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I have no trouble with Mr. Fehr's position (Oct. 23) and think it a most worthy stance. However, I think there is more to Remembrance Day than reminders of violence—the acknowledgement that we are free to worship without interference as a direct result of the death of tens of thousands of men and women in two World Wars.
My father voluntarily served overseas 1914-1918 and suffered for 50 years. My namesake, Fred Hill, a vibrant Christian, was killed on Christmas Day, 1917 in France. My school chum is buried in Germany. My pal was shot down over the North Sea, shielding one of his crew with his body for days before rescue. Five boys from my Sunday school class died; one accepted Christ in Italy and asked me to be proxy when he joined the church.
Am I not to be thankful and remember that Christ was the Supreme Sacrifice? I will wear my poppy, give thanks and remember.
Fred Hill Bryant,
Chilliwack, B.C.
Pam Wedel,
Kelowna, B.C.
I have always believed that homosexuality is a sin, and yet Satan continues to cloud the issue with lies and confusion. Salvation in Jesus Christ is given through the confession of sin. In order to confess one's sins, they must first be recognized as sin.
Lynn Dyckman (Letters, Aug. 28) says, "Jesus never spoke about homosexuality—not one word." If we believe in the Trinity, and that the Bible is the Word of God, then is it not also a part of Christ Himself? God's Word speaks clearly with regard to all forms of sexual immorality in Romans 1:18-32. Romans 1:26-27 refer specifically to homosexual acts. I don't see how homosexuals can have faith in God when the sin they are committing is in defiance of God's Word (I Corinthians 6:12-20).
Homosexuality is a sin, and God will not tolerate sin. Let's not be deceived by our own lusts or Satan's lies, but instead let's cling to God's Word.
Wendy Whittaker,
South Surrey, B.C.
That very week we received a letter from South Calgary Inter-Mennonite church stating that all three Mennonite and MB conferences had asked the church to voluntarily withdraw in light of its publicly affirming attitude toward homosexuals.
Our family lived in Calgary 1994-1996 and was a part of that church. Over the past several years, SCIM has followed a progressive but silent course around the issue of homosexuality. Several openly gay members have been welcomed into full participation in the life of the church. Recently, the church took the public step of joining the Supportive Congregations Network. It was that action which led to all the conferences asking for SCIM's withdrawal.
Members of the Mennonite Parent Support Group (for parents of homosexuals) were excluded from full participation at the recent convention of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. The convention called for more dialogue on the issue, but how can dialogue occur when proponents of one side are removed from the conference?
We strongly support of South Calgary's decision to publicly welcome homosexuals. Through our personal relationships with several gay and lesbian people, we have seen firsthand their sincere desire to serve God, and the honourable nature of their loving, committed relationships. We are pleased to see that South Calgary is refusing to voluntarily withdraw from the conferences.
Peter and Cheryl Farris-Manning, (E)
Nepean, Ont.
1. We ought to be thankful to God for the freedom we have enjoyed as Mennonite brethren from political and military persecution here in Canada, due largely to the willingness of courageous men and women (including many Mennonites) to serve in our armed forces. As David says in the Psalms, God has delivered us from our enemies.
2. As citizens of Canada, it is our responsibility to serve in whatever capacity we can to protect our land. My grandparents embraced citizenship in this safe, supportive country, having escaped, with God's mercy, ruthless regimes in Russia. Many Mennonites accepted the responsibility of citizenship by serving during the World Wars in supportive non-combative roles; we ought to celebrate that along with the unselfish acts of the thousands of Canadians who died to protect what we as Mennonites hold dear.
3. As believers, we should place our priority on living as a Christians. That we have a rich Mennonite heritage and are members of a Mennonite Brethren church are secondary. We all know Jesus told us to love our enemies, while at the same time God commanded the Israelites to go to war for His cause. We Mennonites need to place our personal opinions and church rules aside in favour of God's leading and wisdom. Like the apostle Paul, we must be willing to test our opinions against the Scriptures.
4. It is completely wrong to tar our selfless servicemen and servicewomen with the same brush as tyrants from the past. Our military people here in Canada fought, died and served for us.
Edward M. Warkentin, (E)
Langley, B.C.
I agree that "there is nothing in war to celebrate". I am thankful that our Confession of Faith stresses our need to be reconciling agents in all relationships and to follow Christ's example to love our enemies. Violence (in war or otherwise) is contrary to Christ's gospel of love and peace. I don't wear my poppy to symbolize victory in war. Rather, I am acknowledging the lives of the men and women who fought for the freedom that I now enjoy. Thousands lost lives; several thousand more are living with disabilities, painful reminders of how horrible war is.
Brad Hagkull,
Chilliwack, B.C.
He mentioned that he had carried an experience with him throughout life. On his first day of school, he had been up early, eager to begin this new experience. Before he left for school with his older brothers, his mother drew him gently into another room. There she knelt in prayer, asking God to keep His protecting hand upon her boy, not only on this day but throughout his school career. She did not know what experiences he might face in school. She did know that up to this moment she had done her best, and now she committed her child to God and His keeping.
On another occasion, when he had to stay home from school to help with the farm work, he was about to take a team of horses to the fields. His father called to him and said, "Your mother and I have made it a practice that before we do any new thing, we bring it before God in prayer." So there beside the team of horses, they knelt and prayed.
On this same page of notes I have the testimony of another person who said one of the influences on his life had been his grandmother. He came from a family of boys, and whenever the family car left the driveway with the boys in it for town, they knew their grandmother, who lived on the same yard, would be praying that they might be kept from yielding to temptation. This knowledge kept them from much evil and sinful ways.
Katie Funk Wiebe, (E)
Wichita, Kansas
George H. Epp, (E)
Chilliwack, B.C.
The team player concept was Henry Schmidt's theme during a recent weekend conference. He did not compare it either the elder or council model. His definition was: "Ready, willing, and able to lead or follow when needed and called upon." If leadership is qualitative—meaning spiritual, and positive in every way, even though it is not identified by either of the traditional ways--it should be valued and implemented.
R. Hiebert, (E)
Abbotsford, B.C.
Mark Schneidereit, (E)
Gaza City, Palestine
I admire the courageous exploration of issues in the Herald. The Herald is much better than just denominational propaganda. Again, many thanks for doing excellent work.
Edwin Hintz,
Vancouver, B.C.
In the past, we Mennonite Brethren considered the "sign gifts" (healing, tongues and prophecy) as specific gifts that were given to the disciples for verification that their message was a direct message from God. This was necessary at that time because the Bible was not yet completed. Today, since we have the complete Word of God, there is no further need for these sign gifts. So why is it that some of our churches/pastors state that these sign gifts are for us today? What has changed? Have we received new revelation", was there misinterpretation in the past, or are we permitting the theology of men like Kenneth Copeland, John Wimber or C. Peter Wagner to change our interpretation of the Scriptures?
A second biblical issue to which we need to respond is worship. What does "worship" mean? Is it singing, clapping, drama and a brief positive topical message? It has also been suggested by some that dancing may be part of worship, citing the example of David when "he danced before the Lord". If we follow that line of thinking, should we not also include feast celebrations and the offering of animal sacrifices in our worship services? This was part of the Old Testament worship services. But surely this does not apply for us today, or then Christ's sacrifice on the cross would be in vain.
Is there anybody within the MB Conference who would and could give direction in this matter?
A.M. Klassen, (E)
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Second, we see on TV all the floods with people drowned. These people had no chance to give God their lives, especially the children. We hear of our loving God who healed the sick, raised the dead, etc. How do we look at all this? What kind of answer can we come up with?
E.H Thompson
St. Catharines, Ont.
Pauls touches on education as a possible reason for our problem with keeping pastors. I wish he would have pursued it further. One of the major causes of my frustration is that I was not prepared for this job! Bible college and graduate school taught me to run programs and impart information, not to relate with common people.
A former schoolmate of mine in Bible college and graduate school went on to do a Ph.D. in biblical studies, while I came here to preach the Bible. Now he has been hired by our first alma mater as a professor, training pastors! If a person wants to be an electrician, he must apprentice four years under a seasoned electrician. If a person wants to be a doctor, she must prove herself under a mature practitioner. If a person wants to be a pastor, that person must spend time training under a green academic?!
My friend did one or two church internships and served in a church for a full year, but that could hardly have prepared him for the complexities of long-term ministry. Other professors had more ministry experience, but the structures of both my alma maters never allowed me to benefit deeply from their experiences. In other words, I was never placed into an ongoing, mentoring relationship with a seasoned and sympathetic pastor who stood beside me as I faced the frustrations of ministry, the obstacles to spiritual leadership and the difficulties of building relationships. Pauls also touches on the issue of mentoring. Again, I wish he would have pursued it further.
In my heart, I know that a new career would just be a band-aid solution. What I really crave is a sense that I'm a member of a team, not just an afterthought. What I really desire is an understanding ear that will listen, not just when it's too late. I guess I'm still looking for one or two "Pauls".
"Timothy"
Note: For clarification, neither of the schools attended by this letter writer were Mennonite Brethren. Ed.
E.F. Hamm,
Penticton, B.C.
In the movie Saving Private Ryan, both jobs my brothers did were mentioned--medic and courier. My brothers did not volunteer to go to war. They were conscripted.
To our church's credit, an emphasis on peace was mentioned in our church last Sunday.
Should we not stand beside our brothers and sisters who have suffered and died in order to give us freedom?
Cal Dahmer,
Cambridge, Ont.
Stewart Folkeringa,
Leamington, Ont.
I do not know of any denomination which celebrates Remembrance Day. Those of us who go to the park on Remembrance Day do not go to celebrate. At the cenotaph in White Rock, my children and I saw no evidence of jubilation. We saw a ross-section of Canadians reflecting on the tragedy of war and remembering those from our community who never returned to their families. In the CBC coverage of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa, we also failed to see a celebratory atmosphere; the service was a sombre one of mourning—precisely the mood Mr. Fehr believes should characterize such proceedings.
Out of respect for those who gave their lives, we should wear a poppy and attend Remembrance Day services next November. Their sacrifice secured our freedom to express a personal view in a religious periodical.
J. Schellenberg,
South Surrey, B.C.
Ruth Wood,
Winnipeg, Man.
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