Catholics And Mennonites Bridge The Gap

[cmotherofpirl]

Roman Catholics, Mennonites bridge the gap

By Amanda Balzer

Newton Kansan

Ecumenical dialogues are not new to the Christian faith.

Representatives from different faith traditions have discussed theological tenets and doctrine on the scholarly and administrative level for years. This year the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Mennonite World Conference have completed a five-year dialogue, with a lengthy report to appear soon.

But what is new, and fairly unique, is the coming together of laypeople from different denominations to understand one another through relationships.

Bridgefolk, a grassroots group of Roman Catholics and Mennonites, met for the second time July 17 through 20 to do just that -- explore why a large number of adherents to both faiths were exploring the traditions of each other.

Eight Newton residents and one Wichitan traveled to St. John's Abbey, the largest Benedictine monastery in the world, in Collegeville, Minn., to participate in this informal dialogue and exchange of faiths. A few from this group, Don and Corinne Kehrberg, Eric Massanari and Melanie Zuercher, gathered together last week to discuss what they had learned.

Shalom Mennonite Church pastor Eric Massanari said many Mennonites are attracted to Catholic traditions of prayer and spirituality, and many Catholics are looking for ways to connect with others concerned with peace-making and social justice.

Corinne Kehrberg, a member of Newton's St. Mary's Catholic Church, said the connection between Mennonites and Catholics reaches back to protests during the Vietnam war.

"A respect grew for the peace-making that is the Mennonite hallmark," Corinne Kehrberg said. "This is fairly new to the Catholic Church; recently with the just war theory."

At Bridgefolk, the two groups exchanged spiritual worship gifts, from the monastery's daily prayer times to Mennonite hymnologist Mary Oyer's presentation of hymns common and unique to each faith tradition. Storytelling of personal peace-making also permeated the event, calling for both traditions to examine how the other approaches conflict.

Many of the participants are interested in embodying a commitment to both traditions. The Bridgefolk vision statement says "All share a vision for making Anabaptist/Mennonite practices of discipleship, peaceableness and lay participation more accessible to Roman Catholics, while sustaining those practices by reconnecting them to their spiritual, liturgical and sacramental roots in the Catholic tradition."

The Newton group agreed some in both faiths would not approve of this exchange and acceptance of ideas. After all, Anabaptists separated from the Catholic church over theological differences.

"Maybe too much was thrown out in the 16th century and the following years," Massanari said. "We (as Mennonites) don't draw on the wealth of tradition of the church. Our history often begins in the 1500s."

Anabaptism started in the 16th century, following the Reformation. During this time, Anabaptist believers were persecuted and often killed by the Catholic authorities, who saw them as heretics.

This chasm of the 16th century has been difficult to overcome, Massanari said.

Don Kehrberg, a Catholic who recently retired from Bethel College after 30 years as a professor of music, has seen a common theme between Catholics and Mennonites, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Bridgefolk helped him recognize the two faiths' desires for peace and social justice as well as prayer and liturgy.

"There is more in common among these two religious traditions than people realize," Don Kehrberg said. "On the Catholic side, we need to do more listening of the liturgy we go through every Sunday.

"We need to hear the call of peace and justice and working in the world."

Corinne Kehrberg agreed with her husband.

"I don't think we would have stayed as long at Bethel if it didn't seem like it fit," Corinne Kehrberg said. "There are more similarities. It's affirming to hear other people who've studied the issue experience the same thing I've been feeling."

Though Catholics may be new to peace-making efforts, relative to the Mennonite peace church tradition, they often are working along side Anabaptists in effecting justice and peace around the world.

"Mennonites need to be reminded we're not the only peacemakers," Zuercher said. "Many other people are working in profound ways to make peace and justice."

"It's about listening and accommodating and tolerating and getting work done in the world," Don Kehrberg said of connecting Catholics and Mennonites.

The Newton group said it hopes to generate local dialogue between the two faith communities, building a bridge to span this community.

"My faith compels me to do this (Bridgefolk dialogue)," Massanari said. "The diversity of the Christian community is a gift and reflects the many aspects of Christ and our brokenness. We need to honor our differences and see what we have to learn from each other."

Catholic and Mennonite entities continue to dialogue with other faith traditions on a formal level, but Bridgefolk has brought this conversation to the people.

"This is how true connection happens. It's the human element," Massanari said. "The interaction of the spirit moves in this grassroots group. Scholarship can be built upon that."

[ReformationNow]

Interesting. See this link for more information. I've bookmarked this to study later.

Link

Edited August 31, 2003 by ReformationNow

[cmotherofpirl]

THank you.