We don't need to be afraid of CRT

[Robert]

So how many of us have regular interactions and relationships with these non-white Mennonites in the US and other parts of the world?

I don't know. I don't ask the color of those that post here because it doesn't matter to me. I care about the person, not the race.

[Neto]

African Mennonite Brethren far outnumber US Mennonite Brethren.

India also far out-numbers even both Canada & the States put together by nearly 4 times. Africa MB membership figures are more than twice those for Canada and the States. So there are many times more MB "members of color" than there are "whites". The MB conference in Brazil, an immigration destination country for my people, is very likely now more non-Plautdietsch people, although many southern Brazilians could be classified as 'white'.

So how many of us have regular interactions and relationships with these non-white Mennonites in the US and other parts of the world?

I have never been to either India or Africa, although I went to Bible Institute with a pastor from what was then Rhodesia. I suspect he may have been MB, but I don't really know. I kept in contact with him off and on until after he later brought his whole family here to the States for a few years, while he finished a seminary degree. Lost track of him after they moved back home. We lived up in the North West of Brazil, where there were no other Mennonites of any kind, and the only Brazilian MB I ever met was a Russian Mennonite like myself. I had two close friends at the Bible Institute who were both ordained in the (Black) MB congregation in Omaha. One passed away in 91 - I didn't find out why I stopped getting letters from him until through some internet tracking I got ahold of his pastor's wife in Dallas, and she put me in contact with his older brother. I had already lost contact with the other friend years before. I've tried to find him since the internet came about, but no success so far, and the school where we were students together closed some years ago. Ken Thomas, from Atlanta.

[Szdfan]

I think it’s important that the Mennonite world has expanded beyond its Europeaness. However, unless there are healthy relationships across these boundaries, I’m not sure how much it matters.

[temporal1]

i’m becoming more+more convinced, some people will only be satisfied when gov dictates churches be fully integrated - in the manner public schools were - by force of the sword.

that aligns with their beliefs churches need to be stripped of Jesus, too, in favor of whatever popular opinion and secular gov deems allowable.

once all this is accomplished, what next for fun+games?

VB intentionally joined a white church. Why?? .. he explains:


not the first time i posted this one. does it matter? not sure anyone views. no harm done?

[Josh]

African Mennonite Brethren far outnumber US Mennonite Brethren.

India also far out-numbers even both Canada & the States put together by nearly 4 times. Africa MB membership figures are more than twice those for Canada and the States. So there are many times more MB "members of color" than there are "whites". The MB conference in Brazil, an immigration destination country for my people, is very likely now more non-Plautdietsch people, although many southern Brazilians could be classified as 'white'.

So how many of us have regular interactions and relationships with these non-white Mennonites in the US and other parts of the world?

I interact with people from my own denomination. Of course, covid killed much opportunity for face to face interaction - I don’t even see Canadians anymore.

Unlike some people, I do not concern myself with setting quotas for what the skin colour is of people I interact with. But I can confirm one thing: adoption of leftist-progressive ideology is virtually entirely a phenomenon that exists inside of wealthy, “white”, European-heritage people, at least in Anabaptist circles. My interactions with my brethren from other nations is they are concerned those of us in North America are getting to be “too liberal”.

[Falco Underhill]

i’m becoming more+more convinced, some people will only be satisfied when gov dictates churches be fully integrated - in the manner public schools were - by force of the sword.

that aligns with their beliefs churches need to be stripped of Jesus, too, in favor of whatever popular opinion and secular gov deems allowable.

once all this is accomplished, what next for fun+games?

VB intentionally joined a white church. Why?? .. he explains:


not the first time i posted this one. does it matter? not sure anyone views. no harm done?

Some of us do watch them. It's doubtful they'll get much traction among CRT devotees as he doesn't tell the CRT narrative.

[Robert]

I think it’s important that the Mennonite world has expanded beyond its Europeaness. However, unless there are healthy relationships across these boundaries, I’m not sure how much it matters.

It is important that we love all others. We are called to love our neighbors and our enemies. Kind of leaves the list small on who we are not supposed to love.

I agree we need to be inclusive. When I first started attending the local Mennonite Church, my last name was not right and I did not have the right pedigree. It took a while before I was included and accepted. In some circles I think I would still be the outsider.

I do not think it has anything to do with my skin color, but my failure in playing the Mennonite Game.

When we living in Marshall, Arkansas, there was extreme racism in that town. We worked to correct that, not by using CRT, but by using love. It worked a lot better. We did not look at others as oppressed, but as humans and siblings in Christ. A tornado and MDS did a lot to bring connection and compassion between our community and a very different community in south Little Rock.

[GaryK]

A really good interview about biblical unity. One of the most troubling things to me in this conversation among Christians has been the lack of biblical focus and answers to this issue. This video addresses the importance of the Bible in attempting to find solutions.

[temporal1]

GaryK:
.. One of the most troubling things to me in this conversation among Christians has been the lack of biblical focus and answers to this issue. ..

Thankfully, where it is tried, peace follows. Peace does not garner headlines.
It’s regularly found “under the radar.” On all continents. Praise God.

[Robert]

I was not searching, but came across this today. I thought it spoke to this thread, so I am posting it.