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2009-05-05 issue:

EB addresses antiracism, transition plans

Byler to be acting executive director Aug. 1; Schrag to begin writing project.

by Gordon Houser

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The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board (EB), meeting April 16-18 in Rochester, N.Y., spent extra time learning about antiracism and focused on some ways to address it. The board also named associate executive director Ron Byler acting executive director, beginning Aug. 1. Executive director Jim Schrag, who plans to retire Nov. 30, will work on a writing project from Aug. 1 to Nov. 30.

EB members and some Mennonite Church USA staff members spent the afternoon of April 16 in antiracism training. Led by Iris de León Hartshorn, director of intercultural relations for Executive Leadership, and EB member Addie Banks, the training involved role play and case studies.

Participants spoke positively about the exercise. Glen Guyton said, “We have moved to a new level of comfort.”

On April 17, EB members discussed an “ends review” of antiracism, one of the four priorities of the denomination.

One part of that review included a recommendation that came out of a meeting in February of leaders from the African-American Mennonite Association, Iglesia Menonita Hispana, Native Mennonite Ministries and the Intercultural Reference Committee.

The group recommended that (1) a restorative justice approach be used in a series of actions,
(2) churchwide boards provide funds for racial-ethnic board members to travel to meet annually with their respective racial-ethnic constituency groups, (3) translation of materials be made about churchwide decisions and theology for first-generation immigrants, (4) efforts be made to connect existing groups carrying agenda of racial-ethnic people. The estimated costs for such actions, reported de León Hartshorn, are around $38,000.

EB members asked, Where will the funding and staff time come from to carry out these recommendations?

And Dave Boshart of the EB’s future church committee, which carried out the review, noted that a half-day training had not been given for the (three) other priorities.

Moderator-elect Ed Diller noted that some charge that focusing on racial-ethnic concerns ignores “the core.” But this is focusing on the core, he said. Byler added, “This is the first ends report we got right.”

The board heard reports from agency directors about how their agencies are working at antiracism.


Banks said that racial-ethnic people have particular needs in the areas of economics, education and literacy. “We need to seek more economic justice,” she said.

Naming Byler acting executive director came out of a closed session of EB. Schrag said he plans to write about the formation of Mennonite Church USA from two denominations—the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church—from around 1983 until the present.

Meanwhile, the search for a new executive director continues. The board approved a job description—to be posted on the Mennonite Church USA Web site—that includes essential qualifications and desirable gifts or abilities. The search committee reported that 71 names had been suggested thus far.

EB members responded positively to a proposal from the Constituency Leaders Council for a leaders forum to be held each year in lieu of a CLC meeting.

At each meeting, EB members meet with conference leaders from the area where they meet. On April 17, six leaders from New York Mennonite Conference talked about the issues they face and said they feel on the fringe of the denomination. Conference moderator Terry Zehr said he especially longed for visits from denominational leaders.

“We know what you write, but we don’t know who you are,” he said.

The next day, EB members talked about the conversation with New York Conference. Patty Shelly said that Zehr’s words rang in her ears, and she wondered if EB should rethink its meeting with “owners.”

In other business, the board:

• received a report by Yvonne Diaz on a churchwide Spanish translation initiative;

• discussed Mennonite Church USA’s relationship with Mennonite Central Committee;

• heard a report from a task force on The Mennonite;

• heard a report from LaVern Yutzy, consultant on churchwide operations and alignment;

• heard from young adult observer Lydell Steiner of Kidron, Ohio, who encouraged EB members to “do something uncomfortable.”