Thank you so much for this, Melissa, and for your prophetic voice. Nothing has dismayed me more than the Mennonite and Amish capitulation to Trump, and I appreciate your stark analysis here, as well as the model your church continues to provide of faithful witness to the true values of Anabaptism.
As a mainline Methodist, essays like this are super helpful to me. Thanks for giving me a lens into this world.
One thing that seems clear to me about Trumpism at this moment is: It's defying easy categories. In our parts of the world, we're dealing with a good many Latinos who voted for Trump...some of whom have family members at risk. I've had more than one teary conversation with church/staff/community friends in this situation.
Your identification of a survivalist strain of Anabaptist is a great way to think of it. It’s an Anabaptist way of thinking that no longer regards the Gospel and God’s reign as the goal but surviving within privilege and power as the goal.
A theme I found in my European Mennonite History class at Bethel College was that the Mennonites who did not immigrate away from the governments that began to ask them to compromise on their peace position, within a couple generations would find themselves fully assimilated into the culture of privilege to the point of becoming Nazi’s or taking up arms. Perhaps these “traditional” groups that make up Trump Anabaptism have long passed their due date to reckon with the price of the Gospel in the modern era?
If it helps, the largest population of Anabaptists in the world live on the continent of Africa. Anabaptism is growing among people of color and people outside the US who have lived incredible lives of fidelity to the Gospel of peace. One German Mennonite who left Europe because of the idolatry of the nationalistic Mennonites who ceded their loyalty to Hitler describes his people as having ex-communicated themselves. That may be the case.
Melissa - I read the same Anabaptist World article and reacted similarly, especially the comments about Christendom and character. Our church West Philadlephia Mennonite Fellowship, while not as diverse as your church faces many of the same challenges. We are in solidarity with you. Peace, Drick Boyd
This is an excellent essay. Thank you for writing in such depth, clarity and understanding. My parents belonged to a wonderful Mennonite church in Roanoke, Virginia the last years of their lives, who lived out and practiced much in the way you describe your church. God bless you and thank you for the good work.
Your article was a heartfelt one and touched mine deeply. How easy it is for any one of us to sell out for worldly security and out of fear of one kind or another. . Where our heart is there is our treasure also, is so true. Thank you for your call to follow Christ whatever the cost…and not just Anabaptists, but all of us who have dedicated our lives to letting God be God through us in this dismal world order. I will hold you and your church members in my prayers.
Not surprising that people separated from others would gravitate to someone promoting the idea that a chosen few must separate from the rest of the US (aka, those not in MAGA).
I'm not anabaptist by heritage, but I come from a baptist tradition and am pacifist, and I hold the Mennonites in such high respect. I happened to be with a Canadian Mennonite church the weekend after the inauguration, and among other things, their commitment to telling the truth about their tradition, heritage, and stories, like you've done so well in this essay, was deeply encouraging. Thanks for you work on this great piece.
Thank you! The parallels to the Prussian Mennonites are spot-on. The silent part no one wants to be said aloud. Thank you for your voice. And thank you & your congregation for showing Anabaptism can still actually work as it was intended to even when not under persecution. I’ll be posting quotes from this piece for a while.
Thank you so much for this, Melissa, and for your prophetic voice. Nothing has dismayed me more than the Mennonite and Amish capitulation to Trump, and I appreciate your stark analysis here, as well as the model your church continues to provide of faithful witness to the true values of Anabaptism.
Love this! Especially the final lines.
As a mainline Methodist, essays like this are super helpful to me. Thanks for giving me a lens into this world.
One thing that seems clear to me about Trumpism at this moment is: It's defying easy categories. In our parts of the world, we're dealing with a good many Latinos who voted for Trump...some of whom have family members at risk. I've had more than one teary conversation with church/staff/community friends in this situation.
Thanks again.
Your identification of a survivalist strain of Anabaptist is a great way to think of it. It’s an Anabaptist way of thinking that no longer regards the Gospel and God’s reign as the goal but surviving within privilege and power as the goal.
A theme I found in my European Mennonite History class at Bethel College was that the Mennonites who did not immigrate away from the governments that began to ask them to compromise on their peace position, within a couple generations would find themselves fully assimilated into the culture of privilege to the point of becoming Nazi’s or taking up arms. Perhaps these “traditional” groups that make up Trump Anabaptism have long passed their due date to reckon with the price of the Gospel in the modern era?
I would love to see this published in Anabaptist World!! Thank you.
Deeply disappointed, dismayed, disgusted and disillusioned.
If it helps, the largest population of Anabaptists in the world live on the continent of Africa. Anabaptism is growing among people of color and people outside the US who have lived incredible lives of fidelity to the Gospel of peace. One German Mennonite who left Europe because of the idolatry of the nationalistic Mennonites who ceded their loyalty to Hitler describes his people as having ex-communicated themselves. That may be the case.
Thanks for the encouragement, Melissa!
Melissa - I read the same Anabaptist World article and reacted similarly, especially the comments about Christendom and character. Our church West Philadlephia Mennonite Fellowship, while not as diverse as your church faces many of the same challenges. We are in solidarity with you. Peace, Drick Boyd
This is an excellent essay. Thank you for writing in such depth, clarity and understanding. My parents belonged to a wonderful Mennonite church in Roanoke, Virginia the last years of their lives, who lived out and practiced much in the way you describe your church. God bless you and thank you for the good work.
Sending you love from UK.
Your article was a heartfelt one and touched mine deeply. How easy it is for any one of us to sell out for worldly security and out of fear of one kind or another. . Where our heart is there is our treasure also, is so true. Thank you for your call to follow Christ whatever the cost…and not just Anabaptists, but all of us who have dedicated our lives to letting God be God through us in this dismal world order. I will hold you and your church members in my prayers.
With love. Gaynor
So grateful to you for this, Melissa.
This helps me better understand what I have been observing. Thank you.
Not surprising that people separated from others would gravitate to someone promoting the idea that a chosen few must separate from the rest of the US (aka, those not in MAGA).
I don’t think MAGA wants separation, they want assimilation through the power of the state and military, which is why this is very very surprising
I had no idea. Wow.
I'm not anabaptist by heritage, but I come from a baptist tradition and am pacifist, and I hold the Mennonites in such high respect. I happened to be with a Canadian Mennonite church the weekend after the inauguration, and among other things, their commitment to telling the truth about their tradition, heritage, and stories, like you've done so well in this essay, was deeply encouraging. Thanks for you work on this great piece.
#weird
Thank you! The parallels to the Prussian Mennonites are spot-on. The silent part no one wants to be said aloud. Thank you for your voice. And thank you & your congregation for showing Anabaptism can still actually work as it was intended to even when not under persecution. I’ll be posting quotes from this piece for a while.