Category: Resources for study

Commentary on “Called Together” now available online

As enthusiastic supporters of the international dialogue between Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), Bridgefolk has made a number of resources available for the study of Called Together to be Peacemakers, the final report from its first round.  New on our website is a commentary that appeared with the document upon its initial release by the PCPCU.

Written by Professor Emeritus Jos. E. Vercruysse S.J., the commentary can provide a useful summary of the Called Together for those who have not yet had an opportunity to read it in full, along with certain points of critique that will interest those who are studying it closely.

You will find Called Together to be Peacemakers in various languages, along with information about an abridged study version with discussion questions, and commentaries by Prof. Vercruysse as well as others at http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/dialogue.

Thanks to Gerald Stover of Bethelehem PA for helping to make Prof. Vercruysse’s commentary available.

Gerald Schlabach
Bridgefolk Executive Director
info@bridgefolk.net
www.bridgefolk.net

 

Presentations to Mennonite Catholic Theological Colloquium now available

All of the presenters at the July meeting of the Mennonite Catholic Theological Colloquium have now provided text versions of their presentations.  You can find them by going to the newly re-designed section of our website for Theological Dialogue and Reflection:  http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/colloquia/2005theology.

The topic of the colloquium was “How Are We ‘Called Together?'”  A Mennonite and a Catholic panel was asked to comment on the final report of the international dialogue between Mennonite World Conference and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity by answering the question, “What have we learned and what’s next?”  Mennonite panelists were Nancy Heisey and Earl Zimmerman; Catholic panelists were Margaret Pfeil and Drew Christiansen SJ.

The event began with a keynote address by John A. Lapp, church historian and former Executive Secretary of Mennonite Central Committee on “Ecumenical Dialogue as a Ministry of Reconciliation.”

Christianity Today cover story on the “New Monasticism” movement

Tne “New Monasticism Project” seeks to bring together Christian communities — Catholic, Protestant, and often Evangelical — that are seeking to be “schools of conversion” to lives of discipleship and that drawing on ancient monastic traditions to do so.

Recently Christianity Today magazine featured a cover story on the “New Monasticism” movement, highlighting the commitment of many of these communities to “blighted urban settings all over America.”  You can read the article at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/16.38.html.

Also recently published is a book entitled School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of New Monasticism.  Bridgefolk co-founder Ivan Kauffman contributed a chapter to the book.  More information and links for ordering is available at http://www.thesimpleway.org/index.php/store/product/schools-for-conversion.

 

Study edition of Called Together to be Peacemakers now available

In 2003, theological exchange between Mennonites and Roman Catholics marked a historic milestone as delegations to the first international dialogue between representatives of Mennonite World Conference and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Church Unity released a final report summarizing their five years of conversation.  “Called Together to be Peacemakers” (available at http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/dialogue) offers a common narrative of watershed events in church history especially during the 16th and 4th centuries.  It explores theological perspectives that the two traditions both share and dispute concerning the nature of the Church, sacraments/ordinances, and peacemaking.  It closes with mutual confessions of repentance for past violence and recrimination, thus inviting a “healing of memories.”

A group of Bridgefolk volunteers has now collaborated with Pandora Press to publish a study version of this watershed document suitable study in a variety of settings.  The text has been abridged.  Helmut Harder, co-chair of the international dialogue, provides an introduction. Discussion questions and other tools are designed to give maximum flexibility to different kinds of study groups.

Some groups will commit themselves to in-depth study. Others will want to familiarize themselves with Mennonite / Catholic dialogue, but have limited time. Many will come with specific interests in peacemaking, local Christian cooperation or worship and spirituality. Some will have designated leaders and others will pass around leadership of their discussions. Three features allow study groups to tailor their preparation, reflection and discussion:

  • The appendix at the end of the book offers study plans of various length and focus, along with additional suggestions.
  • Discussion questions appear throughout the document, near relevant paragraphs.
  • Paragraph numbers from the full original document are retained for groups and individuals who wish to study more thoroughly, or for leaders seeking background.

Please consider using this resource in your congregation, parish or classroom.  Or better yet, use it as an opportunity to carry on a Mennonite-Catholic dialogue in your local setting.   Bulk rates are available.

Click here to order individual copies. Or write to Pandora Press (bookshop@pandorapress.com) for bulk orders.

from the back cover:

Called Together to be Peacemakers, the report of the International Mennonite-Catholic dialogue, is aimed at fostering a healing of memories. We are therefore delighted to see that the report is being used by Mennonites and Catholics in different localities. Although this abridged version has no official status, it will no doubt help to make the Report even more accessible.
This abridged version nicely summarizes perspectives found in the full report, At the same time the readers will be aware that they can get to the original in order to find the fuller expression of Mennonite and Catholic perspectives on the issues treated.

We hope that Called Together to be Peacemakers helps to foster new and closer relations between Catholics and Mennonites, and other Christians as well.

Larry Miller
Mennonite World Conference

John A. Radano
Pontifical Council for Promoting Church Unity

New resources for theological reflection

As part of a new effort by Bridgefolk to revitalize something called the “Mennonite Catholic Theological Colloquium” (MCTC) we have now put up a new page on our website, http://bridgefolk.net.  You can find it by looking for the new “Theology” link on the yellow bar at the top of every page, or you can go directly to http://bridgefolk.net/theology.

Many of the links on this page have come elsewhere on our website and been reorganized.  But a number of new articles are available too, marked by our usual yellow “New!” star.

Of special importance is an article by Darrin Belousek that urges Mennonites to strengthen their peace tradition by drawing on what Catholics call a “Consistent Ethic of Life.”  The article appears with permission of The Mennonite Quarterly Review, where it is slated for formal publication.  Editor John D. Roth invites responses to Belousek, possibly for publication.  We hope this encourages the sort of conversation that the MCTC initiated a few years ago, and that we are looking to promote in new ways in the future.

Finally, an apology and a request:  The resources we provide at http://bridgefolk.net/theology have simply come together as they have come to our attention.  Unfortunately that results in a disproportionate number of pieces from two resources — myself and The Mennonite Quarterly Review, thanks its growing interest in ecumenical themes in the last few years.  The request, then, is that you let me know whenever you become aware of significant pieces on themes of interest to both Mennonites and Catholics.  I look forward to correcting any imbalance.

Gerald W. Schlabach
Bridgefolk Executive Director

First books in Bridgefolk Series published

Catholic and Mennonite theologians have been discussing two of the most difficult issues dividing their traditions—baptism and the ethics of warfare.  Now their discussions have been published in a new Bridgefolk series.

On BaptismThe first two volumes in the new Bridgefolk Series are now off the press. They are the results of the Mennonite Catholic Theological Colloquium, which was convened four years ago by Bridgefolk leaders Gerald Schlabach and Ivan Kauffman to stimulate conversation between Mennonite and Catholic theologians on the major issues then being discussed by the International Mennonite Catholic Dialogue.

Fifteen theologians were invited to participate in an email exchange of papers and comments over a period of months. About one third of the participants were Mennonites, a third were Catholics, and a third were persons like the conveners who had commitments to both traditions.

The first two volumes make available to the public the discussions on baptism, which took place in 2001, and the discussions of the concept of Just Policing which took place in 2002.

The lead paper in the volume on baptism is by the Catholic theologian, Frederick C. Bauerschmidt.  The Mennonite response is by Thomas Finger, and there are further comments by the Mennonite scholar Alan Kreider, and others. The lead paper in the volume on just policing is by Gerald Schlabach, with a response by the Catholic theologian Joseph Capizzi.  There is additional response from the Mennonite theologian J. Denny Weaver, and others.

The Bridgefolk Series is published by Pandora Press, whose director is Arnold Snyder.  Both volumes are available from Pandora via their website www.pandorapress.com.

The challenge of being a “pro-life” progressive

Living in the Twin Cities as I do, I cross back and forth over the Mississippi River that divides Minneapolis and St. Paul fairly often.  Crossing one bridge, I can usually look across the water and see parallel bridges.

So it is that many of us in Bridgefolk who are “sacramentally-minded Mennonites” or “peace-minded Catholics” and are finding ways to bridge our traditions will easily recognize the challenge of living on another kind of bridge.  This is the bridge between “pro-life” commitments often associated with conservative politics and “social justice” commitments often associated with progressive politics.  It is a challenge that Catholics in the United States are especially feeling this electoral year. (Apologies to Bridgefolk in Canada and Europe!)  But if Mennonite debates around a churchwide resolution on abortion a year ago are any indication, it is a challenge at least some Mennonites may be feeling too.

We haven’t talked much yet in Bridgefolk about the challenges and possibilities in what Catholics call the “seamless garment” of moral and social issues that Christians need to hold together in order to maintain a “consistent ethic of life.”  If we are going to continue an honest and fruitful dialogue between Mennonites and Catholics we should expect to take this up too.   A recent cover story in Sojourners magazine seems to be a good place to start.

“No Place to Stand” is by Heidi Schlumpf, managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine.  As the editors of Sojourners say in introducing the article, “When you’re Christian, progressive, and ‘pro-life,’ voting your conscience is often easier said than done.”  To find the article, click here.

Gerald Schlabach