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.
Tag: Bridgefolk
Bridgefolk 2010 Conference schedule updated
Bridgefolk revamps leadership, announces 2010 conference
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (Bridgefolk.net) – Bridgefolk had much to celebrate as it held its 10th anniversary conference in Laurelville, Pennsylvania last August, but is also entering a crucial time of transition. That was the sentiment Bridgefolk Board members shared as they met in mid-October at St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota to plan their next conference and discern how to guide their grassroots ecumenical movement of Mennonites and Roman Catholics through its next steps. Continue reading “Bridgefolk revamps leadership, announces 2010 conference”
Bridgefolk appoints new director, Kent Yoder
The Bridgefolk Board is pleased to announce the appointment of a new executive director, Kent Yoder of Goshen, Indiana.
Kent is a student at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, where he is currently pursuing a degree in the Master of Divinity program. He is a member of Assembly Mennonite Church and is actively involved in congregational life.
Kent has recently worked in the Geneva Office of the World Council of Churches, and this involvement has led to his pursuit of a M.A. thesis on the subject of international ecumenical peace dialogue. In the summer of 2007, Kent helped coordinate the Bridgefolk Conference held at AMBS.
Two major new articles by Bridgefolk board members
Two major new articles by Bridgefolk Board members are now available in the “Theological Resources” section of the Bridgefolk website,
http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/resources Continue reading “Two major new articles by Bridgefolk board members”
Bridgefolk participant Marilyn Stahl, peace church representative at WCC
Expect a few more Bridgefolk “Briefs” this week, as we continue noting of news of interest coming out of the WCC Assembly in Brazil. This article features Bridgefolk participant Marilyn Stahl of Seattle Mennonite Church, as well as German Mennonite ecumenist Fernando Enns, a friend of Bridgefolk.
Historic Peace Churches offer a unique voice for nonviolence
by Walt Wiltschek (*)
Marilyn Stahl has noticed recently that people have a growing interest in her church. “People hear I’m Mennonite, and they say, ‘I wish our church was a peace church’,” said Stahl, who has come to the 9th Assembly of the WCC from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University in the United States. Continue reading “Bridgefolk participant Marilyn Stahl, peace church representative at WCC”
Michiana Bridgefolk forms around centering prayer in Northern Indiana
More than a 100 Mennonites and Catholics in the Northern Indiana area came together for centering prayer last summer, contributing to the formation of one of the first local Bridgefolk groups. Marlene Kropf, Bridgefolk co-chair notes that “one of the good things that came out of this experience was becoming friends and realizing how many interests and visions we have in common. Though we come from very different traditions, our vision for the church and for spiritual growth and renewal is remarkably similar.” The newspaper of the Fort Wayne – South Bend diocese has done a feature on the summer meetings. Here are the opening paragraphs, and a link for the entire story.
Continue reading “Michiana Bridgefolk forms around centering prayer in Northern Indiana”
A few announcements
The Bridgefolk Board met in conjunction with our July conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and wishes to make a few brief announcements:
- Our 2006 conference will be held at Saint John’s Abbey, either July 5-8 or July 6-9. We will hold the conference in conjunction with Saint John’s annual Monastic Institute, July 1-7. On the occasion of the abbey’s sesquicentennial celebration, the institute will include a focus on new forms of monastic life, including lay communities. Mark your calendars for the next Bridgefolk conference and consider participating in the Monastic Institute as well.
- With regret, we accepted the resignation of Sheri Hostetler, pastor of San Francisco Mennonite Church. Sheri has found that her responsibilities as a new mother have made it difficult to travel to Bridgefolk meetings. Many thanks for your friendship, service and prayers, Sheri.
- With gratitude, we elected Susan Kennel Harrison to the Bridgefolk Board. Susan is a chaplain and doctoral student at the University of Toronto.
- Meanwhile, behind the scenes other developments have been in the works: As of last April, Bridgefolk is incorporated in the state of Minnesota as a non-profit organization. We have also applied to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) status. This will facilitate acceptance of grants and donations in the future, which is something that a few of you have asked about. While we are committed to continue “proceeding through friendship” above all, we do anticipate doing some modest fund-raising within a few months. Stay tuned.
Announcing change in location for 2005 conference
On behalf of the Bridgefolk Board, we are pleased to announce that we will be holding our 2005 conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia, at Eastern Mennonite University. Dates for the conference remain the same: Thursday evening July 21 through Sunday noon July 24.
Why the change?
The idea came from several participants–some Catholic, some Mennonite–not from anyone on the board. These persons felt that after three years of Mennonites experiencing Catholic community at Saint John’s it was time for Catholics to have the opportunity to experience Mennonite life in a Mennonite community. Continue reading “Announcing change in location for 2005 conference”