Aug. 23, 2010 issue
Contrasting stories
By Eric A. Kouns Irwin, OhioI commend the Bethel College board of directors for looking beyond the Mennonite community to find a leader.
However, I hope that hiring a president who does not come from an Anabaptist-Mennonite faith tradition will not weaken Bethel’s commitment to Anabaptism.
I could not help but compare and contrast that situation with my own experience as a faculty member in a Mennonite institution. I joined the Mennonite church in 1982 and for 26 years served in ministry roles, including eight years as a pastor and 14 years as a teacher in a Mennonite Bible college not affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.
While teaching there I came to appreciate the richness of liturgical worship. Since I was unable to find a Mennonite congregation in that area that shared my convictions, I began attending an Anglican church, but I never abandoned or compromised my nonresistance convictions nor my commitment to kingdom living and radical discipleship. Still, because I no longer attended a Mennonite church, my teaching contract was terminated in 2008.
I am now preparing for Holy Orders in the Anglican Church in North America. There seems to be more room for my Anabaptist convictions in the Anglican communion than for my liturgical sensibilities in Anabaptism. I am less an Anglican, however, than a liturgical Anabaptist.
Bethel’s board believes their president’s diversity of experience in Catholic and Presbyterian institutions will enrich their campus. I hope they are right, and I applaud their courage and vision.
Comments
-
The Mennonites have colleges, a university and a seminary. Apparently the Bethel College Board was unable to identify anyone within the Church to assume president responsibilities of the college. To me, this suggests that a serious problem exists that may put long tern Anabaptist leadership in jeopardy. On September 23-24, a Leaders Forum is scheduled to meet in Pittsburg to discuss the 2013 MC USA convention location. Because of the lack of leadership material within the Mennonite Church re Bethel College, I suggest the Pittsburgh agenda include a discussion to address this problem and present recommendations for situations that may occur in the future.
Comment on the article Contrasting stories
The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.
Download
Download a free PDF showing the populations of
Mennonite groups and other Anabaptists.
