September 8, 2003 Volume 7, Number 17 Mennonite World Conference pages 6-9, 16-22 DeskTop A divisive debate messy relationships, that “sanctity” is as likely to be found in a “same-sex family” as it is in any other family. We have he move to legalize same-sex marriage in Canada is to grapple with today’s realities in honest, life-giving ways. raising public emotion to an intensity we don’t often But to grapple with reality doesn’t mean that we relin- T see in this country. Convictions run deep—politicians quish our ideal of marriage. For the church, the word are breaking party ranks and church members are taking “marriage” signifies not only a God-given model of compan- on their leaders as the debate divides society and church. ionship but the best environment for raising children. That Religion is back in the public discourse. is why many resist extending the word “marriage” to include We in Mennonite Church Canada are drawn into this other kinds of relationships. political debate because it touches on one of our fundamen- Third, let’s ask the difficult questions. Given the ideal of tal beliefs—that “God intended marriage as a marriage that the church holds, should we not covenant between one man and one woman for We have to grapple encourage commitment and fidelity wherever life.” And yet we can’t agree on how to respond they are found? Should we support the exten- to the proposed legislation. One suggested with today’s reali- sion of legal responsibilities and benefits to gay response (Resolution 6) divided MC Canada ties in honest, life- couples because they can help bring account- delegates right down the middle (see Aug. 4, ability and security to their families? These are page 12 and Aug. 25, page 19). And a statement giving ways, but this questions the church should be asking. from our denominational minister (Aug. 4, page Our Confession of Faith points the way. 9) has some members concerned (see letters). doesn’t mean that Article 19 on “Family, singleness, and mar- How should the church approach the issue of we relinquish our riage” goes far beyond a mere restatement of same-sex marriage? It may not be as simple as traditional notions. It recognizes the immense we first thought. Let me suggest some prerequi- ideal of marriage. changes in our thinking about family in recent sites for our response. decades; it recognizes the shortcomings in all First, let’s examine our motives. What are we afraid of? our relationships and that “not all things can be fixed as we Are we dealing with the real issues? This legislation is not would like.” At the same time, it reminds us of “the power of about undermining marriage or forcing churches to marry the resurrection,” focusing on the church as “a sanctuary of same-sex couples. It’s important for us to distinguish safety and hope” for families. between legal issues in a pluralistic society and what the Fourth, let’s recognize that Scripture and our Confession church confesses. But this issue does have huge symbolic will not provide easy answers. We know that our Confession significance for both church and society. is a summary of our best theological thinking at the mo- Second, let’s do some serious thinking about this issue. My ment, not the final word. We know that some Bible verses files are bulging with insightful articles from church leaders, make clear judgments but that many others emphasize journalists and academics—let’s take advantage of them. Just grace. Can we hold those together as we work at a new to restate a “traditional” notion of marriage is not nearly synthesis for our time? May God guide us as we seek good good enough. Nor is a call to maintain the “sanctity of news for families, both in the church and in our culture.— marriage and family.” In our day of high divorce rates and Margaret Loewen Reimer Mission statement: Published by Canadian National correspondent: Leona Dueck Penner, Mennonite Publishing Service, Canadian Mennonite Winnipeg, Man. Phone: (204) 888-6781 serves primarily the people and churches of E-mail: [email protected] Mennonite Church Canada and its five area Regional correspondents: conferences. Canadian Mennonite is a bi-weekly Anabaptist/ Mennonite Eastern Canada: Maurice Martin, Phone: (519) 662-1031 periodical which seeks to promote covenantal relationships within the E-mail: [email protected] church (Hebrews 10:23-25). It provides channels for sharing accurate and Manitoba: Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Phone: (204) 745-2208 fair information, faith profiles, inspirational/educational materials, news E-mail: [email protected] and analysis of issues facing the church. Saskatchewan: Karin Fehderau, Phone: (306) 933-4209 E-mail: [email protected] Head office: 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON N2L 6H7 Alberta: Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Phone: (780) 436-3431 Phone: (519) 884-3810 Toll-free: 800-378-2524 Fax: (519) 884-3331 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] British Columbia: Angelika Dawson, Phone: (604) 870-0494 Interim Editor/Publisher: Margaret Loewen Reimer E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Board of directors: British Columbia: Henry Neufeld, Aiden S. Enns. Staff: Betti Erb, associate editor; Natasha Krahn, admin. assistant; Alberta: Brenda Tiessen-Wiens, Jan Wilhelm. Saskatchewan: Bernie Tammy Sawatzky, art director; Barb Draper, editorial assistant. Thiessen. 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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 September 8, 2003 Volume 7, Number 17 ThisIssue September 8, 2003 4UpClose Volume 7, Number 17 Native Church 4 Native community celebrates 5 6 Faith&Life Assembly 14 6 10 Arts&Culture Embrace community 10 Ray and Nettie Baer 10 11 InConversation Page 5 Page 24 Letters 11 Family Ties 12 14 WiderChurch Jordan and Iraq 14 Montreal peace festival 15 Kelowna fire 23 25 LocalChurch Hoffnungsfelder anniversary 25 Website preview Bridges to Benin 28 Get a preview of the next Vision for Thailand 31 Canadian Mennonite Transitions 34 before it comes in the mail. Selections are posted on our web site at www.canadianmennonite.org 36 TheChurches on the Thursday before the issue date. So you can check out the Sept. 22 issue 38 ToMorrow 32 by Sept. 18. Page Cover: A girl prays during children’s worship time at the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Zimbabwe. Photo by Laurie Oswald. Canadian Mennonite September 8, 2003 Volume 7, Number 17 3 UpClose Winnipeg, Man. Being church, native style ix years ago, Mennonite pastor cine. He enrolled in a Bible college in Steve Cheramie Risingsun Texas where he was immediately S planted a church in Louisiana forced to get a haircut. As he went on which is deliberately “contextualized to do a masters degree, all his and enculturated.” This means that “Indianness” was driven out. the congregation seeks to honour When Cheramie Risingsun went Christ in native tribal ways, not only back to work with his people, he was in worship but in “passages of life,” challenged, somewhat mockingly, by such as healing rituals, weddings and an elder to pray for the healing of his funerals. painful back. This may not seem all that radical, “I was afraid,” Cheramie Risingsun given that Jesus was born into a said. “But I prayed and the Lord Jewish culture, and that churches healed him!” Then a chief asked him quickly took on the flavours of their to pray for the healing of his daughter contexts: Middle East, Greek, Roman and, again, the prayer was answered. Photo by Leona Dueck Penner Photo by Leona Dueck and European. “This was the means by which God Cheramie Risingsun tells his story But it took some doing for Cheramie found me favour with my people,” he to Manitoba pastors in May. Risingsun, who not only had to concluded. At age 27, he was elected overcome the blatant racism of the chair of the tribal council where he American South but the negation of served for seven terms. Risingsun, “we haven’t brought in the his culture by the church itself. Cheramie Risingsun’s re-education drums or regalia but we do bless the He shared his story during a in terms of church life began in 1981 children, hold native weddings and pastors’ luncheon here in May, spon- at a meeting of Messianic Jews. He wakes.”—Leona Dueck Penner, with sored by Native Ministry of Mennonite saw this group being applauded for Eric Olfert Church Canada. Risingsun was here maintaining its traditional dancing to attend the Native Missiological and clothing while being affirmed for Symposium. being Christian. He began to look Winnipeg, Man. Cheramie Risingsun was a sickly differently at Indian culture and its child who kept losing weight in the relationship to following Jesus. New models hospital. Finally, his parents decided Cheramie Risingsun pastors the for native ministry to do it “our way” and he was healed Native Christian Fellowship in by traditional medicine. This experi- Gretna, Louisiana and the Poarch he title for the second Native ence sparked an ongoing interest in Community Church on a Creek North American Missiological TSymposium, held here on May native medicine. reservation in Atmore, Alabama. Both 29-31, was “Community: Native and Growing up near New Orleans, are Mennonite Church USA congrega- Christian values, realities and “where you’re either black or white tions.