Q&A: Mennonite artists and the church

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Mennonite Arts Weekend is a biennial festival organized by members of the Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship. This year it will take place at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio on Feb. 3-5. We asked Ed Diller, former moderator of Mennonite Church USA, and Joel Miller, pastor of Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, to share about the relationship between the church and MAW.

Photo: Ted Swartz performs during the Mennonite Arts Weekend in 2010.

Who started the festival?
Diller: Mennonite Arts Weekend started because Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship saw how God was working in the world through Mennonite artists and wanted to be a part of that work. It showcases the vitality of one small, urban Mennonite congregation and how it can make a difference for the entire church. The festival grew out of brain storming sessions of early members of Cincinnati Mennonite, particularly Naomi Jantzen, about the possibilities of creating a conference on the arts. Then in 1989, at the Mennonite Conference in Normal, Ill., an ad hoc meeting was called inviting persons interested in the arts to gather. Following that conference the MAW committee was formed to explore ways of addressing those needs. That exploration led to the initial MAW in 1992 in Cincinnati, sponsored and led by Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship. It has continued to grow, and this year there are likely to be over 200 participants.

Photo: House of Doc, a folk band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, performs at MAW in 2010. From left: Rebecca Harder, Matthew Harder, David Graham and Dan Wiebe.




What unique characteristics about Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship have caused it to want to start and support this festival?
Diller: Like many urban congregations, Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship has been blessed with a broad variety of students who have worshipped with us, many of whom were artists or performers. Over time, our fellowship felt called to provide a welcoming for artists across our church who sometimes felt alienated from the church and separated from other artists. It was clear that many were trying to find a way to incorporate their Mennonite theology into their work and thoughts.

Miller: Perhaps it is this cross pollination of traditions and perspectives that has made the congregation sensitive to wanting to elevate and support the work of Mennonite artists. The group values underrepresented voices and initially saw artists as being that kind of voice within the church. Over the years the festival has gathered its own momentum and energy and has become a part of the regular life and rhythm of congregational life.


What has allowed the festival to flourish?
Diller: The church has embraced MAW as a core missional activity of the congregation. Presenting artists and MAW attendees affirm the importance of experiencing and sharing time with Mennonite artists working in their own setting. Persons who attend also routinely report that the event is important to their own understanding of how God is working inside and outside the church.

Miller: The festival has flourished because of the combination of good leadership, congregational support, and artists generous with their time and work, who come and share their gifts. As a pastor it makes me proud, in a humble kind of way, of course, to see the dedication of the planning committee that works year round and the enthusiasm of the congregation to step up when the weekend arrives to host in homes, cook and volunteer in the many ways necessary to make such a weekend happen. 


How has MAW changed congregational life over the past 20 years?
Diller: Cincinnati is a small (but growing) congregation. MAW is a large endeavor financially and from a time standpoint. It involves artists from across North America and takes the full two years between events to plan. Fortunately, Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship has embraced MAW as one of its primary activities. We are deeply enriched by the sharing, the learning and the gathering of Mennonites in that setting. 

Miller: I see it as a gift that the congregation makes available to the artists and attendees, and we receive back many times more through the creative work of the artists and participants. Over the years the congregation has commissioned a number of pieces of artwork that we continue to have present with us throughout the year in our worship.

Photo: Items for sale by the presenting artists the 2010 MAW.

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