Don’t you hate it when a blog you follow just stops, no explanation? Yeah, me too.
That’s why I am posting this note to say that I am taking a pause from this blog, for a few reasons. (As you may have noticed, the last post was in late January.)
One reason is, after the flurry of activity related to LGBTQ+ welcome and affirmation between 2021 and early this year, nothing is happening. No more churches are facing expulsion from provincial Mennonite Brethren conferences over that subject.
There simply isn’t any news to report.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean the subject has gone away. I am aware of at least three churches in Manitoba that are exploring LGBTQ+ welcome and affirmation. There may be others in other provinces, too. None of them want to talk about it at this time.
Another reason is, now that River East has been expelled from the Mennonite Brethren conference, I am no longer a member of that denomination. There’s no personal reason for me to care about the subject as it relates to CCMBC, no reason for me to want to hold it to account.
It’s not my denomination, anymore. It can do what it pleases.
A final reason is I’m just tired of it all. Tired of seeing churches that are trying to do good and positive things for marginalized and ostracized people be turned away time and again by provincial conferences that champion rules over compassion and community. Tired of hearing the same old arguments as to why the denomination can’t make room for those who don’t read the Bible the same way they do.
Just tired.
Don’t get me wrong. I may be tired, but I believe that Mennonite Brethren in Canada, like most other denominations, will one day accept and affirm LGBTQ+ people as full members of their churches.
How am I so sure of that? You just have to look at the history of change in the church over things like slavery, divorce and remarriage and women in leadership. Those things were once “plainly” wrong according to the Bible, but no longer are seen that way by all or most Christians.
I expect full welcome and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people to follow the same path.
In fact, I can envision a day when a Mennonite Brethren conference leader will stand up and apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for how it treated them and the harm it caused—just as happened in 1986 when the Canadian Mennonite Brethren conference apologized to what was then known as the General Conference of Mennonites for refusing membership to those who were part of that group.
That day may not come in my lifetime. But when it comes, a book may be written about that change in the Mennonite Brethren denomination. If that happens, perhaps the posts in this blog can help some future researcher with the writing of that book.
As for this blog itself, maybe there will be a need for it again in the future. Maybe there will be more churches that will face discipline or expulsion for seeking ways to welcome and affirm their LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Maybe I will have new energy to report about it then. In the meantime, it’s time for a pause.
And we all need a pause
now and then.
Your reporting has been missed. Take good care, John.
ReplyDeleteThanks John for this blog and for all your efforts. We have very much appreciated your reporting and the comments it has generated. Such a valuable conversation!
ReplyDelete“What Jesus condemned in Pharasaism is as common in Christianity as in any other religion. The attack on legalism is in quite a different context: it means accepting the standards of society, and society (and churches) will always sooner or later line up with Pilate against the prophet.” Northrop Frye - The Great Code
“But if we think of his (Jesus) significance as prophetic rather than legal, his real significance is that of being one figure in history whom no organized human society could possibly put up with. The society that rejected him represented all societies . . . the whole of mankind down to ourselves and doubtless far beyond. “It is expedient that one man die for the people,” said Caiaphas (John18:14), and there has never been a human society that has not agreed with him.” Northrop Frye - The Great Code
Jesus was crucified by Pilate under Roman law.
River East Church was ejected by Church leaders under the law of the Confession.
Thank you John for your kind and thoughtful reporting. I so appreciated reading your blog as we , Jubilee Church, and you in River East navigated this important and often sad journey. Thank you for your wisdom.
ReplyDelete