Separation or division? It might sound like a distinction without a ­difference. But defining these words in a specific way yields an idea for ­redeeming a regrettable Anabaptist split.

Mosaic Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA are now separated. Structural unity has ended. There is distance between them.

Are Mosaic and MC USA divided? Jesus said a house divided cannot stand (Matthew 12:25) — implying that division arises from conflict and causes severe damage, even destruction. Mosaic delegates’ Nov. 1 vote affirmed their leaders’ belief that the relationship with MC USA had de­teriorated to the point that they had to leave the house.

Now Mosaic and MC USA are neighbors rather than housemates. They are separated. But they do not have to remain divided, if division means being stuck in damaging conflict.

Mosaic and MC USA now must work to become what all North American Anabaptists need to be, splintered as we are: neighbors separated in structure but unified in spirit.

It’s nothing to be proud of that we’ve just added one more tiny independent conference to an already long list. Several of these — Mosaic, LMC (the former Lancaster Mennonite Conference), Evana Network, Rosedale Network (the former Conservative Mennonite Conference) and the Alliance of Mennonite Evangelical Congregations — had varying degrees of prior relationship with MC USA and its predecessors (or their congregations did). 

The vision of unity that drove the movement to merge the Mennonite Church and General Conference Men­nonite Church in the 1990s has faded. MC USA’s loss of Mosaic feels like proof that it’s not possible for U.S. Mennonites to pitch a big tent.

It’s ironic that a conference born in reconciliation — a union of Franconia and Eastern District in 2019 — has produced a split six years later. Yet its independence has historic roots: Like Lancaster, Franconia/Mosaic began in the 1700s but didn’t join the Mennonite Church denominational structure until 1971.

Mosaic’s split from MC USA feels different from others for a couple of reasons. First, it seemed preventable. Opportunities for resolution were missed as leaders of both MC USA and Mosaic failed to communicate well or to come up with ideas that worked.

Second, unlike other conferences that have left MC USA, Mosaic has emphasized that it wants to remain in a close relationship with the denomination. It says it wants to be a partner, and there are ideas for this, like sharing Hispanic ministries.

Principles for good relationships — within Mosaic and beyond — can be found in “A Mosaic Identity: Clarifying Our Center,” a three-page document the Mosaic board approved in September. It says Mosaic focuses on its center rather than the boundaries. The center, simply, is Jesus: becoming like Jesus, loving like Jesus, living like Jesus.

Further, Mosaic “gather[s] around Mennonite World Conference’s Shared Convictions,” a seven-point list of beliefs that has served the global Anabaptist community well for nearly 20 years.

Mosaic’s “center allows space for differences in faithful theology and practice,” its document says. “. . . We will rarely be able to draw clear lines of inclusion and exclusion.” 

A test of Mosaic’s ability to live up to these ideals will be how it handles different views on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Christina Manero, interim pastor of Bethany Mennonite Church in Bridgewater, Vt., asked in the October issue of AW: “Is there a place in Mosaic for me?” She’s one of more than 30 credentialed and noncredentialed leaders who’ve formed Inclusive Mosaic Pastors to support LGBTQ+ people.

“Clarifying Our Center” offers a model for partnership. The centered way, not the boundary-setting way, is the path to spiritual unity when structural unity fails.

The document advises “allow[ing] ourselves to be transformed by those with whom we might disagree.” That’s hard, and members of Mosaic will need to prove they are serious about this.

“Each of our communities is needed in order for us to see the full picture of who God is and what God is doing in our world,” the document says.

Indeed, each Anabaptist community needs the others. Mosaic’s name is based on “many unique pieces forming a beautiful whole.” Having too many pieces isn’t pretty, though. How can the fragmented Anabaptist family become more beautiful than it is now?

Mosaic has declared independence and proposed interdependence. A house divided can’t stand, but good neighbors make strong communities.