I reached out to the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, inviting them to share a statement on the removal of River East Church from membership in the denomination.
Blessings,
The Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM) leadership recognizes that LGBTQ+ persons, along with their friends and families, may feel excluded from some aspects of church participation. While this is not everyone's story, we understand that it is the story of many. We are committed to a future where better stories are experienced. Each MBCM church is invited to join this journey, where LGBTQ+ persons and their families and friends experience community and care.
We also recognize that we operate from a place of power. Power is often experienced as force, and there are ample examples of church institutions applying power in ways that fail. We strive to understand power through the life and person of Jesus. Our shared confession states, "The church is a covenant community in which members are mutually accountable in matters of faith and life.” We recognize that we serve from a position of authority and remain determined to function from a place of humility and kindness as members of that covenant community.
We recognize that working to include and care for LGBTQ+ persons has caused some tension with regard to the convictions described in our shared confession. Each MBCM church has voluntarily joined the MBCM and committed themselves to the convictions outlined in our shared confession. Our task, as MBCM leadership, is to maintain theological alignment with the convictions described in our shared confession.
River East Church (REC) voluntarily committed to participate in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba in a manner consistent with our shared convictions and practices. MBCM leadership's task is to monitor MBCM churches for this commitment. REC’s recent action has departed from that commitment. MBCM’s review of REC has resulted in the proposed step of removing REC from MBCM. On January 20, 2024, it fell to MBCM delegates to process this decision.
By way of the decision outcome on January 20, 2024, the MBCM constituency has invited River East Church to return to MBCM member church expectations. Should River East Church decline this invitation, River East Church will no longer be affiliated with MBCM, effective June 1, 2024.
We recognize that it is the experience of River Each members that the decision on January 20th marked an end to their formal relationship with MBCM. Understanding this dynamic, we agree that saying goodbye was most appropriate at that time. MBCM leadership expresses gratitude to River East for their posture and blessing, in this time of parting ways.
Cam Priebe, Provincial Director, Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba
While I appreciate the effort of MBCM to express the desire to include and care for LGBTQ+ persons, their commitment to entrenched doctrine negates this desire. Love expressed through extending belonging should over-ride doctrines that exclude. Jesus taught us that… “You heard it said… I tell you…” Not only is this a loss for the MB church in Canada, it is a loss of witness of Christ’s love to a watching world.
ReplyDelete"Our task, as MBCM leadership, is to maintain theological alignment with the convictions described in our shared confession."
ReplyDeleteWhat about the task of discerning the Holy Spirit's leading? Surely they do not claim that MBCM (or the Church at large) has an unbroken consistency of faith and expression. They failed to discern with integrity the possibility of God's voice in the prophetic minority.
“We are committed to a future where better stories are experienced.”
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry, but no. The story is getting worse, not better. Exclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, as it is being practiced by the MBs, as long as it is practiced, will never result in a future where better stories are experienced.
Yet again we hear a commitment to "better stories" and an admission that "LGBTQ+ persons, along with their friends and families, may feel excluded from some aspects of church participation." And yet we continue to hear more and more stories of LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ who have been hurt in non-affirming Christian spaces (e.g., families and churches), studies show the importance of access to affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to reduce suicidality, and homophobia continues to be a stumbling block for people to attending evangelical non-affirming churches. And again, the CoF is treated like an immutable set of convictions that bodies have no choice but to submit to (even if it involves suffering) or cut ties with.
ReplyDeleteOur Scriptures show us that when convictions (even convictions rooted in the created order such as those around Sabbath observance) are at variance with the preservation of life, the task of religious leaders is to deliberate over which convictions take priority. Our Lord seems to rule in favour of mercifully preserving life (in the here are now, not just the afterlife, because eternal life is understood to begin in the present).
I don't understand why religious leaders seem to wash their hands of responsibility for harm and ecclesial dismemberment as if they are simply bound by an allegiance to convictions. The Lord gives laws to humans so humans might flourish. History has shown us, and folks like Dorothee Soelle (in her book "Beyond Mere Obedience") remind us, that unequivocal commitment to external authority can lead to devastating consequences that inflict unspeakable suffering. I wish MB leaders would take responsibility and engage in the kind of rigorous deliberation, spiritual discernment, and communal hermeneutics that their roles demand. People have repeatedly asked for this.
The words ‘power’ and ‘life of Jesus’ should not be used in the same sentence. There is no understanding of humility in this statement.
ReplyDeleteCue the pre-recorded statement. Like nails on a chalkboard. How anti-relationship is repeating the same statement over and over? They use language that sounds like it came out of some conservative PR firm - sprinkle in some acknowledgement of “power” etc and we’ll sound good, right? That’ll wash our hands of any guilt, yes? It sounds like an abuser who is gaslighting their victim, spinning that crazy-making story that is really about blaming their victim. I mean, you made us do this to you. With this kind of response AGAIN, why are churches that wish for something different from this denomination not withdrawing from it? Why hang on? Shake that dust off your feet. We queer folks are dying for you to choose to prioritize our survival.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like the MBCM hasn't ever shifted, evolved, or grown in the 'shared confession' in the years it has existed presumably by... the Holy Spirit's leading in some fashion.
ReplyDeleteIn this instance they are not even claiming a Holy Spirit leading. It's a POLITICAL decision. This: "to maintain theological alignment with the convictions described in our shared confession" is politics not spirit.
“The Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM) leadership recognizes that LGBTQ+ persons, along with their friends and families, may feel excluded from some aspects of church participation. While this is not everyone's story, we understand that it is the story of many. We are committed to a future where better stories are experienced. Each MBCM church is invited to join this journey, where LGBTQ+ persons and their families and friends experience community and care. “
ReplyDeleteThe language of the first paragraph is tiresome as they have recycled it multiple times without taking any steps to actually discus the theology around exclusion, or to discuss the harms that LGBTQ+ people have experienced. It’s a form of gaslighting because they want us to think MBCM is being compassionate while really they are continuing to perpetrate harm and suppress discussion.
“Our task, as MBCM leadership, is to maintain theological alignment with the convictions described in our shared confession……. MBCM leadership's task is to monitor MBCM churches for this commitment.”
Wow! They are theological referees? The church is meant to be Christ’s hands and feet on Earth. I have said this before and I will say it again, the MB’s have completely lost their way.
The MB churches pastoral application for her confession of faith holds tension for those who do not share in her peace position (i.e. police officers, military service workers, security workers)
ReplyDelete"At the same time, we extend grace and acceptance, love, and support to those among us who disagree with us, or who find themselves making difficult decisions in their line or work."
It's curious to me that MB's, and evangelicals in general, are more than willing to extend grace to those whose public lives don't fit their confession but will be rigid and dogmatic toward those whose private lives don't.