Phoenix 2013, Mennonite Church - USA Convention

Phoenix Convention Center courtesy City of Phoenix

PHOENIX   2013 

and the Ghosts of 1898

    In choosing to maintain Phoenix, Arizona, as the location for the national Mennonite Church – USA conference, over the objections of many in the Hispanic, immigrant and pro-LGBTQ Mennonite community, church leaders have resurrected age-old conflicts and divisions that have often haunted those in the Mennonite diaspora since the first national conferences beginning in 1898.

   In 2011, Iglesia Menonita Hispana, MC-USA’s Hispanic identity, confronted the national church over the then-scheduled Phoenix Convention for 2013.  Iglesia was concerned about recent Arizona legislation putting Hispanic and minority or immigrant Americans at risk for being detained by Arizona law enforcement officers and being forced to carry and demonstrate proof of legal citizenship.  At risk were numerous Mennonites in the United States who lack proper citizenship papers, not just those of Hispanic culture. 

    Iglesia was concerned about the risks MC–USA was asking Latino Mennonites to endure in order to travel to Phoenix.  Responding to MC-USA’s decision, Iglesia responded that it was “hurt by the symbolic message this sent to Latino Mennonites,” and that it would not participate in the conference.  (Sarah Thompson, Christian Peacemaker Teams).

 “In order to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are undocumented, we choose to stand with them and advocate on their behalf before the church and government, and also choose to abstain from attending the 2013 convention if held in Phoenix.  If the Phoenix site is chosen, we will bless the people who will be attending the event and will continue to pray.  While we are blessing the people and the event, it does NOT mean that we endorse the location.  We would also ask that ANY staff or board member (of any ethnicity) that would choose not to attend the convention if held in Phoenix be allowed to do so without question.” (quote from IMH letter of Dec 2011)

Members of the Iglesia Menonita Hispana board and other leaders at IMH’s May 3–4 “Celebrating Immigration” event: Gilberto Cortéz from Oregon, IMH Board; Soledad López from Pennsylvania; Stanley Green of Mennonite Mission Network; Samuel López, IMH moderator from Pennsylvania; David Maldonado, IMH moderator-elect from Florida; Madeline Maldonado, IMH director of finances from Florida; Leona Diener, board member from Texas; Juanita Nuñez, board member from Florida; Tania Guzman, board member from New York; Nicolás Angustia, board member from New York; Juan Montes, California board member, and Rafael Barahona, Mennonite Education Agency. (Photo: Rafael Barahona) courtesy MC-USA.

    As early as 2010, other groups voiced their support for Iglesia noting that they share in a common cause. 

Civil Notions of Marriage

ne Kjast

 Questions regarding same-sex marriage are a hot button topic in Illinois this election cycle – much of it has to do with the Vatican’s opposition in this largely Roman Catholic heritage state.  In short, in response to the state of Illinois allowing civil unions, Illinois Catholic Charities ceased their operations lest they be forced to place a child for adoption with a gay or lesbian couple.  Also, the oft-P.R.-challenged Cardinal Francis George butted into a situation pitting a gay-friendly Catholic congregation against the local LGBT Pride Parade organization, accusing the local LGBT community of acting like the KKK – an admittedly rather bizarre analogy.

 Since I am the only practicing Mennonite that many people with whom I interact know personally, I field a lot of questions regarding Mennonites and Catholics, Mennonites and Mormons, or just plain old “What do Mennonites believe?”  In this case, I have started to field a number of questions regarding Mennonites and their attitudes towards marriage and the LGBT community (please recall that many Americans still confuse Mennonites and Mormons and wonder if we still allow polygamy).

    Regarding questions on Mennonite attitudes towards same-sex or gay marriage, I am not sure that the Mennonites really have a “Mennonite” position on this topic.  Err – that is not to say that I do not doubt that most if not all Anabaptists have definite and committed opinions on the matter – only that there is not a clear philosophical or value position to be derived from Anabaptist values.  There is no denying that the majority of Mennonite conferences have published very clear anti-same-sex marriage position statements, but as to the proportion of accepting versus non-accepting Mennonites in general, or the actuality of personal and individual beliefs versus published church papers, remains somewhat coloured and in doubt.