Denominational Scene

Family Gathering In Winnipeg

Meeting not “to hear one message, but to hear 12,000,” Mennonites from over 60 countries gathered in Winnipeg in July for the five-day Mennonite World Conference. Since the conference had no policy-making jurisdiction, official statements on controversial issues were not released. Still, the issues were present, as thousands joined the 12,000 registered to boost total attendance to 25,000.

At a demonstration by Mennonite homosexuals, James Lapp, executive secretary of the Mennonite Church, General Assembly, explained to reporters that celibacy remains the sole sanctioned behavior for those with homosexual preferences. Though individual congregations have accepted practicing homosexuals as full-fledged members, their acceptance by a Mennonite denomination appears far from imminent. Another demonstration—against nuclear weapons—culminated in a prayer meeting outside a missile base in Vang, North Dakota.

Seminars were characterized by an awareness of worldwide opportunities for church work. Viktor Fast, a lay preacher from Karaganda in Soviet Central Asia, stressed that all persons “filled with burning love” were welcome to come and serve in his area. Evangelists and teachers are particularly needed, he said.

As many parachurch missions rush into the USSR, officials of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), which has maintained ties with Soviet churches since 1920, stressed the mcc’s commitment to long-term relationships. Larry Kehler, new MCC administrator for all Soviet programs, said he expects the hasty arrival of many missions to be followed by retreat. Yet the days of a significant Mennonite presence in the USSR appear limited: As few as 5,000 Mennonites may remain in the USSR after 1993–94, compared with about 55,000 in 1984.

Reports of new church freedoms came from other parts of the world as well. A delegation from Ethiopia’s Meserete Kristos church described new freedoms in that country and described life during its years of repression. Forced underground in 1982, the church developed a cell system of worship and teaching. Yohannes Germamo called the quasi-Marxist Ethiopian government “a blessing in disguise,” because his church has grown fourfold to 20,000 members during these past eight years and become financially self-sufficient.

Conference reports indicated that Mennonite evangelization programs in the Third World remain effective. Attendance at Mennonite churches in Africa, for example, is increasing 8.8 percent per year; growth in North America remains at 1.8 percent. There are now 860,000 Mennonites worldwide, up 15 percent from 1984.

Overture To Moderates

It is no secret that many in the “moderate” wing of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are looking for greener pastures due to the continuing dominance of conservatives in the 14.9 million-member group. Where they will end up is anybody’s guess, but Religious News Service reports the predominantly black Progressive National Baptist Convention has invited those “disillusioned with the far right” in their denomination to join them.

Fred C. Lofton, president of the 1.8 million member-denomination, issued the invitation at a news conference at the start of their national convention last month. His offer comes at a time when the SBC is trying to recruit more black congregations. Black membership in the SBC is 300,000.

Politics At Home And Abroad

At the one-hundred-fifth annual meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church, delegates representing 341 local churches defeated a resolution calling for “prudent reduction in military strength” in the United States, so that the resulting “peace dividend” could be used for “social, educational, and health care programs at home and in developing nations.” Delegates also expanded the church’s statement against political disenfranchisement to include native Americans and members of the democracy movement in China. The statement previously expressed opposition to apartheid in South Africa and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Sin Condemned But Not Defined

Delegates to the triennial general council of the Reformed Episcopal Church passed a resolution condemning abortion except to save the life of the woman. They also approved a measure labeling fornication, adultery, and homosexual acts “sinful in all circumstances.” An attempt to have a form of these resolutions made part of the canons of the church failed. At present the canons do not define any specific behavior as sinful or heretical.

By Bill Yoder in Winnipeg, and Randy Frame.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.