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From another thread, here is what a deal breaker looks like to me: "Unfortunately in the old order Mennonite churches in Canada, conference discussions are top secret, and should any word of conference discussions be leaked, the conference leaders have vowed to find the source of the leak. This is where I see some Anabaptists reverting to Catholic practices." Too many of these Catholic type or pre-Anabaptist practices would be hard to accept unquestioningly..

Judas Maccabeus wrote:Remember, all of our churches are composed of less-than-perfect people.

As soon as I join a church, that's guaranteed.

Hats Off wrote:From another thread, here is what a deal breaker looks like to me: "Unfortunately in the old order Mennonite churches in Canada, conference discussions are top secret, and should any word of conference discussions be leaked, the conference leaders have vowed to find the source of the leak. This is where I see some Anabaptists reverting to Catholic practices." Too many of these Catholic type or pre-Anabaptist practices would be hard to accept unquestioningly..

Hence why I think the reputation Mennonites have for gossip isn't a bad thing, but a good thing. It's good not to have secrets stay secrets.

Just because there is a silver lining, does not mean that gossip is good.



I'm sure I'm as guilty as the next person.

Josh wrote:

Hats Off wrote:From another thread, here is what a deal breaker looks like to me: "Unfortunately in the old order Mennonite churches in Canada, conference discussions are top secret, and should any word of conference discussions be leaked, the conference leaders have vowed to find the source of the leak. This is where I see some Anabaptists reverting to Catholic practices." Too many of these Catholic type or pre-Anabaptist practices would be hard to accept unquestioningly..

Hence why I think the reputation Mennonites have for gossip isn't a bad thing, but a good thing. It's good not to have secrets stay secrets.

To rephrase the last statement before this, secrets not staying secrets is no justification for the often well-earned gossip reputation of Plain folk and the irreparable harm it (the actual gossip) can and has done to various individuals, families, and groups.

Josh wrote:

Hats Off wrote:From another thread, here is what a deal breaker looks like to me: "Unfortunately in the old order Mennonite churches in Canada, conference discussions are top secret, and should any word of conference discussions be leaked, the conference leaders have vowed to find the source of the leak. This is where I see some Anabaptists reverting to Catholic practices." Too many of these Catholic type or pre-Anabaptist practices would be hard to accept unquestioningly..

Hence why I think the reputation Mennonites have for gossip isn't a bad thing, but a good thing. It's good not to have secrets stay secrets.

Secrets and confidentiality are not necessarily the same thing. Sometimes I feel the need to share a personal situation that would be of no benefit to anyone to be made public knowledge. Of course if it is something like hidden sin, then it needs to be exposed to the proper persons.

I would agree that secrets and confidentiality are not the same. There are certainly discussions that need to be confidential.

steve-in-kville wrote:Again, lots of great replies.

My wife and I were members of a very conservative brethren group that will remain unnamed (as I still have an immense respect for them). The one minister/elder... no matter the subject title.... no matter the scripture.... his sermon would always end up preaching against the men wearing printed baseball caps and the girls wearing sport socks (whatever that is).

It was a big turn off.

Using the God-ordained function of preaching the Word to air pet peeves seems very disrespectful to God and the congregation. I see some of this.

Hats Off wrote:I would agree that secrets and confidentiality are not the same. There are certainly discussions that need to be confidential.

What about "cover stories"? In example, leadership waters down issues within the congregation to give the impression to new members/visitors that everything is okay... when its really not!

And sometimes leaders think it is all taken care of - everything is good; when they actually haven't done anything about the issue. So they "innocently" water it down for public consumption, thinking they have dealt with the issue at hand.