MWR : Articles : Feb. 6

Last updated February 01.

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Articles : Feb. 6

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Editorial

Biblical violence: God’s or ungodly?

Pacifist Christians can’t avoid the problem of violence in the Old Testament. So when Anabaptist Bible scholars debate a controversial answer, they’ve got our attention.

Feature

MCC relief reaches Somali refugees who may not be going home any time soon

AKRON, Pa. — When MCC representative Dan Leonard visited Dollo Ado refugee camp in late December, he was struck by the reality that the 150,000 Somali refugees who found safety and food in Ethiopia were not going home any time soon.

Letters

Valuing the vision

My reintroduction to the Mennonite church has been primarily through Mennonite Weekly Review. It has been encouraging to see how faithful you and many of your contributors are to the Anabaptist vision that I studied in seminary nearly 40 years ago. But as I read letters to the editor I also see that many seem to be uncomfortable with being a part of a minority expression of the Christian faith. Some even want to drop the designation “Mennonite.”
Plain vitality

Thank you for printing Luke Bennetch’s article, “Gospel Should Change Lives” (Jan. 23). We need to hear more from the Mennonite and Amish groups that have not followed the “drift,” as conservative Mennonites would say, or have not become “acculturated,” as mainstream Mennonites would say.
Whose identity?

Six writers, including five pastors, ask whether Mennonite Church USA’s teaching on same-sex relations is cause for dividing the church, or whether we might maintain unity in the midst of diversity (“Should One Issue Define Us?”, Nov. 28).
War and history

There was good reporting in the Jan. 16 MWR: three articles stressing the stark realities of war and militarism. The editorial discloses Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s rare beliefs on the effects of militarism in the U.S. The article by Peter Monkres reports the horrible human suffering and astronomical costs of warfare. He says those who know should teach the public of the “sad and bitter lessons of war.”

News

Vincent Harding considers what we need to do now to prepare for a multiracial democracy

ELKHART, Ind. — Vincent Harding suggested we are still on the march to a multiracial society at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Jan. 16-17.
South African Brethren in Christ join BIC association

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Passion for the church was evident through music and dance at an Oct. 14-16 celebration at Hillsbrow Brethren in Christ Church.
Theologian warns of accumulation seduction

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Beware of seduction by accumulation. That was one of the issues explored by Walter Brueggemann, a world-renowned Old Testament scholar, in talks to as many as 700 people gathered at Eastern Mennonite University Jan. 16-18.
Hope for future trumps angst, guilt of the past

CHICAGO — Nelson Okanya cried out to God to grant desperation to the North American Mennonite church.