Mennonite Church USA

The church stands at a door of an opportunity that comes along only once every generation or more. We have the prospect to engage in a broad forum for discussion that will likely shape the church for the next generation. The current crisis, as some speak of the unsettling debate on human sexuality or same-sex issues, is really as much an opportunity as it is a danger.

This is particularly true for young adults, who have a profound interest in the subject at hand but seldom have the occasion to make their voice heard in church circles beyond their local congregation. This is a chance to study the Scriptures together and listen for God’s voice regarding a vitally important issue.

A few weeks ago, I joined a discussion group that met late one night in a packed dorm room at Goshen (Ind.) College. I came away from that meeting with new hope for the church.

Why? Because these two dozen young adults demonstrated their deep care and concern for the church by the very nature of their thoughtful questions. I hope they will participate in a much wider forum for engagement regarding their questions and concerns.

I have heard it said that the Chinese symbol for crisis is a combination of two symbols for “opportunity” and “danger.” This may be a fit descriptor for this moment in history in Mennonite Church USA.

First, let me focus on the opportunity. Loren Johns, a professor at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., says: “This crisis has kicked up more interest in—and more intense discussion about—theology, ethics and ecclesiology than I think I have seen in the Mennonite church in my 59 years. Thanks be to God. I continue to think that the theological discussions this crisis has elicited in the church can be a wonderful gift to the church—an almost unparalleled opportunity … if we are able to approach these discussions with appropriate patience and love.”

The “if” in his last sentence identifies one of the dangers we face. At this moment of profound opportunity for young adults to witness the church wrestling deeply with significant issues, some of us may not have the patience or the love to engage respectfully in the churchwide forum for discernment.

I am not suggesting that Mennonite Church USA must stay together just as it is now or that it would be unfaithful to God for people to form alternate fellowships. I just hope that people who choose to leave Mennonite Church USA will go about it thoughtfully, with adequate time for spiritual discernment and exploration of unintended consequences.

Frankly, I see God’s footprints in and around many of places where people have discussed the current “crisis.” For example, I was heartened to observe the way the delegates of Franklin Conference engaged questions about their church affiliation at their delegate assembly on March 31.

Franklin is one of the conferences that expressed concerns about the recent action by Mountain States Mennonite Conference to credential a minister who is in a same-sex relationship, so when they met as a conference, they examined “Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities” regarding their relationships across Mennonite Church USA. Their deliberations demonstrated careful thought and care for the church, both in its local and its national expressions.

They demonstrated that the current debates present a moment of great opportunity for us:

•  to renew our commitment to be God’s church in mission;
•  to clarify our core biblical, theological and ethical convictions;
•  to set our eyes on a vision on the future;
•  to clarify our aspirations for tending our common life together;
• to implement the Purposeful Plan for Mennonite Church USA.

I hope many people will engage in respectful conversations in small group settings, congregational gatherings and beyond.

I’ll do my best to facilitate broader forums for the discussion so that together we may seek to align ourselves with God’s purposes in the world.

Ervin Stutzman is executive director of Mennonite Church USA.