Liberal Forum

[Sudsy]

This would be a forum that keeps conservative Anabaptists out so discussions about Christianity can be had that keep away from legalism and Phariseeism.

Just kidding.

However, this thread is not for Conservative Anabaptists to participate in but for non-CA believers to discuss areas in Christianity that they believe is more important than the concerns of CA believers.

Perhaps I will begin a post on why I support women pastors and have been blessed and encouraged by women preaching throughout my life.

[nett]

This would be a forum that keeps conservative Anabaptists out so discussions about Christianity can be had that keep away from legalism and Phariseeism.

Just kidding.

However, this thread is not for Conservative Anabaptists to participate in but for non-CA believers to discuss areas in Christianity that they believe is more important than the concerns of CA believers.

Perhaps I will begin a post on why I support women pastors and have been blessed and encouraged by women preaching throughout my life.

You realize this is mennonet right? There are 100s of forums out there to have exactly the conversations you're suggesting.

[Ken]

This would be a forum that keeps conservative Anabaptists out so discussions about Christianity can be had that keep away from legalism and Phariseeism.

Just kidding.

However, this thread is not for Conservative Anabaptists to participate in but for non-CA believers to discuss areas in Christianity that they believe is more important than the concerns of CA believers.

Perhaps I will begin a post on why I support women pastors and have been blessed and encouraged by women preaching throughout my life.

You realize this is mennonet right? There are 100s of forums out there to have exactly the conversations you're suggesting.

Right. It is Mennonet, not “Conservative Mennonet.” I believe the largest conference of Mennonites is still MCUSA.

[Sudsy]

Perhaps someone knows a most recent stat on what percentage of Mennonites are considered Conservative Mennonite throughout the world. Here in Ontario Canada they are about 1 out of every 5 Mennonites -

According to a University of Waterloo report, "of the estimated 59,000 Mennonites in Ontario, only about twenty percent are members of conservative groups"

Obtained from here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Mennonites

The church I attended was a Mennonite Brethren and inquiring on the Internet with 'how many mennonite brethren in ontario canada' question the answer was 37,000. They are considered to be Moderate Mennonites or as some here may put it even 'Worldly Mennonites'

So, if 20% of 59,000 are CMs (approx. 12,000) and MBs make up 37,000 (63%) then this only leaves 10,000 of other kinds of Mennonites in Ontario which about half of these are United Mennonites.

If this holds true that of all Mennonite church members in the world only 20% are considered or consider themselves 'conservative' (which perhaps someone knows where good stats could be found), then just how much special accommodation needs be considered for the 20%.

[Ken]

And I don't think "liberal" is really the right word here to describe non-CA Mennonites. A better one might be "mainstream."

Many of my large extended clan of relatives attend MCUSA or CMC churches and don't follow most or any of the dictates of Conservative Anabaptism as it is defined here (head coverings, non-voting, no Social Security, etc.). Bust most of them are very conservative in a political sense in that they are Republicans or Libertarian-leaning and I expect most were Trump supporters. And religiously speaking they would also consider themselves conservative, especially over most of the issues discussed here (abortion, human sexuality, LGBT issues, Biblical literalism, etc.).

In fact most would call themselves "religiously conservative" or "Christian Conservatives." What people here are calling "conservative" they would call "plain"

[Sudsy]

And I don't think "liberal" is really the right word here to describe non-CA Mennonites. A better one might be "mainstream."

Many of my large extended clan of relatives attend MCUSA or CMC churches and don't follow most or any of the dictates of Conservative Anabaptism as it is defined here (head coverings, non-voting, no Social Security, etc.). Bust most of them are very conservative in a political sense in that they are Republicans or Libertarian-leaning and I expect most were Trump supporters. And religiously speaking they would also consider themselves conservative, especially over most of the issues discussed here (abortion, human sexuality, LGBT issues, Biblical literalism, etc.).

In fact most would call themselves "religiously conservative" or "Christian Conservatives." What people here are calling "conservative" they would call "plain"

I don't care for these terms of 'conservative', 'liberal' or 'plain'. None of these come from scripture but are man made ways of categorizing believers in Christ. I believe the original intent was to live more by personal convictions and be much more accepting of others in the family of God regarding how they serve the Lord and to be more of an encouragement to one another than policing the local church. When it comes to pointing out the sin in others, Jesus said before doing that we better be listening to the Spirit convicting us of our own sins.

'Conservative' regarding a person's walk with the Lord can come across like a Pharisee attitude of a 'holier-than-thou' attitude toward other believers. 'Liberal' can come across as an 'anything goes, easy beliefism' attitude regarding being a Christ follower. 'Plain', I never heard of before even in the MB church I attended. My first thought was why be 'plain' when we are to be lights in this world that stand out and impact the darkness with the light of life. But then I learned more about what was meant by being 'plain'. I have no issue with simple living but living removed from those Christ came to save, I can't agree. That was not the way of the Master.

Anyway, I don't support separate sub forums that separate believers in Christ from fellowship and learning. We all serve the same God and Jesus prayer before living this earth was that we be one as He and the Father are one. That, to me, should be pursued in love as we struggle to know Him better. We all see through a glass darkly and only know in part.