MWR : Convention opens with call to reclaim reconciliation

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July 18, 2011 issue

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Convention opens with call to reclaim reconciliation

By Paul Schrag Mennonite Weekly Review

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PITTSBURGH — As rain pounded the roof of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, more than 6,000 Mennonites heard a call to be drops in the ocean of God’s reconciliation.

Calvary Community Church’s C3 Worship Team leads the opening worship at Mennonite Church USA’s convention July 4 in Pittsburgh. — Photo by Sheldon C. Good/MWR

Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention opened July 4 with a sermon urging members to reclaim their distinctive “bread and butter” — reconciliation and love of enemy.

They heard a plea to stop dividing between those who want justice and those who want purity and to seek a higher virtue: reconciliation, as described in 2 Cor. 5:17.

Reconciliation must start within the church, which has begun to mirror society’s divisions, said Shane Hipps, a Mennonite pastor who serves on the staff of a nondenominational megachurch in Michigan.

“I’m urging you to reclaim your rightful gift of loving enemies and modeling reconciliation,” Hipps said.

Though he now serves Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Mich., Hipps said, “I’m still a Mennonite whether you like it or not. If you’re trying to shun me, it ain’t gonna happen.”

He formerly pastored Mennonite congregations in Phoenix, Ariz., and Pasadena, Calif.

He said Mennonites love to talk about the things that make them different — including nonviolence and seeing Jesus as the centerpiece of the Bible.

These things drew him to the Mennonite church, he said. Boundaries define identity.

But there is danger in too much of a good thing. Cells that enjoy dividing too much become a cancer.

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Comments

Shane did not pastor a church in Pasadena. He was a pastoral intern there as part of his seminary studies. He then pastored briefly in Phoenix, leaving Trinity for the non-denominational setting of Mars Hill, where there is much less need for the pastor to shape his ministry together with the congregation and much more opportunity for individual career development.

Why does the Mennonite Church repeatedly ask these "stars" to speak at it's conventions rather than really good speakers from among our own people?

- KJP (jul 5 at 8:34 p.m.)
Amen to the brother (KJP). I've wondered the same. Seems every couple years a new guru arises that we seek after while the prophets in Mennoland are shelved, i.e., Myron Augsburger, Don Jacobs, June Alliman Yoder, et. al. And while we're at it, trade in the worship bands for a our-part, acapella mass choir raising the rafters with the great old hymns and gospel selections we used to sing. Maybe then I could get excited about attending and participating in one of these churchwide conventions. Just my humble opinion . . .

- Jim Bishop (jul 5 at 9:12 p.m.)
In commenting on the two previous comments by KJP and Jim Bishop, I normally do not respond to these types of comments but I must admit I am disappointed in them. Shane still considers himself Mennonite and I believe pastored at Trinity for about 6 years; he engaged in a rigorous 3-day speaking schedule when we hosted him at Goshen College several years ago...his theology is thoroughly Anabaptist. On the Adult Worship side of things, not sure if you looked at the speakers list or not but all, except one, is Mennonite and the one who is not is Brethren in Christ and President of Mennonite World Conference. On the Youth Worship side of things, all but two (unless I am mistaken) are Mennonite. And if memory serves me correct, June Alliman Yoder preached at the last convention. Also on the Adult Worship side of things the worship team is from the largest Mennonite congregation in US, and on the Youth Worship side of things I believe all team members are Mennonite, including the team leader and one Goshen College graduate and one current Goshen College student who I have had the pleasure to know and work with...wonderful people of faith!

With a high percentage of Mennonite speakers in both Adult and Youth Worship settings, I am confused by the two comments: "...rather than really good speakers from among our own people?" and "...while the prophets in Mennoland are shelved..."

- Bob Yoder (jul 5 at 11:32 p.m.)
Bob, you are right that this convention does seem to have more "new" speakers than others have had. I'll take back that part.

As to Shane, I have no doubt that he has a theology that is strongly Anabaptist. I do question his commitment to the Mennonite Church as an institution. And I have seen the Mennonite Church again and again give the limelight to someone who came to them from an exotic background -- be that Madison Avenue or Nigeria or the military -- in ways that their involvement with the church may not really justify.

- KJP (jul 6 at 12:40 a.m.)
No Jim, I don't see it as a humble opinion, but an arrogant one. It's exactly the us vs them mentality that gives me pause about MC USA. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly love four-part hymns. But I also love energetic Spirit-filled worship music that engages and brings people into worship. Different people respond to different styles. I agree, a session with hymn singing could be added. Also, I heard June Alliman Yoder preach at Columbus '09 . . . but then I guess you weren't there. :)

- rjs (jul 6 at 12:04 p.m.)
Ah, Jim,you're getting old and crochety, just like me! But, there's something to be said for the good old days -- being able to sing all four verses of songs by heart, being scared out of your gourd by George Brunk, good old fashioned congregational fights and splits - one way to keep adding new congregations! I'm with you. I can't think of a reason to get excited, especially given Stutzman's agenda of "We're certainly NOT going to do it, and we're not even going to talk about it, let's just talk about how we're going to do it." Sigh.

- Debra Bender (jul 6 at 9:55 p.m.)
Interesting that people are "experts" on the Convention without being there or waiting until the end of the Convention to comment.

I attended all the public sessions and just got home less than 2 hours ago.
1. Shane Hipps is teaching elder at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids MI. I don't know where Grandville, MI is. (MWR error).
2. Mike Bishop, Jim Bishop's brother, led a spirited hymn sing on Thursday evening, 6:30-7:15 in the Ballroom (where the public sessions were held). It was a cappella. (Jim, you should have been there. Mike would have made you proud.) People were told they could leave at 7:15, but very few left until 7:30 when Mike ended it.
3. Hipps stated very clearly that he is Mennonite and will stay Mennonite. I am glad for Mennonite ministers who go into other churches, other settings, and let people know who Mennonites are and share the core values of the Mennonite Church: Jesus is Lord and Savior, believer's baptism, the peace teaching of the Bible, evangelism, etc.
4. The Mennonite Church is not an institution. It is a fellowship of believers who have committed themselves to be under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
5. Hipps came out of the military and Joined the Mennonites because he saw that Mennonites believe the Bible and follow it. Let's not disappoint him by side issues.
Many seminars were led by persons of many ethnic backgrounds--challenging us in all areas of life.

I had my disagreement with some things at the Convention, but unless you were there working to make things better, what integrity is in your comments?

I am glad God led me there. God filled me through the Holy Spirit filled attenders and speakers.

The atmosphere was great. We struggled, as we listened to God speak through God's people,to discern what God is doing today and where God wants us to be and how we can be more like Christ.

Let your drops of faith fall among other people like drops of rain fall into the ocean and become a part of the ocean. ( A powerful metaphor Hipps used as the rain drops fell rapidly on the roof.) What an ocean of Christian grace can be formed as Christians allow themselves to become a part of the Body of Christ, and not just individual thinkers, persons, or parts. Read the Bible again and let God speak.

- Les (jul 9 at 4:05 p.m.)
My words might fall short because I wasn't at the convention either but I will add a thought or two. Isn't Shane Hipps at Mars Hill? Isn't that Rob Bells church, the gentleman who doesn't believe in hell? Do we as Mennonites believe in consequences? I also take issue with his rendition of. Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female STOP! PLEASE NOTE THE ADDITIONS>>>[Mennonite nor non-Mennonite, soldier nor pacifist, liberal nor conservative, young nor old, sinner nor saint, those who  sing the National Anthem nor those who do not, gay nor straight, bigot nor enlightened one, immigrant nor native]. For you are all one in Christ." He forgot a whole list of other people and lifestyles don't you think? Liars,pedaphiles,drunkards,prostitutes,cheaters,theives,murders and so on.......where do we draw the line on sin and how do we rightly divide it? Maybe our choices here don't matter, that's right there is no hell! OPEN UP WIDE! Narrow is the way that leads to life and few find it-Jesus(remember Him?)

- Kenny Moore (jul 10 at 5:14 p.m.)
Kenny, I should no longer be surprised with what people come up with.

Your post underlines the need for all of us to be Spirit filled persons, living that way, and being lights that will lead people to Christ and Spirit fullness.

We can all criticize. But that destructs. We are called to build up. Spending time criticizing wastes our time and takes away from our major calling of Christ. But is that the mind of Christ? Check Co. 2:1-5.
1. Is your quote the most important thing of Hipp's sermon? Not for me.
2. Did Paul mention every issue of that day? No.
3. Paul's statement that there is neither Jew nor Gentile was probably as unbelievable to people of that day as "gay nor straight" today.
Paul was speaking from the mind of God. Paul mentioned other sins in other places.
1. Must a church leader serve a church where there are only people who don't sin? Must we all attend only churches where there are only sinless people?
I was told there are church members who are agnostic.
That is the place to let your light shine. The unchurched around us are looking for light where they will be welcomed, not criticized. They want to be transformed like Christ has transformed His true followers and counts them as righteous.

- Les (jul 10 at 7:21 p.m.)
Mars Hill Bible Church, where Shane Hipps is a teaching pastor, is located at: 3501 Fairlanes Ave, Grandville, MI 49418

See: http://marshill.org/visiting/

- Sheldon C. Good (jul 11 at 9:06 a.m.)
Thank you Kenny for your comments of deep insight. Don't expect answers to your questions. After reading your comments, I did some research on Shane Hipps and concluded your comments are valid. It is not really surprising he was invited to speak at the MC USA convention in Pittsburgh. After all, birds of a feather do flock together.

- Dale Welty (jul 11 at 9:43 p.m.)
Thank you Dale for your word of encouragement and I am sorry to have to agree with you. Isn't it a heartbreaker that the simplicity of this beautiful movement of the Holy Spirit we are part of (the Mennonite church) is being brought to ruin. As a Mennonite pastor I am being forced to make a decision that I never dreamed I would have to. Come soon Lord Jesus!

- Kenny Moore (jul 12 at 3:50 p.m.)
It appears that Granville, MI is a suburb of Grand Rapids, MI

- Les (jul 12 at 7:31 p.m.)

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