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2008-07-22 issue:

Mennonite elected officials describe how they put faith and state together

Riegsecker wary of extremes in both parties; Stoltzfus says neither party is immune from errors; Grimes admits there are some offices he could not hold.

by Anna Groff

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Bob Godshall (R)
Pennsylvania State Representative
Year elected: 1982
Resides in Souderton, Pa
Congregation: Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton

When Representative Bob Godshall started in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 26 years ago, Republican party affiliation proved important in his area outside of Philadelphia.

“As long as that ‘R’ was in front of your name,” he says, “You were almost automatically elected, but that has changed considerably with the county. I doubt if I ever would’ve been elected as a Democrat.”

His district is strongly pro-choice but he has always voted pro-life because of his convictions and the important of being consistent.

“Voting with the way the wind blows on a given day” does not work, he says. He says he has worked to build trust and relationships with his constituents throughout the years.

In general for Godshall, voting is finding that “delicate balance” of one’s convictions and serving those in your community.

Godshall, who calls himself a “conservative individual” says “I do what I can, based on my area and my constituents.” But one is elected to serve, not because he or she is “super-intelligent,” he adds.

Serving means using his political power to enhance communities, Godshall says, as
“people come to [my office] when they have no place else to go.”

When he started in politics most Mennonites didn’t vote and it was difficult for him when his own people did not support him.

“I think we all have a responsibility to choose the people who we’d like to have serve us,” he says.

Godshall says more Mennonites are involved now but it’s still a struggle—as he has seen himself and others put a lot of work into “conservative causes and Anabaptist causes.”

Daniel Grimes (D)
Goshen (Ind.) city council member
1999-2007
Resides in Goshen
Congregation: Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church, Goshen

Daniel Grimes’ identity as a Democrat is a “non-issue.” Grimes, who served on the Goshen, Ind., city council from 1999-2007, grew up in Philadelphia where all elected officials were Democrat. Democrats focused on civil rights issues first, he adds.

During the civil rights movement, Grimes says many people made sacrifices so he had opportunities they could not have imagined.

“Freedom and liberty are not things I take lightly,” he adds.

However, Grimes—who now works for Mennonite Mutual Aid in Goshen, Ind.—says he is not a party-line voter.

“The label of ‘party’ can be misleading of who you really are,” he says.

His involvement in politics in Goshen happened “accidentally” as he initially became involved in an issue concerning a school building proposal. He started a petition, gathered 100 signatures and showed up at the school board meeting which “no one goes to,” he says.

Grimes says he believes the government is supposed to work for people, so it is necessary to voice one’s opinion.

Grimes admires Mennonites who are involved with politics that affect their neighbors—locally, nationally and globally. If not, Mennonites are saying ‘the government is designed to serve me’ like everyone else, he says.

Grimes believes Mennonites involved in political activism should be consistent, work for a “back-and-forth dialogue” and not advocate only for their own good.

Voting is one way we can consider others. Each generation of Mennonites has to figure out what how to approach politics in their own context, he says.

As an elected official, Grimes voted his conscience but factored in what he heard from citizens. As a Christian and Mennonite, Grimes says he does not separate faith and politics—and admits there are governmental positions he could not hold because of his convictions.

As an Anabaptist elected official, Grimes said taking the Pledge of Allegiance presented the biggest challenge for him. But it’s a “fine line” because as an elected official he thought it was disrespectful to not say the pledge and would “limit my ability to be effective,” he says.

Janet Brown (R)
Nappanee (Ind.) City Council
Year elected: 2004
Resides in Nappanee
Congregation: First Mennonite Church, Nappanee

In ministry and in politics, Janet Brown says she goes with what the consensus is.

“[On city council] I vote for the constituency,” she says. “It has caused some real interesting situations.”

And in Nappanee, a town of about 8,000, “people pretty much let you know what they think,” she says.

Involved in politics since age 18, Brown also serves part-time as a retired pastor of First Mennonite Church in Nappanee.

Brown has always believed there is a place for Christians to be involved in politics.

She describes herself as conservative by political standings but had more liberal leanings in her younger years. Now she favors diminished government, is pro-life and opposed to the ordination of “homosexual people,” although she would welcome them into her church.

The Nappanee mayor saw her as an involved community member and encouraged her to run for office. This had nothing to do with her being Mennonite, she says.

In office she serves with others who profess to be Christian but notes that she is not a “red hot Anabaptist” herself.

Brown says that every good citizen has a responsibility to push for change in government, not just Mennonites or Christians.

Marvin Riegsecker (R)
Indiana State Senator
Year elected: 1988
Elkhart (Ind.) County Commissioner, 1985-1988
Elkhart County Coroner, 1977-1984
Died September 2008
Congregation: College Mennonite Church, Goshen

Indiana State Senator Marvin Riegsecker’s political position seemed to happen for a reason in his life.

His career in politics began as the county coroner (a non-partisan position) after his CO status work conducting investigations for cause of death. After that, his positions as county commissioner and senator fell into place.

Still, he admits that political involvement, especially for Mennonites, depends on the individual.

“If you’re a perfectionist or an idealist than politics is probably not where you should be serving,” he says.

Riegsecker is wary of extremes on both party sides.

“I tend to be more of a middle-of-the-road guy,” says Riegsecker.

But party affiliation is important as it makes it easier to accomplish things, he adds.

With moral issues—like gambling or life issues, for example—Riegsecker says he follows his moral convictions that are important to him as an individual and as a Mennonite when he votes. With non-moral issues in which he tries to vote with what his constituency wants and needs.

Throughout these processes, Riegsecker says he works to keep his political power in check.

“If you are in a position to determine what bills are going to be heard, you have some power …you have to ask yourself, How are you using your power?” he says.

In the past 20 years Riegsecker faced hot issues like abortion and capital punishment, so he was surprised with how he struggled with the immigration issue in Indiana last year.

“Our kingdom, as we talk, has no boundaries … the kingdom of God wouldn’t distinguish between Mexico and the United States,” he says. “As a Mennonite, I could not see immigration in the same light as they were discussing the issues.”

Riegsecker reminds those interested in political activism that the state does not handle national issues.

“You need to remember what level you’re participating in,” he says.

Lowell Stoltzfus (R)
Maryland State Senator
Year elected: 1990
Other offices: chair of county zoning board
Resides in Westover, Md.
Congregation: Holly Grove Mennonite Church, Westover

Maryland State Senator Lowell Stoltzfus says political activism is less important than spiritual commitment.

“If you change people internally and spiritually you have far more impact than you do with organizing [political activism],” he says.

However, that does not mean “taking a back seat,” according to Stoltzfus.

“I think we are in a morally decadent society in a lot of ways and our sense of ethical behavior is declining … I think we should unapologetically be active in our communities,” he says.

Stoltzfus adds that activism could mean politics for some, church for others—and in both, “justice and peace are important.”

When making political decisions, Stoltzfus follows his convictions but also thinks of his marriage of 35 years. “It’s considered honorable to compromise there,” he says.

However, he says most decisions do not violate his moral convictions—allowing him to be a Christian and a politician.

Stoltzfus said the seat he holds in the Senate is not “his seat.”

“It’s the people’s seat; we just occupy for awhile,” he adds. “I consider myself a steward of this opportunity.”

Stoltzfus says his convictions—being pro-life, fiscally conservative and advocating for small government— cause him to identify with the Republican party.

“It weakens society as people rely on government more and more,” he says.

“Both are based on a power system, which I find unappealing as a Christian,” he says. “Neither party is immune from errors and judgment.”

Anna Groff compiled a list of nine other Mennonite elected officials (not interviewed).