MWR : Articles : Paul Schrag

Last updated April 22.

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Articles : Paul Schrag

Sport’s moral model

Baseball teams often play by the book, the unwritten code that dictates when to bunt or steal a base. Brooklyn Dodger general manager Branch Rickey played by the Good Book, and he expected Jackie Robinson to do the same. Together they changed the sport and shook the foundation of Jim Crow. They did it by the power of nonviolence, inspired by Jesus Christ.

The right to marry

In 1985 a Mennonite document on sexuality included the following statement: “If the church should err, let it be on the side of caring for and loving a group of people who are much persecuted in our society.” That group was gays and lesbians.
MC USA board sends two resolutions to delegates

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board on April 4-6 approved two resolutions for delegates to consider at this summer’s convention in Phoenix.

Hunger and thirst

Blogger Kate Baer sparked a lively conversation on the Mennonite World Review website with her post, “Why We’re Not Going to Church.” It drew 41 comments in less than two weeks, and 410 people recommended it on Facebook.

We’re all foreigners

It has been said that the U.S. border posts two contradictory signs: “Help Wanted” and “Keep Out.” If our church doors displayed signs showing our attitude toward immigrants, what would they say? If they were biblical, they might declare, “We Love Immigrants” and “We’re Foreigners Too.”

Two-thirds world

We don’t call it the Third World anymore. Cold War categories of capitalist West, communist East and Third World no longer apply. For a while, “two-thirds world” was in vogue for what we now call the global South.

Boots on the ground

Could former soldiers’ bitter memories keep a country out of war? We can hope so, because war’s futility is not a lesson each generation should have to learn for itself.

To fill empty pews

The United Methodist Church has declined in membership every year since it was formed in 1968. The same is true of Mennonite Church USA’s 11-year history. Denominations big and small, old and new, are searching for ways to stop the bleeding.

Confession of peace

Practically every Confession of Faith accepted by Mennonites over the centuries takes a stand for peace. The current Mennonite Brethren Confession is no different. But confession should lead to action. Words should match realities. This month the U.S. MB Conference is doing something important: holding a study conference on parts of its Confession to seek greater unity and stronger identity as a peace church.