Reverse church growth?

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In "Blessed Insurance" (March 3), Marco Guete is quoted as saying, "Of the 15 Mennonite Church USA congregations in Texas, 10 of them use Spanish as their primary language." That statement is incorrect. It would be correct in one of the following variations:

1. "Of the 15 Mennonite Church USA congregations in Texas affiliated with Western District Conference ..."

2. "Of the 15 Mennonite Church USA congregations in mid-Texas ..."

3. "Of the 23 Mennonite Church USA congregations in Texas ..."—in which case, the number that use primarily Spanish would need to be changed from 10 to at least 14, with the other four affiliated with South Central Conference being bilingual and using both Spanish and English in their worship services.

There are eight Mennonite Church USA congregations in Texas affiliated with South Central Conference. Probably the most correct version would be number 2 above, since not all the other characteristics would apply to all of the pastors in the SCC churches.

All 15 of those congregations in
mid-Texas now affiliated with Western District Conference were dually affiliated with SCC up until a year or so ago, when all were encouraged to end the dual affiliation—since either way they belonged to Mennonite Church USA—and to choose which area conference they preferred to identify with. All 15 chose WDC. So SCC "lost" 15 churches. Reverse church growth?

Associated Issue: A fair balance - March 3, 2009

Associated Article: Blessed insurance

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