Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Articles

Preserving the History of Mennonites: The Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust

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by David Hersh, GMHT Board Chair

Mennonites, along with many religious minorities, came to colonial Pennsylvania from Krefeld, Germany to participate in William Penn’s “holy experiment” and escape persecution. In 1683, thirteen Dutch-speaking Mennonite and Quaker families settled in what is now known as Germantown, PA, becoming the first Europeans to colonize that area. 

Upon their arrival, Mennonites and Quakers of Germantown worshipped together in homes. William Rittenhouse, who built America’s first mill in 1690 for the manufacturing of linen-based paper, served as their first minister.  Mennonites coming from Germany were skilled in the paper and weaving fields. Farmers arrived in the late 1690s, but farmland was not available in Germantown, so they migrated north to Skippack, PA and west to Lancaster, PA. 

Mennonite theology and conscience contributed to America’s first written petition against slavery, penned in 1688. In 1708, the first Mennonite Meetinghouse in the New World, a simple log cabin structure, was built (on the site of the present Meetinghouse). 

In 1712, Jacob Gottschalk had the Dordrecht Confession, a statement of beliefs adopted by Dutch Mennonite leaders in 1632, translated into English and printed. At this time, membership was recorded at 99 members. In 1725, the same Dordrecht Confession was adopted in Germantown at the first inter-Mennonite conference in America, declaring that nonresistance is expected of all followers of Christ. Conestoga (Lancaster) and Skippack (Franconia) delegates attended and affirmed the Confession. 

As membership grew, the log cabin Meetinghouse was no longer enough, so a new stone structure was constructed and dedicated in 1770. Also, in 1770, the first American book was published in Germantown: Christopher Dock’s Hundred Necessary Rules for Children. 

In 1847, the Germantown congregation became part of the newly-formed Eastern District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church, but in 1851 left the conference, calling itself the Reformed Mennonite Church of Germantown. 

By 1876, the congregation re-affiliated with the Eastern District Conference of the Mennonite Church. In 1888, Daniel Kolb Cassel’s History of the Mennonites was published as the first Mennonite history book in America (Cassell is interred in the Germantown Mennonite Cemetery).

In the early 1950s, the Germantown Mennonite Congregation outgrew the Meetinghouse and moved several blocks. It was at this time the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust (GMHT) was formed and is currently operated by a separate Board of Directors. 

The Trust is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that cares for the 1770 Meetinghouse and associated buildings, a significant symbol of the first permanent Mennonite settlement in North America. We interpret and share the history, faith and witness of Mennonites in Germantown, PA from 1683 to present by preserving the historic Meetinghouse & Cemetery, maintaining the nearby buildings and grounds, preparing and implementing tours, exhibits, curricula, and public programs, and working with Mennonite and Anabaptist churches, conferences and organizations, the Germantown community, and other partners. 

We have converted our vacant lot, 10 East Pastorius Street, into a community garden. Residents have individual plots where they grow their own vegetables. In addition, a large area is planted with vegetables. We have told the community if anyone needs food, you may take what you need. This has really brought the Trust and community together.  

We are in the process of going through our archives, led by Board member Forrest Moyer, to update historic information that has been housed at our office and not fully cataloged. We have historic records housed at Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, PA, but we are trying to reduce duplication between the two sites.   

All are welcome to visit the Meetinghouse by calling our office at 215-843-0943.

Leadership in Times of Trauma

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Dr. MaryLynne Black (left) and John Drescher-Lehman (right) shared information on identifying and empowering youth on how to speak up in situations of abuse or misconduct. Photo by Danilo Sanchez.

Attending Mosaic’s equipping event, Identifying Red Flags, on Friday, April 30  was a priceless opportunity for youth leaders. We received wisdom from two professionals, John Drescher-Lehman and Dr. MaryLynne Black, to prepare us for future situations and circumstances that we may face as youth leaders. I offer to you my learnings from the event.  

Trauma is anything that is life-threatening. We all attempt to avoid, deny, and treat trauma. We do not want to be reminded of it. Trauma causes a loss of connection to who we are, to our families, to our bodies, and to the world around us. (See John Drescher-Lehman’s article for a further description of trauma.)

At some point, all of us will experience trauma of some degree. Unfortunately, youth sometimes experience far more trauma than their leaders ever will experience. Even more disheartening, sometimes the leaders are the ones causing the trauma – knowingly or not. Yet, it is the leader’s responsibility to help lead others out of trauma. But without the right set of knowledge, such as what was highlighted at the equipping event, leaders will not be able to initiate healing. 

Trauma oftentimes takes the form of abuse. Most youth will not speak up about abuse for several reasons: feelings of not being believed, denial, fear of consequences, shame, and discomfort of the topic. In order to help others recover from trauma, we must listen and comfort those who have “stories of their stories.” The priority is to ask the survivor about their needs, rather than imparting our biased reaction and interpretation. We must also know the available resources in the community to offer victims.

“The priority is to ask the survivor about their needs, rather than imparting our biased reaction and interpretation.”

Interacting with youth around the issue of abuse requires that I as a leader focus not only on the safety of others, but also my own safety. I need to be clear that I am the adult. I am the person who represents the Kingdom of God. I am the leader. I therefore need to let my actions reflect this reality. I cannot put myself in situations that put me at risk. 

To keep others safe, I need to have an accountability team in place for when red flag situations occur. Having systems in place that incorporate neutral points of view and provide a space that the child is comfortable with sharing is a must. 

Within this system, the most important thing is to hear the person out with nonjudgement and curiosity. I need to ask more about what is going on because often children or youth will come with a story that does not make sense. Sometimes the most unbelievable stories are the ones that actually happen, so I need to ensure I give him/her the benefit of the doubt. 

True leadership is not stagnant. Leaders lead from whichever situation or circumstance surrounds them. As leaders, we must ensure we are equipped for unthinkable situations that can arise when working with youth. We also need to know how to respond appropriately, in order to lead persons out of trauma, rather than leaving them to suffer further in their trauma. 

This Can’t be Happening

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As the car slid sideways on the gravel road, I braced myself for the impact of the embankment.  Time moved in slow motion as the car flipped upside down and traveled backward down the ditch.  As glass shattered and roof metal shrilled across gravel, I had one thought, “This can’t be happening.”  I crawled out of a broken window, looked at the bottom of my car facing the night sky, and ran the last mile home.

When a traumatic event happens to us or someone close to us, our first reaction is one of disbelief and shock. Often our initial response is, “This can’t be happening!”  

A traumatic event is something we were not expecting, are not prepared for, and doubt our ability to survive it, emotionally, and sometimes physically.  We want to look the other way, think about something else, pretend it isn’t true, and go back to our “normal life.”

Peter Levine, a leader in the field of trauma healing says, “Trauma is the most avoided, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.”  We all attempt to avoid, deny, and leave trauma untreated, because our brains are wired to survive it and then get as far away from the event as possible — physically, mentally, and emotionally.  This is one of the reasons why traumatic experiences can be buried in a person’s memory for years; we simply don’t want to be reminded of it, because when it happened, we thought we might not survive.  Levine says people can be traumatized by any event they perceive (consciously or unconsciously) to be life-threatening and their ability to respond to the perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed.

When trauma happens to someone we know, we often have the same response as when it happens to us.  We can feel caught in the conflict between the perpetrator and the victim, forced to take sides.  Many of us have felt this conflict in response to Daniel Kabakjian’s recent accusation that his principal, Martin Weins, made inappropriate physical contact with him and other male students at Dock Mennonite Academy.  

For years, we have lived in a culture that wants to believe persons with power and dismiss those who are harmed. Those with power can use their influence and authority as a shield to protect themselves, while harming others.  We don’t want to believe that good people such as parents, teachers, pastors, therapists, and other helpers, can also cause harm.  

In her book Trauma and Recovery, Dr. Judith Lewis Herman says it is tempting to take the side of the perpetrator.  “All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing.  He appeals to the universal desire to see, hear, and speak no evil.  The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of pain.  The victim demands action, engagement, and remembering.” Levine continues, “In short, trauma is about loss of connection – to ourselves, to our bodies, to our families, to others, and the world around us.”

May we be willing to see.  May we be willing to believe those who tell us they have been harmed.  May we be willing to carry our share of the burden of pain.  For we know, when we are able to see the harm, all of us are born with the capacity to heal.  May we offer this gift of healing to all.

Editor’s note: After allegations of misconduct at Dock Mennonite Academy became public in March, Mosaic Conference received requests to provide resources for pastors and youth leaders to understand and lovingly respond as congregational members shared stories of trauma and abuse from their own lives. This is the first in a series of four articles by John Drescher-Lehman, LCSW designed to provide information on abuse-related trauma and guidance for pastors and congregations who desire to foster openness and healing.

Resources for Trauma Series

by John Drescher-Lehman, LCSW

Am I My Brother & Sister’s Keeper?

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I’m a proud father of three boys. I love them even though they fight often. They compete for their parents’ attention and to prove their dominance over each other.

The rivalry between my sons can quickly become violent. When they fight, I say, “Remember, you are brothers. Hands are for caring, not for hitting. Don’t ever say you hate your brother. You need to care for and protect each other.”

When one of my boys cries after getting hit by the other one, I ask, “Why is your brother crying?” Many times the answer is, “I do not know.” The first reaction is denial.

God asked a similar question to Cain after he murdered his brother, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). Just like my sons, it’s a denial. Maybe Cain considers Abel more a competitor than a brother.

“I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)

In today’s world, if the question were asked of Travis and Gregory McMichael — “Where is Ahmaud Arbery, your brother?” — maybe the answer would be: “He’s not our brother. We see him as a threat. That’s why we killed him.”

What if the question were asked to Robert Aaron Long, “Where are your sisters? Where are Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Yaun and Daoyou Feng?” 

Maybe he would say, “I don’t know. I never considered them my sisters, otherwise I would not have shot and killed them.”

People are being killed, slashed, attacked, mocked, told to “go back where you came from” just because they have different skin tones and eye shapes than people from the dominant culture.

Why is that? Why is there so much hate and fear over these differences? 

Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know we all share the same ancestors. We are the descendants of Adam and Eve, made in the image of God. We are all brothers and sisters.

Recent scientific studies confirm that humans are all more closely related than we have initially thought. Susanna Manrubia, a theoretical evolutionary biologist at the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology, says, “All of [us] carry the genes of your ancestors because we share the [same] ancestors.”

Maybe people forget we are one race called humanity. In these troubled times, followers of Jesus need to speak up against personal and systemic racism and violence. We need to confess our sins and lament with people who are lamenting. It’s time to build bridges of friendship and solidarity across cultures.

The Enemy uses fear to control, oppress, and dominate. Fear of others is a weapon of evil. As believers, we need to dismantle this weapon. We need to break barriers of race and culture, debunk myths, and refute stereotypes.

There is an Indonesian saying, “Tak kenal maka tak sayang,” which translates, “You can’t love someone you don’t know.”

I believe that in every conflict there is an opportunity: to get to know each other better, learn from each other, and be transformed together.

Step out of your comfort zone. Let’s take this opportunity to become brothers and sisters, ones who love regardless of our differences.

Jesus died for us because he loves us. His blood was spilled so we can heal and unite as brothers and sisters. His blood is enough for us all. Let’s do our part so that no more blood of our brothers and sisters is spilled.

Editor’s Note: This article, in its entirety, first appeared in Anabaptist World on April 16, 2021 and is reprinted with permission.

Need a Hymnal?

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In the fall of 2020, MennoMedia released the latest Mennonite hymnal, Voices Together, commissioned by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. “Hymnals are generational,” the planning team behind the new hymnal explain. “They reflect the rhythms of the Holy Spirit, moving among God’s people in a particular era. As worship rhythms develop new currents, the language of a recent generation needs to expand too.”

Voices Together succeeds Hymnal: A Worship Book (1992) and its two supplements, Sing the Journey (2005) and Sing the Story (2007).

The time between the release of an earlier songbook, The Mennonite Hymnal (1969), and the publication of Hymnal: A Worship Book was 23 years. The release of Voices Together in the fall of 2020 marked 28 years since the publication of Hymnal: A Worship Book.

  • Blooming Glen congregation spent one evening recently replacing all of their hymnals in their sanctuary. Photo by Betty Kulp.
  • Blooming Glen congregation spent one evening recently replacing all of their hymnals in their sanctuary. Photo by Betty Kulp.
  • Blooming Glen congregation spent one evening recently replacing all of their hymnals in their sanctuary. Photo by Betty Kulp.

Some Mosaic congregations have already purchased the new hymnal for use in worship.  A few weeks ago, Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church replaced their old hymnals with Voices Together.  One of their Sunday School classes, The Christiannaires, took on the task and, with organized teamwork, were able to swap out the hymnals in one evening. 

If your congregation or organization could use copies of Hymnal: A Worship Book, Blooming Glen congregation would be happy to share their resources. Please contact Pastor Michael Bishop at Michael@bgmc.net for more information.

When One Year Becomes 31 Years

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Charlie Ness once joked that he would not take on any more interim pastorates.  The two churches he served in this manner became long-term ministries, most recently at Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite Church.  In 1990, Charlie, with his wife, Janet, accepted a one-year call to be the interim pastor.  They stayed 31 years.  At the end of 2020, Charlie “retired” from ministry, formally ending his time as a staff pastor at Perkiomenville (“Perk”). 

During their 31 years, Charlie and Janet had a front row seat to God’s work in growing the congregation.  In that time, the church physically moved locations, from a property on Deep Creek Road to the main road in Perkiomenville, Gravel Pike (Highway 29).  The move accommodated the church’s growth as established members welcomed new families into the congregation.  They also worked with people who came from broken backgrounds, introducing them to healing and hope in Christ.  

Charlie and Janet have seen many changes in ministry and worship styles in their time. But many would agree that the constant amidst those changes are Charlie’s heart for evangelism and Janet’s gift of hospitality.  Many Perk members benefited from Janet’s home-cooked meals, whether at their table or delivered to their homes.  The once-a-month “JOY lunch” is a staple gathering for the seniors, where Janet and her team prepare a meal, and Charlie coordinates a theme or speaker.

Charlie’s influence extends beyond the church.  He helped form Liberty Ministries to help men released from jail find a new start.  This ministry came about from Charlie’s visits to Graterford prison to lead Bible studies.  Charlie has also been a member and president of the Upper Perkiomen Ministerial Association, serving as an advocate and coordinator for mission work.  He is also the driving force for Men’s Encounter, a weekend program where men are challenged to deepen their walk with God and choose God’s ways of living.

Charlie and Janet Ness enter the celebration of their 31 years of ministry at Perkiomenville Mennonite Church. Photos by Mike Spinelli and Melanie Baker.
An Open House to celebrate Charlie and Janet Ness at Butter Valley Golf Port on April 11, 2021. Photos by Mike Spinelli and Melanie Baker.
Janet & Charlie Ness with missionaries, Bob and Bonnie Stevenson, of Mexico City. Photos by Mike Spinelli and Melanie Baker.

To honor Charlie and Janet Ness for their years of ministry and God’s faithfulness through them, Perkiomenville congregation hosted an open house on the afternoon of April 11, 2021. Earlier that day, Missionary Bob Stevenson preached at a celebratory worship service.  Stevenson was one of many men Charlie influenced through the prison ministry.  Stevenson now oversees a network of churches and church plants in and around Mexico City.

Charlie and Janet’s ministry is not truly ending.  Charlie serves as an interim associate pastor at Towamencin (PA) Mennonite Church.  Charlie will also continue his work with Men’s Encounter.  Perkiomenville Mennonite Church has established a fund to enable Charlie to continue to do the ministry God calls him to do.  

But Charlie is very clear on one thing: his interim work will not lead to another long-term pastorate.

My Journey of Self Discovery

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Ever have a pain in your body and you try to figure it out?  You move your leg around to figure out the source.  You stretch and you research your pain. Later you talk to the doctor, and it gets diagnosed. You are told what to do and what to watch out for. As we get older, there are more prescriptions for self examination.  We are to poke and prod ourselves from time to time and make sure we are well.  Get the blood pressure checked and other things: daily practices to keep us alive and thriving with our body.

It amazes me how many, myself included, do not do this when it comes to our spiritual and mental health.  During these times of COVID, I have seen more and more talk about mental and spiritual health.  Lamentations 3:40 tells us, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (NIV).  I love this!  (Lamentations, for the record, can be so deep and inclusive of so many things, I highly recommend the book to study during these odd times in life.)  

Ok, back to this self examination of the soul and mind … I have learned over the past two years, through a mental breakdown, that it is very important for self examination and perspective.

Many times we view the world as it revolves around us. Try this exercise. Look forward and turn your body around.  You will see how the world revolves around you!  In order for us to self examine ourselves, we need to take a moment and move the camera angle outwardly and look at ourselves from an outside view.

This can be done in a couple ways.  One is to just sit and pause.  Take a moment to write or speak how you are feeling.  For instance, at the time of this writing, my morning has not gone as I had hoped.  I am having to be very flexible and focused on tasks at hand.  My stress is rising. I am going to need some space to breathe later today and get back to a solid state of mind.  I can tell you this because I have learned how to self examine.

Taking a pulse of how I am… looking at what makes me stressed or not stressed… how do I release all this?  Self awareness is something I am learning more and more.  Being vulnerable with others in how I feel and where I am at with life has been crucial in all this.  

Book Cover from InterVarsity Press

“Risking vulnerability and love is what takes courage.”

― from The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Cron & Stabile

Author Ian Morgan Cron has really inspired me on this journey.  This quote has been a heartbeat for me.  I am constantly being vulnerable with those around me so that they too can be loved the way I would want to be loved.  

Today I am imploring you to take some time and sit.  Sit with yourself and just breathe.  Realize you exist and you are alive.  God created you so beautifully.  Do we not owe it to ourselves to tend to our soul and mind?  

I do not have all the space to tell you all the tools and tricks, but try reading Lamentations or The Road Back to You.  Of course you can also talk to me too.  I am on this journey of self discovery.  It has been fascinating to understand how God made me and how he gave me the tools to live an amazing life with HIM!

Whitehall Road Clean-up

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Youth and adults from Whitehall (Whitehall, PA) Mennonite Church pose before their bi-annual road clean-up. 

Bob Walter, the pastor who helped plant Whitehall (Whitehall, PA) Mennonite Church, used to teach that “any church worth its salt” will get involved in the surrounding community.  One of the small ways was to bless the community by adopting a section of Rt. 145 and participating in road clean-up twice a year. 

The road clean-up coordinator, Marie Lesser, fondly known as our “Italian Grandmother,” would organize with the township for supplies and faithfully call folks on Friday night to participate (it was really hard to say no to Marie).

Early Saturday morning, she would bring donuts and coffee and babysit any children who were too young, while everyone did the clean-up. When Marie passed away, Mark Whitermore took over the organizing, but we made our start-time a little later.

The activity fits in with our desire to care for the earth and to bless our community through service. We work in pairs–usually an adult with a youth–so it’s an opportunity for relationship building too. We always sort of moan and groan when the time comes… but we continue to do it! And we like to share our “found” stories when we return.