Let’s talk about it
Youth growing up in many Mennonite churches could be forgiven for thinking that homosexual sex is the only kind of intercourse people have, because that’s the only kind many congregations discuss.
Young Voices
Forging a missional fire
At one point Christianity was the centre of life in North America; now it has been pushed to the margins. But that’s an important place to be, according to Cam Roxburgh.
Advocating for the orphan
Chantel Klassen and her husband Jared have declared themselves passionate about advocating for the orphan.
#IdleNoMore concerns Mennonites too
The Idle No More movement is not just an “Indian thing.”
Thousands of people in Canada and around the world—including Mennonites—have rallied to stand in solidarity with this grassroots political movement opposing what supporters are calling imposed legislation without consultation, to the detriment of the Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples.
Portrait of a thriving young-adult group
In an age where young-adult church attendance is often declining, many churches want to build a vibrant group for this demographic. Springfield Heights Mennonite Church seems to have found a way to make that a reality.
Political advocacy in dysfunctional times
Are you feeling unsatisfied with the state of democracy in Canada? You may not be the only one.
Why does business matter to God?
Why does business matter to God? As a business major at Canadian Mennonite University this is a question that has kept me up at night as I think about what I want to do with my degree once I graduate this spring. I received an answer when I attended the Mennonite Economic Development Associates conference at the beginning of November.
Anna Rehan to retire this month
After almost 28 years in her position as area church youth minister of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, Anna Rehan is retiring.
In her time in this role, she came to understand the unique needs of the youth, young adults, parents, youth leaders and congregations in the area church. And the people she served in her time as a youth minister valued her efforts deeply.
Mennonites learn about First Nations worldview
In preparation for next September’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Christians in B.C. gathered to learn about the First Nations worldview. Brander McDonald, Mennonite Church B.C.’s Indigenous Relations Coordinator, led an all-day seminar on Nov.
Challenging the Icon of Mary
When I think of Mary, the chosen mother of Christ, I think of one iconic image. I think of the Catholic version of the eternal virgin on a pedestal. This doesn’t seem right, and I am forced to try and redefine a narrative that has been typecast for centuries.
Westgate students explore religious practices
Praying 25 times over the course of five days will change the way you look at God, yourself and others. Just ask Maddy Loewen.
Mennonite musicians raise funds for Winnipeg women's shelter
After a Winnipeg shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence lost out on $450,000 from the city, local recording artist and record label manager Michael Petkau Falk decided to help.
Church’s “green team” turns into area church initiative
In an attempt to help their church become more environmentally friendly, Emmanuel Mennonite Church has done some environmental audits and proposals. The ideas proposed have became a basis for a Mennonite Church B.C. environmental stewardship initiative.
Fighting against ourselves
I remember standing at the entrance to the cathedral in the German city of Muenster, gazing upwards at the metal cages suspended from the bell tower.
I listened as my Mennonite high school teachers explained that these cages were the place where early Anabaptist leaders were hung to die by the Catholic Church five centuries ago.
Banana trees and justice
When I was asked to write an article for Canadian Mennonite, I did not know where to start. I have so many stories to tell, but these stories are complicated, given the history my homeland, Palestine. It has both a difficult present and uncertain future. I wondered, should I write about the geographical spaces, the land, the conflict or the people.
No offence!
What offends you?
When should Christians be offended by what they see in the world around them, and how should they respond? Those questions were recently addressed in a Huffington Post Religion blog post by Joanna Harader, pastor at Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, Kansas. She examined the questions and looked at biblical examples to illustrate her point.
Christianity on the margins
Canadian Mennonite University took 12 students on a study tour to the United Kingdom this summer led by Professor Irma Fast Dueck. The students explored the theme of Christianity on the Margins at the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival, which brought out over 20, 000 participants.
Mennonites and human rights
Sheep, shepherds and wolves—that’s the metaphor Virgil O. Wiebe uses to describe how Mennonites have traditionally related to human rights.
The future of aid
In a time when some development agencies report a chilling relationship with the Canadian International Development Agency, and others have seen their funding reduced, three organizations found a new way to work with CIDA.
Shopping: yet another way to give
I bought 1kg of sugar for $7. It is Camino golden cane sugar. As it says on the back of the packaging, it is grown at “the first farmer co-operative in Paraguay to produce and export organic sugar.” I feel pleased with myself for supporting such a project.
National church consults young adults
Young adults have a lot to say about the future of the church—and the wider church is listening. Mennonite Church Canada and the five area churches invited eight young adults from across Canada to Winnipeg for a Sept. 27 and 28 consultation about the future of the church. Betty Pries of Mennonite Church Canada’s Faith and Life Committee facilitated discussions.
Of competition and community
Growing up playing sports, Brad Thiessen occasionally heard the stereotype that Christians are too meek to care about competing at a high level and winning games.
Visiting the Children of Guatemala
For 11 years Rachel Potter de Reyes, a missionary from Scotland, has worked in Guatemala with Mike Black Ministries. Initiated in January 1990 by Pastor Mike Black and his wife, Pat, it consists of two children’s programs: one, in the village of Santiago and the other, in El Rejon, a mountain village on the way to La Antigua.
Undoing colonialism
I’ve been told that I have a problem. Well, not me in particular, but all of us as Christians. Many people still blame Christianity, or a Christian worldview, for our current environmental crisis—a world view that places the focus on another world, or God’s statement that we “have dominion” over the world.
Canadian-Iranian diplomacy ends, but peace work continues
The Canadian government has called on its diplomats in Iran to leave the embassy, abruptly and unilaterally cutting off all diplomatic ties there. The evacuation of the five diplomats from the capital, Tehran, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird’s expulsion of all Iranian diplomats in Canada has undoubtedly made poor relations with the country worse.
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