MWR : Articles : Mennonite Women USA

Articles : Mennonite Women USA

Women from Africa, North America reap blessings of partnership

Mary Mae Schwartzentruber learned a new way to pray from Kadi Hayalume Beatrice.

Sister Care seminars help women support each other

ELKHART, Ind. — Seventy-three women in the Indiana-Michigan and Central District conferences of Mennonite Church USA attended a Sister Care seminar May 15-16 at Belmont Mennonite Church.

Why people leave

I’ve spent my entire adult life working for inclusion and diversity in the Mennonite church, but I cannot understand why no one is appalled at the retention rate of the Mennonite church. In 2007, I attended the 40-year reunion of the Iowa Mennonite School class of 1967. More than half of our class is no longer affiliated with the Mennonite church. When I asked why, these almost-60-year-olds said, most very sadly, “It’s not the church it used to be. It doesn’t stand for anything anymore.” One person said, “We’re no different from mainline Protestants. We might as well be Methodists!” Across the board, I heard folks opine that the Mennonite church had lost its way.

Young evangelists

Stephen Kriss’ column “Church’s Precarious Future” (On the Way, Feb. 2) was on target. We need to face reality. Unless God turns things around, Mennonite Church USA will become extinct — not in the next couple of decades, but we are headed in that direction. If anyone questions this, they need to read Conrad Kanagy’s book, Road Signs for the Journey. The upside is that we are doing very well in many countries of the world and doing fairly well in reaching minority groups here.

Health care plan aids church body

Health care’s status as a major issue in the election this year may mean more people recognize the U.S. system is broken. Whichever candidate’s health care plan one supports, it is necessary to acknowledge some hard truths.

Needles stitch healing into storm-ripped lives

“Hammers ring hope” in Mennonite Disaster Service building projects. And since 2005, needles also ring hope as quilters stitch healing into storm-ripped lives through Housewarming, a Sister Link Project of Mennonite Women USA.

Mennonite Women names new editor

PANDORA, Ohio — When Patricia Burdette began to serve on the Mennonite Women USA board of directors four years ago, she had no idea she was helping to guide the staff she would someday join as editor.

‘Timbrel’ women’s magazine gets a colorful new look

NEWTON, Kan. — Seeking to release the power of story into women’s lives, the staff of Mennonite Women USA have redesigned timbrel magazine.