March 22, 2010 issue
Goshen to have peace prayer along with anthem at sports games
By Mennonite Weekly Review staffPage:
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GOSHEN, Ind. — A well-known prayer for peace will follow the national anthem at Goshen College sporting events, the college announced March 10.
Beginning with baseball and softball games March 23 — when Goshen will play the anthem for the first time — the peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi also will be part of pregame activities.
The prayer, attributed to the 13th-century Franciscan saint, begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace . . .”
In addition to announcing the selection of the prayer, the President’s Council released a statement about the college’s values to be printed in game programs.
The council decided in January that the college would begin playing an instrumental version of the anthem, followed by prayer, at some sporting events.
Goshen began intercollegiate sports in 1957 but had never used the anthem. Some other Mennonite colleges play it, and some do not.
The change in policy sparked opposition from constituents, some of whom said it ran counter to the college’s peace witness. President James Brenneman responded to that concern in a March 10 statement.
“Our commitment to peacemaking has never been stronger at Goshen College, and I believe the way we are implementing this change in practice reflects that,” Brenneman said.
“I am willing to change this one practice as an act of hospitality because I know how committed we are to keeping Jesus’ call to peacemaking and nonviolence as central to this college and the wider church, which I love.”
The March 10 announcement included details about plans for playing the anthem “prior to games where it is culturally routine, as determined by the Athletic Department. This will include at least basketball, baseball and softball games.”
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