“Othering” and Mennonite sexuality struggles
Ted Grimsrud I came across a quote in the book Empire by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri that helped me think a bit more about our current discussions about sexuality in the Mennonite world. I’ll share...
View ArticleHow Mennonite Church USA might survive: A fantasy
Ted Grimsrud My friend and EMU colleague, Dave Brubaker (a.k.a., “Mr. Make-it-Practical”), who teaches in our Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, has challenged me to push out more some of the...
View ArticleWhy Eastern Mennonite University should quit discriminating (part one)
Ted Grimsrud The place where I have been working since 1996, Eastern Mennonite University, is currently engaged in a “listening process.” This process is meant to provide input for the school’s...
View ArticleWhy Eastern Mennonite University should quit discriminating (part two)
Ted Grimsrud [This post picks up the story in the middle—here is the link to Part 1] The goodness of marriage Before we consider what the main bases for discrimination may be, we need to spend a bit of...
View ArticleDamaging the Christian faith? Questions about some anti-gay sentiments
Ted Grimsrud—April 27, 2014 I wrote in an earlier post that I have been disappointed that most conversations that I am aware of about how churches and church-related institutions should respond to...
View ArticleIs the survival of Mennonite Church USA now less likely?
Ted Grimsrud—July 1, 2014 It’s difficult for me not to be discouraged by the report from Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board released today concerning MC USA’s Mountain States Conference and the...
View ArticleThe “essence” of Anabaptism
Ted Grimsrud—July 22, 2014 [On the evening of July 20, I spoke as part of a panel of four on theme of the meaning of Anabaptism, at Morning View Mennonite Church. I was assigned two general questions...
View ArticleIs the Mennonite (Church USA) project doomed? Some ruminations
Ted Grimsrud—April 21, 2015 It’s a fairly relaxed finals week around Eastern Mennonite University, which allows for a few longer and more wide-ranging random conversations. I had two visits today that...
View ArticleWhat I learned from Millard Lind
Ted Grimsrud—April 27, 2015 I was saddened to learn that Millard Lind died last Friday at the age of 96. Millard was a long time Old Testament professor at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and...
View ArticleThe “end” of Mennonite Church USA
Ted Grimsrud—May 12, 2015 The word “end” is kind of cool, because it has two common and very different meanings. It can mean something like “conclusion” (“the game ended in a tie”) and it can mean...
View ArticleShould “love” define a Christian university?
Ted Grimsrud [The following was shared as an opening meditation at a Eastern Mennonite University faculty assembly, November 16, 2015.] Critiquing North American higher eduction I listened to Henry...
View ArticleHave Mennonites Moved Past Peace Theology? A Response to From Suffering to...
Ted Grimsrud—January 11, 2016 A new book collects 17 essays that purport to analyze the “historical seeds of Mennonite interreligious, interethnic, and international peacebuilding” (the subtitle to...
View ArticleIt’s time for a change….Reflections on a transition
Ted Grimsrud—May 3, 2016 It’s time for a change I’m tired of that same ol’ same The same ol’ words the same ol’ lines The same ol’ tricks and the same ol’ rhymes Days precious days Roll in and out like...
View Article“Peace Theology” and “Peacebuilding”: How Strong is the Connection?
Ted Grimsrud—September 26, 2016 Back last January, I wrote a post on this blog called “Have Mennonites Moved Past Peace Theology? A Response to From Suffering to Solidarity.“ I reflected on a recently...
View ArticleThe fascinating story of a 20th century Mennonite pioneer
Ted Grimsrud [What follows is a review of one of the latest of a series of biographies of important 20th century Mennonite leaders (some of the others include books about Edmund Kaufman, Harold Bender,...
View ArticlePacifism and violence in the struggle against oppression
Ted Grimsrud—October 29, 2017 Is pacifism a viable social philosophy? I believe that it is, though I also recognize that arguments in favor of the possibility that at times violence might be...
View ArticleAn authentic witness: Remembering Norman Kraus
Ted Grimsrud—April 29, 2018 As I appreciatively joined in the memorial service yesterday (April 28) for my friend Norman Kraus, who died on April 6 at the age of 94, I reflected on my first encounter...
View ArticleThe Path Not Taken: More Thoughts on “Despairing for MC USA”
Ted Grimsrud—February 26, 2019 As I have reflected on dynamics in my church denomination (Mennonite Church USA) and my own involvements in this community, I have a few further thoughts beyond what I...
View Article“Anabaptist” but not “Christian” (or “Mennonite”)? A Thought Experiment [Part...
Ted Grimsrud—April 9, 2019 I have a good friend who is, shall I say, a little more conservative theologically than I am. We have some great conversations. Recently, he brought up the possibility of the...
View Article“Anabaptist” but not “Christian” (or “Mennonite”)? A Thought Experiment [Part...
Ted Grimsrud—April 10, 2019 The purpose of this “thought experiment,” as I see it, is to reflect on how “Anabaptist” might work better than “Christian” or “Mennonite” as a descriptor of the radical...
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