As church moderator, I write on behalf of Willow Avenue Mennonite Church, Clovis, California, and with the endorsement of our church council in response to the October 14, 2019, article “Consultation Offers Peace-Church Voice on Military Service” published in Mennonite World Review. First, I am grateful that USMB National Director Don Morris has written to USMB church leaders explaining that he intended to characterize the USMB peace witness as “significant” and not “sentimental” (as quoted in the article).
Second, we register our disappointment that the USMB church was not represented at the consultation and did not endorse the joint letter. While we are hopeful that the USMB Leadership Board will communicate support for conscientious objection to war and reiterate our confessional statement (“The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ’s kingdom, not the state or society”), as Mennonite Brethren we regret that our non-participation in the consultation and the letter suggests that Mennonite Brethren are neither practicing unity nor fully committed to peacemaking.
We at WAMC want to give a clear witness both to our unity with others, especially Anabaptist churches, and to our confessional commitment to “actively pursue peace and reconciliation in all relationships by following Christ’s example.”
Lynn Jost, Moderator, Willow Avenue Mennonite Church, Clovis, California
This article has been posted by Christian Leader staff. The Christian Leader is the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
