human eye has ever receiving wisdom. They are why we need recognizing and appreciating her true seen. it! value. Wisdom is far more valuable than The way we pursue wisdom must James continues: “But when you ask, gold, silver, diamonds and pearls. Getting reflect her true worth. When it does, we you must believe and not doubt, because wisdom is better than winning the lot- will find her. This is the first step on the the one who doubts is like a wave of the tery. Nothing you desire can compare path towards wisdom. sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That with her, Solomon says. When you finally A second prerequisite is found in the person should not expect to receive any- behold her incredible beauty and worth, Book of James. It is faith. thing from the Lord.” you will seek her no matter the cost. James 1:5-6 says: “If any of you lacks So it is not our shortcomings, our If wisdom is someone you are kind wisdom, you should ask God, who gives sinfulness or our messed-up lives that of interested in and seek in your spare generously to all without finding fault, prevent God from giving us wisdom. It is time—as long as it’s not too inconven- and it will be given to you. But when you our doubt. ient, expensive or demanding—you ask, you must believe and not doubt, To be continued . . . . will not find her. To be frank, you don’t because the one who doubts is like a wave deserve her. However, if you truly desire of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Troy Watson ([email protected]) is wisdom, you will get her! Because you James tells us that if we need wisdom pastor of Avon Mennonite Church in will do whatever it takes to find her: Use all we have to do is ask God for her. Of Stratford, Ont. Why would anyone pursue wisdom the way Edison pursued the light bulb? Or the way NHL players chase the Stanley Cup? Why? Because she is worth it. She is worth far more than gaining a reputation as one of the greatest inventors in history or winning the most stunning sports trophy the human eye has ever seen. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 15
PHOTO COURTESY OF MC CANADA God at work in the World An idea worth sharing MC Canada short-term workers offer ‘a modest proposal for world peace’
By Deborah Froese Mennonite Church Canada Karl, left, and Marla Langelotz, eace is rooted in building relation- for others, listening deeply, expressing Mennonite Church Canada short-term Pships, and that means creating space curiosity and braving vulnerability are workers serving at Friedenshaus in to get to know one another. With that key to helping newcomers settle in, the Ludwigshafen, Germany, address the thought in mind, Karl and Marla Langelotz Langelotzes said in a Skype interview. As audience at a TEDx event at the Zurich of Winnipeg addressed an audience at they connect with refugees, the couple are International School in Switzerland on Zurich International School in Switzerland learning about politics beyond the West, March 18. on March 18 for a TEDx talk they entitled and the resiliency, faith and courage it “A modest proposal for world peace.” takes to leave one’s life-long home and TEDx is a localized version of the popu- start anew. Langelotzes had plenty of time to connect lar TED Talk conferences whose mission Karl and Marla personally took chances with the Zurich students. Marla recalled is sharing “ideas worth spreading.” too, although they are quick to point out a particular conversation with two Grade “Once we have known and are truly that those chances were far less risky than 11 students who approached them shyly. known by someone,” Karl told the audi- those that refugees take. They stepped for- One said, “I really like what you said about ence, “it is impossible to create an ‘other.’ ward in faith by foregoing Karl’s salary as a Jesus. My family no longer goes to church, There is only ‘we.’ I know it sounds clichéd, teacher and Marla’s as a pastor, in order to but when I was young we went and I just but this is actually pretty deep. Only by serve at Friedenshaus, leaving family and remember church being about rules. I’ve creating an ‘other’ are we able to hurt, kill friends behind for nine months. Venturing been thinking that maybe I should go back.” and exclude. How can we hurt ‘we’ without into an unfamiliar setting allowed them to The Langelotzes complete their short- hurting ‘me’?” encounter some of the newness and ensu- term ministry assignment in June. A link The Langelotzes drew from their ex- ing vulnerability that refugees experience. to their TEDx presentation is not yet avail- perience as Mennonite Church Canada For Marla, a pastor at Sargent Avenue able. l short-term workers connecting with refu- Mennonite Church, this was particularly gees at Friedenshaus (Peace House) in evident in challenges surrounding lan- Ludwigshafen, Germany. While Canada guage. Although she could understand PHOTO BY BARB HEIDEBRECHT welcomed 40,000 refugees between some German, she could not speak it, November 2015 and January of this year, and had to take lessons as well. “I had to Germany welcomed about 32 times that embrace that vulnerability of giving up many in a similar time period. control, of not being able to communicate Friedenshaus helps refugees learn the well,” she said. German language, adjust to life in a new “The other students seemed to notice country and form relationships with the and appreciate that,” said Karl, who taught local community. Those efforts promote several classes at Westgate Mennonite understanding, tolerance and accept- Collegiate, including German. He pointed On March 26, Bergthal Mennonite ance—all vital to peace, say Gregory Rabus out that vulnerability was an important Church in Didsbury, Alta., displayed and Jennifer Otto, the long-term Witness part of Jesus’ ministry. “I understand his 106 quilts made at the church over workers who established the ministry. life to be one focussed on relationships the last three weeks; 136 more were The invitation to speak at TEDx came with and for those on the fringes: the made at members’ homes through- from Zurich International School students, powerless, the hungry, the homeless. But out the year. A prayer of blessing was initiated through a long-time relation- the key to these relationships is this aspect offered during the morning service ship with Rob Friesen, one of the school’s of vulnerability.” teachers who was inspired by a visit to During classroom hours the day prior for the quilts that were all donated Friedenshaus last October. to TEDx, and during the time between to Mennonite Central Committee. Taking chances and making time TEDx sessions with other speakers, the 16 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
‘A beautiful way to make peace’ RJC students welcome Syrian newcomers to their classroom
Story and Photos by Donna Schulz Saskatchewan Correspondent ROSTHERN, SASK.
he best way to learn about a new growing up and going to school in Syria. Tculture is to experience it first-hand. They talked about the Arabic language David Epp, a Grade 10 teacher at Rosthern Junior College (RJC) Grade 10 and demonstrated how it is written from Rosthern Junior College, attempts to students recently had the opportunity to right to left. Students were encouraged to write in Arabic as Syrian newcomer learn a little about Middle Eastern culture try their hand at writing in Arabic, first by Israa Alsalo, holding her daughter, when two Syrian couples, who came to copying the Arabic greeting Mahmoud Yemen, watches. Rosthern as refugees in 2016, shared with wrote on the blackboard, then by writing the students about their culture and their their own names on coloured pieces of Islamic faith. paper. their Islamic faith. Students learned that, Dana Krushel and Evangeline Patkau Students enjoyed a taste of Syrian cul- while the Qur’an is translated into many of Mennonite Central Committee ture in the form of a special tea prepared languages, Muslim prayers are only uttered Saskatchewan’s migration and resettlement by Mahmoud. Sweetened and flavoured in Arabic. Muslims see prayer as a means program, facilitated the April 5 culture- with cinnamon, the tea is poured over of drawing close to God, and prayers are sharing workshop, entitled “Encountering walnuts. Ibrahim and Mahmoud recently recited five times a day. During Ramadan, new Canadians.” With the help of an inter- celebrated the birth of a son, and this spe- Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset preter, Mohamad Au Ibrahim and Mariam cial tea is traditionally served when a new in order to remember what life is like for Al Mahmoud, and Yusuf Mlahefje and baby arrives. the poor and hungry. Israa Alsalo spoke about what it was like The Syrian newcomers also spoke about Given that Alsalo wore a hijab while Mahmoud wore a niqab, students were curious about the difference between the two forms of head covering. Alsalo told students that both forms were accept- able, and that the choice to wear one or the other has more to do with “what area you are from” than with faith. Young girls typically begin wearing the hijab around age 10. Teacher David Epp asked the Syrians what it was like for them coming to Rosthern. They admitted it has been “very hard.” Not only was the cross-Atlantic journey a first flight for them, but every- thing, even the food, was unfamiliar. It was a “very scary” experience, they said. Krushel expressed appreciation for the culture-sharing experience. “Here we have come together to know and respect each other’s culture and religion,” she told students. “This is a beautiful way to make Mariam Al Mahmoud, right, writes an Arabic greeting on the blackboard for Grade peace.” l 10 students at Rosthern Junior College. Afterwards, Dana Krushel, left, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan’s migration and resettlement coordinator, in- vited students to try their hand at writing the greeting. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 17
PHOTO COURTESY OF MC CANADA Mushrooming dreams in South Africa By Deborah Froese Mennonite Church Canada
piritual food is important, but so mother were still here to witness to this kind Sis physical food. By growing edible of workshop taking place in our church.” mushrooms and teaching others how to For Nelisiwe Gayiya, the workshop grow them, Miriam Maenhout Tshimanga inspired big dreams. “I am going to ask and her husband Hippolyto are helping everybody—my mom, dad and sibling—to feed both body and spirit. help me with this. I am going to put them In 2016, the couple moved from to work,” she said. Winnipeg to Bloemfontein, South Africa, Nicoline Van Niekerk determined that as Mennonite Church Canada Witness she, too, was going to work on mushroom Dolly Pula proudly displays mushrooms workers. They came in response to an in- growing. she grew after attending a workshop on vitation from Grace Community Church, Several months later, Miriam reports mushroom growing in Bloemfontein, a community of five congregations, to as- in an email that all three participants South Africa. sist with Bible training and leadership de- are growing their own mushrooms and velopment. They also planned to provide dreaming of turning their endeavours into entrepreneurship training for members a small business. Miriam says that more mushroom-grow- who struggle to earn a living wage. Developing those businesses is a work- ing workshops are planned following the an- Mushrooms are more than just a nutri- in-progress, Miriam says, one that requires nual church assembly at Easter. “We hope tious food. They are a marketable prod- walking by faith and trusting that God will to do it closer to the women, in their com- uct that can be grown in readily available, provide. In the meantime, these budding munities, instead of Bloemfontein,” she says. cellulose-containing organic waste to help mushroom growers are looking out for “I hope to do it together with the women of create a sustainable, additional income. ways to sell their product to restaurants, the first workshop, so that the trained women When people earn a living wage, they are in small markets or through shop-owners. become trainers themselves.” l more likely to contribute back to their church and community, helping to create a sustainable church. Last November, Chido Govera, a re- ΛΛBriefly noted nowned mushroom farmer and motiva- Bite-sized donors help combat hunger tional speaker from Zimbabwe, presented MCC PHOTO BY BETHANY DAMAN a mushroom production workshop. This spring marks the third year that Grant Dyck Participants mixed different kinds of straw and his family of Artel Farms in Niverville, Man., to create a substrate (material on or from have dedicated a section of their land to raise which an organism lives, grows or obtains sponsored crops for overseas relief. Planting its nourishment) that was soaked in water has not yet begun, but, with plenty of summer overnight and pasteurized inside a heated yet ahead, 175 shares and counting have been drum. The pasteurized substrate was then purchased in the Grow Hope project that is compressed into smaller plastic bags and overseen in the province by Mennonite Central layered with mushroom spawn. Committee (MCC) Manitoba. That is already While the inoculated bags “colonized” in more than last year’s final count. Through Grace Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, the Tshimangas’ garage, participants learned caring contributors of all ages are reminding Canadians that a little can go a long way about harvesting by gathering the couple’s towards helping those in need. Every Lent, the church organizes a donation project previous crop. The remaining substrate was its littlest members can get behind; this year it’s a coin drive. Children’s church par- watered for a new batch of mushrooms. ticipants collect coins throughout the week in a jar labelled just for them, and bring Because not all participants had tasted them along on Sundays to pool with those of the other children. Grace Mennonite’s mushrooms before, Govera also demon- goal is ambitious: 1,500 jangling, spare-change loonies by Easter. After government strated a variety of ways to prepare them. matching, that would be more than $12,000 worth of sponsored land. During the workshop, Dolly Pula spoke —By Beth Downey Sawatzky with tears in her eyes: “I wish my late 18 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
God at work in the Church Graham called for the use of “every hellish weapon in our inventory . . . weapons of mass destruction” against the perpetrators, God’s love trumps politics and which were presumed at that point to be the Taliban in Afghanistan. policies: Franklin Graham In 2010, the U.S. army rescinded an invitation for Graham to participate in a Mennonites join response to American Pentagon prayer event due to his com- evangelist’s confrontational ways ments about Islam, although in January Graham read Scripture at Trump’s By Will Braun inauguration. Senior Writer While the group behind the letter failed in its efforts to have event organizers bring n the lead-up to the Festival of Hope, an in a different speaker—efforts that began Ievangelistic event headlined by Franklin months before the event—or to have Graham last month in Vancouver, church Graham retract certain comments, they leaders representing more than 60 per- write that their intention was “not to vilify cent of the million Christians in the metro the festival’s organizing committee.” Vancouver area issued a public statement Judy Toronchuk—a long-time MB and expressing concern about Graham’s “con- a retired professor at Trinity Western tentious and confrontational political and University in Langley, B.C.—first became social rhetoric,” while also saying they love troubled by Graham when he questioned and respect the event organizers and were to enter churches or even enter as guests President Barack Obama’s faith. The praying that the city would experience into Christian homes, because ‘the Enemy American-born Toronchuk was concerned God’s love in “new and profound ways” [Satan] wants to devour our homes’; [and] that the effectiveness of the Vancouver fes- through the March 3 to 5 event. the outcome of the recent U.S. presiden- tival would be compromised by the reputa- Among the 34 signatories of the Feb. 24 tial election was due to ‘the hand of God,’ tion of the speaker, especially his possible letter were Garry Janzen, executive min- giving the impression that the Christian lack of “credibility” among non-Christian ister of Mennonite Church B.C.; Lydia church as an institution is partisanly millennials. She supported the letter and Cruttwell of First United Mennonite aligned with an administration and its said she felt the event’s objectives, includ- Church in Vancouver; David Chow of policies.” ing that of bringing area churches together, Killarney Park Mennonite Brethren Graham responded directly and in a would have been better served by choosing Church; and Tim Kuepfer, who has “gracious” fashion to the letter writers but a “less-divisive” speaker. l pastored both Mennonite and Baptist did not retract his controversial comments. congregations. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, When contacted, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada said 327 churches supported the event, al- though a spokesperson declined to pro- vide a list. The pastors of two MB churches Canoes and kayaks were members of the organizing group. Norm Funk, one of them, did not respond for a cause to a request for comment. In a Feb. 20 statement, Graham said pol- Paddlers raise $48,000 for Camp Squeah bursaries itics and policies are important, but the Vancouver event would “focus on the most Story and Photo by Amy Dueckman important thing of all: God’s love for each B.C. Correspondent and every one of us.” FORT LANGLEY, B.C. The letter from church leaders sum- marized concerns about Graham by not- boisterous and enthusiastic crowd River from Hope on Saturday morning, ing he has said in the past: “All Muslims Agreeted 36 paddlers who came ashore battling wet, windy and cold weather, but should be banned from the United States in Fort Langley late in the afternoon of didn’t let the conditions dampen their because Islam is a ‘very evil and wicked April 9, completing the annual two-day spirits. As usual, a hardworking ground religion’ at war with the Christian West; paddle-a-thon in support of Camp Squeah. crew fed the group at the evening stop near LGBTQ persons should not be allowed The participants set out on the Fraser Chilliwack the night before and at Mission Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 19
Data from a GPS system attached to one financially supported their efforts,” says kayak revealed that the total journey was Thiessen. “Camp Squeah recognizes how 107 kilometres, with an average speed of critical this important fundraising event 10 km per hour from start to finish. is toward the goal of attracting, recruiting “We’re so grateful for the many paddlers and ultimately supporting the high-quality and volunteer ground crew who came out staff vital to our summer camp ministry.” l in support, and for the many people who A vision of Healing and Hope for MC Canada Future Directions transition meetings provide opportunities for congregational questions
Story and Photo by Dave Rogalsky Eastern Canada Correspondent Scott Alexander of Sherbrooke WATERLOO, ONT. Mennonite Church in Vancouver has participated in all but one Camp n an interview with Canadian Squeah paddle-a-thon since 2002. He IMennonite, Keith Regehr, the Future says he takes part in the annual event Directions transition coordinator, believes because ‘it’s a great group of people, with that “re-energizing ourselves around the lots of food and friendship.’ Alexander Healing and Hope vision statement from had won the first-prize canoe in 2014, 1995 would take us a long way.” and this year decided to donate it back He made this statement in response to to the camp. questions that had been asked at many of the seven Mennonite Church Eastern Canada transition meetings held over on April 9 for lunch. Conditions turned the past month and ones he heard across sunnier on the final day, with clear skies Canada wondering whether the Future and calm waters. Directions process is about money or vision. This marked the 19th annual paddle-a- If the meeting held at Waterloo North Ron Rempel, left, chair of the thon, raising funds for the camp’s summer Mennonite Church on March 29 was any Communications Working Group, bursary program for summer staff who indication, attendance was good, with 14 discusses Future Directions ideas with return to post-secondary studies in the congregations represented. Discussion David Martin, Mennonite Church fall. Money raised this year was just shy centred around four major points of Eastern Canada’s executive minister, of $48,000. Since its beginning in 1999, concern: at a cluster meeting at Waterloo North the paddle-a-thon has raised $840,000, 10 Mennonite Church on March 29. percent of which has gone into an endow- • The ongoing work of Mennonite ment fund that annually pays out interest Church Canada Witness. to support the bursary program, reports • Relationships across the country congregations, all part of one area church; Squeah’s executive director, Rob Thiessen. if there are no regular delegate sessions. several area churches are all part of one na- Top fundraiser this year was John Tetzel, • The place of Canadian Mennonite in tional church; and many national churches youth pastor of Peace Mennonite Church the new communications strategy. are all part of one worldwide fellowship of in Richmond, who was awarded a canoe. • The nature of the local congrega- national Mennonite churches known as Other MC B.C. churches represented tion as the primary centre of church life Mennonite World Conference.) l included Sherbrooke and First United and ministry. (Regehr, who wasn’t at the Mennonite in Vancouver, Crossroads in March 29 meeting, noted that he uses the The Vision: Healing and Hope Chilliwack, Level Ground and Emmanuel image of a grove of aspen trees as a meta- statement is available online in Abbotsford, and Cedar Valley in phor for the various levels of church. Many at home.mennonitechurch. Mission. trees with one root system are like many ca/1995-vision. 20 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
that this message was given to the apostles ‘Diversity as a blessing’ and prophets. “Which for me begs the question . . . Pastors Week participants explore dimensions where are the apostles and prophets to- of intercultural leadership day?” he asked. “Somewhere in our his- tory as a Mennonite people, we have si- Story and Photo by Annette Brill Bergstresser lenced the apostles and prophets. We’ve Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary dismissed them or sent them off to work ELKHART, IND. in the marketplace or in other denomina- tions, and they’ve succeeded there. But Brian Leander, Ph.D., recalled the what if Mennonite Church Canada and A.waters of the Demerara River in his [MC] U.S.A. need to be hearing from the native Guyana as he called Pastors Week apostles and prophets now, because God is participants at Anabaptist Mennonite speaking to them now, because we’ve never Biblical Seminary to trust in God’s vision been in this situation before, and we need of all nations streaming to the mountain of to desperately have an Anabaptist rad- the Lord’s temple (Isaiah 2:2-3). ical reformation that begins to give shape A church planter, researcher and edu- to and walk into this diversity-oriented cator, Leander was the featured speaker church?” for this year’s event, whose theme was “Cultivating intercultural leadership for di- Rebecca Rieck of First Mennonite Launching a ‘ministry to ministries’ versity-oriented churches.” More than 150 Church, Kitchener, Ont., reports to the Inspired by Bauman’s message, Leander people from 15 U.S. states and Canadian larger group after small group discus- changed his morning teaching session to provinces participated. sion during Pastors Week at Anabaptist begin with a focus on apostleship, sharing As a child crossing the river on his way Mennonite Biblical Seminary. about his own journey in ministry. After to and from school, Leander would watch he and his wife were called back to the U.S. the colours of the water change as the river from Guyana to serve in a pastoral role, met the Atlantic Ocean. “At times there demographics of the church membership they were subsequently terminated. They would be a dividing line between them, and the community. ended up following God’s call to move to and then you would see a swirl as the wat- 3. Organizational strategies that Lilburn, Ga., where they became part of a ers intermixed—like watching coffee with are clearly articulated and supported by church of around 150 older white people milk mix with black coffee,” he said. “That decisive action when inequalities and con- that they happened to drive by one day. was the vision I saw: A powerful stream flict in the church and in the community From that church, Leander said God of people like you and me, interacting and need to be addressed. launched him into a “a ministry to minis- intersecting at a particular point that could 4. A leadership development plan that tries.” The congregation asked him to help only be created by the power of God. I sol- is predicated upon the recruitment, train- them with strategic planning since he had idly believe that we, together, have been ing and professional development of future business experience in this area. This led to called to a time such as this.” generations of leaders. a consulting engagement with one of the 5. A formal plan to focus leadership oldest churches in the Atlanta area, which A ministry of reconciliation with respect to organizational change. had a history of racism and was located in During the opening worship session, 6. Policies and procedures for conflict an interracial community. Leander focussed on Ephesians 2:11-21, resolution and reconciliation at all levels Noé Gonzalía, a former pastor and now emphasizing that Jesus’ ministry of rec- of the organization and in the community. a lay leader at First Mennonite Church onciliation accomplished two “otherwise 7. Leaders who define, legitimize in Kitchener, Ont., said his congregation impossible objectives”: reconciliation be- and reproduce the organization’s vision, has embraced a multicultural vision and tween humankind and God, and between mission, values and practices across has been integrating it gradually into life humans and each other. generations. together there. The makeup of the congre- Leander offered seven distinguishing gation—which sent nine participants to features of ministries of reconciliation: Where are the apostles and prophets? Pastors Week—reflects parts of the wider During worship on Jan. 25, Brian Bauman, Kitchener community, including people 1. Leadership that promotes a vision mission minister for Mennonite Church from Latin American countries and South that empowers all people to foster higher- Eastern Canada, focussed his preaching on Sudan. Gonzalía describes the diversity as than-normal levels of commitment to- Ephesians 3:5. He noted that Paul didn’t say a blessing. wards being multicultural. how God revealed the mystery that Christ “The biggest learning and encouragement 2. A leadership team that reflects the came to reconcile all people to God, except is to see how the Holy Spirit is guiding us Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 21
and challenging us to move forward in For a longer version of this story, bringing God’s church to the world around visit canadianmennonite.org/ ΛΛStaff change us,” he said. l ambs-2017-pastors-week. Accomplished musician joins Grebel faculty WATERLOO, ONT.— Karen Sunabacka will Ministry on a human scale be Conrad Grebel Story and Photo by Dave Rogalsky University College’s Eastern Canada Correspondent new associate profes- WATERLOO, ONT. sor of music at the University of Waterloo. Karen “Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring / Forget your perfect offering / There is a Beginning July 1, she Sunabacka crack in everything (there is a crack in everything) / That’s how the light gets in.” will teach music theory and composition, and hese words from Leonard Cohen’s continue her active work as a composer, T1992 song, “Anthem,” framed the performer and scholar. She is currently theme of this year’s annual Mennonite associate professor in music theory and Church Eastern Canada annual School composition at Providence University for Ministers. Mandy Smith, an Australian College in Otterburne, Man. “She brings national pastoring University Christian to her new position nearly 10 years of Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, spoke on the teaching experience in music theory theme of “Ministry on a human scale” to and composition, and a familiarity with the 60-plus pastors who gathered at Conrad a community-focussed music program,” Grebel University College in late February. says Marlene Epp, Grebel’s dean. “Her In three sessions, she moved from the scholarship as a recognized and innova- pastor’s personal attitude of humanness; Mandy Smith leads Mennonite Church tive composer on themes of women’s to cultivating such an attitude among Eastern Canada pastors in an exercise voices, landscape and place, and in- fellow leaders, lay and paid; and then to delving into their fear and shame of not digenous histories, will make a signifi- how this affects all the ministry done in the being enough to truly serve God at the cant contribution to Conrad Grebel, the church, including preaching, teaching and annual School for Ministers on Feb. 22. University of Waterloo, and the broader evangelism. community.” Sunabacka’s music has been Exposing her own humanness and needs performed in Canada, the U.S., Brazil to the gathered pastors, she encouraged of being normal human beings?” she asked. and the United Kingdom. Originally them to stop trying to be superheroes and “God knew who we are when God called from Winnipeg, she graduated from the to be the limited people they are. Ministry us,” she said. God knew each person’s University of California, Davis, with a in this mode is collaborative, she said. weaknesses and called them anyway. PhD in music theory and composition. Smith told the story of giving up being in- Smith’s presentations were surrounded In addition to her teaching and com- vincible for Lent and instituting a 10-minute by worship, including an anointing service posing, Sunabacka is the founder of the break for herself every lunch hour. In so do- at which pastors could name their broken- Providence Performing Arts School. ing, she both cared for herself and taught ness and receive prayer as well as anoint- —Conrad Grebel University College this to fellow staff and the congregation. ing, and communion. This was led by a One danger she saw in naming herself as group of Ethiopian pastors from Toronto. weak, especially as the only woman pastor Afternoons included workshops for in a large denomination, was to be simply both intellectual, emotional and creative submission and the near denial of any seen as weak and not able. She said she was aspects of humanness. leadership or pastoral power, spoke of the afraid to be seen as “too female, too disor- Lydia and Gary Harder’s “Naming our re-evaluation of Yoder as refreshing. While ganized, too foreign, too emotional.” struggle with power as Mennonite lead- sharing power with lay people in church Leading the group in an exercise in ers” workshop drew the largest crowd. councils, worship committees and shared which they could name their “too” or “not Reflecting on their own experiences with preaching—all outcomes of Yoder’s theol- enough” feelings, she reminded the pastors the theology championed by John Howard ogy—the need for leadership was high- that Satan challenged Jesus in just that way Yoder, they told stories about coming to lighted. l in the desert. Was he powerful enough to terms with their own power and vulner- create bread or would he depend on God? ability. Pastors, most of whom had stud- “Where do we go to take away the shame ied Yoder’s Politics of Jesus, with its radical 22 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
God at work in Us they are planting is to invite others to prac- tise the same faith and same baptism. He believes a denomination needs to be cohesive, have the same theological Catalysing mission language and see through the same lens. But MC Eastern Canada feels far away Bernard Sejour supports mission and from Quebec and it is seen basically as an ministry in Ottawa and Quebec Anglophone group. For the past decade, there has been no one to gather, coach, Story and Photo by Dave Rogalsky lead or include these churches and their Eastern Canada Correspondent leaders. This is his role: to lead those who are on the edge and need someone to help hemistry uses the concept of a cata- them move into the middle. Clyst to describe a substance that, “Jesus started his movement on the when added to another substance, pro- edge,” Sejour says. “If the centre is empty, motes a reaction without being used we need to move inside, not to replace the up itself. Bernard Sejour is Mennonite mainline churches but to do what needs to Church Eastern Canada’s mission catalyst be done. There is much to be done there.” in Ottawa and the province of Quebec or, his work, and he left Haiti for the United Currently, Sejour is also the interim pas- as he puts it, area church mission minister States. But he sees suffering as a gift from tor at the Village International Mennonite “Brian Bauman’s representative.” God. “God’s grace is sufficient,” he says, Church in Ottawa that was started by Sejour was born in Haiti. Having lost his quoting Paul from II Corinthians 12:9. Stefan Cherry, who has since moved on mother, he was “the hope” of his father. His In Haiti, he had known Anna Versluis, to work with an evangelical para-church illiterate father gave him a Bible when he a Mennonite Central Committee work- organization. Sejour is working with the was 13, telling him, “This is something that er, so he checked out Mennonites to see congregation to form a more lay-based can help you.” He needed help. His father if they were like her. He said he “found leadership style that is not dependent on had remarried and Sejour says his step- mother “persecuted” him, twice trying to ‘The church is a family and a community, end his life—once through the practice of voodoo and once by food poisoning. committed to serving the Lord by serving each By the grace of God, others helped him other and loving without discrimination.’ get back to school. There he “met the Lord” and came to love the church. He studied (Bernard Sejour) law and worked for the Haitian govern- ment and a human rights organization. Mennonites to be a loving community.” one person to run. This means taking these He was persecuted again, this time for While at Hesston College in Kansas, he at- charismatic leaders and discipling them tended an Argentinian Mennonite church just as Jesus called his disciples and formed and “learned what the church is all about.” them into leaders. His first church plant was actually in Sejour is the catalyst, expecting that he West Palm Beach, Fla., a Salvation Army will set the congregation free to find its church that is still going. “The church is own way this year. Starting with a core of a family and a community, committed to three to five people, he is helping them serving the Lord by serving each other and to develop a vision to implement in the loving without discrimination,” he says. group. Prayer, Bible study, discussion and In 2014, he came to Canada to serve with sharing times are his preferred methods. MC Eastern Canada. Because of immigra- With natural leaders like those in some of tion laws, his family is still in Philadelphia, the congregations he helps guide, the core Pa., and he travels there often. His wife of three to five leaders can be shaped in Bernard Sejour, left, Mennonite Church cannot work or go to school in Canada, so three to four months to implement a vi- Eastern Canada’s mission catalyst in they Skype often. sion together through prayer, study and Ottawa and Quebec, toasts the 10th an- His role in the area church is to look worship. But leaders should not pretend niversary of Refuge of Peace Mennonite for leaders, including those with no to be in control, driving the church in one Church in Sherbrooke, Que., with Pastor Mennonite background, whom he evalu- direction, he says. Lucy Roca and area church minister ates and then coaches. Creating a network He asks for prayer for Haiti and for his Henry Paetkau last fall. among these leaders and the congregations family to be able to join him in Ottawa. l Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 23
Artbeat
Jan Fretz explains ‘Unveiling Misogyny’ to a group of friends on April 5 in the University of Waterloo’s East Campus Hall main art gallery.
for the young girl just baptized; one for work in the conservative Mennonite circles Jan Fretz wins the adult woman with her own household that are part of Fretz’s own heritage. and garden; and one for the woman, now For this work, Fretz won the 2017 two U. of W. a widow or menopausal, no longer hav- Elizabeth (Liz) Edwards Award. ing children. But they each connect the As part of a celebration, Fretz invited a art awards woman’s meaning to men—baptized by group of women to view the art and hear a Story and Photo men, married to men, no longer available short presentation about her art and prac- by Dave Rogalsky to men—pointing at the basic patriarchy at tice on April 5. l Eastern Canada Correspondent WATERLOO, ONT.
an Fretz has been working at her hon- Online Now! Jours four-year fine arts degree at the at canadianmennonite.org University of Waterloo for a long time. But the incubation period has paid dividends. Reading the Bible with ‘the other’ She loves to work in colour, so her faculty A Dutch professor who helped pioneer a project on intercultural advisors encouraged her to work in black reading of the Bible gave lectures at AMBS stressing the and white. And they challenged the painter importance “a hermeneutic of hospitality and dependence.” and printer at heart to work sculpturally. canadianmennonite.org/intercultural-bible Fretz had two pieces in the university’s 43rd annual senior undergraduate exhi- Reclaiming dignity after leaving sex work bition and came away with two awards and Hundreds of women are moving out of sex work by learning their accompanying cash prizes. skills for new jobs, thanks to an MCC partner in Mymensingh, “Unveiling Misogyny” won the 2017 Bangladesh. Mayor of Waterloo Award; the artwork will canadianmennonite.org/reclaiming-dignity hang at city hall for the next year. The piece consists of three flowers painted sculptur- Mennonites, Lutherans, Catholics discuss baptism ally in white. For Fretz, this represents cut Mennonite representatives joined Catholics and Lutherans flowers that die. Women, like flowers, are in the fifth gathering of the Trilateral Dialogue Commission thought of as fragile, but are full of mean- on Baptism, hosted by Mennonite World Conference. ing and sexuality, like Georgia O’Keefe’s canadianmennonite.org/dialogue-baptism monumental flowers. The other piece, “Patriarchy,” is a light Senator urges friendship and solidarity box with three large mason jars, each con- The first Muslim senator in Canada spoke about taining a Mennonite prayer covering or Islamophobia in Canada in her presentation at MCC bonnet. Lit from beneath, they glow in the Canada’s annual student seminar. dark. As in Celtic spirituality, there is one canadianmennonite.org/senator-islamophobia 24 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
MENNO SINGERS PHOTO
Madeline Weber of St. Jacobs, Ont., is the recipient of the $4,000 Abner Martin Music Scholarship for 2016/17. A graduate of Elmira District Secondary School in 2014, Weber is in the second year of the piano performance program in the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal. A member of St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, she has regularly participated in music activities there since age 12 as piano accompanist for choirs and congregational singing, in worship ensemble collaborations, and as a participant in two benefit concerts for the Benin Bible Institute.
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young voices Personal Reflection Walking forward young changed voices Reflections on a peace and justice pilgrimage in Nigeria
Story and Photos by Brandi Friesen Special to Canadian Mennonite
or the last two years in February, This pilgrimage is taken to invite I have been on a pilgrim journey “Christians and all persons of good will Fto different regions of the world in to join together in building justice and need of peace and justice, and I will be peace,” the website goes on to say, and is a doing the same for the next several years. way to create solidarity between churches This year, I made my way to the hot, com- across the world. plex and beautiful country of Nigeria. In Nigeria, pursuing justice and peace These journeys are a part of the work is complex. The realities of inter-religious Brandi Friesen, second from left, stands I am pursuing with the World Council conflict, with intersections of tribal- with some of the people she travelled of Churches (WCC) program called the ism, extremism, violence, oppression of through Nigeria with as part of a World Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. I serve women, political corruption, poverty and Council of Churches program called the on the reference group for this program environmental degradation, have had Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. as a representative of the World Student massive human impacts. Christians and Christian Federation. Every year, we Muslims have both experienced violence meet in a different region of the world at the hands of the other. Churches have Christians and Muslims have both experienced violence at the hands of the other. Churches have been burned, girls have been kidnapped and lives have been brutally lost.
and shape the focus of pilgrimage for the been burned, girls have been kidnapped global constituency of the WCC. and lives have been brutally lost. To shape a pilgrimage for others, we Meeting this year with WCC staff and ourselves must be shaped by the pilgrim- church leaders from around the world, age. It is why we journey from across the we ventured to meet people and hear world to come together in places experi- experiences from both Muslims and encing violence and injustice. This is how Christians in Nigeria, and to encounter we can answer the call of Christ to, as the their voices and hearts in these realities. WCC’s website states, “lift the poor and While I met many people and heard the oppressed, and to turn away from many stories, there are some that have A woman leads Sunday School at those structures and habits that bring stayed closer to my heart. One hot First Baptist Church in Gbagyi Villa, darkness rather than light.” (Continued on page 28) Kaduna, Nigeria. 28 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
(Continued from page 27) forward changed. Places and relational Sunday, I journeyed to visit my friend, encounters have been integrated into my Pastor Musa, and his congregation at way of knowing and seeing. I have found First Baptist Church in Gbagyi Villa, that the deeper the connections and the Kaduna. more one takes a moment to listen deeply Pastor Musa shared earlier with me and commune with those encountered, that in order to remain safe from sur- the greater the impact the Pilgrimage of rounding violence in the north, his Justice and Peace has. church members were forced to migrate As I return home, I carry with me the south to Kaduna. As such, they needed to pain and suffering of those I have met. rebuild their church, which presented a Just as importantly, I walk forward know- challenge. ing the ways hope and resilience are car- Less than 5 percent of his congrega- ried by those who faithfully know it much tion is employed now due to displace- more deeply than I. ment. Additionally, there are many more A deep solidarity is found in this type women than men in the congregation, as of transformational faith pilgrimage. I Women take their children home after many of the women are recent widows encourage anyone who has the oppor- church. due to the violence. Despite the lack tunity: Make your own pilgrimage to visit of resources available, this church is churches in places where injustice rules. tenacious and was able to scrape together Go and meet the people and see their enough from their meagre resources to faith. Encourage them, seek justice and rebuild. However, shortly after rebuild- peace with them, and learn for yourself ing, torrential downpours destroyed the what it means to have faith that perse- roof, and the church has again found veres in hope and resilience when there itself in need. are so many reasons not to. l While First Baptist’s current tempor- ary structure may only be made of a thin Brandi Friesen attends Hope Mennonite wood frame and tin, it is undeniable that Church in Winnipeg. She is a graduate what exists within the congregation is an student at the University of Manitoba unbelievable resilience and capacity for and sits on the board of the World joy. The leaders and congregants remain Student Christian Federation. Learn hopeful that this is a year of greatness more about the Pilgrimage of ‘As I return home, I carry with me the and were very encouraged by the visit by Justice and Peace at pain and suffering of those I have met,’ the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. wccpilgrimage.org/en. Brandi Friesen says. As it should be with pilgrimages, I walk PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRYSTAL LAU With a little help from her friends Young Saskatoon woman making a difference on campus thanks to those who helped her
By Aaron Epp Young Voices Editor Originally from Hong Kong, Crystal Lau graduated from Rosthern (Sask.) Junior f it were not for the time she spent study- as the coordinator at the University of College in 2013. Iing at Rosthern (Sask.) Junior College Saskatchewan Students’ Union Help (RJC), Crystal Lau might not be making a Centre, which provides a variety of serv- difference on campus at the University of ices meant to assist students. She credits Saskatchewan (U. of S.) the way she is now. her experience at RJC, a private Mennonite Lau, 22, spent the past year working high school located 40 minutes north of Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 29
Saskatoon, with instilling in her a desire to presentations to a variety of groups on give back. She grew up in Hong Kong and campus, letting them know that the centre arrived at RJC alone at the age of 15. exists and that it is there to help. “I knew no one, so I had to start from Lau is currently wrapping up her time the ground up to make connections,” she as coordinator at the centre. In a Student says. “The teachers at RJC had faith in me Union election held in March, she was when I wasn’t at my best. They gave me elected vice-president of student affairs, a opportunities and chances, and showed role she assumes at the beginning of May. me channels and options to succeed.” For her, it’s another opportunity to help her She appreciated the tightknit commu- fellow students. nity at RJC, as well as the opportunities to “My goal going into university was to try a variety of different things, including get good grades, get that expensive piece making art and participating in dramas and of paper, get out and get a job,” she says. musicals. She says she learned life lessons “Now it’s [about] way more than that.” outside the classroom that helped shape Jim Epp, RJC’s principal, describes Lau her as a person. “[I learned] how to take as enthusiastic, energetic, outgoing and care of myself, and how to reach out and friendly. He adds that she has been very ask for help when I need help. Everybody keen to find ways to give back to RJC. She needs help at some point, so I shouldn’t be has volunteered at events and spoken in Crystal Lau, right, has been involved ashamed [when I need it].” chapels. with a dozen student and commu- That lesson proved to be especially use- “Our mandate as a Christian school is nity groups on and off campus. She is ful a few months after Lau graduated in to teach the importance of being in com- pictured, from left to right, with Nickol 2013 and she began her studies at U. of S. munity with each other, offering gifts and Alejandra, Robbie Mohrbutter and The difference between high school and talents God’s given us in whatever place Jazmin Evers. university was almost like experiencing he’s placed us, and Crystal is one example culture shock again, she says, and she felt of many of our students who learn that les- lost. “I was not doing so well academically son and then try to put that into practice or mentally or even physically,” she says. “I in their lives by reaching out and being of wasn’t really taking care of myself.” help of others, and seeking the help of the A friend suggested that she see a doctor community, too. It’s a reciprocal thing,” “[I learned] how to take care of myself, and how to reach out and ask for help when I need help. Everybody needs help at some point, so I shouldn’t be ashamed [when I need it].”
and a counsellor. By doing that, Lau learn- Epp says, adding, “She’s a shining example ed more about herself and how to take care of learning about service and discipleship, of her mental health. When she was feel- and loving your neighbour.” ing better, she got involved with the peer For Lau, who holds a BA in linguis- mentorship program on campus. tics and is currently taking additional She ended up working with the program courses in psychology, giving back just for three years. She has also been involved makes sense. “I know that I received a lot with about a dozen other student and com- when I was at RJC,” she says. “I couldn’t munity groups both on and off campus, have done it without that community; not including assisting international students, just students and staff and teachers, but helping at a food bank and raising aware- alumni and my friends’ parents. . . . Now ness about homelessness in Saskatoon. it’s time for me to give back and help out As coordinator of the Help Centre this the people who are in the position I was in past year, Lau was responsible for oversee- when I was lost.” l Crystal Lau, back row right, is looking ing the work of 40 volunteers. She oversaw forward to her new role as vice-president the variety of services that the centre of- of student affairs for the University of fers, including peer support, and she gave Saskatchewan Students’ Union. 30 Canadian Mennonite April 24, 2017
“When things get polarized.” For more May 26-28: Junior-high retreat, for May 6,7: Soli Deo Gloria Singers ΛΛCalendar information, visit mennonitechurch. youths in grades 6 to 9, at Shekinah present “Faith alone, grace alone,” British Columbia ab.ca. Retreat Centre, Waldheim. a spring choral concert: (6) UMEI, May 17: Menno Simons Christian June 9-10: MCC Saskatchewan Relief north of Leamington, at 7:30 p.m.; May 6: Women’s Inspirational Day; School spring concert, in Calgary, at Sale, in Saskatoon. (7) Leamington United Mennonite speaker: Marlene Kropf; theme: 7 p.m. Aug. 12: Spruce River Folk Festival. Church, at 3 p.m.). “Who am I now? Trusting God in life’s May 26-27: MCC Alberta Summerfest May 6,7: InterMennonite Children’s transitions”; at Emmanuel Mennonite and Relief Auction, in Sherwood Manitoba Choir 50th-anniversary weekend: (6) Church, Abbotsford, from 10 a.m. to Park. For more information, visit alumni choir rehearsal, dinner and 2:30 p.m. mccreliefsale.com. May 5: Opening of “160 acres: The evening entertainment, at Waterloo- Sept. 15-16: MCC B.C. Festival and June 5-23: Poverty Studies Summer Geography of home,” a multimedia Kitchener United Mennonite Church, Auction, at the Tradex in Abbotsford. Institute, sponsored by the Canadian exhibition by Darlene Derksen, at the beginning at 3:30 p.m. (for more Oct. 13-15: Women’s retreat, at Camp Poverty Institute, at Ambrose Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery, information, visit http://bit.ly/imcc- Squeah University. For more information, visit Winnipeg. Runs until June 17. 50th-anniversary); (7) anniversary bit.ly/2mfW7Ya. May 8: Westgate Mennonite Collegiate concert, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Alberta June 9-11: MC Alberta women’s bursary banquet, at the Canad Inns Church, Kitchener, at 3 p.m. retreat at Sylvan Lake. Speaker: Sara Polo Park, Winnipeg. May 7: Homecoming Sunday at May 6: Camp Valaqua work day, from Wenger Shenk. Theme: “Wisdom May 17: Westgate Mennonite Hawkesville Mennonite Church; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 403-637-2510 to 2017: Our legacy.” To register, visit Collegiate work day, Winnipeg. fellowship at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. indicate how many are coming, so mcawomen.com. May 31: Westgate Mennonite May 13: Menno Singers present lunch can be provided. Collegiate presents its Grade 7-9 spring Honegger’s “King David,” and a world May 15-17: MC Alberta annual faith Saskatchewan concert, at Bethel Mennonite Church, premiere of a new work by Colin studies event, “Called to peacemaking Winnipeg, at 7 p.m. Labadie, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, with all creation,” at Holyrood May 6: Shekinah Retreat Centre June 1: Westgate Mennonite Kitchener. Mennonite Church, Edmonton. fundraising banquet, at Mount Royal Collegiate presents its Grade 10-12 June 13: Annual chicken barbecue Speaker: Randy Haluza-DeLay of Mennonite Church, Saskatoon. To spring concert, at Bethel Mennonite at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp, King’s University. (15, 7 p.m.) Public reserve tickets, call 306-945-4929. Church, Winnipeg, at 7 p.m. New Hamburg. Advance tickets lecture: “When Christianity seems to May 27: RJC fundraiser golf June 4: Mennonite Heritage Village, required. For more information, call be the problem.” (16) Public lecture: tournament. Steinbach, hosts the Heritage Classic 519-625-8602. Car Show featuring the Dave Nickel June 16, 17: Theatre of the Beat and Memorial Soap Box Derby and Swap musical group No Discernable Key Meet, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. present “Yellow Bellies,” a play about June 12-16 and 19-23: “School of conscientious objectors during the ΛΛUpComing Peacebuilding,” at CMU, Winnipeg. Second World War: (16), at Steinmann Week-long courses available Mennonite Church, Baden, at 7:30 p.m.; Bethel College to host conference on for professional and personal (17) at Floradale Mennonite Church, at Mennonites and the Holocaust in 2018 development. For more information, 2 and 7 p.m. visit csop.cmu.ca. June 17: MennoHomes’ “Out-spok’n NORTH NEWTON, KAN.—A call for papers has been issued June 20: CMU Golf Classic. For more for affordable housing” bike-a-thon, for an international academic conference on Mennonites and information, visit cmu.ca/golf. at Elmira Mennonite Church. Options the Holocaust, to be hosted by Bethel College a year from now, Aug. 22: Westgate Mennonite for cyclists, hikers and motorcyclists. March 16-17, 2018. Paper topics are welcomed from a variety Collegiate’s 13th-annual golf Contact Dan Driedger at 226-476-2535 of perspectives, such as social, economic, political, cultural, tournament, at Bridges Golf Course, for more details. theological, religious, historical and gender analysis. Interested Winnipeg. June 30-July 2: Annual camping parties should submit a one-page proposal that includes a title, weekend at Hidden Acres Mennonite a description of the proposed paper and a short explanation of Camp, New Hamburg. For more the stage of research (work-in-progress, new paper, previously Ontario information, call 519-625-8602. published), and a one- to two-page CV, by Sept. 1, to co-or- : Pax Christi Chorale To ensure timely publication of ganizer John Thiesen, archivist for the Mennonite Library and April 29,30 presents Elgar’s “The Apostles,” at upcoming events, please send Archives at Bethel, at [email protected]. The conference Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto; Calendar announcements eight aims to document, publicize and analyze Mennonite attitudes, (29) at 7:30 p.m.; (30) at 3 p.m. weeks in advance of the event environments and interactions with others in Europe during May 1,2: Seniors spring retreat at date by e-mail to calendar@ the 1930s and ’40s that shaped their responses to, and engage- Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp, canadianmennonite.org. For more ment with, Nazi ideology and the events of the Holocaust. New Hamburg. Theme: “Dancing Calendar listings online, The keynote speaker will be Doris Bergen, who holds the in the wind: The vocation of the visit canadianmennonite. Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies at church in society.” Speakers: Jack org/churchcalendar. the University of Toronto. and Irene Suderman. Same program —Bethel College each day. For more information, call 519-625-8602. Canadian Mennonite Vol. 21 No. 9 31
ΛΛClassifieds Employment opportunity
Announcement LEZHA ACADEMIC CENTER (LAC), an growing affiliate Mennonite School located in Lezhe, Albania seeks teachers in English (grades 9-12); math (algebra, geometry, pre calculus); science (physics, chemistry, earth science, and biology. Jutzi Reunion . Contact Don Steiner
Employment Opportunities The Executive Director provides overall leadership to the work of MCC in Alberta. This position bears responsibility for upholding and implementing the vision, purpose, and values of MCC. The Employment opportunity Executive Director guides the work of MCC in Alberta as set by the MCC Alberta Board of Directors. LEZHA ACADEMIC CENTER (LAC), an affiliate Mennonite School located in All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a Lezhe, Albania, is seeking applicants for personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church member- the principal of school. LAC is a ship; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity Grade 1-12 school with 120 students. Desired candidate has employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values a master’s degree or higher with educational experience. The diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply. candidate is expected to lead from an Anabaptist perspective. The position is salaried for a 12-month contract. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada to apply. Application deadline May 31, 2017. To view the complete job Contact Don Steiner
Employment opportunity Lead Pastor
Steinbach Mennonite Church (SMC), a congregation of about 220 people in southeastern Manitoba, is seeking a lead EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY pastor with a deep Christian faith and strong Anabaptist theology to lead us as First Mennonite Church Edmonton is a multi-generational, we strive to develop our relationship with Christ, each other urban church, of approximately 180. God has called us to be and our community. We invite applications from candidates an inclusive, affirming, Christian community. This congrega- with: tion is seeking an Intentional Interim Pastor for a term of ap- • strong interpersonal skills proximately one year to commence summer/fall of 2017. • a willingness to assist SMC in visioning for the future • experience in a church leadership position. We are looking for someone with the following qualifications and abilities: Send resumes to: • Anabaptist/Mennonite training Rick Neufeld – Director of Leadership Ministries • experience in the field of interim ministry 200-600 Shaftesbury Blvd, Winnipeg MB, R3P 2J1 • ability to teach through example and preaching Tel. 204.896.1616, Fax. 204.832.7804 • ability to develop plans of care, plans to build relation- [email protected] ships, and offer visits as needed or • ability to assess the congregation’s needs in looking for a Ed Peters – SMC Personnel Committee Chair new permanent pastor Tel. 204-326-7917 [email protected] Please contact Adela Wedler, Chair Pastoral Search Commit- tee, at [email protected] for further information or to submit a resume. A Congregation Information Form is also available from Mennonite Church Canada. https://sites.google.com/site/edmontonfirstmennonite/ Foodgrains Bank responding to Somali hunger crisis By Amanda Thorsteinsson Canadian Foodgrains Bank
anadian Foodgrains Bank is responding to the hunger crisis the situation right now in Somalia—on the verge of a famine—is Cin Somalia, where immediate emergency assistance is need- still a terrible place for people to be,” she adds. ed to help prevent a hunger catastrophe. Through its member agency, Emergency Relief & Development “At the back of our minds is the 2011 Somalia famine, where Overseas (ERDO), the Foodgrains Bank is providing 850 of the a quarter-of-a-million people died of hunger,” says Barbara most vulnerable households across six villages in northern Macdonald, Foodgrains Bank international programs director. Somalia with five monthly cash transfers they can use to purchase “There is no way that should be allowed to happen again.” locally available food. The current hunger emergency is the result of two consecutive In the southwest state of Somalia, Foodgrains Bank member seasons of drought. Many Somalis are pastoralists who depend Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada is providing on being able to buy and sell livestock for their livelihoods. The a thousand households with four monthly emergency vouch- drought has resulted in a lack of water and food for the animals. ers redeemable at approved local shops for a set amount of Many have died, and those left are in such poor condition they rice, beans, sorghum and other household staples. Part of the are beyond selling. voucher is also redeemable for food items chosen at the recipi- In some areas, including communities where the Foodgrains ent’s discretion, to allow families to better choose products that Bank is responding, water is at a premium and is being trucked suit their needs. in and sold at great expense. The projects, valued at $1 million in total, are being undertaken “While a famine in Somalia has yet to be declared, there are still with the financial support of the Government of Canada through over six million people in Somalia in need of humanitarian assist- Global Affairs Canada. ance,” says Macdonald, noting that many of those who are most The Foodgrains Bank is paying close attention to the ongoing affected by the hunger crisis are children. “The declaration of a Somali crisis and is seeking the advice of its members and their famine means that we’re too late—people are already dying. And local partners as the crisis continues. l
CANADIAN FOOGRAINS BANK FILE PHOTO BY FRANK SPANGLER
During the last major Somali drought in 2011, thousands of people left their nomadic life—no longer able to survive on the land as nomadic herders, with all of their animals dead—and built small shelters on the outskirts of villages. Right now, as drought ravages Somalia, the risk is another famine if help does not come soon.