MWR : Articles : Sept. 22, 2008

Articles : Sept. 22, 2008

Faith-based campaign shakeup

The surprise entry of a conservative evangelical has vaulted issues of faith to the center of the presidential campaign. Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin quickly proved herself the ideal candidate to light a fire under the previously dormant Christian right.

If the Alaska governor wins large numbers of conservative Christian voters for John McCain, a dramatic transformation will have occurred. Evangelicals who led the success of George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns had been lukewarm for this year’s Republican nominee, who once called Christian-right icons Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell “agents of intolerance.”

All ages on the same page

When Mennonite Publishing Network integrated its congregational worship resources and “Gather ’Round” Sunday school materials around a unified theme this summer, Bonita Howard found an answer to her prayers for connecting the generations.
A decade online for ‘Third Way’

HARRISONBURG, Va. — In fall 1998, Google had just come on the scene. Only 24 percent of U.S. households were connected to the Internet.
Serving with CPT, Colombian to share people’s pain, hope

CHICAGO — The daughter of people displaced during an earlier flare of violence in Colombia, Gladys Gómez of Bogotá has served displaced people through her church and is now preparing to accompany communities resisting threats to push them off their land.

MDS helps churches housing Ike evacuees

AKRON, Pa. — Mennonite Disaster Service began releasing funds to Anabaptist churches housing Hurricane Ike evacuees Sept. 16 while waiting to be able to begin cleanup.
Hurricanes’ destruction in Haiti prompts MCC aid

AKRON, Pa. — Mennonite Central Committee is working with a partner organization to provide water, food, medicine and temporary housing for people in Haiti affected by hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.
Colombian economist threatened by ‘slander’

Héctor Mondragón — economist, activist and member of the Colombian Mennonite Church — has been endangered by what the church called “slander” in Colombia’s national newspaper.
Lancaster board reaches agreement with bishop

The Lancaster Mennonite Conference Board of Bishops has reached an understanding with a bishop who was reprimanded for ordaining two women before a new policy allowed it.

Be the church

A couple of years ago, I bought a T-shirt with four words on the front: “Don’t go to church.” On the back are three more: “Be the church.”

Faith, politics don’t mix here

In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a federal election going on up in Canada.

Political story over centuries

On my desk is Mennonites, Politics and Peoplehood: Europe, Russia, Canada, 1525 to 1980, by James Urry, published by University of Manitoba Press, Winnipeg, 400 pages, 2006, $27.95.

Don’t blame the immigrants

The Center for Immigration Studies released a report last month that claimed immigration to the United States is a significant contributor to global warming. When people move to the United States from lower- emitting countries, the report contends, their greenhouse gas emissions multiply.