Leadership column

We live in changing and challenging times. The economic turmoil has created an environment of uncertainty and fear, with layoffs in large numbers, the national foreclosure crisis and the roller-coaster ride of the Dow Jones. We see the balance of our investment accounts dropping. In the midst of this, we are a church trying to live faithfully God’s call to be agents of healing and hope.

Our culture has also become polarized. Questions tend to be phrased in either/or terms. The definition of long-term is often shortened to three or so years from now. During a time like this, both the church and the world need strong Mennonite schools.

It’s important that support for our schools should not be seen within the either/or context or with a short-term lens. I have been in many settings where the conversation of support for Mennonite education is framed around the question, “Do you support Mennonite Education or public education?” This is not helpful as we seek as a church to understand what it means to be missional and respond to the challenges around us. Mennonites have God-given treasures to share with the world—our schools are one of many.

Our educational institutions contribute to the building of a strong church foundation—from helping shape and build Mennonite identity to providing pastors and other church leaders.

Past research and anecdotal evidence have helped us understand the significant role of education. There is a higher probability for Mennonites who attend our schools to stay in the church. There is a correlation between the Mennonite education experience and those who later spend time in service. Programs such as the Ministry Inquiry Program help shape a sense of call to the church. All this does not happen overnight. Education’s impact on the denomination is much longer term than two to four years.

Across the many levels of Mennonite education, our institutions serve students from a variety of faiths, backgrounds and nationalities. Students who receive an education shaped by the Anabaptist-Mennonite understandings go on to serve in multiple capacities around the world—making an impact in their fields, communities and countries. We need our schools to be centers that not only help teach our constituents but share our educational experience with the broader community and world.

I have been told my role at Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) results in a bias toward our Mennonite institutions. I do see a bias. I am biased because I have seen and heard about
• the life-changing and lifelong relationships that have developed in our schools,

• the character of our students and how an Anabaptist-Mennonite lens affects how they see the world,

• the commitment of our faculty, who often work at a much lower pay scale because of their strong belief in Mennonite education,

• the love and focus on faith development given to Mennonite and community children in our early-childhood centers,

• the intentional ways our faculty and administrators work to integrate faith into the classroom regardless of the subject matter,

• the discussions of our presidents, principals and school administrators, which reveal their strong love for and commitment to the church.

I could give many more reasons. My own journey has led me to serve the church; I would not be here today if not for my Mennonite education experience. So yes, I am biased, but not because of my role at MEA. It is because of my awareness of what Mennonite education has done and is doing in the lives of so many that I accepted the call to serve as executive director.

Perhaps the role of our institutions is more vital than ever in our current economy and culture. I want to make a bold proposal that as a church we make a commitment that each person in the future should have two years of Mennonite education. I strongly believe this will help us be a stronger church and will help our transformation into a community that shares God’s healing and hope with the world.