A Gospel-Formed Community, Value 1 of 6:
Celebrating our Story.
One of our characteristics that HMC has stated we value is that “We are an Anabaptist-Mennonite Church.” We have also stated that we want to strengthen our identity as an Anabaptist-Mennonite church by offering classes and connecting more intentionally with other Mennonite groups.
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How does this feel for you today?
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What does being Mennonite mean to you?
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What are the resources available to us that can enhance the value of our being Anabaptist/Mennonite?
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How does identifying ourselves as Mennonite enhance our overall congregational identity?
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How does it help us reach our vision of “Being Transformed by God to transform the world”?
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Several key texts for Mennonites include 1 Corinthians 3:11 and Mark 1:14-20. After reading these, how are these texts speaking to Houston Mennonite today?Grace and Peace and Joy to you all today! Have fun!
In the comments, feel free to interact as much as you want with this post and with each other! As I said, I want to incorporate your thoughts into our worship January 18. But most of the benefit is in your interaction with each other!
Marty Troyer (Pastor)
December 31, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Hi, this is a comment. I’m easy to add! Just click on “comment” and follow the instructions. If you need help, just ask Marty. To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.
December 31, 2008 at 11:48 pm
This website is great. Information about our church and related sites is quick and easy to find. It is very user friendly.
January 6, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Hello to all,
This seems like a great way to explore being the church in a geographically challenging place like Houston. Good idea!
In response to Marty’s question, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be Mennonite in the face of Israel’s occupation and invasion of the Palestinian people in Gaza. On one level, I/we decry this action because it is violent (and grossly disproportionate at that) and we are peace-loving folk. On another level, I/we decry the absence of love and compassion in this militaristic response, one that is foreign to our understanding of God and Jesus’ mission in this world. I/We decry that Israel’s government has resorted to faith in its weapons and soldiers more than faith in God.
But what exactly does that mean for Mennonites in Houston, particularly the community called Houston Mennonite Church? How is your witness to a God of love, peace, and justice both personal and communal, both private and public? How does anyone know that you hold these very biblical convictions?
I wish you the best in this and forthcoming discussions. We miss you all. Please know that you are always welcome to stop in and see us, whether you’re going tubing, camping, visiting San Antonio, or just driving west! We’d love to share a meal with you and catch up!
Much love,
tim
January 13, 2009 at 2:06 am
To me, being Mennonite in Houston / Texas / the U.S. means being a pacifist in a place that is known for its aggressive foreign policies and pro-gun stance. When moving here from Canada, keeping contact with my Mennonite roots and finding this church gave me the assurance that at least there were a handful of people who shared the same pacifist values I have.
January 15, 2009 at 10:01 am
Linda,
Thanks for your comments. Have you experienced any noticable difference between US and Canadian Mennonites? What do you think we US Menno’s can learn from our Menno-family up North?
You mentioned pacifism and the American penchant for violence: how forward do you think Mennonites should be in sharing our non-violent views? Are our views just for us, or are they for everyone?
Marty
January 15, 2009 at 10:12 am
Tim,
Well said. I find it infinitely helpful to practice applying our theology/ethics to particular events. The gut-wrenching example of what is going on in Gaza stretches our theology! But I will say this, one of the deepest things I grieve is the perceived function of violence as being somehow redemptive. Hamas, Israel, the mainstream US media, all operate under the myth of redemptive violence. Even the cease-fire talks assume there is a time and place for violence. One of my favorite authors, who happens to be Jewish, would see that and say, “Cockeyed world we live in.”
I also deeply appreciate your perceptive question about the tension between public/private, personal/social. In my January 4 Epiphany sermon I played with the notion that the world/culture has given us the power/freedom to be ourselves in all our radical Christian glory. But yes, what does that mean? How do we communicate it? The church sign? Mailers? Newspaper articles? Presence in certain groups?
I’d love to hear others on this one…
Marty
January 15, 2009 at 12:47 pm
In 1971, it was much more clear to me. That’s when I applied for and received classification with the US Selective Service as a conscientious objector. It was a very concrete and meaningful way that I was able to express my Christian convictions that violence and warmaking are wrong.
Today the government neither wants nor needs my body for its purposes and I wonder about finding concrete and meaningful ways to express my convictions. I hear about Gaza (or wherever is the locale of carnage du jour) and feel utterly powerless to do or say anything that will make a difference, except perhaps to temporarily salve my own conscience.
I’m intrigued by Paul’s statement in Ephesians: “We struggle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities, rulers, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil.” Maybe I need to find the time and place where I can confront and engage the powers; to debunk in some small way the myth of redemptive violence. Then even if it has nothing to do with Gaza, it may have everything to do with Gaza.
January 15, 2009 at 8:41 pm
This is not an accurate assessment, since I only attended Canadian Mennonite churches from age 5 – 20, and I only know HMC in the U.S.,but I would say Canadian and American Mennonites are very similar.
I think North American churches should strive to learn more from our southern hemisphere brothers and sisters.
Roxie, I appreciate you sharing your memory of applying for conscientious objector status. I didn’t know that. I think it would be interesting to hear from more people on how they have lived their beliefs. I don’t know how to share with the broader community / city. I don’t know if they want to hear it.
The only similar thing that comes to mind is when Martin entered middle school, we had to “opt out” of allowing the school to give our name / address to recruiters. We had to send a letter to NOT get put on the recruiter’s mailing list. We seem to have to do this every year.
I am also just remembering now that when I first came to HMC 10 years ago, Judy asked for volunteers to go deliver “Alternatives to Armed Services” pamphlets to a few schools, and I went! Being a school employee now, I don’t know if I’d be allowed to do this. It definitely bothers me that once a week seems to be “Soldiers in the cafeteria” day at the high schools.
January 17, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Roxie,
Thanks for your thoughts, and including your own personal struggles now that you are no longer a young adult.
I wonder sometimes if your story is a microcosm of the broader Mennonite Church story. Alternative service was a watershed in our history, it engaged young people with the world in stunning new ways (both creative and more radical than before). But when alternative service became voluntary service – by removing the compulsory nature of it – our numbers and vitality for service went down. We have seemingly been searching for a “public” identity ever since. (Much too simplified of a statement). The primary constituency’s of our different organizations (Mission Network, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Menno Central Committee) all tend to answer the public identity question in differerent ways than the constituents of other organizations.
There can also develop a pretty wide divide between those Menno’s who have service and/or international experience versus those who do not.
On a final note, has anybody read Ron Sider’s new book, Why I am not a social activist? I think it wrestles from a Christian/Anabaptist perspective with the question regarding “powers and principalities” that you raise.
Thanks!
Marty
February 2, 2009 at 9:12 am
Great website! Good idea for connecting together and exploring what it means to be Mennonite in Houston. Those were issues from 1987-1996 when I was pastor. Keep up the good work. Marty, you have a wonderful church to work with. I hope it goes well for you. Anyone interested in what I have been up to can go to the Peace and Justice Support Network web site: http://www.mennoniteusa.org/peace or visit my own blog: http://leohartshorn.blogspot.com. God bless your work!
Peace,
Leo Hartshorn