Anabaptist Dramatic Readings Written by Alan and Eleanor Kreider May 2011 Anabaptist Dramatic Readings by Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider 2 Table of Contents page Introduction to Anabaptist Dramatic Readings ............................................................................ 5 Who are Alan and Eleanor Kreider? ................................................................................................. 6 The Farmer and the Preacher: Jacob Hottinger, 1523 - 5 roles .................................................... 7 Gradual Reform? Radical Reform? A Zürich Disputation, 1523 - 7 roles .................................. 9 Baptisms in Felix Mantz’s House: January 21, 1525 - 6 roles ........................................................ 13 I Appeal to the Scriptures: Michael Sattler, 1527 - 4 roles .............................................................. 15 An Anabaptist Teacher on the Road: Hans Nadler, 1529 - 6 roles .............................................. 19 Medicine for Christ’s Body: Pilgram Marpeck, 1531 - 3 roles ....................................................... 23 Prisoners Can Sing: The Origins of the Ausbund, 1535 - 4 roles ................................................. 27 Multi-voiced Worship: The Anabaptist Perspective, 1536 - 3 roles ............................................. 29 Why Princes Must Punish Anabaptists: Philip Melanchthon, 1536 - 2 roles ............................ 31 Ursula’s Song: Ursula Hellrigel, 1538 - 7 roles .................................................................................. 35 We Live the Bible, We Pray the Bible: The Anabaptist Concordance of 1540 - 8 roles ......... 39 On Hasty Judgments: Pilgram Marpeck, 1542 - 2 roles .................................................................. 43 The Interrogation: Elisabeth Dirks, 1549 – 6 or 7 roles ................................................................... 45 Is Menno in the Coach?: A Mennonite Myth, ca. 1550 - 5 roles ................................................... 49 Economics, a Hot Topic: Menno Simons, 1552 - 7 roles ............................................................... 51 Peace, Peace: Menno Simons, 1552 - 2 roles ...................................................................................... 53 Dirk Turns Back: Dirk Willems, 1569 - 2 or 4 roles ........................................................................... 55 The Candlemaker and the Inquisitor: Jacob De Roore, 1569 - 2 roles ...................................... 57 An Anabaptist Artist: Jan Wouters Van Kuyk, 1572 - 5 roles ......................................................... 59 Refugees Arrested: Anabaptists in England, 1575 - 33 roles ........................................................ 63 Refugees Arrested: Anabaptists in England, 1575 (full drama) - 41 roles ................................ 67 Anabaptist Worship in the Forest: Magister Elias Schad, 1576 - 6 roles .................................... 73 The Christian Community of Goods: Peter Walpot, 1577 - 2 roles .............................................. 77 A Kitchen Evangelist: Margaret Hellwart, 1610 - 3 roles ................................................................ 79 Alan and Eleanor Kreider are experienced teachers who have taught in schools and universities in North America and England. For thirty years as representatives of the Mennonite Mission Network they lived in England where they helped develop the Anabaptist Network: www.anabaptistnetwork.com. They now live in Elkhart, Indiana; emails: [email protected], [email protected]. Anabaptist Dramatic Readings by Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider 3 Anabaptist Dramatic Readings by Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider 4 Introduction to Anabaptist Dramatic Readings The Anabaptists are exciting! Christians of over 400 years ago have things to say to us and can change our lives. Are we ready to listen? We discovered the Anabaptists’ relevance as we, for ten years, traveled around England visiting Anabaptist Study Groups. For some years English Christians of many denominations have been discovering Anabaptism. Many of them are now members of study groups in the Anabaptist Network. They enjoy discussing their own lives and the lives of their congregations in light of Anabaptist writings. There is Anabaptist life in England! We developed the Anabaptist Dramatic Readings in this collection for use by these English study groups. We chose topics that seemed important, and personalities that are colorful and reveal the variety of the early Anabaptist movement. We have based the readings on 16th-century historical sources and represent solid scholarship. But we have felt free to alter them. We have shortened most of the sources, often simplifying the language. In a few instances, we have written dramas that are our own, imaginatively entering into the situations of the early Anabaptists in order to bring them to life. We’ve always tried to be fair, both to the Anabaptists and their opponents. When English people used these readings, how did they “work”? Pretty well. We discovered that people found it easier to deal with ideas when they meet the Anabaptists themselves. Further, we found that people enjoyed “playing” the stories. They didn’t need to rehearse them or perform them with professional polish; they could simply stand up and read the texts. Some people read them quite coolly. Others allowed themselves to make faces, to express anger and pain, to gesture, whisper and sing. Almost always, the dramatic readings led to good discussions, and the participants had fun as they studied history. Baptists, Anglicans, Mennonites and Pentecostals said that the dramas helped them to develop a deeper sense of identity as Christians—as Anabaptist Christians. Invariably, questions arose and we didn’t always know the answers. For informational questions, good sources are available, and some of these are now online. Pride of place must go to the Mennonite Encyclopedia, now available as the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (www.gameo.org). An indispensable resource is C. Arnold Snyder’s Anabaptist History and Theology: Revised Student Edition (Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 1997) and should be in every Mennonite school library. Students may want to do further reading for class papers on topics growing out of the dramas. And the dramas raise questions that go beyond information. Can we allow ourselves to dialogue with the Anabaptists, questioning them in light of our experiences and letting them question us? We returned to our native USA in 2000. Since then, we have used these dramatic readings in many settings—churches, small groups, seminary classes and schools. When the leaders of the Mennonite Education Agency experienced how these readings worked in the classroom, they encouraged us to prepare them for wider distribution. This collection of 24 readings is our response to their commission. We hope that you, wherever you find yourself, will find these dramas fascinating and useful. Most of all, we hope that they will inspire you. May you follow in Christ’s footsteps with hope and joy. Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider May 6, 2011 Anabaptist Dramatic Readings by Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider 5 Who are Alan and Eleanor Kreider? Alan and Eleanor have been involved in the Mennonite church and Mennonite education for many years. From 1968-1972, they both taught at Goshen College: Eleanor in music and Alan in history. In 1974, after two years for historical research and musical training in England, they were appointed as Mennonite missionaries to England. Together, Alan and Eleanor were in charge of the London Mennonite Centre, 1974-1991. They also served as elders of Wood Green Mennonite Church in London. During these years Alan lectured part-time in church history at London School of Theology (formerly London Bible College). From 1991 to 1995, Alan and Eleanor served as theologians-in-residence at the Northern Baptist College in Manchester, England. Alan also lectured in history at the University of Manchester. In 1995, for their final five years in England, the Kreiders moved to Oxford, England. They were both members of the Theology Faculty of Oxford University and based at Regents Park College. Alan became the director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, and Eleanor taught liturgy and worship. During the 1990s, the Kreiders taught and spoke in theological colleges and conferences in many countries, e.g. Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Bible College of New Zealand; conferences in India, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. In 1993 Alan became the book review editor for Anabaptism Today and continued to serve in that role until 2000. In 2000 Kreiders moved from Oxford to Elkhart, Ind., and have continued their work as traveling teachers, speakers and mission educators for the Mennonite Mission Network. Alan taught church history half-time at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary until he retired in 2010 but continues teaching one course in early church history each year. Alan occasionally teaches courses for the Anabaptist Learning Institute, an educational program of Mennonite Schools Council and MEA. Their son, Andrew, his wife Katie and their three children also live in Elkhart, Ind. The Kreiders are members of Prairie Street Mennonite Church in Elkhart. Alan Kreider, professor of church history and mission (retired) • B.A., Goshen College, 1962 • Princeton University, 1962-63 • Heidelberg University, 1963-64