North America Archives | Page 281 of 322

Secrecy enabled sin

Few things cause as much damage and pain in the church as secrecy. Hiding information spawns suspicion, distortion and lies. Secrecy fosters an imbalance of

Rich Preheim

March 30, 2015

Learning to leave well

We need to find a new way to talk about the congregations that are leaving Mennonite Church USA: They’re not leaving us; we’re getting divorced.

Hillary Watson

March 27, 2015

Giving up my need to be right

Lent is a time to let go of things that hold us back, a time to return to God with our whole heart. As we

Ron Zook

March 26, 2015

United by love, not doctrine

A couple of days ago, with the help of some friends, I planted the early vegetable garden with cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli, lettuce, Chinese greens and carrots.

Christine Sine

March 25, 2015

The small politics of the church

If you read a lot of Anabaptist theology you know that a key insight regarding the social and political witness of church is this: The social

Richard Beck

March 24, 2015

Conservative Anabaptists reject fundamentalism

Fundamentalism, however, is another matter — and one at odds with Anabaptism, according to him.“

Fundamentalism has taught conservative Mennonites to be spiritual abusers and to feel good about it,” Weaver, a Beachy Amish minister, told an assembly of theologically and culturally conservative Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites meeting near Nappanee March 12-14.

Rich Preheim | For Mennonite World Review

March 23, 2015

AMBS on abuse: ‘We failed you’

ELKHART, Ind. — For 40 years, women who had been sexually violated by John Howard Yoder were left suffering in silence while the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary professor became one of the most influential theological voices of the 20th century. On March 22, AMBS publicly apologized for long ignoring their cries for justice.

Rich Preheim | For Mennonite World Review

March 23, 2015

Toward Mennonite sexual integrity

The Mennonite church needs a conversation about sexual integrity, how people respect their own bodies and those of other people. Sexual abuse — and even sexual

Lisa Schirch

March 23, 2015

10 ways Mennonites are like hipsters

I'm not the first person to notice a certain similarity between Mennonite culture and hipsterism. Google "hipster Mennonite" and you come up with lots of

Sherri Klassen

March 20, 2015

The Bible is not a book

So often we hear, “The Bible says . . .” What exactly does that mean? Especially when topics are controversial, the conversation stopper is often

Dorothy Nickel Friesen

March 19, 2015