Winter 2012 | vol 21, no 2

apology and Remembering in a new way: Embracing forgiveness forgiveness among Anabaptists, Lutherans and by Larry Miller Catholics | by Rachel Nafziger Hartzler Hans and his wife, Ursula, are from and were not like “God can re-write our story,” said one participant in the most of the visitors that come “Healing of memories” event at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana on through Menno-Hof. Hans is a Jan. 20, 2012. Presenters John Rempel and André Gingerich Lutheran theologian and retired Stoner encouraged the group of about 70 attendees to reconsider professor—Ursula is an educator. the way martyr stories are told in Amish and Mennonite settings. They visited Shipshewana in Oct. Prompted by apologies from the descendants of Christians who 2010 as church enthusiasts. persecuted Anabaptists in the sixteenth and Hans’ interest in different seventeenth centuries, twenty-first century aspects of the Amish and Anabaptists have an opportunity to forgive and went beyond the remember in a new way. horse and buggy and disaster Along with the stories of thousands of relief work tags we are often martyrs in the , Menno-Hof has questioned about at Menno-Hof. kept alive the memory of persecutions of early Hans asked me if I knew about Anabaptists. Over the years, many individuals Andreas Karlstadt, a German have apologized after listening to stories in Christian theologian during the Menno-Hof’s “dungeon” room. The following Protestant also a priest historical proceedings were summarized at the and contemporary of Martin . Jan. 20 event. Karlstadt wrote a series of In recent years official apologies have been made by thesis in 1516, attacking the church organized church bodies. Beginning in the 1980s, Mennonites The January 20 practice of . He rejected and Lutherans in Europe began to experience reconciliation. presentation did violence in the name of religion. Conversations continued in North America where leaders in not address the Luther distanced himself from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed interactions Karlstadt, especially in his “deep and abiding regret” and remorse for persecuting and between identification with German peasants killing Anabaptists because of what they believed. The apology Anabaptists and and destructive acts toward statues was made to Mennonite Church USA but was intended for all the Swiss and images in the cathedrals. Anabaptist groups. Reformed I was enthralled with my new The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) took this process to tradition in part German friend’s wealth of the global level in 2010. At the LWF international assembly in because of time historical knowledge. After they Stuttgart, Germany, delegates unanimously approved a restrictions. finished the Menno-Hof tour, I statement expressing their regret and sorrow for past Although a asked him if he knew about the wrongdoings towards Anabaptists and asking for forgiveness significant and recent apology and forgiveness dramatic event in “from God and from our Mennonite sisters and brothers.” that took place at the assembly of Zurich, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) president Danisa the Lutheran World Federation with , in Ndlovu of Zimbabwe responded with emotion and humility, leaders of Mennonite World 2004 involved saying, “We believe that today God has heard your Conference. “Yes, I witnessed that people from and is granting your appeal for forgiveness. We joyfully and at the time it happened” he told Europe and humbly join with God in giving forgiveness.” Ndlovu presented me. What else could we do but North America, embrace and offer each other LWF president Mark Hanson with a wooden foot-washing tub it was not forgiveness and reconciliation. and a towel, “a sign of our commitment to a future when the international in its Hans’ parting words to me distinguishing mark of Lutheran and Anabaptist-Mennonite scope as the were, “your (Anabaptist) peace relationships is boundless love and unfailing service.” Lutheran and and non-violence fascinates me.” At the invitation from the Catholic Vatican, representatives Catholic from MWC engaged in conversations with Catholics over a conversations Larry and his wife, Maxine, were hosts at five-year period (1998-2003), about the persecution of early Menno-Hof Sept. 2010-Feb. 2011. They live have been. Anabaptists by Catholics, questions of , and issues of in Macon, Miss., and attend Mashulaville peacemaking. These conversations concluded with a document Mennonite Fellowship. continued on back cover Why I give Menno-Hof Board changes An authentic message. “These “ Leanne Farmwald and Mark Regier, both Menno-Hof tells a gripping Mennonite Church USA representatives on the people story of horrendous Menno-Hof Board, have each announced their believe persecution and extreme resignations effective Dec. 2011. Leanne has what I have personal sacrifice—a reality served on the board since 2006 and Mark since felt in my that is difficult to grasp from 1998. Both of them have expressed their ongoing support and care for Menno-Hof. heart for the vantage point of our modern and comfortable middle class lives. Leanne brought expertise in marketing and years.” On a recent visit to Menno-Hof, this contrast advertising and was chairperson of the —Karen Mascho of experiences was brought home to me Marketing Committee for several years. Mark after her 2010 visit forcefully as I gazed down at the straw served as board president for five years and to Menno-Hof. covered floor of the ‘dungeon’ more than ten more recently as the chairperson of the Read more about feet below. I felt a shiver of claustrophobia as Marketing Committee. Thank you to both of you how Karen’s visit to I took in the confined space and the high for what you have contributed to Menno-Hof. Menno-Hof was walls of the narrow chamber. I found myself God bless you as you go from here. the beginning of gripped by the sheer inhumanity of the her journey to torture chamber and what the Anabaptists become had endured more than four centuries ago. A Beginnings and endings Mennonite and to question intruded my thoughts: would I have hosts & hostesses: plant a Mennonite been able to endure and survive this kind of Frederick & Sandra church: treatment? The scene spoke to me as if Gingerich (photo at left) mennoniteusa.org/ centuries had elapsed and I was on the straw Au Gres, Mich. 2012/02/10/ floor looking up for deliverance. Jan. 14—Mar. following-the-cloud Preservation of the historical roots of our -one-step-at-a- Anabaptist heritage. Preserving the historical Fred Tillery time/ and religious heritage of the people of the Mar.—Apr. traditional is important—for this and future generations. At Menno-Hof Thank you for giving your The new this is not simply a matter of preserving time and care to Menno-Hof. May you be artifacts, documents and other records. cash blessed as you have blessed us and the Rather, it is the use of these stories in a Menno-Hof visitors! register compelling way to inform the current system generation of their place in a unique history is up and and religious heritage. To the extent that our Mailbag | Nov 2011 running Anabaptist religious orthodoxy allows us to Below are two of the notes we received from smoothly! indulge in a sense of pride in our historical Susan Miller, roots, we are grateful to Menno-Hof for 4th graders of a local public school after their visit. managing constructing a bridge connecting us to our Dear Menno-Hof Staff, director, worked unique past. diligently for I liked coming to Menno-Hof because of how Validation of a people. The story that interesting it was. I liked the tornado room several months Menno-Hof tells is a great one and worth to get because it was cool how the floor shook and telling to insiders as well as the general the “wind” blew. I also liked the dungeon. I everything public. The story of a people who emerged set up. want to come back sometime. from brutal religious persecution and over From: Conrad Thank you the ensuing centuries developed a variety of expressions around the world is a compelling Dear Menno-Hof staff, to donors story. In every iteration of that story, Thank you for having my class go to that contributed Menno-Hof validates the people of that story. Menno-Hof. I have gone there before with funds to make In the final analysis, the simple answer friends but having a second chance to go this upgrade to why I give to Menno-Hof is so that it can helped me remember. It was a good possible! continue to tell—to present and future opportunity to be able to experience it again generations—the unique story it was and be able to talk with my classmates founded to tell.” about it. I had a great time. —Duane J. Gingerich, Jakarta, Indonesia Sincerely, Katie

by the numbers | 2011 20,405 visitors from 73 different countries

all 50 United States 868,374 visitors to-date (Dec. 2011)

2 RSVP required for events held at Menno-Hof (seating is limited)

~come and Peace & Popcorn: a Menno-Hof winter series enjoy popcorn after each event! “As we February 19, 2012, 6 p.m. at Menno-Hof (RSVP required) welcome Is the of peace still relevant? John D. Roth, professor of history, Goshen (Ind.) College visitors Since 9/11 and the growing divisions within our national political culture, some day-to-day Anabaptist-Mennonite congregations have begun to reconsider traditional understandings and invite of . Our young people today do not face the question of military conscription them to see and arguments supporting the “war on terror” can sound compelling. In light of all this, and hear some are asking whether the gospel of peace is still relevant, especially since this conviction sometimes seems to be an obstacle to mission. Join in a conversation focused on these the moving important questions. chronicle of our March 25, 2012, 6 p.m. at Menno-Hof (RSVP required) Anabaptist Forgiveness in an unforgiving world? story, it Steve Nolt, professor of history at Goshen College inspires us The response of the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa., to the horrific school shooting with that took place there October 2006, stunned, inspired and sometimes angered observers near and far. Did the Amish immediately forgive a killer? Was that possible or even proper? courage and Steve Nolt will explore some of difficult issues and questions that the Nickel Mines story persuades raised and consider the Christian witness that an honest understanding of forgiveness can us to a offer an unforgiving world. more

April 29, 2012, 6 p.m. at Siloam Fellowship, Goshen, Ind. faithful Swords into plowshares: How the Seagoing Cowboys helped repair a broken world walk with Peggy Reiff Miller, Milford, Ind. God.” They were students and farmers, bankers and preachers, laborers and teachers. They were —Frederick & the seagoing cowboys—men and boys who volunteered to tend the livestock shipped to war Sandra Gingerich, devastated countries after World War II by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation current Administration and the Heifer Project. Of the approximately 7,000 seagoing cowboys, nearly Menno-Hof hosts 1,000 of them were Mennonite and many more were Amish, some of who will be sharing their stories at this event.

Help keep the Anabaptist story alive: become a member Become a member and help us continue to tell the story of how God is working in people’s lives—past, present and future. Your support is vital to Menno-Hof. Thank you!

Membership benefits 2012 Menno-Hof membership  the joy of supporting Yes, please enroll me as a member as indicated below: an organization with □ Individual—$35 includes free admission for you; 6 admissions for your family values similar to your own and/or friends  free admission for you, □ Family—$50 includes free admission for you, your spouse and children; your family and friends 10 admissions for your family and/or friends  quarterly Reunion ……………………………… newsletter Enclosed is an additional gift of $______.  e-mails with promotions Gifts in excess of membership fee are tax-deductible. and upcoming events ………………………………  entry to special events by invitation only Name(s) Address

 15% discount on gift City State ZIP Phone E-mail shop items and books. Make checks payable to Menno-Hof and mail to PO Box 701, Shipshewana, Ind., 46565 3 DIRECTOR’S DESK Menno-Hof staff: I welcome the use of the Director’s Desk for this article because I feel it is Jerry Beasley, executive director important that we are aware of these recent events that continue to shape the Susan Miller, managing director Charlotte Long, program and Anabaptist story. —Jerry Beasley, executive director communication associate Dana Sommers, grounds, plant and

equipment manager Remembering in a new way (cont. from cover)

“Called together to be peacemakers.” the way the martyr stories have been Board of Directors: A 2008 joint Catholic/Mennonite told can lead to a sense of self- Larry Chupp, president, document says, “We affirm ’ righteousness. Shipshewana, Ind. teaching and example on These dramatic apologies have Lovina Rutt, vice-president, Goshen, Ind. as normative for Christians.” created an historic shift which means Andrew Eversole, Goshen, Ind. John Rempel, professor of theology that Mennonite and Amish folk must Rachel Nafziger Hartzler, and Anabaptist studies at Associated no longer hold on to a victim mentality. Goshen, Ind. Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Although Anabaptists were shaped by Dorothy Hostetler, Shipshewana, Ind. Ind., caught the attention of the the martyr stories of the sixteenth Donna Jones, Shipshewana, Ind. Orie E. Lehman, Shipshewana, Ind. Menno-Hof audience by stating that century, something new is now being Wayne Schrock, Millersburg, Ind. Anabaptists were not the only asked. Accepting apologies and offering Don Stauffer, Union, Mich. religious martyrs of the Reformation. forgiveness is transformative. A new Alvin J. Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind. Lutherans were persecuted and way to read and re-tell martyr stories is Fern Yoder, Millersburg, Ind. martyred by Catholics and Catholics to emphasize that following Jesus by Lutherans. The practice of sometimes leads to persecution. Rather pressuring religious dissenters into than focusing on “what they did to us,” accepted church practices has roots the martyr stories can challenge that go back into church history. Anabaptists to be more courageous in is unique in that it following Jesus. insisted on a separation of church and César García, the new General state, never affiliating with the state Secretary of Mennonite World Reunion is published quarterly to keep as did other churches in Europe in Conference also gave a brief update on our friends informed of happenings at Reformation times and earlier. the activities of MWC at the “Healing Menno-Hof. Direct questions or André Gingerich Stoner, director of of Memories” event. comments to [email protected] holistic witness and interchurch It may seem as though God is relations for Mennonite Church USA re-writing the Anabaptist story. Can Menno-Hof in Elkhart, described ways in which Amish and Mennonite believers now Amish-Mennonite Visitors’ Center Anabaptists have been shaped by the consider where and of whom they need PO Box 701 persecutions of their spiritual to ask for forgiveness? Hopefully next 510 S Van Buren St, SR 5 ancestors: many Amish and steps will honor the open-heartedness Shipshewana, IN 46565 Mennonite folks migrated to North and courage of Catholic, Lutheran, and 260-768-4117; fax: 260-768-4118 and South America, and Anabaptist Reformed Christians who have reached e-mail: [email protected] immigrants tended to isolate out to renew relationships with web site: www.mennohof.org themselves and became “the quiet in Anabaptists and will draw all involved the land.” André boldly suggested that closer to Jesus Christ.

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