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A bill on patriotism passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has aroused opposition from some Mennonite schools there. HB 592, if it becomes law, would require “all supervising officers and teachers in charge of public, private or parochial schools [to] cause the flag of the United States of America to be displayed in every classroom during the hours of each school day”, as well as to lead students daily in either the pledge of allegiance to the flag or the national anthem. The schools see the law as a violation of religious liberty, attacking the Mennonite belief that Christians are to belong to the Kingdom of God rather than earthly kingdoms. HB 592 was passed 200–1 by the state’s lower house. Several representatives, including some from the Lancaster area and at least one from the Franconia area of eastern Pennsylvania – two areas with a strong Mennonite tradition – are Mennonites. HB 592 is currently before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee. There are 20 elementary, middle and high schools in Pennsylvania affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, 76 schools affiliated with other Mennonite groups and 418 Amish schools. – Mennonite Church USA
Evangelist Billy Graham was awarded the title of “Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire” in a ceremony held at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 6. Graham received the title, reserved for foreign nationals, in recognition of his services to civic and religious life in the United Kingdom. Holders of the title are not addressed as “Sir”, but are entitled to use the letters KBE after their name. Graham first visited England in 1946, while with Youth for Christ, and has done more missions in Britain than in any other country outside the US. – Evangelical Press News Service
The southern wall on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has developed a 35-foot-wide bulge about 50 feet above the ground and is in danger of collapsing. If the wall collapses, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, located directly above it, would collapse and the Dome of the Rock Mosque, also located on the Temple Mount, could be damaged as well. Both Jews and Muslims claim the area as a holy site. Some Jews believe the Dome of the Rock Mosque is the site of King Herod’s Temple, which was destroyed in AD 70. Muslims claim it is from here that Mohammed ascended to heaven for a visit. Jewish archaeologists blame the bulge on Muslim construction work now being done in order to build a third mosque on the Temple Mount, which they also say is destroying archaeological remains of the former Jewish temple. Palestinians argue the bulge was caused by Israeli archaeological excavations that were carried out several years ago along the side of the southern wall. The Temple Mount is under the control of the Muslim Waqf (religious council), who no longer allow non-Muslims on to it. The southern wall is an 8th-century Muslim wall built on top of a Jewish wall built by King Herod the Great and is connected to the western “Wailing Wall”, which is considered sacred by Jews. – EPNS
One hundred leaders of Uganda’s Iteso and Karimajong ethnic groups met face-to-face in Lira, Uganda Dec. 18–19 for a series of peace negotiations supported by Mennonite Central Committee. Disputes first arose between the two neighbours in 1954 over grazing and vaccinating animals. When the district commissioner ordered their stray animals destroyed, the Karimajong organized a raid, killing many people. The violence intensified in the 1980s when the Karimajong armed themselves with weapons abandoned by former president Idi Amin. Recently, community leaders approached the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative in hopes of reconciling. The ARLPI, coordinated by MCC worker Lam Cosmas, is an interfaith forum that has mediated between other ethnic groups in Uganda. During the session, leaders asked for forgiveness for past wrongs and decided on issues to address in future sessions: cattle rustling, possession of illegal guns and resettlement of families displaced by the violence. The groups were scheduled to meet again Jan. 30–31. – Mennonite Central Committee
Christian leaders in Kauswagan, Philippines greeted Muslims with warm embraces and blessings as they left a mosque on a mid-December evening. The Christians then joined them in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the feast marking the end of the month-long Muslim Ramadan fast. Days later, 30 Muslim leaders blessed Christians leaving an early morning Christmas Mass. Conflict between Christians and Muslims in Kauswagan has escalated over the past 30 years. Until the late 1950s, the island’s population was predominately Muslim. Then, at the urging of the Philippine government, people from the more populous islands moved to Kauswagan. Today, 80% of Kauswagan’s residents are Christian. Religion and land issues in the Philippines have become intertwined, erupting several times into civil war. Pakigdait, a community-based peace group, led a four-day workshop in November focusing on understanding the roots of conflict in Kauswagan and exploring ways to develop peaceful relationships. Mennonite Central Committee contributed to Pakigdait’s research into the conflict. Workshop participants were among the leaders who celebrated Eid al-Fitr and Christmas together in 2001. – MCC
Wallace and Evelyn Shellenberger, Mennonite Central Committee workers in Qom, Iran, spoke about Christmas to nearly 400 students at Shahed Bahanar University in Kerman, Iran on Dec. 26. The students wanted to know about the birth and life of Jesus from a Christian perspective. Many were familiar with the story of Christ only as recorded in the Koran, Islam’s holy book. While Muslims believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary and was an important prophet and teacher, they do not believe He is the son of God. The Shellenbergers moved to Qom in May 2001 as part of an educational exchange program between MCC and the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute. In an auditorium decorated with a Christmas tree, candles and wrapped gifts, the Shellenbergers shared the Bible’s account of Mary and the birth of Jesus; about Jesus’ life – His kindness, closeness to God and stand against injustice; and emphasized that Jesus refused to use coercion and violence. After the presentation, students asked, “How was the Bible written?”, “What is the relation between religion and government in the United States?” and “What is it like to celebrate Christmas?” A Muslim cleric and neighbour to the Shellenbergers told the students about aid MCC has given through the Iranian Red Crescent Society, which began in 1990 following an earthquake. Most recently, MCC contributed over $4 million in food that the IRCS is distributing to displaced Afghan families. “The students were amazed that a Christian organization would give aid to a Muslim country,” said Wallace. – MCC
Paul Myers, executive director of Ten Thousand Villages, has been named board chair of International Development Enterprises International; he will serve for two years. IDE International was formed in December 2001 to serve as an umbrella organization for IDE groups in the US, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Based in Denver, Colo., IDE is a not-for-profit organization created 20 years ago by Paul Polak, John Howard Yoder and others to provide clean water, irrigation and appropriate technologies to poor landholders in rural areas. Since 1981, IDE has provided hand-pumps, treadle irrigation pumps and other equipment to farmers in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Zambia, Cambodia and Tanzania. – MCC
In a poll of Canadians conducted Nov. 21–25 for Maclean’s magazine and CBC news, 72% stated that, as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the US-led response they had been more appreciative of their family life; 26% had less interest in material wealth and possessions; 23% had felt a stronger need for religious beliefs; 16% had felt a stronger need to go to a place of worship; and 4% had sought advice from a health-care professional or counsellor. – Maclean’s
International Bible Society has released a modern translation of the New Testament in Akuapem Twi, a language spoken by 2 million Ghanaians but understood by 8 million people. The Akuapem are historically one of the most powerfully organized people groups of Africa. Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi and Fante constitute the language group known as Akan, which is spoken by about 60% of the population of Ghana. – International Bible Society
Zimbabwean church leaders gathered Sept. 4–7 to celebrate the planting of 10,000 churches since 1992. Through a concerted effort called Target 2000, the number of churches in Zimbabwe has doubled in nine years. – World Pulse
Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has announced that he will retire Oct. 31, 2002. Carey, 66, became the 103rd archbishop of the Anglican Church in 1991. The Crown Appointments Commission will seek a successor to Carey. The candidate then requires the approval of the Queen. – EPNS
Leaders of the new Mennonite Church USA have come up with a new funding system for supporting the denomination’s ministries. Called Firstfruits, the system encourages households to give 10% of their income; congregations to give 15% to 50% of their income to denominational ministries; area conference to give 16% or more to the national body; and churchwide agencies to give varying percentages; and the MC USA Executive Board to give 6% to Mennonite World Conference. MC USA’s 2002 budget is $2.5 million US, of which $1 million is to come from area conferences, $1 million from churchwide agencies and $500,000 from other sources. – Mennonite Church USA
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Last modified March 26, 2002.
© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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