Homosexuality in the Mennonite Church

One of the primary issues facing the Mennonite Church in North America today is the issue of inclusion for homosexuals in the church. 

Granted, this issue has been discussed for a long time now; but prior to 2009, a gag order had been in place, essentially putting this particular discussion on hiatus for decade or so (that is, at the denominational and conference levels anyway. Individual congregations could still have discussions as they so pleased).

The gag order understandably came into place due to the newly forming Mennonite Church USA—presumably to allow the new denomination to settle-in after the merger from two separate denominations, and iron out all of the kinks that goes along with that before engaging in such a divisive issue. 

So, for ten years, no one was allowed to express their opinions openly concerning homosexuality…that is, until Columbus ’09.

The Delegate Assembly in Columbus, OH in the summer of 2009 was the first opportunity for discussion after the gag order expired prior to the convention. Now, imagine how opinionated people can naturally get around this issue…then, imagine that everyone must bite their tongues and not say anything for a decade….

Yeah, talk about “pressure.”

This gag order simply allowed everyone to formulate their clinching arguments, while it may not have been intended, for whenever they would be allowed to speak on the matter again. Imagine the flood gates opening with the expiration on that gag order, and you will get a feeling for what Columbus ’09 was like.…at least…I can only assume.

Strange at it may seem, I was at Columbus as a youth sponsor; so somehow, I went the whole week remaining completely oblivious to what was going on (probably a good idea, since I was not yet “out” myself). But from what I have heard, here is what I have been told it was like:

Pink Menno Logo

On one hand, you had the new Pink Menno movement seeking to gain inclusion for LGBT individuals. One could have seen people running all over the convention center decked-out in pink attire. They wore premade Pink t-shirts that read: “Inclusive & Mennonite…Ask me how!!”

And in response, the Blue Menno movement arose to combat the growing pink one. They ran around wearing homemade t-shirts that read: “Pink Mennos are wrong…ask me how.”

And in the Delegate Assembly, there was pressure for motions to be proposed to either include or ban LGBT people from the Mennonite Church—such spontaneous motions not a part of the pre-set agenda are allowed according to the by-laws of the Delegate Assembly.

If you do not currently have images of a circus racing through you head, you should. That is about as accurate a metaphor as I can think of.

But in the end, I think Columbus did more harm than good for the church. And looking back, I wonder if MC USA was really prepared for what happened there. A lot of people were hurt and offended by some of the shenanigans that took place at Columbus.

"Mennonites for GLBT inclusion"

Many thought that the Pink Menno movement was a bit too in-your-face inappropriate for a passive-aggressive religious community like the Mennonites; they thought that the Pink Mennos went too far, too quickly.

Likewise, many thought the response of the Blue Mennos was just as inappropriate, as well as anti-Christian, for a passive-aggressive religious community like the Mennonites since it specifically focused on belittling the Pink Mennos.

Both sets of people walked away hurt and scared; and the much larger majority of indifferent or neutral Mennonites simply did not know what to do. Many of these people were equally disappointed in both groups for bringing up such a divisive issue in such a way, where many were not prepared to deal with it.

Either way, I do not think it was a coincidence that the following national convention in Pittsburgh, PA in 2011 had a substantially lower attendance than what it should have had for a convention being held in…well…Mennonite country.

Nevertheless, I am hopeful that the Mennonite church can reconcile this issue in the years to come. After all, Pittsburgh 2011 was a much different experience than what Columbus 2009 was….

[Feel free to comment about what your experience at Columbus '09 was like!]