July 20, 2009 issue
Pink Menno views
By Don R. Martin Harrisonburg, Va.A letter of concern to my “Pink” brothers and sisters: The debate within Mennonite Church USA regarding full acceptance of non-celibate gays and lesbians has been among believers with sincere differences in how we interpret Scripture. However, at the convention the nature of the “dialogue” changed, and lines of appropriate behavior were crossed.
The first line crossed was your holding a press conference for the secular media. In this action you have appealed for support outside the church. Not only was this inappropriate, it also demonstrates ignorance of Anabaptist-Mennonite history. We have not been inclined to bow to the court of public opinion in matters of faith.
As the parent of participants in the youth, junior youth and children’s conventions, I was appalled to see the number of Youth Convention attendees, and even children, decked out in the pink headbands, shirts, bracelets and the like you provided. There is great risk in drawing these emotionally and spiritually less mature individuals into this debate. We would all do well to be reminded of Christ’s admonition in Luke 17:1b-2.
I imagine that more than a few parents, youth sponsors and pastors will be concerned about this intrusion into their youths’ convention experience.
Comments
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A couple of thoughts here.
1) The first line crossed was the very presence of a group of Pink Mennonites to advocate for inclusion. Previous conventions more or less cornered GLBT people into silence, and the issue was taboo. This was a particularly bitter irony at one convention with the theme, "How can we keep silent?"
2) MCUSA holds press conferences with the secular media about service projects, about church policies, and the like. Denial of this demonstrates ignorance of Anabaptist-Mennonite reality. Why should we demand silence of our GLBT brothers and sisters or their supporters? Thankfully, we are no longer silent, and not about to disappear.
3) As for youth participation. How many of these youth and/or junior youth have reached the age of baptism, the age of accountability in our Mennonite tradition? Jesus called the children to him, and it is pretty clear it was not for the purpose of silencing them in the face of injustice. Should we avoid discussing the ills of racism or sexism also because the topic is sometimes uncomfortable?
Finally, based on these comments, one could well come to the conclusion that the author supports "dialogue" only so long that the other side keeps silent on the matter. A "dialogue" cannot exist with an invisible other. After too long, the silence has finally been broken, and the grounds for a true dialogue are being built. I am sorry that this might be disturbing for some, but far from sorry that it is happening.
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As one of the "emotionally and spiritually" immature youth who was riskily drawn into wearing pink during the convention, I'd like to assure Don R. Martin that young people are completely capable of independent thought, and that in twenty years or so we'll be the ones leading the church.
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I appreciate your recognition that there is an issue of "full acceptance" in the Mennonite church, but your inclusion of the notion of celibacy is not helpful to this discussion. We all need to recognize that if we are applying a celibacy test to open & honest lgbt folks but not to everyone else, then there is not "full acceptance." Your being celibate or note is not a factor in whether I think you should be fully accepted into the Mennonite Church USA.
Many well-intentioned Mennonites view the church's discrimination program as very hurtful and shameful, and something that needs to end very soon. To say that the delegates' decision to address "the issue" was not affected by press coverage and public opinion in the US might be true, but it might also be quite erroneous. Mennonite historians will be able to bring up a number of cases where the attitude of the surrounding population had considerable impact on the church's behavior. One pretty clear example would be the considerable support the Third Reich gained among German-speaking Mennonites in a number of countries, particularly regarding the suspension of the pacifist doctrine.
I don't understand your being appalled by the attitude of the youth in the Church. Many of them want the church to suspend all discrimination against sexual minorities and begin the healing process. I think this means that they want to stay in the Mennonite Church rather than look for a spiritual home elsewhere.
I am grateful that you shared your concern and do hope that there will be further dialogue.
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Why is it that I RARELY ever find a connection between liberal postmodern theology, and support for the cause of the “pink mennos”. Despite popular belief many in even the Mennonite church are not personally grossed out, or have an intrinsic dislike of homosexuals. I personally have been friends with, and have no dislike of “hanging out” with anyone with a different sexual orientation. When it comes to conversations of biblical truth and the present conversation occurring in Mennonite churches nation wide, I ask again WHY is the link between liberal postmodernism and its basic stance of neo-orthodoxy and new-age pluralism largely absent? To further explain my frustration I believe that the pink mennos are the product of a slippery slope of exegetical and hermeneutic error. This has resulted in the blurring of the objective unalterable moral standards of the bible, into a subjective situational ethic. Amazingly, one the grandfathers of the liberal church, Dietrich Bonhoffer, is constantly touted as a stalwart of the faith to many Mennonites, and is often referenced to support agendas like that of the pink mennos. The punch line is this. I believe that the Pink Mennos are blurring clear biblical moral standards through a process of isolating certain favorable traits of God, and Christ such as Love and Peace, and are downplaying other attributes of God that may go against there set of beliefs such as Holiness, Justice and Judgment for sin. Also, they grossly under appreciate the Old Testament’s description of the messiah as the one who would usher in the “Day of the Lord”. Which is a DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND USHERING IN OF GOD”S WRATH UPON THE WORLD FOR ITS SIN (for reference read any part of the Old Testament, but focus on the prophets). As Christians we cannot let a “peace above all” and “one love” mindset cripple us from standing up against clearly heretical teachings. We do not have to compromise belief that the homosexual lifestyle, not the person, is wrong. Claims that those of us who are anti-homosexuality are not practicing true biblical love and peace, are themselves failing to understand that the love of Christ has a large measure of correction and discipline. Just think for a moment, was Jesus ever afraid to confront someone’s sinful acts, whether friend or foe, with God’s word and truth. GET BEHIND ME SATAN sound familiar to anyone?? God’s true shalom is broken by sin, thus God’s true love is exemplified by correcting those in error with the hope of, through discipline, causing them see the error of their ways, repent, and return to right fellowship with both God and the church. This is the heart and purpose of biblical discipline. Any parent who has had to correct and discipline the children that are his/her pride and joy in life can relate to what I’m saying. I have strong feelings about this subject, but I hope that dialogue with continue for the unity of the church.
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