Number of young Mennonites will decline
by Lyz Weaver, Cassopolis, Mich.
Number of young Mennonites will decline
Re the Feb. 6 issue and the latest profile of Mennonite Church USA members: Most disheartening was the statistic that now the number of Mennonites under age 45 is only 30 percent, a number declining by 24 percent since 1972. As I continued to read on I came to the news story, “Recommendation to Ordain Women Fails.”
Something is wrong when we as a denomination encourage new leadership, educate women for ministry in our church schools, then follow that up by refusing ordination to women in one of our own conferences. As a young woman who attended a Mennonite college for training in pastoral ministry, I and my husband entered into conversation with conference ministers when seeking a pastoral placement. During one conversation I was asked whether or not if we were called to a congregation I would be OK with having the same responsibilities as my spouse but not holding the title of pastor. Refusal to ordain these women is not a far leap—a subtle form of emotional abuse that needs to be addressed by Mennonite Church USA leadership. If we continue to allow “differing scriptural understandings” to suppress others, we can expect the number of young, energetic, educated members to continue to decline. I have to give careful thought to belonging to a denomination that allows this type of abuse to continue.
Associated Issue: A look in the mirror - Feb. 6, 2007
Associated Article: A landscape of change
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