Ethnicity should be celebrated

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Regarding Janet Trevino-Elizarrarz's column "Where Faith and Culture Intersect" (January): Janet laments about fitting into the Mennonite community without having to apologize for who she is. She wants to be a Mennonite without giving up her ethnicity, yet three paragraphs later she asks Germanic Mennonites to put aside theirs.

I am similar to Janet: a second-generation Italian Catholic "converted Mennonite Christian, passionate, purpose-driven lover of Jesus, beautiful" Italian woman.

I was drawn to the Mennonites by a Southern Baptist convert who in turn was drawn by a Chinese Mennonite. There are Mennonites all over the world who owe their beginnings to the study and insights of a Dutch Catholic priest, Menno Simons.

Despite our faith's Germanic roots, I doubt our Chinese or African Mennonite brothers and sisters would apologize for or consider setting aside their ethnicity. Despite this, they are a vibrant part of the greater Mennonite community. I say, How glorious to celebrate our differences. In celebrating our differences we glorify God. If we do this first, understanding and acceptance will follow.

Associated Issue: New director begins - January, 2010

Associated Article: Where faith and culture intersect

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