January 30, 2017 Volume 21 Number 3 emembering the Reformationpg. 4 inside Wisdom, where art thou (Pt. 4) 11 Your light is needed 12 PM40063104 R09613 A ‘shower’ challenge 13 2 Canadian Mennonite January 30, 2017 Editorial meeting. Basing his blog post on Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when The ‘sin’ of disunity God’s people live together in unity,” he has a different take on “sin.” Dick Benner “In essence, we have decided that unity Editor/Publisher in the midst of disagreement is vitally important to us,” he writes. “We already he tension in the room was on both sides that resulted in what one disagree on so many things, and to palpable. High winds and bliz- side considered insulting and con- elevate this issue to the point of making Tzard conditions outside kept demning remarks about LGBTQ people, it foundational to give us licence to break some from attending the Fort Garry in contrast to the other side suggesting fellowship with one another, would be a Mennonite Fellowship meeting in rhetorically that “Satan was using the gay sin.” Winnipeg (see “Let him speak,” page 18), community as his puppet in an attempt Falco, who didn’t grow up “Mennonite,” but the stormy weather on Jan. 12 to totally tear apart Mennonite is actually happy for meetings like this. was not confined to the outdoors. Church Canada.” A confrontation He has laid out three points that inspire Inside the winds of confrontation ensued and the person making him to be a part of our fellowship: were brewing, too. the “condemning gays” remarks What was causing the “weath- left the meeting. • The priesthood of believers where er” disturbance? Severe winter Is this the kind of “reasoning “everyone is invited into the space and weather is certainly not new to together” we are to expect across collectively we hear the voice of God”; those living in southern Manitoba. What MC Canada: When the conversation • Disagreement is okay, i.e., “choos- is new is a disturbance by some congre- becomes intense, we just walk away from ing to love and respect each other, even gations across Canada—Manitoba and each other? when we disagree on the topic of same- British Columbia, in particular—regarding In MC B.C., some 11 pastors are calling sex marriage, is a powerful testament to the Being a Faithful Church (BFC) 7 reso- on the area church to leave MC Canada our common faith in Jesus Christ”; and lution passed last summer in Saskatoon as a protest to BFC 7. At this writing, • “We need each other so that we can that “creates space” for those having a it is unknown how a meeting at Peace learn from one another. Dividing from different interpretation of Article 19 in Mennonite Church turned out. In a way, people who are different from you also our Confession of Faith in a Mennonite is the call to leave the national body just a means you can no longer learn from Perspective regarding marriage being different form of “walking away”? them, or vice versa.” “between one man and one woman.” Divisions are not new to our commu- Mennonite Church Manitoba was nity of faith. We have been here before— Falco admits this won’t be easy. “Being trying its best that night to find a way over issues of divorce and women in the church is messy work,” he concludes. through this gathering storm by bring- leadership. These were the big issues. We “Just look back into our history and ing together differing viewpoints on lived through them. There were plenty of see how many times we split, not only the issue. To do that, moderator Peter smaller ones, some as petty as splitting churches but also each other. Literally. Rempel posed a number of questions, over whether the clock should be at the We killed people who disagreed with including: “How can we support mutual back or front of the church. us. I am happy to be a part of a church accountability between levels of leader- This is hardly the peace that we profess body that puts on meetings that make me ship and congregations at variance on the to our neighbours as one of our core uncomfortable.” issues throughout the process?” values. How refreshing! Why don’t we incul- Certainly a fair question to what has We were struck by some of the follow- cate Falco’s attitude as we find our way become a contentious issue. But instead up thoughts of a young pastor, Moses through this storm? His different take on of it bringing a calm and reasoned re- Falco of Sterling Mennonite Fellowship in the “sin” of our disunity just might be the sponse, it triggered deeply held passions Winnipeg, who attended the Fort Garry redeeming strategy we are seeking. About the cover: Statue of Martin Luther in Hannover, Germany. Our ‘Remembering the Reformation’ feature by Troy Osborne, a Conrad Grebel University College We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund for our history and theological studies professor, begins on page 4. publishing activities. PHOTO: ©ISTOCK.COM/VILLY_YOVCHEVA ISSN 1480-042X January 30, 2017 / Vol. 21, No. 3 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Remembering the Reformation 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO : contentsConrad Grebel University College professor Troy CANADIAN MENNONITE, Osborne provides a ‘Mennonite take’ on the 500th 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5, anniversary of the Protestant Reformation sparked by WATERLOO, ON, N2L 6H7 Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of the Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 Schlosskirche of Wittenberg. Web site: canadianmennonite.org Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno EVI listening tour roundup 14 Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Canadian Mennonite’s five regional correspondents and a couple of General submission address: [email protected] freelancers attended all of the Emerging Voices Initiative’s cross-Canada Readers Write: [email protected] tour stops, getting the pulse of what’s important for the denomination’s Milestones announcements: [email protected] Paid obituaries: [email protected] Future Directions. Calendar announcements: [email protected] Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/ ‘Let him speak’ 18 Obituaries/Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. Beth Downey Sawatzky reports on a Mennonite Church Manitoba Reprint requests: [email protected] meeting on what it means to ‘create space’ for discernment on same- Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing sex marriage that turned confrontational, prompting moderator Peter Mennonites in Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Anabaptist Rempel to call the incident ‘sinful’ and close discussion for the evening. perspective. We do this through an independent publication and other media, work- ing with our church partners. Focus on Education 20-26 Guiding values: Read stories about people and programs at Rosthern Junior College, 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 Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary • Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability and Middle Schools, Conrad Grebel University College and Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. Area churches and MC Canada financially support 38 percent of Canadian Mennonite’s annual budget. Young Voices 27-29 Board of Directors (by appointing body): ‘Carving a new path for peace’ profiles TREE’s Katie Gingerich. MC Canada: Doreen Martens, Henry Krause, Rod Wiens, Elmer Hildebrand; ‘ “Sparky” music’ introduces bluegrass band Sparky and the Plugs. MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: vacant; MC Saskatchewan: vacant; MC Manitoba: Ken Reddig; MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; CMPS: Lois Epp, Ally Siebert, Bryce Miller Regular features: Board Chair: Henry Krause, [email protected], 604-888-3192 For discussion 6 Readers write 7 Milestones 10 Head Office Staff: A moment from yesterday 10 Online NOW! 19 Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] Yellow Page 25 Calendar 30 Classifieds 30 Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] The ‘sin’ of disunity 2 Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Dick Benner Aaron Epp, Young Voices Editor, [email protected] Virginia Hostetler, Web Editor, [email protected] Unexpected consequences 7 Advertising Manager: D. 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Correspondent, [email protected] Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected] Preventing prodigals 9 Donna Schulz, Saskatchewan Correspondent, [email protected] Mike Strathdee Beth Downey Sawatzky, Manitoba Correspondent, [email protected] Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada Correspondent, [email protected] One-Year Subscription Rates Canada: $46 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) U.S.: $68 International (outside U.S.): $91.10 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 Church Feature Remembering the Reformation By Troy Osborne Special to Canadian Mennonite he year 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. According to tradition, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on Oct. 31, 1517, thereby starting the chain of events that gave birth to the Protestant churches and destroyed the unity of Twestern Christianity. The anniversary, no doubt, will be filled with celebration and mourning.