May 2011

Mennonite Brethren, like other Anabaptist groups, vigorously pursue the question of identity. Nowhere is this quest more evident than in the field of hermeneutics, which, for the purposes of this article, I will simply define as the science and art of interpreting the Bible.

Text Examined: Acts 17:11 – “There is a city in northern Greece named Veria. Ever heard of it? Probably not, unless I tell you the name in Bible times – Berea. Ever heard if it? Only a million times. There are Berean schools, churches, denominations, Christian bookstores.”

In Mennonite Brethren circles, we often talk about community hermeneutics, and affirm it as the primary way of reading and understanding the Bible. Yet most Sunday mornings, one person stands up and tells everyone else what a certain text means. Is there another way?

As Mennonite Brethren, we say we are people of the Book. If this is true, some natural questions ought to come to our minds. Questions like “Who gets to interpret the text and with what tools?” and “How do we discern if our interpretation is correct?” or “What happens when there is a divergence of opinion?”

Hans Kasdorf, a prominent theologian whose writing guides the mission endeavours of the Mennonite Brethren church, died Mar. 26, 2011, in Fresno, Cal., at 82.

“We promise to uphold you, walk alongside you, to pray for you, and to accept you into the family of God.”

“Staying on TRAC (trajectory, replenishment, awareness, choices)” was the theme for the March 18–19 gathering of Alberta MB congregational representatives at Sunrise Community Church, Edmonton. Yet the theme might have very well been “A new normal.”

“What’s going on with MBBS?” is a question many MBs are asking since the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary board announced transfer of the Fresno, Cal., operation of the binational institution to Fresno Pacific University effective June 2010 (renamed Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in January 2011).