Death of a pope

When I was young, anything smacking of Catholicism was anathema. And for good reason in many cases, considering the persecution by Catholics of evangelical Christians in many parts of the world.

The last number of years have seen a Catholic–Mennonite dialogue discussing the history of Catholic persecution of Mennonites, together with mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.

“The discussions did not come about without serious forethought,” says a Mennonite World Conference news release. “With a history of martyrdom (sometimes at the hands of Roman Catholic officials) well imprinted on their collective memory, Mennonites have had a degree of suspicion, or, at least, ambiguity, toward the Roman Catholic Church. Many contemporary Mennonites live as minorities next to substantial majorities of Catholics. Many times their relationships are uneasy at best.”

Over the last 25 years, much has changed. What caused this change? Perhaps a large part of it is because of the late pope, John Paul II.

He was a man of faith and conviction, a man of prayer and a man of high morals. His faith was demonstrated in his tireless work for a better life for many people. He had a large role in bringing communism down in Poland, encouraging Poles with dreams of freedom. The many Catholics who were part of the Solidarity movement were instrumental in keeping it non-violent.

He also wanted people of influence to aid those less fortunate. He “deplored the American economic embargo” of Cuba. He stated, “It is not fair, it is not human, it is not Christian to go on maintaining situations that are clearly unjust.” He worked hard to help Palestinians establish their own homeland. He opened doors to conversation with Christians of other denominations and with Muslims and Jews.

He spoke against war and for peace. In his Christmas Day 1990 speech, he said, “War is an adventure without return” and in a speech in Ireland in 1979 stated, “On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and return to the ways of peace.”

Howard Loewen, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif., and a member of the Mennonite–Catholic dialogue, “points out that Pope John Paul II has continued to lead the Catholic Church in the re-assessment of the morality of war and nonviolence begun by the Second Vatican Council . . . the pope praised active nonviolence as the truly Christian response to injustice, and in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (1996) he identifies war as a part of the ‘culture of death‘ ” (Drew Christianson in “An Exchange of Gifts”).

The pope took a hard line on ethical issues. He had an ardent pro-life stance and worked hard to stop abortions. Although some of his moral teaching was not popular with many people, “he refused to soften the church’s stand against artificial birth control.”

He accepted suffering and maintained his dignity throughout his dying days. “Every moment of life is to be embraced as God’s gift, however joyful or however painful,” stated Bishop Richard Smith about the pope’s last days.

His life of prayer was exemplary. It is said he prayed up to seven hours a day and even in his old age prayer and meditation could invigorate his eyes and his smile.

We can all thank God for such a man, and with the rest of the world, we grieve his death. We may not agree with all his theology, but the good he did should not be “interred with his bones,” quoting Shakespeare. Rather it should serve as an example for us to also work for the same ideals.

Quotes are from Winnipeg Free Press, April 3, 2005 unless otherwise noted.

History tour! Next four issues!

Bruce Guenther

The next issues of the Herald will carry an overview – in four chapters – of our denomination’s history and distinctives. It begins with our roots in the Anabaptist reformation of the 16th century. Next it looks at MB beginnings in Russia, and then at the church in North America (and Canada in particular). It ends with a glimpse of the current global and multicultural MB community.

These chapters are very brief, no more than one-page summaries in fact, something like a “Coles Notes” version of MB history and identity, except that there’s no exam* at the end.

The idea for this overview came out of the New Pastor’s Orientation. For some years now, the Canadian MB Conference has conducted an annual retreat for pastors who are new to the denomination. Their introduction to various facets of MB life includes an informative tour of MB history, conducted by Bruce Guenther, professor at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Langley, B.C., using PowerPoint, video clips, and conversation.

Those on the tour invariably express their appreciation for what they see and learn, and we felt that Mennonite Brethren across Canada might enjoy it as well. For some it will be a review; for others it may be new.

When he begins his session at the New Pastor’s Orientation, Guenther gives three reasons we should look at where we come from and who we are.

First, he says, it’s about adopting a family and identity. Studying denominational history is like getting to know one’s in-laws and ancestors after marriage. He is himself a relative newcomer to the MB world – Mennonite Brethren not by parental heritage but by choice.

Second, he says, it’s about understanding the Kingdom of God. Guenther says he has come to appreciate the contribution this denominational family has made to the larger Kingdom of God. This larger context, he adds, keeps the telling of the MB story from becoming an expression of triumphalism or of negative comparison to other denominations.

Third, it’s about obtaining a ministry tool. Understanding the past “enhances the decision-making ability of leaders.” To minister within the MB church, he says, one needs to know something of the culture, just as missionaries learn the culture of the people with whom they work.

Perhaps this is true for everyone in our churches, not just leaders. We hope you will enjoy exploring our heritage and identity with us.

—Dora Dueck

* No exam, we say, but readers may want to save the four issues and participate in a short “open book” quiz we’ll run in the last one for a chance to enter a draw to win a great book or video/DVD. More details will follow.

About this issue

Richard Rempel

The four “chapters” of the MB history tour (see above) serve, loosely, as themes for the next four issues. This issue looks back to Mennonite Brethren roots in the Anabaptist reformation, and opens with a story of Anabaptist suffering, presented in graphic form by illustrator and cartoonist Richard Rempel of Winnipeg. Rempel is also administrative assistant for the youth ministry of the Canadian MB Conference. One of the key ideas of the Anabaptist movement – biblicism – is explored by Sieg Wall. Val Rempel of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. considers how we use the past, whether that past is corporate or individual, and there are also stories of people engaging with the past in various ways.