Mennonite Church USA Archives | Page 72 of 79

We need help discerning what are disputable matters

My church, Mennonite Church USA, like many denominations, is in a state of crisis over an issue I never thought would become a subject of

Harvey Yoder

November 21, 2014

Western District weighs congregational freedom

MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. — Congregational freedom is a tradition in Western District Conference. Now the conference needs to decide how that tradition applies when issues of same-sex relationships test the denomination’s unity.

More than 140 people from 29 churches met Nov. 15 at Eden Mennonite Church to discuss that question and to consider the findings of a survey on same-sex unions and church governance.

Paul Schrag | Mennonite World Review

November 17, 2014

An open letter to the Mennonite family

We are Richard and Jewel (Wenger) Showalter. As church planters, missionaries, educators, mission administrators, parents and now grandparents, we have walked as part of the

Jewel Showalter | Richard Showalter

November 14, 2014

Lancaster Conference terminates retired pastor’s credentials

Mennonite Church USA’s Lancaster Mennonite Conference has removed the ministerial credentials of a retired pastor for officiating a same-sex marriage.

Chester Wenger, a 96-year-old retired missionary and minister from Lancaster, Pa., signed the marriage certificate for his son, Philip Wenger, and his partner, Steve Dinnocenti, after Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage in May.

Lancaster Conference is the first area conference to terminate ministerial credentials for officiating a same-sex wedding.

Kelli Yoder | Mennonite World Review

November 10, 2014

An open letter to my beloved Mennonite Church

I am profoundly reluctant to write this letter because I know there are those it will wound deeply. But I have also come to the

Chester Wenger

November 10, 2014

Parable of the vow

A woman discovered her husband was having an affair. He agreed to visit a marriage counselor. The wife longed to reconcile if her husband would

Rachel Stella

November 10, 2014

Atlantic Coast Conference adds one, loses another

Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA welcomed one congregation and said goodbye to another during its fall assembly Oct. 25 at Blossom Hill Mennonite

Tim Huber | Mennonite World Review

November 10, 2014

Avoiding division

I believe God blesses celibate and covenanted gay people no less than celibate and covenanted straight people. Over the centuries Israel and the church have

Rachel Stella

November 10, 2014

Gulf States Conference decides not to withdraw

A proposal for Gulf States Mennonite Conference to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA failed to pass at the Nov. 1 annual assembly at Des Allemands (La.) Mennonite Church. However, that doesn’t mean a majority of Gulf States congregations will remain with the denomination.

Leaving MC USA would require changing Gulf States’ constitution, and the 60 percent vote fell short of the required two-thirds. Conference moderator Mark Roth said 55 delegates attended the assembly.

Tim Huber | Mennonite World Review

November 3, 2014

Issues make polity book a must-read

Mennonite Church USA’s new ministerial polity handbook has drawn more attention than such a document usually would, due to its potential impact on issues of sexuality and credentialing authority.

Since the book was finished this spring, leaders have been considering whether to ask the delegate assembly to approve it next summer in Kansas City.

Kelli Yoder | Mennonite Church USA

November 3, 2014