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Letters to the editor
Mennonite Brethren Herald welcomes your letters on issues relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church, especially in response to material published in the Herald. Please keep your letters courteous, brief and about one subject only. We will edit letters for length and clarity. We will not publish letters sent anonymously, although we may withhold names from publication at the request of the letter writer and at our discretion. Publication is also subject to space limitations. Because the Letters column is a free forum for discussion, it should be understood that letters represent the position of the letter writer, not necessarily the position of the Herald or the Mennonite Brethren Church. Send letters to:
Letters, MB Herald
3-169 Riverton Ave.
Winnipeg, Man. R2L 2E5
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or by e-mail to mbherald@mbconf.ca. (Please ensure that your postal address is included in your e-mail correspondence.) |
Worship more than singing
I am noticing a trend in our use of language which is disturbing. In Jon Unger Brandt’s report on NYC ’02 (MBH, Feb. 8), the activity of singing and music is referred to as “worship”. I observe that we (myself included) limit “worship” to the few minutes of a church service where we happen to be singing. A biblical definition of worship goes far deeper. Amos 5:23-24 and Micah 6:8 address a nation which believed that their worship lives were in order because they made the right sacrifices at the temple and sang the right songs at the appropriate times. God challenged them – in fact, He was angry – that worship was defined so narrowly. True worship is to seek the welfare of people around us and to relate to our God in a humble way. This extends “worship” to everyday activities. Our very existence should be an act of worship, whether we sing, cry, laugh or shout.
I appreciated the report on NYC ’02 very much. I was excited to read of lives that were touched and of God’s presence at that place.
Andrew Bergen,
Hepburn, Sask.
Thanks for Orientation
We have just returned from a tremendous “days away” at Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg, enjoying the company of other new and transplanted church workers from our MB churches across Canada. (page 12 of MBH April 5) What a terrific time of worship, learning, fellowship and fun! Thank you to Dave Wiebe and the Canadian MB Conference for spearheading the “first truly Canadian” orientation. Words of appreciation to the five provincial Conference ministers who made us feel welcome, cared for and special. Kudos to the various Canadian MB ministries who “wowed” us with the resources that are available to pastors and churches. Finally, praise to our great God, who has gifted His church with men and women who are willing to respond to His call to enter full-time ministry in our MB churches. Truly we are a blessed denomination!
Claude and Vivian Pratte,
Portage Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg, Man.
View with a discerning mind
I am in basic agreement with Paul Boge’s review of The Lord of the Rings movie. It is a faithful adaptation of the book and its themes. One cautionary note should be added: Be careful whom you invite to see this movie. Young children (under age 10 or so) should not be encouraged to see it. Neither should anyone who has not at least read The Hobbit beforehand. The movie does contain scenes of violence, even a decapitation near the end. I hope Christians will view The Lord of the Rings with a mature and discerning mind.
Roland Derksen,
Vancouver, B.C.
Are massive cuts the way to go?
The report of the Canadian MB Conference Council of Boards sessions (March 8) was interesting. Some of the initiatives, including the decision to provide more assistance to the Mennonite World Conference, were especially significant.
One major initiative, however, raised serious questions. Canadian Conference moderator Jascha Boge stated that because “fiscal responsibility above all else provides a base from which we can grow”, he had established the goal of reducing by 25% the amount of money the Conference was asking the churches to contribute to the Conference. As a former Canadian Conference moderator who served on Canadian Conference boards for about 25 years, I fully realize the pressures on Conference leaders. Even so, I have questions about this initiative.
First, it is not clear why fiscal responsibility should be equated with massive budget reduction. Would it follow that a reduction of 50% would be even more responsible than a 25% reduction? And would the total elimination of the budget be the height of fiscal responsibility? Fiscal responsibility has to do with wise establishment of a budget, diligent fundraising and careful use of that budget, not arbitrary and massive cuts.
Second, if budget reduction is required, then it would be wiser first to review the programs and ministries to see what can be eliminated or reduced and then to ascertain what funds are needed to carry on what still needs to be done. To decide on a percentage budget reduction before a program review has been undertaken is putting the cart before the horse.
Third, our moderator said, quite rightly, that fiscal responsibility provides a base from which to grow. But I do not follow the logic which says, “Because we want to grow, we must first reduce.” Leadership in God’s Kingdom involves more than challenging Christ’s followers to give less. The great victories and achievements of God’s people, including this Conference, were not associated with times when God’s followers were marching backwards.
Fourth, this massive cut seems not to make any allowance for the growth of Conference membership. That surely is a significant factor.
Fifth, I am not convinced that the 25% cut is warranted. The financial resources of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference have never been greater. Never before have local church budgets been higher. Never before has more money been spent on local buildings and staff. Never before have outside mission agencies raised more money in our midst. Never before have our schools and camps raised as much financial support as they are now raising. Never before, despite exceptions in some financially difficult regions, have our members spent more money on holidays, cars, cottages or retirement plans. I am convinced that the money is there but is not being donated in adequate amounts to our Canadian Conference budgets. That is the problem and the challenge. A hefty budget cut does not deal with the real problem. My hunch is that because the real issues are not being addressed, we may well experience another serious shortfall next year, even with the massive budget reduction.
We need, as I see it, much more effective communication with our church members. On the basis of various queries, it has become evident to me that most of our members are not aware of the serious Canadian Conference budget shortfall. If the Herald carried information about the problem they seemed to have missed it. Most members seem much more aware of the needs of MCC, MBMSInternational, and various Mennonite schools because these provide direct communication with the members. We should learn from their relative success. We need to inform our members of our excellent programs, tell them of the shortfall and challenge them to fund these, their own ministries!
John H. Redekop,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Will he be in the kingdom?
“It isn’t over” by Kenneth Gibble, (March 8) is well written but leaves me thinking that what Gibble believes Pilate thought of Jesus is too far-fetched. For Peter, it indeed was a dreadful night, believing it was over for him to say, “I am sorry.” I also want to believe it was a dreadful night for Pilate. I do not believe that he wanted to play a joke on Jesus, to show this “King” who really was in charge. Note his interview with Jesus in John 18, “Are you a king then?” Jesus responds, “I am a king . . . Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate then goes and tells the Jews, “I find no fault in Him.” It would rather seem to me that he wanted to say the truth about Jesus when he wrote, “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews”. After all, this Roman man had probably never met Jesus, and now found himself in a terrible dilemma. On the one hand his wife warns him about this Man, Jesus, and on the other hand the Jewish rulers warn him of losing a friendship with Caesar. Note how many times he tried to get out of it and finally washed his hands. Unfortunately he fell victim to his fleshly desires. But, was it over for him? Is it conceivable that we will see him one day in the Kingdom Jesus spoke to him about?
Henry Klassen,
Simcoe, Ont.
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© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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