November has seen two frustrating (is that the right word?) developments in Anabaptist-land .  On November 1, Mosaic Mennonite Conference, a regional conference centered in Eastern Pennsylvania, voted to discontinue membership in Mennonite Church USA.  Although not explicitly named as the reason, Mosaic has been considering this ever since denominational delegates narrowly passed “A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation” in 2022.  The resolution confessed harms committed against LGBTQ members, pledging a restorative justice approach moving forward. 

Last week the global Anabaptist fellowship was more explicit in naming Repentance and Transformation as a problem.  Mennonite World Conference is in search of a North American representative to fill a part-time staff role.  Stanley Green, the current executive director of Pacific Southwest Conference, and former executive director of Mennonite Mission Network, was up for appointment.  However, three other North American Anabaptist denominations raised concerns about having a member of Mennonite Church USA fill the role, pointing to the resolution, and Mennonite World Conference rescinded Stanley’s appointment.  Read more details HERE.

As frustrating and maddening as this is, the Repentance and Transformation resolution was and is good news.  It’s good news to move beyond silence and beyond just tolerance.  It’s good news that a delegate body has finally confessed and named that LGBTQ members have been wronged.  It’s good and wonderfully surprising news to go beyond confession and commit to taking substantive steps toward repair.  It’s good news that we, as Mennonite Church USA, have already taken some of those steps.

It’s not good news that this remains a minority theology within the wider Mennonite and Christian world. And it’s weirdly ironic that a peace church can’t get along with itself. 

What we have learned from family systems is that a relational network is most healthy when each member is able to clearly define their core values.  No secrets.  No scapegoats.  No false peace.  Mennonite Church USA has done that, and others are responding accordingly.  The challenge is to be people of peace who value the humanity and dignity of all, while holding true to core values, ever-open to the surprising movement of the Spirit. 

Joel