One of the world’s largest and oldest interfaith organizations met in the U.S. last month, and an Illinois Mennonite orchestrated the final preparations and implementation. The Parliament of the World’s Religions gathered Oct. 15-19 in Salt Lake City. More than 9,000 people representing 80 nations and 50 faiths and traditions met for a program of speakers, workshops, exhibits and performances focused on themes such as compassion, peace, justice and sustainability.
Since its founding in Germany in 1708, the Brethren stream of Anabaptism has been associated with Mennonites, particularly for their shared opposition to war. Yet both groups have often overlooked their connections. Now efforts are emerging to rectify that.
Teaching at European seminaries in September, David W. Shenk said conversations everywhere were about how to respond to the continent’s refugee crisis. Shenk, a member of Eastern Mennonite Missions’ Christian Muslim Relations Team, taught for three weeks at seminaries in Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. All of the classes included learning about Muslims, and two had lively encounters with Islam.
HESSTON, Kan. — Hesston College President Howard Keim announced Oct. 22 he will transition away from his role at the end of the 2015-16 academic year, concluding 11 years of leadership as the college’s eighth president. Keim will conclude his service in June.
EPHRATA, Pa. — Sixteen participants in Mennonite Central Committee’s Pipeline to Prison learning tour journeyed through Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system, learning about law enforcement, sentencing, incarceration and re-entry.
Franklin Mennonite Conference is taking steps to leave Mennonite Church USA, citing concerns over other MC USA conferences’ allowance of same-sex relationships. A proposal to be discussed Nov. 12 during Franklin’s delegate assembly calls for the conference to withdraw from MC USA and remain without affiliation for one year to “seek new vision for FMC and where the most appropriate affiliation would be for the conference.”
HILLSBORO, Kan. — Ryne Preheim wanted to be a Mennonite Brethren pastor. He enrolled at Tabor College in the fall of 2014 to pursue that goal and see if he could reconcile his Christianity with being gay. A year later, Preheim is preparing to transfer after struggling with being an openly gay student at a college that upholds a traditional view of homosexuality. But Tabor is also experiencing dissent, including from alumni who believe it should be more welcoming of LGBT students.
ARCHBOLD, Ohio — Representatives of three Mennonite Church USA area conferences — Lancaster, Franklin and North Central — reported on their processes of deciding whether to leave the denomination Oct. 19-21 at the semiannual meeting of the Constituency Leaders Council.
As thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent face deportation from the Dominican Republic, Mennonite Central Committee is offering humanitarian aid and calling on people to pray and advocate on the behalf of those affected.
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Western District Conference delegates on Oct. 31 gave pastors the freedom to perform same-sex marriages if their congregations approve. The unprecedented action conflicts with Mennonite Church USA’s Membership Guidelines, which forbid pastors to officiate same-sex marriages, and Confession of Faith, which affirms traditional marriage only.
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Qadrey Tolliver, 18, a first-year Bethel College student from Kempner, Texas, died in an automobile accident Oct. 20 in Texas. Tolliver was a member of the women’s basketball team. Bethel students learned of her death as they returned from fall break.
The Lancaster Mennonite Conference Board of Bishops has affirmed a resolution recommending the conference withdraw from Mennonite Church USA. The proposal now goes to credentialed leaders for a vote.
