Bridgefolk conference explores footwashing
Collegeville – The annual Bridgefolk conference, which each summer brings together Mennonites and Catholics for four days of discussion and fellowship, met this year at Saint John’s Abbey at Collegeville, MN. This year topic was footwashing, which has emerged as a central practice of the conferences.
The program began with addresses by Mary Schertz, professor of New Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, and Abbot John Klassen of Saint John’s Abbey. Schertz emphasized the Biblical foundations of footwashing in the Gospel of John. Abbot Klassen explored the status of footwashing in the Catholic tradition.
Other speakers discussed footwashing as prayer, as simplicity, and as nonviolence. Read more
Saint John’s awards Mennonite peacebuilder John Paul Lederach its highest honor
As part of its commencement ceremony May 9, Saint John’s University and Abbey in Minnesota awarded Mennonite peacebuilder John Paul Lederach its Pax Christi award. The university’s highest honor, the Pax Christi award ” recognizes those who have devoted themselves to God by working in the tradition of Benedictine monasticism to serve others and to build a heritage of faith in the world.” Saint John’s Abbey has hosted Bridgefolk conferences and Abbot John Klassen is the Catholic co-chair of Bridgefolk. The text of the award appears below.
The public radio program Speaking of Faith, recently featured Lederach and his work. The program is at http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2010/art-of-peace. Gerald Schlabach, executive director of Bridgefolk and a colleague of Lederach’s in the 1980s, recommends this extensive interview as an introduction to the style of grassroots relationship-building that has influenced Bridgefolk’s approach to ecumenical dialogue.
Saint John’s Abbey and University
Collegeville, Minnesota
John Paul Lederach, coming from a Mennonite Christian tradition of peacemaking, you have had a life-long commitment to working toward the non-violent resolution of conflict. Read more
Conference ride-sharing information
A number of people have indicated interest in sharing rides to this summer’s conference. Anyone interested in ride-sharing should e-mail coordinator @ bridgefolk.net. An e-mail list will be formulated in early July to allow interested parties to offer or request rides to/from the conference.
Conference registration now online
Online registration is now available for the 2010 Bridgefolk Conference at St. John’s Abbey. Registrants may choose to register by mail, e-mail or online. Please click here for the registration page.
Summer conference travel information
Those traveling to Minnesota for this summer’s conference may be interested in extended their trip to include a visit to the Twin Cities area. The Dead Sea Scrolls will be on display in the Science Museum of Minnesota. See this link for additional information. Visitors to the museum can also view a display of the St. John’s Bible, a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible commissioned by St. John’s University.
Conference registration now open
Registration is now open for the 2010 conference. The conference will be held July 22-25 at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. Visit the conference page for more information or click here to access the registration form directly. Online registration will be available soon.
Bridgefolk Conference 2010 information
Information related to the Bridgefolk 2010 Conference at St. John’s Abbey is now posted on the conference tab of the Bridgefolk website. You may access the information at the conference tab above or click here for the main conference page.
Abbot John Klassen on Prairie Home Companion
Abbot John Klassen, in a fit of Minnesota humor, takes a stand against xenophobia:
Click here. (Requires free RealAudio player.)
“Handing Us Back Ourselves:”
On the Rediscovery of Mennonite Spirituality
by Mary Schertz
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
An updated version of this article entitled
“Seeking the Taproot of Anabaptist Spirituality”
is now available at
http://www.cascadiapublishinghouse.com/dsm/autumn04/schema.htm
Have we, as Mennonite people of faith, “lost our spirituality,” or perhaps never claimed a spirituality and, consequently, do we need to look to other traditions, such as Catholic spirituality, in order to recover this vital aspect of religious commitment? These questions emerged recently in the context of the recent consultation on Mennonite-Catholic dialog held at St. John’s Abbey in the rolling hills of Steuben County, Minnesota-Lake Wobegon country. It was a wonderful weekend-replete with Benedictine hospitality, reunion with old friends and the excitement of making new ones, stimulating papers, reciting Psalms with the monks, singing hymns with the Mennonites, good food and great (relatively cool) weather. Read more
