Click here to read Julia Smucker’s recent article in Life Matters Journal surveying the development of “consistent life ethics” in recent Catholic teaching. Smucker is an enthusiastic Bridgefolk participant and an MA student in Theology at Saint John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, MN. She describes herself as proud that fellow students have dubbed her The Anti-Dichotomy Queen.
Author: gws
Catholic bishop and Mennonite Central Committee worker in Guatemala join to resist dam project threatening Maya Indian land
by Tobias Roberts
International Development Worker
(reposted from the Huffington Post)
Tension filled the cramped, block-wall room in the Guatemalan highlands as indigenous leaders sat across from negotiators for ENEL, an Italian-based energy company building a $228-million hydro-electric dam in the area. Local Mayan Ixhil leaders hoped the presence of a renowned Catholic archbishop, a prominent Presbyterian clergyman and a Mennonite development worker from the U.S. — me — would improve their chances in the high-stakes negotiations.
Community leaders in the heavily Catholic area first invited us to be part of the talks in May 2011, when ENEL agreed to sit down with indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands the Palo Viejo Dam is being built. Guatemalan Archbishop Ramazzini, an internationally recognized defender of human rights, and Dr. Vitalino Similox, head of the Christian Ecumenical Council of Guatemala, helped facilitate the talks. I sat in as an international observer, having been sent to the area by the North American-based Mennonite Central Committee. Continue reading “Catholic bishop and Mennonite Central Committee worker in Guatemala join to resist dam project threatening Maya Indian land”
Darrin Snyder Belousek publishes major study on the atonement and peacemaking
Bridgefolk participant and board member Darrin Snyder Belousek has just published a major new book on atonement. The book develops a biblical theology of the cross in connection with justice and peacemaking. Published by Eerdmans, the book is entitled Atonement, Justice, and Peace: The Message of Cross and the Mission of the Church. Belousek notes that “one chapter focuses on ecumenical peacemaking in the church and is directly influenced by my experience in and reflection on Bridgefolk.” Here is the publisher’s description and a link to purchase online:
In this substantial new study Darrin Belousek presents a comprehensive and critical examination of standard Protestant atonement theology and offers an alternative to the theory of penal substitution that is both biblically grounded and theologically orthodox. Beginning with Paul’s message of the cross and the Gospel narratives of Jesus, Belousek develops a comprehensive vision of justice and peace in light of the cross — a vision that connects theology and ethics, salvation and mission. Integrating his biblical study and theological reflection with philosophical analysis, historical considerations, and social-scientific evidence, Belousek shows that Christian thinking on atonement is no mere academic exercise, but rather a practical theology that speaks to such concrete realities as economic justice, capital punishment, the war on terror, ethnic and religious conflict, and Christian disunity.
Gene Herr, RIP
Our friend and mentor Gene Herr died on January 1, 2012. Below are his obituary and funeral plans, from http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/geneherr. Continue reading “Gene Herr, RIP”
Please pray for Gene Herr
We have just received news that Gene Herr, who has been struggling with brain cancer, is in the hospital and may be nearing death. Gene has been a friend and mentor to many in Bridgefolk. Many of the Mennonites who participated in the early years of Bridgefolk credit him and his decades of ministry in the Mennonite Church with pointing them toward the contemplative and liturgical resources of Catholicism. After years of pastoral and youth ministry, Gene and his wife Mary founded The Hermitage in Three Rivers, Michigan. He was one of twenty-five people who participated in the first exploratory “bridging retreat” in Laurelville PA in 1999 that led to Bridgefolk. A few years ago, after retiring in Kansas, Gene was received into the Catholic Church, while continuing to participate actively with Mary in their local Mennonite congregation.
Yesterday, December 23rd, Gene’s daughter posted the following on his CaringBridge page.
These days we are sitting by dad’s bedside and he is mostly sleeping. When he is awake he is often still sweet and funny. At times he is disoriented and confused. There is a pump administering morphine and his system is slowly shutting down so that the digestive problems cannot cause him so much pain. We know these are the last weeks or maybe last days.
Recently Allie, granddaughter from the Washington, DC area and her fiance Brian came for a couple of days. It was a wonderful visit. Karl, Mary Lynne and Jes are here and Heather comes in tonight. Phil and Magda arrive the 26th. Ellen’s daughters have all been by recently as well to see their grandpa.
Lots of beautiful friends have come by to say goodbye as well. Many great memories, laughter and tears are shared. Tonight as my dad was talking to granddaughter Amber he said, “I am most grateful for two things- my faith and my family.” Because of his faith, many of you are in our lives and we have been richly blessed.
Pray for comfort and peace for our dad’s journey to Heaven. Please pray for strength of body and spirit for our mom. We are so grateful for this time and for this man who continues to teach us so much.
Peace, love, and Merry Christmas to you all.
Please join us in prayer and gratitude for Gene and his family.
For further updates, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/geneherr.
Advent issue of The Mennonite features cover story on Mary
For Advent this year, the cover story for the December issue of The Mennonite asks how Mennonites should think of Mary as “model and mother.” A related article reflects on Mary’s Magnificat, and two poems portray the role of Joseph and Elizabeth in the drama of Jesus’ birth. Another article, by Bridgefolk board member Darrin Snyder Belousek, recounts his story of returning to faith through friendship with Roman Catholics. The Mennonite is the official denominational magazine of Mennonite Church USA.
Surprised by joy: a personal story of Advent
by Darrin W. Snyder Belousek
The Mennonite, December 2011
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.—Luke 1:46-49
This is Mary’s great song of praise to God. Mary sings with joy because she has been surprised by God—“he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” Mary has been favored by God’s grace in a personal, intimate way—she is blessed with a child, God’s own Son—and she sings with joy in thanksgiving for this wonderful thing God is doing.
Like Mary, I love to sing—and to sing with joy. (Though I doubt I will ever be called “blessed” on account of my singing.) And I sing with joy because I, too, have known the surprising grace of God in a personal, intimate way.
Although I have loved to sing since childhood, I have not always sung with joy. For several years during my 20s there was no joy. I was one of those who “sit in darkness” beneath the shadow of fear, waiting for the Lord, watching for “the dawn from on high to break” (Psalm 130:5-6; Luke 1:78-79). Having wandered from the church, I was walking the shadowy vale alone. Continue reading “Surprised by joy: a personal story of Advent”
Global Christian Forum holds second international gathering
News Release
Mennonite World Conference
by Ron Rempel, MWC news editor
Manado, Indonesia (MWC) –Anabaptists were among the 287 participants in a diverse Christian gathering held here October 4-7, 2011. The meeting was the second international gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF). The first was held in Kenya in 2007.
Participants came from 65 countries and all continents and brought together many streams of the Christian faith: African Instituted, Anglican, Catholic, Charismatic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Protestant, mega churches and contemplative communities.
Leaders at the gathering came from 12 world Christian communions and nine global ecumenical organizations. Mennonite World Conference (MWC) was represented by Anne-Cathy Graber, MWC representative on the GCF Committee, Danisa Ndlovu, MWC president, and Larry Miller, MWC general secretary. Miller was introduced at the gathering as the new GCF secretary beginning January 2012. Continue reading “Global Christian Forum holds second international gathering”
Mennonite leaders reflect positively on Assisi day of prayer
News Release
Mennonite World Conference
by Ron Rempel, MWC news editor
Assisi, Italy (MWC) —Danisa Ndlovu, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) president, and Larry Miller, MWC general secretary, joined with leaders of many other religious communities and several humanist organizations October 27, 2011 for a day of reflection, dialogue and personal prayer in Assisi, Italy, the home of the 12th century Catholic friar and preacher, St. Francis, known for his commitment to peace. Continue reading “Mennonite leaders reflect positively on Assisi day of prayer”