Language: not just baby talk

My nephew is learning to talk. He rambles on, confidently ending every sentence with one word that can be understood by his audience: Mommy. And so it goes, “Na-na baba, Mommy! Da du du du, Mommy!”

Thankfully, my sister’s self-esteem remains intact when Jordan refers to everyone as Mommy, including his stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh.

The study of speech and language acquisition is fascinating. Researchers have proven that language is a powerful force in creating identity and fostering our growth as human beings.

Language is also important in worship and the formation of Christian community. At the genesis of many Protestant denominations, language was enmeshed with group identity. Lutherans were German. Orthodox believers were Greek. Anglicans were English. A common language helped preserve the memory of these churches and communicate their unique theological beliefs.

However, due to forces such as evangelism and globalization, denominations have ceased to operate in just one language and, in many cases, distanced themselves from the “mother tongue.”

This is the case for the MB denomination. Historically, Mennonite Brethren spoke German. Over time, as in other groups, the immigrant language of this faith community gave way to the adopted country’s main languages, and evangelism efforts led to MB church plants in other languages. Now, Canadian Mennonite Brethren converse in English, Chinese, French, Hindi, and more.

This isn’t great news for everyone, especially those of an older generation whose primary connection to the MB church is through the German language. Losing one’s language can be devastating. It can signal the loss of identity, links to the past, and ability to communicate information.

A large number of our members are experiencing this loss in a real way. In January 2007, the Mennonitische Rundschau, the German periodical of the Canadian conference, will send its last issue to the press after 130 years in print. As the transition from German to English (and other languages) occurred in our MB churches, the Rundschau continued its run, but saw a gradual decline in readership over the decades.

As the Rundschau closes, many people are grieving. Its readers grieve the loss of a forum to share stories and information in their “heart” language. They are also asking questions about the future of our denomination

Does the loss of a German-language publication signal a loss of identity for the Mennonite Brethren? Other denominations have faced similar challenges connected to language shifts and managed to thrive. For example, De Wachter, the Christian Reformed Church’s Dutch-language periodical, which was established in 1869, closed its pages in 1985. The Christian Reformed Church is still thriving and maintaining strong theological distinctives with 300,000 members in 1,000 congregations across the U.S. and Canada. This can serve as an encouragement to Mennonite Brethren.

All endings, despite their accompanied grief, offer an opportunity to celebrate the past and look to the future. As the Rundschau closes, we can remember its colourful past: its beginnings in Nebraska; its 13 editors, including a German Catholic who served from 1886–1895; its temporary name change to the Mennonite Review in 1940 after open hostility towards the German language during wartime.

The closure of the Rundschau can also point to a greater truth. We remind ourselves that, as Christians, our identity, unity, and power don’t stem from language, but from membership in God’s family. Ultimately, our identity is that of children of God. This is our true strength and unifying force as Mennonite Brethren.

For now, we continue to adapt linguistically, and we say “Auf Wiedersehen” to the Rundschau. Thanks for a fantastic century!