Mennonite Church USA: Monochromatic or Various Shades of Brown?

9/25/2014

Today I pray for Mennonite Church USA Executive Board as they make decisions about the future of the church. We are at a critical point, not only in decisions about sexuality, but in decisions about racial and ethnic diversity in the church. We cannot have it both ways. If we decide we must make space to affirm the modern sexual practices of the western world, we will lose a vast majority of our racial/ethnic participants in Mennonite Church USA. If we decide to further diversify in our theology and ethics, we are sending a clear signal that we are a Swiss-German ethnic group that is primarily concerned about keeping our biological sons and daughters even if we need to abandon our historic beliefs.

Iglesia Menonita Hispana (IMH), the organization of Spanish-speaking congregations in Mennonite Church USA, met last summer and gave a clear word to the denomination.

Here is the link to the story in Spanish and I quote here the relevant section.

Muchos pastores mostraron indignación ante lo que está pasando en la denominación, a tal profundidad que expresaron salir de la Iglesia Menonita USA, si se llega a la aceptación del homosexualismo como estilo de vida cristiano.

Here is an automated translation from Google Translate and here is the quote in English (I did some cleaning up of the automated Google translation).

Many pastors expressed outrage at what is happening in the denomination, so deep that they would leave Mennonite Church USA if it comes to the acceptance of homosexuality as a Christian lifestyle.

That's an important statement, a statement that deserves to be heard across the church. This is not the voice of an extreme group that sits at the edge of the church. It is from a gathering that represents our Hispanic congregations. Will the Executive Board make decisions that further alienate Hispanic congregations and other racial/ethnic groups? Will Mennonite Church USA go down a path that alienates almost all of its members who are not of Swiss-German descent? Will leaders reject the counsel of Mennonites and Anabaptists in South America, Africa, and Asia?

We have paid a great price in our acquiescence to those who want to bless greater sexual license. They seek the blessing of the church for sexual expressions that are contradicted by Scripture and our Confession of Faith. It is time to stop acquiescing. It will lead to a monochromatic denomination.
-John M Troyer

UPDATE 10/1/2014 - A letter from Iglesia Menonita Hispana to denominational leaders is now posted. I'm including the full text below

September 18, 2014

Ervin Stutzman
Elisabeth Soto
MC USA EXECUTIVE BOARD

Dear Ervin and Elisabeth, saludos en Cristo, nuestro Señor!

I am writing on behalf of our Iglesia Menonita Hispana to express our concern regarding the discernment and dialogue that is happening in our denomination on the issue of homosexuality.

As you are fully aware, Iglesia Menonita Hispana has made several statements through the years in which we express our theological position and stance on the issue of homosexuality. I am sending you a copy of our IMH statement on Membership and Human Sexuality.

We have declared our belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all people, including homosexuals. We have also declared that the homosexual lifestyle is not acceptable nor pleases God, according to the Scriptures. We have also declared that God’s intention is that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman for life, such as our Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective declares it. We have also declared that the church of Jesus Christ is a healing community to all people where God’s power transforms our sin into holy living.

At our IMH Biennial Assembly on August 8 and 9, 2014, the Hispanic pastors and delegates expressed their deep concern about the issue of homosexuality and how the Conferences and congregations are dealing with it. On the one hand we see the affirmation of our historical position on sexuality and Confession of Faith, but on the other hand we see a different practice. Therefore, confusion and doubts are raising and we pray to God that He will give wisdom to our Mennonite Church leadership on how to handle this issue.

It was not surprising to the IMH Board to hear the Hispanic pastors and delegates calling the MC USA to keep the teaching position of the church and enforce it in all the Conferences and ministers. Also, the pastors and delegates expressed the painful sentiment that most, if not all, of the Hispanic Mennonite Churches will withdraw from MC USA if the present teaching of sexuality and Confession of Faith is changed.

It is our prayer that the MC USA will keep the historical and present teaching position on Human Sexuality and that you will find wisdom to lead our Mennonite Church in these critical times. We will be praying for you as you discern and lead the future of our Mennonite Church.

In Christ our Lord,
Iglesia Menonita Hispana
Samuel Lopez
Moderator cc: IMH General Board

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Hostetler

9/24/2014 09:49:46 pm

As a father of three college age children, we are talking about what will happen if the church pursues this direction. We are less likely to attend the national convention next year(after having attended more than 15) because of the one topic agenda that will likely dominate ever feature of the gathering. This means that our children are less likely to meet other Mennonites and attend Mennonite colleges and therefor less likely to remain Mennonite in their adulthood. It is tough to see us departing from generations of commitment to the larger Mennonite Church but it is part of the Anabaptist tradition of separation from those who do not uphold the gospel. There are other similar denominations where we can go, but it is sad that the faithful are those that have to leave only to be chastised for being "intolerant" of those who sought to change the faith.

Nancy Lora

9/24/2014 11:34:04 pm

Unfortunately, the mainstream Mennonite church has in many ways entertained but not taken seriously the voices of other ethnic groups all in the name of inclusivity. The Hispanic Mennonites as well as other ethnic groups have been patient with the unending process of inclusivity , but the time has come to draw the line in the sand. I stand with my Hispanic brothers and sisters, we are followers of Christ not followers of a denomination.

Tom

9/25/2014 12:14:30 am

To this day I do not understand why people wish to water down their beliefs in the name of "tolerance", "love", or church numbers. To follow Christ is a direct statement to the world that you are not going to adhire to life as the world knows it but life as Christ has instructed us to live. Fact is the Church will dwindle in number as the return of Christ nears. Trying to delay that in the name of tomorrow's church is a futile effort at best. It flat out says in Scripture that we are not of the world. We are called to be like Christ and that means at times having to throw a few tables around to prove a point. Love means telling someone that their lifestyle will lead to death. I have lost friends because they would rather live their lifestyle than ever hear from me, when they bring up their struggles, that they should abandon their lifestyle altogether. Even more I've watched in wonder as the power of Christ has changed someone's sexuality completely. (Look up Living Hope Ministry in Arlington, TX and see the work they do.) Fact is this idea that the church needs to be more accepting to bring in more youth is a lie. The Church needs to take a stand and flat out tell the world that the power of Christ is far greater than any identity issue anyone has including their sexuality.

James Townsend

9/25/2014 12:22:25 am

I've talked with numerous people who attend the Catholic Church and I see a significant gap between what the parents and grandparents believe and what the younger generation believe about gender and sexuality issues. The older generation is against it and the younger generation does not understand why this is an issue (since to them it's something they've grown up with). Would you say that Mennonites would have the same gap - that youth feel differently about these issues? If so, what do these decisions mean for the "future leaders" of the church?

John M Troyer

9/25/2014 04:28:24 am

Great question, JT. I don't think the gap between old and young is nearly as binary as you describe it. Acceptance is increasing, but tolerance is not the same as affirmation.

This gap between generations is progressively worsening in the mainline churches but not in evaingelical churches. So I think the question is where MCUSA fits in that spectrum. My guess would be that gap will vary based on which way a congregation leans. I wrote a post on this a few weeks ago. http://www.evana.net/blog--news-updates/young-adults-are-leaving-the-church-but-its-not-what-you-think

My second point is that the future of a denomination is greatly impacted by how these future leaders are trained. The advocacy within our institutions of higher education has a cumulative impact. If it is an advocacy for our confession of faith, we will become more strongly committed to it. If it is an advocacy toward something else, we will move in that direction.

Jenny Miller

9/25/2014 10:19:01 am

I have been reading your blog and appreciate your honesty. While I have not always agreed with your views, this is the first time I feel compelled to comment. Yes, this is a difficult issue, but more dialogue and open communication is necessary.
You propose that the Mennonite Church affirming homosexuality would be "going down a path that alienates [many] members". Resisting the affirmation of gay marriage or LGBT church leadership for the sake of protecting cultural diversity in the Mennonite church seems to me like a flawed motive. To be authentic in our faith, we are called to do what is right regardless of who might feel alienated by it. Jesus himself was a great role model of challenging the rigid, legalistic adherence to outdated beliefs and practices and called for social justice, compassion, and love.
If the Mennonite church had not, to use your words again, "abandoned our historic beliefs", then contemporary Mennonites would not own jeans, jewelry, or cars, play instruments in worship, offer Sunday school, or have women in leadership! Abolishing slavery also alienated quite a few people! As Martin Luther King, Jr. wisely stated: "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, not politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right."

John Troyer

9/25/2014 11:58:34 am

Thanks for responding, Jenny. I completely agree with what you are saying about motives, but I don't think I indicated that any of these points were a reason for holding particular beliefs. I was simply pointing out the effects and the injustice of so blatantly ignoring the voice of IMH. As to your other points, I hope you would know that my perspective is more nuanced than you make it seem. I know you arrive at your convictions with a great desire to be faithful, and I share many of the concerns you express above. In the end, we come out at a very different place as it relates to sexuality.

Sam derr

10/1/2014 02:00:09 am

The motive for not accepting that lifestyle is not for fear of losing members. It is also not a annabaptist or Mennonite motive. It is and should be a biblical motive to reach the lost and save them.

9/25/2014 03:32:18 pm

Ah yes the continued warp of beliefs. Love is acceptance now not telling the truth and urging someone to leave a lifestyle that God can easily take them out of if they so desire Him to. The Church should be tolerant because that is true love? There is no debate. Love is not acceptance or tolerance. The fact that people are so willing to forsake Scripture in the name of numbers is appauling. Sodom and Gamora here we come! Can't wait till Christ returns and all this nonsense ends. Jesus didn't change the Old Testament He clarified it. He called out those who perverted the belief system and were using their positions for the wrong reasons. He called out hypocrites. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament not its destroyer. I weep for the Church.

9/27/2014 12:42:36 am

Of course Jesus did not change the New Testament, he just offered a new, refreshing perspective on it, emphasizing mercy vs. judgement and calling out the way people were misusing God’s law through legalistic interpretations of it. The New Testament emphasizes faith in God as a higher priority than obedience to law. Therefore, love, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy triumph over judgement, justice, or vengeance. My point is that Jesus challenged some of the misinterpretation of Old Testament scripture, making it evident that interpretation does happen and can be wrong over time depending on the context.

9/27/2014 01:02:01 am

Tom and Jenny, I think in many ways that we talk past each other because neither side is really about tolerance only or judgment only.

And I have to say, Jenny, that comparing a traditional stance on homosexuality with slavery, Sunday school, women in leadership, and jeans comes across as quite judgmental. I'm not complaining (I think making judgments is an essential part of the human condition), but I do want to point out the incongruity of the point you are making.

I am absolutely for tolerance, forgiveness and mercy. But you don't offer tolerance, forgiveness and mercy when it is something you affirm. Nor does a lack of affirmation necessarily constitute vengeance and harsh judgment. We are at different places. And the way powerful people are squelching the voices of our racial ethnic groups makes it an injustice I can no longer watch from the sidelines. I am finding that speaking up about this is not safe, politic, or popular, but I must speak because it is right.

9/27/2014 05:38:04 am

I agree with you, John, the reason both of us are vocal on this topic, is because we both believe strongly in a different perspective on what is “right”. This is why it is so important to have this dialogue, so that a new perspective is not automatically perceived as such a threat, but maybe just as a new perspective. I have said before and I’ll say it again, a few generations down the road, people will look back and say “can you believe the church back then split about such trivial things as clothing, worship music, woman pastors, and gay marriage!” I don’t believe this issue is that much more crucial, it just happens to be the one at hand today. I wish that the Mennonite church could just agree to disagree as they have on so many other topics, and respect a diversity of perspectives.

Sam Derr

10/1/2014 01:41:37 pm

Jesus said to the woman at the well and many others go and sin no more. He did not say go live how you want and it will be ok. He called sin sin and told people not to do it. But no one calls him judgemental. We help no one by accepting sin and never helping them out of a sinful life.

9/27/2014 03:49:25 am

There are things God hates - and divorce (Mal 2:16) is right up there on the list. What I don't hear the Mennonite Church (or many others for that matter) talking about or see church discipline with is the failure of heterosexual marriage. The rate of divorce among Christian couples seems to be the same (if not higher among conservative evangelicals - see Christianity Today article) than non-believers. Maybe the church should spend more time keeping marriages together and address those who break their vows. When you're relationship is falling apart it is easy to point the finger at a gay couple and move the spotlight over. Let's teach young people about commitment.

9/30/2014 06:17:08 am

Ok one if people are walking away from homosexuality then why condone it? As I said the Bible clearly encourages us that while we are in the world we are not of it, yet the church seems to crave being apart of the world. Even more Paul blatantly states in 1st Corinthians 9 that while we are not free from God's law we are under Christ law. Meaning that we are still held to the same standard but we have Christ clarifications to go on. Again it was Paul in 1st Corinthians that states that, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭9-11‬ ESV) Fact is even Paul watched people walk away from sin. I am not saying the homosexuality is hated by God or that as Christians we shouldn't show love toward our fellow sinners, but I am saying that we need to remember the power of God, the transforming power of God and never ever sell that so short that we say, "God loves you and your sin." This whole sexual crisis stems from the Church not being willing to talk about sex inside the church in the first place. Believe it or not you can love someone without loving everything about them. I mean gosh we all have that family member we love but we can not stand how they do this that or the other. I urge everyone to take a look at this ministry http://livehope.org they actually have things right and people are walking away from there transformed. I know it sucks to think of a loved one not being in Heaven with you but fact is not everyone will be there and if you don't raise the issue what chance do they have?

Mennonite Church USA: Monochromatic or Various Shades of Brown?

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