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 1310 Taylor Ave. Winnipeg, Man.  R3M 3Z6 or send via e-mail. (Please ensure that your postal address is included in your e-mail correspondence.)

Ask the hard questions

I agree with Elmer Thiessen, “Laity and the problem of professionalism in our churches” (Viewpoint, Sept. 12). It is a courageous statement and not overkill when he states, “I believe there has been a colossal disenfranchisement of the laity in our churches.”

The laity’s involvement in the life of the church seems to be mostly that of errand boys. It would appear that pastors are inclined to think they have the formal training for the pastoral task and are paid for their work, so overlook and underrate the laity. The laity may well have brought this on themselves. As Thiessen points out, these same, seemingly indifferent laypersons are competent in their careers. They demonstrate competence, integrity, objectivity, acumen, critical thinking and insight, but somehow these competencies are not significantly demonstrated in their church life. I would say that a pastor who is truly a spiritual leader (1 Corinthians 2:1,2) will capitalize on the gifts God has given His church. On the other hand, I would also challenge laity to ask the hard questions of the manner in which pastors carry out their ministry. The nice guy approach is not profitable in business, whether it is the Lord’s business or one’s own. If we have pastors who are not equipping the saints (Ephesians 4:11–12), with the consequence of mediocre congregational life, and the laity does not critique and ask substantive questions and make itself available for service, then that is the kind of pastoral and congregational life we deserve.

George H. Epp,
Chilliwack, B.C.

Rights are being eroded

Re Edgar Dueck’s “What would Jesus do?” (Letters, Sept. 12)

Dueck is in error when using the separation of church and state in reference to gay marriage. In the area of marriage there is no separation of church and state. The clergy are given the authority to act as agents of the state in performing civil unions. If we want separation of church and state, we must be willing to relinquish that authority. That would mean that if a couple gets married in the church, the marriage would not be legally recognized unless a different ceremony were performed at a different time and place by a different person. Is that what we want?

I have no doubt that if the clergy were to en masse advise parliament that “Gay marriage legislation cheapens the civil union to the point where we no longer want to be a part of it” we would see a dramatic slowdown of such legislation.

I am troubled by Dueck’s use of the word “homophobic.” This word is emotionally charged and overused without proper understanding of its meaning. If homophobic refers to an irrational xenophobia directed at a specific group of people who are different in a recognizable way, then I agree that this is wrong and not appropriate for representatives of Christ. But, if homophobic refers to the genuine fear at seeing an erosion of the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens in deference to a belligerent and vocal minority, then my plea is “guilty as charged.” We are being misled if we believe this will not some day impinge on our freedom to practise what we believe. Six years ago, the government assured us that including sexual orientation in the charter of rights would in no way affect the definition of marriage. Were they deliberately misleading us or were they themselves deceived? I do not know and I will not speculate. Now we are being assured that it will not affect the freedom of religious groups to keep their own rules about marriage. “This is only about civil unions” (Chretien). The truth is this is only another step in a process. We can be assured that in the future there will be a case where a gay couple will use legal force to insist that a marriage be performed by a specific member of the clergy who is offended by gay marriage. We, as a church, would be negligent to our civil responsibility if we do not take pre-emptive action to avoid this.

I do not see that Jesus would ever have intended for us to stand back and do nothing while civil rights are being violated, even if those rights are our own.

Rhys Frostad,
Lafleche, Sask.

More Summerside churches, please

After reading pastor Ray Wiens’s report on their experience in hosting a Trek team for two consecutive years (“Growing a love for service through the church,” Sept. 12), I found myself saying, that’s a unique church. I congratulate Summerside Community Church for looking out beyond themselves to invest in the training of young adults for God’s Kingdom. The amount they invested will not bring an immediate return to their own congregation, but will for God’s Kingdom. That’s what is so unique! Concern is everywhere for the lack of future church planters and pastors. Maybe we just need more churches like Summerside to play a key role in calling out and preparing our future pastors.

Trever Godard, Missions Director,
Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.

Professional ministry out of hand

Elmer Thiessen’s article “Laity and the problem of professionalism in our churches” (Sept. 12) should be taken to heart by all MB Church leaders and members. Let me give one example of how an MB church involved the gifts of its members and benefited both spiritually and financially from their unpaid yet dedicated ministries.

Our family moved to Waterloo, Ontario in 1968 where I was to teach at Wilfrid Laurier University and complete my doctoral studies at the University of Waterloo. Frank C. Peters, then pastor of Kitchener MB Church and president of WLU, hoped we would join his church and assist with preaching, Bible study, and teaching Sunday school.

As a teacher and graduate student I certainly had my hands full with my own work. I knew, however, that all the members in the church, including the pastor, served without remuneration. I also believed, and still do, that an unsalaried ministry is biblical. It thus made it relatively easy for me to join the congregation and serve it “as unto the Lord” as best as I could.

Today, as Thiessen mentions, there are numerous paid pastors and other church functionaries who perform all the “important” services in the church while highly gifted lay members are left inactive on the sidelines or at best are expected to do the “grunge work” in the church.

Acting upon Elmer’s criticism and suggestions would not only correct the problems he mentions, but, more importantly, revive our earlier biblical–Anabaptist practices with regard to ministry, allow members to take back ownership of their church, and free more funds for evangelism, missions and other needs in the world.

Harry Loewen,
Kelowna, B.C.

Tomorrow is coming

For a world lost in sin and a generation that does not know God, I weep.

For persecuted fellow-believers, beleaguered Israel and friendless Jews, I weep.

Over false religion that plunges multitudes into eternal hell and hopelessness, I weep.

Over a complacent church that does not discern the times, I weep.

I weep alone; only few it seems, understand.

But this will change.

The night of my soul is fast passing.

Awaiting the saints (awaiting me) is a glad tomorrow.

Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus.

Sylvester Dirks,
Abbotsford, B.C.

Need to go into world

I appreciated Dan Harder’s article, “Needed: Volunteers outside the church” (Sept. 12). I’ve been involved in volunteering outside the church for nearly 20 years, and I agree. There is a noticeable lack of Christians and those who are there come from denominations such as Anglican or United.

Evangelical Christians try to bring the world into the church more often these days than vice versa. Fun events like banquets, neighbourhood fairs and recreational events are enjoyable, but the non-Christians who attend them may do so for selfish reasons as much as spiritual – receiving physical food.

Jesus expects Christians to go outside the church and meet individuals who are vulnerable and powerless in today’s society, just as He did. That cup of cold water that we give will one day be rewarded.

Roland Derksen,
Vancouver, B.C.