This week’s blog is a twofer.

1. Membership toward a center

Article V of our church constitution discusses membership (now I know I have your eager attention).  Section A includes this sentence: “We choose to focus on a center that draws us in rather than sharply defining and defending a boundary line of faith.”

This version of membership points away from the image of a box, and its question: Are you in or are you out?  Rather, it points toward the image of a gravitational center, like the sun, and its questions: Do you want to join us in this orbit?  How are you, also, drawn toward this life-giving source?  It’s less about defined boundaries and more about sharing a common journey. 

The best articulation we have at Columbus Mennonite of that shared center is our Membership Commitment Statement.  It’s something we invite new members to affirm, and something to which we re-commit ourselves each year. 

Our good problem this year is that we have too many new members – 18 – to fit into one service.  So for this coming Sunday and next, May 3 and 10, we’ll be remembering our common center as told through this statement and hearing brief faith journeys from our new members.  What a gift each of them is to this community.

2. Nonpolice crisis response (Issue 5)

Next Tuesday, May 5, Columbus voters (sorry for those outside the city) have a chance to vote for a charter amendment that will create a community crisis response system to address emergency calls related to behavioral health, homelessness, and wellness checks.  Significantly, this is a non-police option which dispatches social workers, peer supporters, and other professionals trained especially in these areas. 

This effort has been led by the Columbus Safety Collective.  CSC co-chair Chana Wiley has made this her life mission after her brother was beaten by police after calling 911 during a mental health crisis.  He died days later.  The proposed program is a hard-earned compromise between the Safety Collective and City Council and the Mayor’s office. 

Issue 5 is an important opportunity to promote a nonviolent community-led endeavor that is ultimately good for impacted families and the whole community, including the police.    

Joel