Bridgefolk featured on Australian radio

Bridgefolk co-chairs Marlene Kropf and Abbot John Klassen were recently interviewed for an Australian radio show discussing modern ecumenism. The interview will air this weekend and soon be available online.

A preview from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

ABC Radio National – Encounter 20 February 2011

Convergences: ecumenical stories

What has happened to ecumenism, since the early enthusiasm of the sixties and seventies? The stories of convergence told in this Encounter tell of points of unity within diversity.

In the great ecumenical excitement of the 1960s, Rev Dr Norman Young (once Methodist and now Uniting Church) and Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ (Catholic priest and theologian) became friends. Their ideas converged on the importance of ecumenism – and on the figure of Jesus

Political scientist Scott Waalkes comes from a Calvinist background – but he has taken up with the Catholic tradition’s use of the liturgical calendar and with theology, in order to critique globalisation.

And in Minnesota, Mennonites (Anabaptists) meet up with Benedictine monks.

“The Road to Nonviolence:” America magazine assesses ecumenical peace efforts

Two special designations were proclaimed for this millennium’s first decade, which comes to an end this year: the Decade to Overcome Violence, sponsored by the World Council of Churches; and the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World, sponsored by the United Nations. The core objective of the World Council of Churches’ decade was to move the concern for peace from the periphery of the churches to their very center.

To view the rest of the article, click here.

Cardinal Turkson: Today’s Wars Won’t Bring Future Peace

Justice, Peace Council President Stresses Role of Religions in Reconciliation

BERLIN, Germany, NOV. 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The wars of today will not lead to the peace of tomorrow, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

This was affirmed by Cardinal Peter Turkson in an address at a congress of the German Bishops’ Conference Commission for Justice and Peace.

The congress, which was held in Berlin in November, focused on the theme, “Wars of Today, Peace of Tomorrow.”

“It is becoming increasingly clear, especially in today’s world, how a seemingly ‘small’ and ‘local’ conflict can trigger ‘global’ consequences,” the prelate observed. Continue reading “Cardinal Turkson: Today’s Wars Won’t Bring Future Peace” →

Mennonite seminary hosts conference on Mary

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Indiana) will be hosting a conference entitled My Spirit Rejoices in God my Savior: Mary in Anabaptist Dress in late March. Bridgefolk board members Mary Schertz and Marlene Kropf are among the event coordinators.

From the conference website:

We recognize Mary as woman who said yes to God. We recognize her as the first disciple in Luke’s Gospel. We identify her as a revolutionary. She tugs at us in art, music, poetry and drama.

As Mennonites have become more involved in ecumenical conversations, we realize that Mary plays a role in those discussions as well. While we will examine Anabaptist perspectives in particular, we want to encourage dialogue on the biblical figure of Mary and to examine recent interest in her from a variety of perspectives.

This conference, sponsored by the Institute of Mennonite Studies, will initiate and encourage wide-ranging discussion about Mary, including biblical, theological, pastoral and practical aspects. We are inviting people from a variety of disciplines to join us, so that these conversations involve pastors, church members, scholars, artists and church leaders. Our hope is that all who participate will join in conversations about Mary and will experience art—music, poetry, story and visual art—that will help us understand the place of Mary in our lives and thoughts

Click here to visit the conference site directly. A short article in the Mennonite Weekly Review can be found here.

Vatican celebrates 50 years of ecumenical engagement

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) assembled in November at the Vatican to mark a 50-year landmark in Roman Catholic ecumenical engagement. On Pentecost 1960, as part of preparations for the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII established the Catholic Church’s first secretariat for ecumenical dialogue. The PCPCU is its successor organization, and is the body that held an official international dialogue with Mennonite World Conference from 1998-2003. Continue reading “Vatican celebrates 50 years of ecumenical engagement” →

America magazine article charts steps toward “Our Ecumenical Future;” cites Bridgefolk

A recent article in the Catholic weekly magazine America assesses by Christopher Ruddy, “Our Ecumenical Future” suggested ways for Catholic bishops to promote Christian unity. The article makes positive mention of Bridgefolk and is available online at http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=12544.

Here is an excerpt, in which Ruddy makes four suggestions Continue reading “America magazine article charts steps toward “Our Ecumenical Future;” cites Bridgefolk” →

Bridgefolk Briefs

A few items of interest this week:

From Mennonite Church Eastern Canada: A service of healing between Mennonites and Lutherans will take place later this month in Waterloo, Ontario. Bridgefolk participants might be particularly interested in the story of footwashing as a means of healing relationships.
Click here for a report on the day of reflection for Mennonites and Catholics in South Bend, Indiana. This gathering, involving many friends of Bridgefolk, was previously announced on this site.
Resources from last summer’s conference are now available on the 2010 Conference page. Click here to read the presentations by Abbot John Klassen and Mary Schertz or to view the footwashing liturgy used in our corporate worship.
Share your thoughts on the Discussion page. The current discussion topic explores the interaction of movements and institutions in church life.

Lutherans and Mennonites seek reconciliation, forgiveness

STUTTGART, Germany– In what Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), described as possibly “the most significant legacy this Assembly will leave,” the Eleventh Assembly of the LWF today took the historic step of asking the Mennonites for forgiveness for past persecutions. Delegates unanimously approved a statement calling Lutherans to express their regret and sorrow for past wrongdoings towards Anabaptists and asking for forgiveness.

Hanson described the act of repentance and reconciliation as “communion building and communion defining. “We will not just look back; we will also look towards together to God’s promised future.” Continue reading “Lutherans and Mennonites seek reconciliation, forgiveness” →

Michiana Bridgefolk sponsors day of reflection

Michiana Bridgefolk will host a day of reflection on September 18 in South Bend, IN. Participants will focus on “A Mennonite and Catholic Contribution to the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence.” Leaders include Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Marlene Kropf, Andre Stoner, Margie Pfeil, Mary Schertz, Tina Velthuizen, Mike Griffin, Rich Meyer, and Jay Landry. Click here to access the event flier.