People and Events

John Howard Yoder, a leading Mennonite theologian, died Dec. 30 of an apparent heart attack. At the time of his death, he was on the faculty of theology at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. Previously, he was on the faculty of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary 1962-1984 and president of Goshen Biblical Seminary 1970-1973. In 1972 he published The Politics of Jesus, his best known book, which helped popularize the Anabaptist peace position for his generation. In addition to his faculty position at Notre Dame, he was also a fellow of the school's Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. The January, 1997 issue of Mennonite Quarterly Review listed 900 books and articles written by Yoder.--CANADIAN MENNONITE

Chicago physicist Richard Seed announced in January that he will clone a human being within two years if he gets financial support. The US Congress is debating whether to ban the procedure, and US president Bill Clinton has forbidden public funding. Shortly after Seed made his declaration, 19 European countries signed a treaty banning human cloning, calling the procedure a violation of human dignity and a misuse of science. Seed says he will bypass any ban by moving his research to Mexico if necessary. Seed, 69, was involved in human embryo transplant research 20 years ago. Recently, the Chicago Tribune reported Seed was broke and needed money. Seed says he wants to clone human babies for infertile couples. Thom White Wolf Fassett, general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, issued a statement opposing cloning human beings, saying that it will produce large numbers of wasted human embryos. (The cloning of Dolly the sheep last year required more than 270 attempts.) Seed, who is a member of First United Methodist Church in Oak Park, Ill., said, "God intended for man to become one with God, and cloning and reprogramming of DNA is the first serious step in becoming one with God."--Evangelical Press News Service

The Boston Red Sox have released their 1998 baseball schedule. The home opener is April 10--the same day as Good Friday and the first night of Passover. The organization said its attempts to change the date of the opener were unsuccessful. It has decided to limit the pre-game ceremonies and ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in the park for that day.--EPNS

The biennial North American Mennonite Camping Association convention is being held March 26-29 at Camp Arnes in Manitoba. People involved with Mennonite camps in Canada and the US are invited to attend. The convention will be a time for spiritual refreshment and will focus on helping camp personnel offer Christian hospitality to their various guests. The keynote speaker will be Kathy Giesbrecht, a youth pastor and director of the Resource Centre of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. Workshops will cover such areas as boards and leadership, church-camp relations, putting creation theology into camping programs, pastoral and personal issues for camp staff, summer program and support services.--CAMPS WITH MEANING

One of the most famous photos from the Vietnam war showed a girl running down a road as napalm burned away her clothing. Kim Phuc, 9 at the time, was speaking at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. last year when she met pastor John Plummer, who said he was the man who ordered the attack. In an emotional meeting after the speech, she forgave him. It turns out, however, that Plummer was not responsible for ordering the attack on the village of Trang Bang June 8, 1972. Recently, he told the Baltimore Sun that he had lied about his role in the incident. Plummer, a United Methodist pastor in Virginia, originally claimed responsibility. Apparently, the pilot of the plane that dropped the napalm was South Vietnamese, and Plummer's former superiors say he didn't have the authority to order attacks. Plummer said he never meant to deceive anyone, and claimed he was overcome with emotions the day Phuc spoke.--EPNS

The abortion rate in the US dropped significantly in 1995, continuing a pattern of steady decline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The proportion of women of child-bearing age having abortions dropped 5% from 1994 and 20% from 1980. More effective use of contraception, changes in attitudes towards abortion and availability of abortion were factors contributing to the decline. The annual number of abortions in the US peaked at more than 1.4 million in 1990 but dropped to 1.21 million in 1995. The abortion rate for women 15-44 was 25 per 1,000 in 1980, but fell to 20 per 1000 by 1995. The CDC reported 311 legal abortions per 1,000 live births in 1995, the lowest level since 1976. 47% of women having abortions are age 25 or older, 33% are 20-24, and 20% are teens.--EPNS

At the signing of the anti-personnel landmine treaty by 121 countries in early December, it was reported that in 1995 approximately $700 billion was spent on the world's militaries and only $33 million on mine clearance and victim assistance. By the end of the conference, more than $500 million had been pledged by governments for these purposes. Conference participants agreed the money should not come out of existing funds for development programs and that communities affected by mines should have a voice in deciding how these resources will be used.--MCC CANADA

A retreat for abuse survivors and their spouses was held last fall at Five Oaks Christian Centre near Paris, Ont. The retreat, sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, saw 13 couples dialogue about their situations in a Christian environment. Two years ago, the Family Violence Concerns program of MCC Ontario first asked four couples to explore how their marriages had been affected by spousal abuse. MCC believes that abuse strongly affects a marriage, even though it may have happened long ago. The spouse of an abuse survivor is seen as a "secondary survivor".--MCC ONTARIO

The number of Americans identifying themselves as "pro-life" rose to 42% in 1996 from 39% in 1995, and the number identifying themselves as "pro-choice" declined from 49% to 45% over the same period. 58% of American women and 50% of American men favour outlawing most abortions.--US CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

The estimated cost of merging the General Conference Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church is $480,000 US. $100,000 is estimated for legal services, $90,000 for communication and identity development, $85,000 for meetings connected with the merger and $65,000 for developing a new periodical to replace The Mennonite and the Gospel Herald. A tentative budget calls for $190,000 to be raised from donations, with Mennonite Mutual Aid contributing a similar amount; $97,000 is already available.--GOSPEL HERALD

The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada voted in November to continue its policy of allowing only men to hold the position of pastor. At FEBC's 44th annual convention 233 delegates approved the position, 45 opposed it and 20 abstained. The strongest opposition came from B.C., which had voted against an earlier version of the proposal by approximately 60% at a regional convention in June.--CHRISTIANWEEK

Youth Mission International moved its Waterloo, Ont. office Feb. 2. Its phone number and e-mail address remain the same. The new address: 100 Frobisher Drive, Waterloo, Ont. N2V 1Z8--YOUTH MISSION INTERNATIONAL

Ms G gained public attention in 1996 when a court in Winnipeg ruled that she had the right not to be forced into treatment for substance abuse while pregnant. The ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada last Oct. 31. However, Ms G is now off sniff. She was married Nov. 1. She says she wants to get on with her life and be a mother. Raised in an aboriginal community in northern Manitoba, she lost her own mother when she was 11 and was placed in foster care. At 16, she began sniffing glue, continuing through three pregnancies and a five-year abusive relationship. After the Manitoba government was granted custody of her first three children, she successfully argued that no one had a right to force her to do anything even though she was then pregnant with her fourth child. Even though the court ruled she did not have to undergo treatment, she voluntarily stayed in the hospital, going through withdrawal. Finding support from her future husband and strength from God, she gave up the habit. Both say they have recommitted their lives to Christ, although their church attendance is still sporadic. Ms G hopes to finish high school (she had been an A student but dropped out in grade 10 when she became pregnant). She has custody of her fourth child; her fifth was due to be born in January.--CHRISTIANWEEK

The Vatican finished 1997 in the black, the fifth straight year it has done so. Employing 2,400 people, the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church projects 1998 expenses of $183 million and revenues of $183.5 million.--CHRISTIANWEEK

The Angus Reid Group asked Canadians what they thought was the most important thing about Christmas.

A second question asked people what activities they would most likely do at Christmas.

% indicating specific activity	1987	1993	1995
Have a Christmas tree	88	85	86
Go to church	65	55	55
Have a nativity scene at home	53	47	47

--CHRISTIANWEEK

Mennonite Central Committee and Indonesian Mennonites are contributing $7,900 to help fly supplies into the remote central highlands of Irian Jaya, which are experiencing a drought. Another $7,900 is being given to the Evangelical Church of Irian Jaya to help provide medicine and food for 89,000 people. An estimated 653 people have died, and disease is spreading. Some observers blame the lack of rain on El Nino, a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific.--MCC

Colombia averages more than 1000 kidnappings a year, the highest rate in the world. Rebel groups are blamed for 70% of the kidnappings, with the hostages usually being held for ransom. Five years ago, three missionaries with New Tribes Mission were believed to be taken hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Their fate is still unknown.--COMPASS

More than $1.3 million was raised by Mennonite Central Committee relief sales across Canada in 1996. Ontario raised the most at $416,700, followed by B.C. with $415,100, Manitoba with $204,000, Saskatchewan with $160,000 and Alberta with $112,200. In total, 15 sites raised $1,308,000, an increase of about 6% from the previous year. --MCC CANADA

Anti-cult movements are asking the European parliament to limit the activities of cult groups. However, critics fear the action could also limit the activities of smaller religious groups, such as evangelical Christians, and threaten religious freedom generally. Some parliamentarians make a distinction between sects (small religious groups) and cults (which use criminal and psychological coercion).--COMPASS DIRECT

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