Author: gws

Catholics and Mennonites: bridging baptismal traditions

by Elsie Rempel

ELKHART, Indiana (MC CANADA)— Despite the historical differences between Catholics and Mennonites, a growing number of believers from each group is benefiting from the customs of the other. Together, these believers form Bridgefolk; persons who bridge the two traditions by celebrating commonalities and learning from distinctions – including those related to baptism.

The 2007 Bridgefolk Gathering at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, demonstrated this reciprocity. The event, “Who do we think we are – Catholics and Mennonites growing together in Christ” included music, lectures, opportunities for service and shared personal stories of baptism. Continue reading “Catholics and Mennonites: bridging baptismal traditions” →

Notre Dame Theology Conference now available online

Wish you could have been at the Mennonite-Catholic Theological Conference at the University of Notre Dame late in July?  The conference brought together top Mennonite and Catholic theologians and ecclesial leaders in order to stimulate scholarly interest in Called Together to Be Peacemakers — the final report of the international dialogue between Mennonite World Conference and Vatican representatives — while also providing resources for Catholic and Mennonite ecclesial communities to study and discuss this text in an informed way.

Well now you have another chance.  You can “attend” the conference on-line.  Continue reading “Notre Dame Theology Conference now available online” →

Colombian Catholics and Mennonites strike new bonds at first dialogue

Bogotá, Colombia (MWC)- “I have been able to get to know a new world that I never knew before,” said Monsignor Fidel Cadavid, the bishop of Quibdo, Colombia. “Without knowing one another, it is impossible to practice ecumenism.”

Bishop Cadavid plans to connect with the Mennonite congregation in Quibdo on his return. “I see a great affinity [between our churches] in peace work. Working together, we will have more strength and be more effective in our advocacy.”

He was speaking of “Called Together to be Peacemakers,” an encounter for Catholic – Mennonite Dialogue which took place here August 15 and 16 at the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. Continue reading “Colombian Catholics and Mennonites strike new bonds at first dialogue” →

Bridgefolk 2007 featured in National Catholic Reporter

Many of us have been catching our breath after two great conferences in Northern Indiana last month, but freelance writer Heather Grennan Gary has done some great reporting on our 2007 Bridgefolk conference.  National Catholic Reporter featured her article in its August 17 issue, giving Bridgefolk what may be its widest exposure in the Catholic press to date.

You can read the NCR article online at  http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007c/081707/081707l.php>  at least for a few weeks.  (During August and September, you should be able to click on the “Special unrestricted access” button without actually subscribing.)

Another version of Grennan Gary’s article is available on the website of our host, the Associated Mennonite Biblical Se minary:   http://www.ambs.edu/news-and-publications/news/bridgefolk.  A permanent link to this story will be available on our own website, www.bridgefolk.net.

Building Bridges of Reconciliation in Latin America

A recent publication from the Mennonite Central Committee — the cooperative agency of Mennonite denominations in North America for relief, development and peacebuilding — surveys bridge-building efforts between Roman Catholics and Evangelicals in Latin America. The April-June issue of the Peace Office Newsletter is available online at http://mcc.org/peace/pon/PON_2007-02.pdf. Introducing the newsletter is the following article: Continue reading “Building Bridges of Reconciliation in Latin America” →

Pope Approves Objector for Beatification

Last week news we learned that Pope Benedict XVI has officially recognized Franz Jägerstätter as a martyr. Jägerstätter was a Catholic conscientious objector in Nazi-occupied Austria at a time when the Catholic Church did not yet recognize the legitimacy of conscientious objection from military service. His witness has been a source of encouragement as the ranks of Catholic conscientious objectors and peacebuilders has grown since the Second Vatican Council. The Catholic Peace Fellowship explains the significance of this news in a just-released article: Continue reading “Pope Approves Objector for Beatification” →

Bridgefolk’s Gerald Schlabach in Commonweal magazine

Bridgefolk Executive Director Gerald Schlabach has just had an article published in Commonweal magazine, entitled “You Converted to What? One Mennonite’s Journey.” In it he offers nine “non-Roman” reasons why he became Roman Catholic, even while remaining Mennonite in many ways. Commonweal has granted Schlabach permission to post the article on his web site. You will find it at http://personal.stthomas.edu/gwschlabach/rc/.

Here are three excerpts: Continue reading “Bridgefolk’s Gerald Schlabach in Commonweal magazine” →

Toronto dialogue group releases report

New on our website is the report of a dialogue group at the Toronto School of Theology. Ten graduate students in theology, half of whom are Roman Catholic and half Mennonite, met together regularly for two years to analyze and discuss Called Together to be Peacemakers, the final report from the international dialogue between Mennonites and Roman Catholics, 1998-2003. Their final report is entitled “Responding to the Call: Reflections on Called Together to be Peacemakers.” It gives particular attention to five themes — authority and the reception of teaching in each tradition, religious liberty, baptism, Eucharist, and peace. The report is available at http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/dialogue.