Meet in a border town?
by Rod Stafford, Portland
In response to the concerns of our Hispanic brothers and sisters, I suggest we move the Mennonite Church USA 2013 Assembly from Phoenix to a border town—maybe El Paso/Juarez or Brownsville/Matamoros. I'm not in favor of simply canceling the convention. And I assume that wherever it is held, the main topic will be immigration. But if we simply relocate to another, typical convention site (Charlotte or Columbus or wherever), we will still be discerning at the safe distance of isolation.
What if we booked half the rooms on the Mexican side of the border? What if we held panels with Border Patrol agents, undocumented workers, politicians and business owners, immigration reform activists, local church leaders and others who live with the realities constantly? Maybe that is a more authentic way for us to follow in the wake of Jesus, who has "broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us" (Ephesians 2).
Associated Issue: Singing for peace - July 2010
Associated Article: Why Mennonite Church USA must boycott Arizona
Current Stories
Articles
- A singer for peace
- Eastering in the rubble
- The Great Commandment and the Great Commission
- Thomas the man who was honest to God
- Being still
- Following Jesus into Starbucks
- Coffeeshop church
- Fulfilling commitments
News stories, digests and Meno Acontecer
- Newton, Kan., office won't close
- Activist groups strategize for Pittsburgh 2011
- Unexpected blessing changes career path
- Heggen presents 'healing the wounds of war'
- Delegation of 21 goes to Arizona to 'listen'
- Mourners gather for Lapp's memorial service
- Program changes the way leaders lead
- MCC worker killed in Afghanistan
- Four CPT members arrested in Chicago
- Due to ruling, chance of meeting in Phoenix may increase
- More than 200 people gather for ground blessing
- Partners aid earthquake relief in Chile
- 'Martyrs Mirror' marks 350th anniversary
- MC Canada giving problems
- First fruits from Ukraine project
- EMM prayer team visits Czech Republic
- MHS Alliance told that change is way of life
- Mennonite Brethren reconcile with German Mennonites
- Lutherans ask forgiveness from Mennonites
- ¡Bienvenidos al Meno Acontecer de Agosto, 2010!
- Cinco razones a favor de la educación Menonita
- Madeline Maldonado es ordenada
- Por qué la Iglesia Menonita USA debe boicotear Arizona
- Notas de la reunión de la Junta Ejecutiva
- Hablando de libros
- Iglesia Menonita Hispana (IMH) Declaración sobre inmigración
- La pastora Esther ... Parte 1
- De New Holland, PA
- Convención Pittsburgh 2011
- Bautismos en Arca de Salvación
- Carta sobre inmigración
- Directiva de MMA se reúne
- Del doctor Nuñez ....
Columns
- Fruit of the vine
- Recalibrating
- The courage to lead
- First things first: God first sent apostles
- The sound of time passing
- What a playhouse and church have in common
- Being somebody
Readers Say
- How many children?
- Elderly need lots of church
- Senior living ministries important
- Meet in a border town?
- Appreciates articles
- Bethel College selection
- Burkholder was a gift to the church
- Need more transparency
- God's wrath or God's honor?
- Stutzman responds
- Energize, not enervate
- Can't put God in nonviolent box