Musing on CPMC Annual Meeting

Not too long ago the Central Plains Mennonite Conference (CPMC)—which my church is a member congregation of—held its Annual Meeting. This was actually my fourth time in attendance to the delegate sessions, although this was my first time not actually being a delegate but simply a guest.

Attending Annual Meeting is always one of the most enjoyable parts of my summer. I like it because I always seem to leave feeling like I am a part of something bigger. This year, in particular, saw the end to a long and painful saga as St. Paul Mennonite Fellowship finally withdrew their membership from CPMC and instead joined the Central District Conference (CDC) of MennoniteChurch USA.

MCH 101: So... Menno-what?

At this point, I recognize that most people do not have a clue about who Mennonites are. For most people, the first images that come to mind are closed communities with dress codes, horse and buggies, no electricity, and family farming—basically, the Amish. While not entirely off base, such images would be considered quite naïve by most Mennonites today. 

After all, I fall into none of those categories. If I walked down the street of your town or city, you probably would not even know I was Mennonite. Now, I do live in a small rural town in the Midwest, but my family not only has electricity but also television and computers and cell phones—mine is a smart phone to be exact—and neither my parents nor any of my aunts and uncles farm (my grandparents did…a long time ago). And I have a college degree, currently pursuing a Master’s (and dare I say, a Doctorate?)—which is something most Amish would never consider trying to obtain. 

But yet I am Mennonite. 

The Littlest Things Make All the Difference

I quite often play soccer whenever I am home with one of my best friends, who is currently engaged. Recently, after one of our scrimmages, he offered to give me a ride home.

This particular time around, I had decided to walk because I only live 5-ish blocks from the field; so I did not really think a ride from my friend was necessary. Nevertheless, he had offered, so I thought…why not? I’ll be courteous.

On the drive to my house he asked, “Do you like men?”