INSIDE: • A special section on preparing for • Special needs, special abilities • Editing history to make it nicer Pittsburgh 2011 • An exemplary discernment process • Editorial: Help for Sudan’s Christians ir otta ir Photo: Claybottom Farms, Goshen, Ind. by John T Photo: Claybottom Farms, Goshen, Ind. by John TirottaT Photo: Claybottom Farms, Goshen, Ind. by John T Let’sLet’’ss growgrow together WelcomeWelcome to the new EverenceEverence – the resultresult of MMA and Mennonite Financial Federal CreditCredit Union growinggrowing together to offeroffer you complete nancial services rootedrooted in faith and values. How we help • Banking services • Investments and retirementretirement plans • Charitable giving, trusts and estate planning • Employee bene ts • Health, life, disability and long-term carecare insurance • CreditCredit and debt counseling TalkTalka to your local representativerepresentative or visit Everence.comEverence.com to learnlear more. Scan the tag with your mobile phone to watch our story and see how we’rewe’re helping people like you. A ministry of Mennonite ChurChurchch USA and other churchurchesches EverenceEver ofoffersfers banking prproductsoducts that araree federally insurinsured.ed. WWee also ofofferfer securi- ties and other prproductsoducts that araree not NCUA insurinsured,ed, may involve loss of principal, and have no crcreditedit union guarantee. Not all prproductsoducts araree available in all states. 2110135 March 2011 | Volume 14, Number 3 CONTENTS 12 Organizer extraordinaire for God —Sharon K. Williams 18 Ambassadors of reconciliation —Ched Myers and Elaine Enns 21 A special section on Pittsburgh 2011 31 The bus ride —Roy A. Borges 32 Special needs, special abilities —Erin R. DuBois 39 Convention 2011 goes green—Anna Groff 40 The Corinthian Plan’s first year is a success —Anna Groff 42 Young leaders launch new network—Anna Groff 43 German young adults serve in the Unit ed States—Melanie Hess 44 Pastors’ weeks focus on Holy Spirit, preach- ing—Laura Lehman Amstutz and Mary E. Klassen 45 Conversation Room needs healthy dialogue —Anna Groff 46 Institutions are returning to the church —Edgar Stoesz 48 Excel Industries gives $500,000 to Hesston College—Marathana Prothro 51 Carolyn Heggen new Sister Care co-facilita- 9 tor—Heidi Martin 52 MCC suspends work in Egypt 6 DEPARTMENTS 4 Letters 39 News 6 News Briefs 53 For the Record 8 Grace and Truth 56 Classifieds 9 Poetry 58 New Voices 10 Miscellany 59 Mediaculture 43 12 Features 61 Puzzle 36 Leadership 63 Mennonite Church USA 37 Real Families 64 Editorial ON THE COVER: Photo by Dale D. Gehman 38 Opinion March 2011 | TheMennonite 3 LETTERS March 2011 | Volume 14, Number 3 The Mennonite is the publication of Mennonite This publication welcomes your letters, state worked in a complementary way Church USA, which established three purposes either about our content or about issues to enforce God’s law on the world, and for the magazine: to provide a forum for the facing the Mennonite Church USA. he wrote to refute the Schleitheim voices within the denomination, to promote the Confession’s rejection of the magis- ministries within Mennonite Church USA and to Please keep your letter brief—one or two offer an editorial voice distinct from but paragraphs—and about one subject only. trate as “outside the perfection of collaborative with other leadership voices. The We reserve the right to edit for length Christ.” Mennonite (ISSN 1522-7766) is published on the and clarity. Publication is also subject to Like Schirch, Calvin also believed first Tuesday of each month by the board for The pacifism was in need of “some serious Mennonite, Inc. Periodicals Postage Paid at space limitations. E-mail to Goshen, IN 46526 and at additional mailing [email protected] or mail to updating.” Yet this Christian practice, offices. Subscription rates for one year: $46 to Letters, The Mennonite, 1700 S. Main St., in danger of becoming “a quaint if naïve U.S. addresses and $54 USD to Canadian Goshen, IN 46526-4794. Please include relic of the past,” survived Calvin’s addresses. Group rates available. The views wrath. It has, in fact, survived five cen- expressed in this publication do not necessarily your name and address. We will not print represent the official positions of Mennonite letters sent anonymously, though we may turies of challenges just like these. Church USA, The Mennonite, or the board for withhold names at our discretion. —Melissa Florer-Bixler, Princeton, N.J. The Mennonite, Inc. Scripture references are —Editors from the New Revised Standard Version unless Wrong name otherwise noted. Thank you for publishing the article POSTMASTER send form 3579 to: Thanks for Sharon’s faithfulness commemorating the 100th anniversary The Mennonite Thanks to Joanna Shenk for the article of Dhamtari Christian Hospital in India 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526 affirming the calling and ministry of (“Indian Hospital Turns 100,” Febru- STAFF Sharon Kennel (“On a Different Track,” ary). This is a place that is close to my Editor: Everett J. Thomas February). I am one who has benefited heart . My mother, Clara Esch Head- [email protected] immensely from Sharon’s gifts of min- Associate editor: Gordon Houser rick, was born in this hospital, the [email protected] istry. Her gentle strength and servant daughter of Mennonite missionaries, Associate editor: Anna Groff heart have provided encouragement Christian David (C.D.) and Mina Esch. [email protected] and support in navigating the many as- The name of my grandfather was listed Advertising, subscriptions: Rebecca Helmuth pects of congre gational ministry. [email protected] wrongly in the article. Bookkeeper: Celina Romero Through celebration and lament, she It is a wonderful thing to see the Editorial assist ant: Nora Miller has given unselfishly of her time, en- hard work of my grandparents—and Design: Dee Birkey ergy and wise counsel as she has many others—be so fruitful. Thanks be shared her love for Christ and the WEB SITE www.themennonite.org to God.—Betsy Headrick McCrae, Lake- church. wood, Colo. OFFICES Our journey of life is shaped by 1700 S. Main St. many decisions and relationships. I am Thank you, Martha Goshen, IN 46526-4794 grateful for Sharon’s willingness to an- phone: 800-790-2498 Editor’s note: In January, we mailed a fax: 574-535-6050 swer God’s call to ministry, for her hus- letter to the 18 people who subscribed to band Cecil’s support and for those who 722 N. Main St. The Mennonite on cassette and invited Newton, KS 67114-1819 recognized her gifts and nudged her letters of appreciation for Martha Graber, phone: 866-866-2872 forward. who read each issue on tape for more fax: 316-283-0454 These responses to God’s activity than 20 years as a volunteer. See “A Long P.O. Box 1896 have shaped my life and the lives of Life of Witness and Service” (February). 504 W. Choctaw Drive others and continue to bear fruit. I Whiteriver, AZ 85941 hope this story will encourage people phone: 928-338-6016 I am writing on behalf of Clayton Sut- fax: 574-535-6050 to take the next step in the adventure ter, who has been enjoying the fruits of of ministry.—Lewis Miller, Beemer, Neb. Martha’s labor for a number of years as a result of his macular degeneration It’s Calvinism, not Anabaptism and loss of ability to read. This comes When Lisa Schirch asks how Menno- Mennonite in reply to your invitation for readers to nites can “better redeem the powers of send notes of appreciation. Here is Church state and military,” her question sounds USA Clayton’s: more at home in the Calvinist tradition Many of us visually impaired people than that of Anabaptism (“Confessions have appreciated Martha’s reading The of a Modern-Day Pacifist,” February). Mennonite all these years. We sincerely John Calvin believed the church and thank you and know that when the 4 TheMennonite | March 2011 | www.themennonite.org LETTERS books of life are opened, you’ll hear the Some history should be grieved would come. Our association with the Holy One say, “Martha, you stand here Annie Wenger-Nabigon’s call for Men- Cooks has become a lifelong experi- at my right side. I heard you reading nonites to return land to Native Ameri- ence that included their parents. We The Mennonite to many of my children. cans (Letters, January) has a powerful are now 90 and 85, and this past year You really did it to me. So I thank you. impact because I once lived in a state the mother and three of the daughters Enter into your reward.”—Kathy where half the area would be returned visited us in a retirement community Holsopple, New Paris, Ind. to them if the treaties made were actu- here, driving from New York City. We ally honored by the U.S. government. were again privileged to mutually enjoy Let us not further divide ourselves The writer recognizes that “we are all each other’s presence. Regarding Mennonite Church USA’s complicit because we all benefit from This experience brought changes to decision to hold Convention 2013 in the results of that genocide” in the our lives and to theirs, too. Since we Phoenix (February): I have listened to 1800s. Migrating Mennonites were had nine children of our own, all of many of the concerns raised over these eager to find a place to live, while the them benefited, including the churches months of discernment and have ob- Santa Fe Railroad was eager to sell they now attend in their adult lives, be- served that the Executive Board mem- land. This transaction was brutal to the cause of an actual experience with a bers were listening. We have had many earlier immigrants who did not per- family of another race.—Mark and months of opportunity to voice our ceive this to be a “fascinating public- Betty Moyer, Davidsville, Pa.