LTRP Note: The following is posted for informational and research purposes.
At their annual assembly this summer, the Mennonite Church USA passed two resolutions on the issue of accepting unrepentant homosexuals as members. The “Resolution for Repentance and Transformation,” repenting of harm done to LGBTQ people and calling for broader inclusion, passed by a majority of 55.7% (“MC USA Delegate Assembly widens the circle for LGBTQ people,” Mennoniteusa.org, June 1, 2022). An “organization resolution” updated the membership guidelines so that pastors are no longer prohibited from performing “same-sex covenant ceremonies.” That one passed by a majority of 82.8%.
The Mennonites trace their roots to the Anabaptists of Europe and to Menno Simons (1492-1561) in particular. Beginning in the 17th century, large numbers of Mennonites settled in America and Canada. They are divided into about 40 groups, some more conservative than others. The Mennonite Church USA is the largest group with about 530 congregations and is the most “liberal,” meaning apostate, in that they follow man’s thinking rather than God’s Word. (In May 2022, the Lancaster Mennonite Conference, with its 180 congregations, separated from the Mennonite Church USA for its changing views on homosexuality.) There are several conservative, separatist Mennonite groups, including Biblical Mennonite Alliance, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, and Ohio Wisler Mennonite. There are also small numbers of “old order” Mennonites that are similar to Amish, traveling in horse and buggy and practicing plain dressing and shunning. (source)
Hopefully, she will stay in the Word. Man fails, but God does not. And perhaps she will find a church nearby that is standing by truth.
A friend from my prayer group at my home has just left her Presbyterian church because they printed a statement saying that they would accept practicing homosexuals into their congregation, no repentance needed. Some troubled members attended a meeting to discuss the issue and there was a woman at the meeting helping lead the discussion dressed as a man. That was traumatic for my friend, so now she does not want to attend any church, even though I invited her to my church. These are sad times. Morality has been turned upside-down.
I wanted to add that the Lancaster Mennonites in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania pulled away from the Mennonite Conference USA in 2018 over this issue.
Makes you wonder what bible they are reading from.
I guess shakers and the Quakers are next
Seems prudent to add those connected with the institutional side to the caution list as far as authors, theologians, etc. Look at how the institutional side reportedly handled the case of John Howard Yoder:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Howard_Yoder
John Howard Yoder (December 27, 1927–December 30, 1997) was an American theologian and ethicist best known for his defense of Christian pacifism. His most influential book was The Politics of Jesus, which was first published in 1972. Yoder was a Mennonite and wrote from an Anabaptist perspective.”
“Yoder began his teaching career at Goshen Biblical Seminary. He was Professor of Theology at Goshen Biblical Seminary and Mennonite Biblical Seminary (the two seminaries that formed what is now called Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) from 1958 to 1961 and from 1965 to 1984. While still teaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, he also began teaching at the University of Notre Dame, where he became a Professor of Theology and eventually a Fellow of the Institute for International Peace Studies.”
“Yoder sexually abused over 100 women during the 1970s and 1980s while at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. The abuse was widely rumored, but not acted upon even when board members became aware of the numerous accusations.”
“The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary acknowledged in a statement from 2014 that sexual abuse had taken place and it had been tolerated partly because he was the leading Mennonite theologian of his day and partly because there were not the safeguards in place that there are today.”