We have been away for 2 days and hence why no blog! We have visited a Mennonite elderly peoples home - Size and luxury of a large 4 star hotel! We then visited the regional conference of MCEC - Mennonite church Eastern Canada. Friday evening at that was a bit dull but Saturday was quite interesting and helped me to understand a bit more what it might mean to be Mennonite, however just when I think I've got it sorted, I realise that I didn't get it at all. There certainly seems to be a big difference as to what it means to be Mennonite in Canada and what it means elsewhere. In Canada it is very much linked to Ethnicity, Customs, and family. You may even call it tribal, this is not so elsewhere. The common link seems to be a drive to be a church of peace and justice.
I also observe that the Mennonite church and it's people in many places here are very wealthy financially. Church buildings are big and well equipped. Homes are large and well kept.
Churches here are largely grown through family and continued Mennonite history and inheritance. While this is serving them well numerically, the higher conference is aware that the church can not continue this way for long term survival and is encouraging churches to look outside of it's own people group. This message will be hard for the congregations as changes and loss of certain identity may be needed to be relevant to others. Certainly it will be a challenge for this inherited tradition.
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