May 5, 2003 Volume 7, Number 9 DeskTop structed a caricature of the church against which to rail? Writers and the church Have they frozen the church in a particular place and time for literary effect, or are they taking into account the new life his was the title of a course offered last fall by Conrad that keeps emerging amidst the old they so decisively expose? Grebel University College and the Pastoral Leadership At points the articulation of newness and hope broke Training Commission of Mennonite Church Eastern T through the publishing process which had accented the Canada. The course brought together pastors and other problematic—for example, when seminar leader Hildi students for a monthly seminar to explore the conversation Froese Tiessen noted that Tomorrow Gives Rain had been between “Mennonite literature” and the church. Patrick Friesen’s preferred title for the book we have come The course “texts” included three novels by Rudy Wiebe to know as The Shunning. (Peace Shall Destroy Many, The Blue Mountains of China, The church and the writers somehow connected to that Sweeter Than All the World) and one each by Patrick church—novelists, poets, journalists, letter-writers—need to Friesen (The Shunning), Armin Wiebe (The Salvation of keep exploring the possibility of a two-way conversation.— Yasch Siemens), Di Brandt (questions i asked my mother) Ron Rempel, editor and Sandra Birdsell (The Russländer). I enrolled partly because of the intriguing course prospectus which noted that many Mennonites read the work of “Men- New art director nonite” writers, “but few of our churches pay this literary n mid-April, Canadian Mennonite appointed Tammy work any attention.” Sawatzky of Waterloo, Ontario, as art director. In this I wanted the chance to explore that observation. Why is the Iposition, she works with the editorial staff in selecting church ignoring these writings? Why have some of the writ- photos and other graphics, in designing ers opted out of the church? What might be gained with a and laying out each issue, and in updat- more lively writer-church exchange? ing the web site. What was all the fuss about? I wondered when re-reading Tammy comes to the position with a books like Peace Shall Destroy Many. I recall the explosive- longstanding interest in art and design. ness of that book from the early 1960s when Rudy Wiebe She graduated from Bethel College in wrote—in English, at that—about the less than exemplary Kansas with a major in art and history, inner life of a German-speaking prairie Mennonite commu- and from Associated Mennonite Bibli- nity that was trying to keep itself separate from the sur- cal Seminary with a Master of Arts in rounding “English” and “Indians.” Theological Studies. Her work-related Sawatzky Did this book really deserve the initial wave of censure experience includes design projects for which included Wiebe’s firing from his position as editor of the church, for art galleries and for the seminary. a Mennonite magazine? He simply described the tension be- Tammy replaces Rob Langlade, who served as art director tween what the community aspired to be—Christian, loving, for the past two years. Welcome, Tammy, to the Canadian redemptive—and the actual imprint it left on some of its Mennonite team. And thanks, Rob, for your good work dur- members. On second thought, that’s still explosive stuff. ing your time on staff. At points I found myself objecting. Have the writers con- Mission statement: Published by Mennonite Publish- National correspondent: Leona Dueck Penner, ing Service, Canadian Mennonite serves primarily the 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, Man. R3P 0M4. people and churches of Mennonite Church Canada and Phone: (204) 888-6781. Fax: (204) 831-5675. its five area conferences. Canadian Mennonite is a bi- E-mail: [email protected] weekly Anabaptist/ Mennonite periodical which seeks Regional correspondents: Eastern Canada: to promote covenantal relationships within the church (Hebrews 10:23-25). Maurice Martin, 97 Riverside Dr., New Hamburg, Ont. N3A 2H6. It provides channels for sharing accurate and fair information, faith profiles, Phone: (519) 662-1031. E-mail: [email protected] Manitoba: inspirational/educational materials, news and analysis of issues facing the Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Box 1191, Carman, Man. R0G 0J0. Phone/Fax: church. (204) 745-2208. E-mail: [email protected] Saskatchewan: Karin Fehderau, 99 MacLean Cres., Saskatoon, Sask. S7J 2R6. Phone: (306) Head office: 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 6H7 933-4209. E-mail: [email protected] Alberta: Donita Wiebe-Neu- Phone: (519) 884-3810. Fax: (519) 884-3331. Toll-free: 800-378-2524 feld, 8707 44 Ave., Edmonton, Alta. T6K 0Z9. Phone: (780) 436-3431. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] British Columbia: Angelika Daw- Website: http://canadianmennonite.org son, 2443 Lilac Crescent, Abbotsford, B.C. V2T 1P5. Phone: (604) Staff: Ron Rempel, editor/publisher; Margaret Loewen Reimer, 870-0494. Fax: (604) 870-0366. E-mail: [email protected] managing editor; Tammy Sawatzky, art director; Barb Draper, Board of directors: British Columbia: Henry Neufeld, Aiden S. Enns. editorial assistant; Natasha Krahn, administrative assistant. Alberta: Brenda Thiessen-Wiens, Jan Wilhelm. Saskatchewan: Bernie Advertising: Barbara Burkholder. Phone: 800-316-4052, Thiessen. Manitoba: Ron Loeppky, Bernie Wiebe, Paul Krahn. Fax: (519) 884-3331, E-mail: [email protected] Ontario: Lloyd Koch, Mary Lymburner, Betty Dyck, Brice Balmer. PAP Registration No. 09613. Contact head office for subscriptions and address changes. See order form on inside back cover. ISSN 1480-042X We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing cost. 2 Canadian Mennonite May 5, 2003 Volume 7, Number 9 ThisIssue May 5, 2003 4 UpClose Volume 7, Number 9 Somali leader 4 Grebel award 4 6 Faith&Life Whose ministry? 6 Christian vocation 7 9 Arts&Culture Theatre company 9 Vietnamese quilts 10 11 Books&Resources Page 11 Mennonite writing 12 Page 4 Spring listing 13 18 InConversation Protecting others 18 Letters 18 21 WiderChurch Iraq relief 21 Botswana ministry 26 Website preview 28 LocalChurch Bible quizzing 28 Get a preview of the next Canadian Mennonite before Transitions 30 it comes in the mail. Selec- Page 30 tions are posted on our web site (www.canadianmen- 32 TheChurches nonite.org) on the Thursday before the date of the issue. This means you can check 38 ToMorrow out the May 19 issue by May 15. Cover: Joann Sommers with quilt tops she commissioned while working with MCC in Hanoi, Vietnam. See page 10. Photo by Paul Hunt. 3 Canadian Mennonite May 5, 2003 Volume 7, Number 9 UpClose Akron, Pa. Somali leader links peace and healthy environment hen Fatima Jibrell was a of the nomads’ respect for their fragile, One of Horn Relief’s successful pro- child in northern Somalia, drought-prone environment. grams teaches children how to build Wshe often woke at night to a With no government to stop them, small rock dams to prevent water run- lion’s roar outside her tent. Her par- these displaced urbanites cut down off and create moist soil. ents were nomadic herders, living in trees to make charcoal to sell. The “You can see the difference in the ar- delicate balance with the grasslands situation has been worsened by Saudi eas where we’ve worked,” says Jibrell, and wildlife. Arabia’s ban on importing Somali who in 2002 received the San Fran- Jibrell is now a grandmother, and the livestock—allegedly because some cisco-based Goldman Environmental lions are gone. So are the edible and animals carry disease—coupled with a Prize, the largest award for grassroots medicinal plants she learned to recog- high demand for charcoal. environmentalists. nize before she could read, and many The severe deforestation has led to “The acacia forests are starting to of the acacia trees that provided shade erosion, loss of plant and animal life come back.”—From MCC release by and housing. Like the people of this and more frequent droughts, Jibrell Rachel B. Miller Moreland country, nature is a victim of Somalia’s said. long-running civil war. In addition, Somalia’s Jibrell’s mission is to lack of a central govern- help Somalis build ment has drawn illegal peace—with their fishing fleets to Soma- environment and each lia’s rich coastal waters. other. During a recent Foreign ships are also visit to Mennonite Cen- dumping hazardous tral Committee (MCC) waste along the coast. headquarters here, she A Swiss company Waterloo, Ont. noted Mennonites’ his- was accused in 1992 of tory of friendship with negotiating a 20-year her people. dumping rights contract Grebel award to Alluding to the pov- with a warlord’s aide peace worker erty and desperation claiming to be Soma- that can breed terror- Photo by Benjamin Krause lia’s Minister of Health. onrad Grebel University ism, she urged North Jibrell After a United Na- College presented Josie Americans to view her tions investigation, the CWinterfeld with its 2003 Dis- tinguished Alumnus Service Award at country’s future as company abandoned the the convocation ceremony on April 13. important to their own. plan, but environmental organizations Winterfeld graduated in 1983. “Your peace is dependent on the peace say that similar abuses are rampant. Marcus Shantz, alumni repre- of the world,” she said. “And when The ever-increasing scarcity of clean sentative on the Board of Governors, Somalia’s resources are destroyed, the water, trees and other resources feeds introduced Winterfeld. For almost 15 whole world is impoverished.” the cycle of violence, Jibrell says, as years, she and her family have lived Jibrell heads the Horn of Africa Relief warlords and ordinary people scramble in a community of Jubilee Partners in and Development Organization, work- for their share.