( You can access my blog at ponderanewsite )
May 28, 2025
Good afternoon,
There will be a worship celebration in Zurich, Switzerland tomorrow at 11:00 am EDT. It is to be a celebration of 500 years of Anabaptism. I am not sure how many people are to be at the Grossmunster Cathedral in downtown Zurich. When our group traveled there in April, we were able to sing a hymn in this church. It was a holy moment for us. This church is where sermons were preached denouncing re-baptism, calling for the death of the Anabaptists in the 1500’s. Across the river is a plaque pointing out the place where one of the earliest Anabaptists, Felix Manz, was drowned for his faith.
Anabaptists believed the war and sword was not a Christian thing to do. This was heresy for the Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed churches. It was part of the early Anabaptist confessions of faith at Schleitheim. We will not take up the sword. Peacemaking and peacekeeping has been part of our witness for 500 years. We have searched the world for places of peace. But, but, but, we have not always been peaceful to each other. There were various groups at the beginning of our history too that did not get along, but called for peace.
Tomorrow there will be a problem at the celebration table. I do not know if communion will be celebrated. Mennonite Central Committee is under scrutiny for some of its practices to some of its volunteers. Over 20 former volunteers have shared about MCC abuse, gaslighting and non-disclosure agreements. I have read the statements and they are awful. I cannot believe MCC would act in this way, but I cannot believe these former MCC volunteers would write these things if they were not true.
At the gathering tomorrow, people are asked to wear teal coloured ribbons to call MCC to task and for peacemaking . Again, there is trouble at the Anabaptist / Mennonite table. Unfortunately, this is not a new thing for us. Our faith is embedded in us, and we want all things to be in the right order, and we want to be in the right relationship with each other, and God. But, again we are at war/disagreement/differences of opinion with each other. This trouble has been in the Mennonite press. I am hoping for reconciliation, for everyone.
” If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ” Romans 12:18
LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL. amen.
Gaza.
Fred
black and white shadows
crush humanity’s freedom
am I complicit ? MPL 2025
Ponder Anew 