The Mennonite World Conference is a meeting of 103 Anabaptist groups from 70plus countries. While we celebrate both our diversity and our shared values and convictions I have been very frustrated by the lack of articulation of what we base our shared values on. Core beliefs are assumed but not spoken which leaves them open to interpretation. We seem to live in fear of specificity lest we not be able to come to some agreement. I need more. I’m looking for more. I’m hoping for more. That fact that the 6000 or so delegates come from all corners of the globe is amazing but this would be a wasted opportunity if we sidestep clarifying core beliefs and assumptions for the sake of “unity”. Pseudo unity is not real unity.
Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” At this point it seems to me that the conversations at this conference are on this side of complexity while the issues beg for approaches for simplicity on the other side of complexity.
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