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2008-12-16 issue:

Mennonite church is not Evangelical

by Robert V. Clausen, Greenville, Ill.

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The use of "Evangelical" in the title of Matt Friesen’s excellent article ("An Evangelical Peace and Justice Church," Nov. 18) raised an immediate horror in my mind at the idea of Mennonite Church USA being described as Evangelical. My horror dissipated upon reading the article, though I continued to be concerned about the use of the term Evangelical. The author is actually writing about evangelism. Both words come from the Greek word translated into English as "gospel' or "good news."

Much confusion has developed in the media as well as in popular discourse about what the word evangelical means. It is both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective it describes a set of doctrines or beliefs as well as organizations that adhere to those beliefs. As a noun it names a person (like my former self) or people (e.g. The National Association of Evangelicals) who adhere to those beliefs. Evangelism (noun) refers to the proclamation of that good news and entails the making of followers of Jesus. What separates Anabaptists and Mennonites from Evangelicals is the understanding of what is the gospel and how a disciple lives. A better title could have been "An Evangelistic Peace and Justice Church."

Please do not ascribe to Mennonite Church USA either the noun or the adjective 'evangelical." Due to differences between the National Association of Evangelicals' doctrinal statement and our Mennonite confession of faith, I cannot think of the Mennonite Church USA as being Evangelical.

Associated Issue: Young adults committed to the church - Nov. 18, 2008

Associated Article: An evangelical peace and justice church

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