Reducing political polarization
The divisive nature of partisan politics has seeped into almost every aspect of our society. Political views and affiliations often determine who we associate with, even who we worship with. There’s a deep desire in our church for tools that can help us talk productively to people we disagree with politically. It might be co-workers, […]
El Pacto del Día de la Supervivencia firmado en Australia
La mayoría de los australianos festejan el 26 de enero con desfiles, fuegos artificiales y carne a la parrilla. Pero los pueblos originarios de Australia y de las Islas del estrecho de Torres no lo llaman el Día de Australia, sino el Día de la Supervivencia. Todos reconocen la fecha como el aniversario de la […]
Survival Day covenant signed in Australia
Most Australians celebrate each Jan. 26 with parades, fireworks and barbecues. But Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples call Australia Day by another name: Survival Day. All recognize the date as the anniversary of British proclamation of sovereignty over the land now known as Australia. It was on this day in 2019 that Anabaptists from […]
Alumni service-learning tour to Mississippi
The civil rights struggle stepped out of history and came to life for 12 alumni of Mennonite Mission Network short-term service programs. From Mar. 9–16, Arloa Bontrager, SOOP and Youth Venture director, and Susan Nisly, Service Adventure director, led a learning tour through Mississippi. Each tour participant had served in one of Mission Network’s smorgasbord […]
South Africa lessons for peace
Southern African Development and Reconstruction Agency is one of seven ministries in South Africa that partner with Mennonite Mission Network. These ministries include a Bible school for church leaders, working for social justice, and peace-building workshops in schools and communities. Did you know? $25 will help provide study materials for peer mediation workshops in high […]
Mission in Conflict Zones
Anabaptists around the world are engaged in costly mission in conflict zones. Some of these Anabaptists face the threat of death, kidnapping, and rape. The articles in this issue of Anabaptist Witness show that many living and working in conflict zones find Anabaptist and Mennonite theology a helpful aide to their understanding and practice of […]
Jesus inspired creativity
I’ve benefited greatly over the past several months from reading the work of Mennonite theologian Gordon Kauffman. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I understand everything he wrote, or agree with it all, but the idea of creativity being a central component of God’s work in the world through Jesus is exciting. Especially these days […]
God’s table
Practicing Lectio-Divina By Dani Klotz OK. I’m just going to say it. Here I go … I am not a huge fan of Lectio-Divina. Now, don’t judge me just yet. Let me explain. For those of us who might need a refresher on what Lectio-Divina is, it is a Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation, […]
I need your help
The Peace and Justice Support Network exists to support, encourage and strengthen peace and justice across Mennonite Church USA. How that happens takes many forms. PJSN produces resources: Sunday school lessons, Peace Sunday materials, PeaceSigns, the PeaceLab podcast, and more. We offer Spread the Peace grants to support your peace and justice work. PJSN also […]
Full membership in Christ’s new humanity
As human beings, it is our natural tendency to classify and separate ourselves from those who are different from us. That classification and separation takes all forms: gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, socio-economic, religion … and the list goes on. These classifications can cause discomfort, fear, and even harm depending on one’s location and situation. […]
Church safety
The epidemic of mass shootings in our country has the topic of safety on all our minds. How do we best keep schools, children and neighborhoods safe? And the horrific incident of a shooting at a church in Texas last year has many of us asking how do we keep our churches safe. That’s a […]
How do we keep our churches safe?
How do we keep our church safe in a world that feels more dangerous than ever? This question has been posed frequently to both Dove’s Nest and the Peace and Justice Support Network(PJSN), especially after 26 people were killed last year at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. It is asked of Dove’s Nest […]