Pilgrim Conf. vs Northeastern Conf.

[ken_sylvania]

The article is titled "Impaired or Enlarged". Ebersole is promoting not treating psychiatric illnesses aka bipolar, schizophrenia, or depression with medicine (mind-altering drugs. as Ebersole calls it). Instead, he believes a looney plane seatmate's word over conservative Mennonites who were mentally ill, are now on medicine, and leading "enlarged" lives.

I'm not sure how Northeast would compare with Pilgrim in that regard, but my guess is that Ebersole's position is more of a personal position than a conference position. Considering his role in the conference his personal positions have a lot of effect on the conference though.
I recognize the article now that you describe it. I would have read it in the Pilgrim Witness I think about a half year ago. He certainly has less patience for treating psychiatric illness with medicine than I would. I was somewhat close to a case where a fellow was doing decently well on meds until he dropped them with the encouragement of a group that felt salvation and Jesus was all a mentally ill person needs. The results weren't pretty.
Might be going a bit far to call Ebersole's seatmate "looney." Ritalin and similar drugs are being used way too heavily in our society to try to cover up the results of poor training, lack of schedule, and overall insecurity in children's lives. Maybe that position makes me looney too???

[ken_sylvania]

1. What are the actual differences in attire?

The last time I was in a Pilgrim church for a service my observation was that attitude ranged as far as as no top button buttoned, non-white button down shirts, khaki pants, belt and tucked in, athletic type shoes. I don't know if this is normal for an evening service, just what I observed.

I was at a Northeastern evening meeting recently. I would say many if not most of the brethren wore plain suits, with the remainder wearing white, light blue, or light grey dress shirts. I don't think there were any light colored trousers, maybe one individual who was wearing like medium-grey trousers, but they would have been dress pants. No jeans. Only dress shoes. I'm not enough of a detailed observer to be able to provide a detailed description of the sisters' attire.
I can't say either whether my observations are typical across all of Northeastern or not.

A cheat-sheet that I have lists Pilgrim as "has youth group, has internet, and has smart-phone, with none of these listed for Northeastern. It also suggests that the practice of the Holy Kiss is less common among Pilgrim, perhaps not being commonly practiced among the youth, for instance.

[steve-in-kville]

It also suggests that the practice of the Holy Kiss is less common among Pilgrim, perhaps not being commonly practiced among the youth, for instance.

Fancy you bring that up. Among the conservative brethren circles, everyone greats everyone (well.... us men folks ain't smoochin' the ladies... but you know what I mean). In mennonite circles, you just great the preaching minister on the way out the door. At least KMF was that way.

[ken_sylvania]

It also suggests that the practice of the Holy Kiss is less common among Pilgrim, perhaps not being commonly practiced among the youth, for instance.

Fancy you bring that up. Among the conservative brethren circles, everyone greats everyone (well.... us men folks ain't smoochin' the ladies... but you know what I mean). In mennonite circles, you just great the preaching minister on the way out the door. At least KMF was that way.

That's what my sheet says about KMF.
In Nationwide, Eastern, and Northeastern, the practice is nearly identical to the conservative brethren. You greet everyone the first time you meet up with them at any given service. For instance, if I meet you before the Sunday morning service, I greet you. If we talk again after the service, or if we both end up at the same place for lunch, we probably don't greet then, although that can vary. If we meet again at the evening service we'll greet, I can't say I know the number of hours that need to expire to "reset" things, if you know what I mean.

[Martin]

Might be going a bit far to call Ebersole's seatmate "looney." Ritalin and similar drugs are being used way too heavily in our society to try to cover up the results of poor training, lack of schedule, and overall insecurity in children's lives. Maybe that position makes me looney too???

I don't know if Ritalin and similar drugs are being used too heavily in the world for the reasons you described as I was raised Mennonite. IMO, it's flipped in plain circles. Parents work on the training and the schedule (by sending their mentally ill loved one to Shepherd's Fold or Fresh Start) and after their hair has been all but pulled out they begin to consider seeing a doctor.

He certainly has less patience for treating psychiatric illness with medicine than I would.

Has Ebersole ever recommended a mentally ill individual to remain on their medication? I'm only aware of Ebersole telling mentally ill people to go off their medication. Not only are Ebersole's recommendations against the law, he bears full responsibility if the individual harms himself and others.

I'm not sure how Northeast would compare with Pilgrim in that regard, but my guess is that Ebersole's position is more of a personal position than a conference position.

Do you know of any congregations in Pilgrim that encourage mentally ill members to get professional care? I don't know of one.

Also, is Shepherd's Fold under Ebersole's watch or under Northeast now?

[ken_sylvania]

Do you know of any congregations in Pilgrim that encourage mentally ill members to get professional care? I don't know of one.

I'm not involved enough with any of them that I would know either way.

Also, is Shepherd's Fold under Ebersole's watch or under Northeast now?

Under Pilgrim, I believe. Northeastern is starting their own facility.

[steve-in-kville]

Shepherds Fold was the first thing that came to mind here when Steve's name was mentioned. He often employed those folks in his shop when he could. Not sure if SF is under Pilgrim yet... I don't see why it wouldn't be.

[Josh]

What's Northeastern's periodical? (And thank you to everyone who shared.)

Where would you consider Hope Fellowship relative to Northeastern and Pilgrim?

[Martin]

What's Northeastern's periodical? (And thank you to everyone who shared.)

Where would you consider Hope Fellowship relative to Northeastern and Pilgrim?

EPMC, Hope, Pilgrim, and Northeast are in the same bucket to me. Aren't all these groups Zionist?

[ken_sylvania]

What's Northeastern's periodical? (And thank you to everyone who shared.)

Where would you consider Hope Fellowship relative to Northeastern and Pilgrim?

Probably more similar to Pilgrim than to Northeastern, both in attire and in administration.