Dear Blooming Glen Friends,  

We planned for a quick, three-session introductory study on the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995), to work on our identity as part of the Mosaic Pathways process.  As the third week came to end, participants asked for a fourth week.  And wow!  That was a lively discussion between sisters and brothers with different points of view. It was also a conversation among people who clearly love each another, and clearly seek reliance on the scriptures as the authority for faith and life.  It also included folks who were as passionate about baseball after the study, as they were about the scriptures during the study! 

So, we’re extending the introductory study on the Confession of Faith for at least another week.  Join us this Sunday, November 12, 6:45 pm in the Glen Adult classroom for further conversation and discernment about how this confession of faith guides our life together as we seek to follow Jesus daily in life.   

Extending this three-week test course into a five (or six?) week learning community begs a question.  Is there an appetite in the congregation for a continuing Sunday evening study group?  Topics we might continue with could range from Anabaptist history and beliefs to bible studies on various books or themes in scripture.  We could focus on the issue of baptism and church membership, or our congregational discipleship values or on exploring what’s going on in our culture or how to learn from the global church.  In short, the sky is the limit. 

And the best part … I don’t need to lead every event.  There are capable teachers other than me at Blooming Glen, and with technology, we could have people from anywhere in the world bring us high-quality teaching. 

If I get twenty-five affirming responses by Thanksgiving to the idea of participating (in person or virtually) in such a Sunday evening group, I’ll put a proposed outline together, send it out, and we’ll modify it together, with plans to launch a Sunday evening study group in January (email responses to jeff@bgmc.net, phone message to Gretchen in the church office at extension 101, or text message directly to me).   

One of our discipleship values is to embrace a set of peaceful practices: curiosity, discovery, engagement, dialogue, empathy, authenticity, dignity, and transformation.  In this Sunday evening study group, we can work at a variety of issues that puzzle and perplex us as a congregation, while learning how to do the peaceful practices that lead to deeper discipleship in following Jesus together. 

Let me know what you think, church.  I look forward to more conversation … 

Pastor Jeff
jeff@bgmc.net 

 PS -  I’ve been out of the office this week.  I’ve had the privilege this week of participating in a seminary accreditation site visit in Michigan.  I’ll be at the Broad Street Grind this Friday, November 10, 3:30-4:45 pm to listen to whatever is on your hearts and minds.  I’ll be back at the A&N Diner on Monday, November 13, 7:30-8:45 am to listen to whatever is on your hearts and minds.  If neither of those times work for you, please reach out to Gretchen (church extension 101).  She’s empowered to find time in my schedule when folks from the church want to talk.  I want to listen – to hopes, concerns, joys, ideas, dreams, whatever … let’s get together. Thanks!

Dear Blooming Glen Friends, 

"By the grace of God, we seek to live and proclaim the good news of reconciliation in Jesus Christ.  As part of the one body of Christ at all times and places, we hold the following to be central to our belief and practice… 

… In these convictions we draw inspiration from the Anabaptist forebearers of the 16th century, who modeled radical discipleship to Jesus Christ.  We seek to walk in his name by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently await Christ’s return and the final fulfillment of God’s kingdom. 

The most recent Anabaptist confession of faith, known as the "Statement of Shared Convictions of Global Anabaptists," was adopted in 2006.  I helped to host the meetings of the Mennonite World Conference General Council in Pasadena, California that adopted a seven-point confessional statement that Anabaptists leaders from national church bodies around the world agreed was a sufficient summary of our common beliefs.  This statement doesn't replace our "Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995)," but it does provide us with a starting point to define our faith identity as Mennonites in relationship with sisters and brothers around the world. 

Christ will return! The Statement of Shared Convictions of Global Anabaptists concludes by reminding us that the 500-year-old Anabaptist view of discipleship remains our constant.  We are committed to following Jesus daily in life.  In the present, as we follow Christ, we rely on the Holy Spirit for power to follow Christ.  And we wait with eager patience for the sure and certain of Jesus, who will complete the arrival of the kingdom.  The world as it is, will give way to the world as God has intended it to be. 

In summary, as Anabaptists around the world, we seek to express a Christian faith grounded in a historic attempt to overcome the violent, controlling tendencies of Christendom.  We seek to express a sustaining and sustainable contemporary faith by being and doing in the Way of Jesus.  And we seek to look to a future when God fully reigns over a new creation with justice and love.   

This Statement of Shared Convictions of Global Anabaptists reminds us that God’s purpose is to repair the creation we broke.  It teaches us that Jesus is the exact likeness of God.  It prompts us to acknowledge that discipleship (following Jesus) is the whole point of the church.  It points out to us that the Bible is the essential book of the church. It declares that the Holy Spirit is the sole source of our ability to make peace. It asserts that Global Anabaptist Christians need to gather to worship regularly.  And it proclaims that we have much for which we witness to the world about the good news of Jesus. 

So, what’s the use of this statement?  It doesn’t take the place of our Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, but it does supplement it, and it gives us a new clarity to the essentials of what it means to follow Jesus.  In that respect, it is a good introduction to the way global Christians who understand themselves as Anabaptists understand our faith commitments.  We are not so much a doctrinally compliant people, as much as we are a relationally connected people.  We connect to God – a relationally triune person who created everything.  We connect to God’s creation – we broke it through disobedience, and for those of us walking with Jesus, we are at work with God to repair creation.  We who follow Christ daily in life care for one another, and we care for those who do not yet follow Christ daily in life.  We who walk in the way of Jesus informed by the historic Anabaptist movement form our doctrine from seeking right relationships with God, with one another, and with our neighbors near and far, friend and foe.  So, let’s love God.  Let’s love one another.  Let’s love our neighbors.  The Holy Spirit will help us figure out the rest. 

Pastor Jeff
jeff@bgmc.net 

PS - Don’t forget, Mosaic Conference Assembly is this coming Saturday, November 4, at Souderton Mennonite Church, 9:30 am-4:30 pm. I will be away and unavailable Monday, November 6 through Thursday, November 9, but will be at the Broad Street Grind in Souderton, on Friday, November 10, 3:30-4:45 pm for an end-of-the week coffee and conversation.