| | Title: | Scrapbook 24 |
| Document Type: | Original Document |
| Keywords: | Jacob Wideman, marriage, divorce, remarriage, Mennonite Conference of Ontario, Rockway Mennonite School, | | Author/Source: | The Record |
| Transcribed Text: | Mennonite delegates OK more liberal approach to divorce
By Roswitha Guggi
Record Staff Writer
A guideline paper reflecting a more liberal approach to divorce and remarriage was unanimously approved Friday by the Mennonite Conference of Ontario.
About 150 delegates to the conference, which represents about one-quarter of the Mennonites in Ontario, and some in Quebec, are meeting at Rockway Mennonite School on Doon Road, Kitchener.
“We are not exempt from the issues of divorce or remarriage, so the executive felt we should see how our congregation could be helpful in a breakdown situation,” said Dennis Crossman, who opened discussion of the guidelines.
The paper is not a policy statement, but a study guide that congregations may use when dealing with divorce and remarriage. It recommends the issues should be dealt with “in the spirit of openness and humility.”
It suggests that a group of people, either form the church council or the congregation, meet with those who are planning a divorce, separation or remarriage after a divorce.
The group would, in effect, council the people considering divorce or remarriage, and try to fond out the causes for the marriage breakdown without laying blame.
The paper suggests the group should make use of Biblical principles and “identify anything evil or destructive that is happening or has happened in relationships and within individuals.”
The group should also “encourage those hot involved to face honestly thought, feelings, and judgments toward those involved and if it seems appropriate, invite them to repent.”
The paper recommends the group inform the congregation about what it is doing before it begins counseling, make general progress reports, and disclose the outcome of the talks.
“At this time the person involved may also wish to make a public statement,” the paper says.
The paper suggests a break between pastor and congregation cold be handled in a similar way, saying: “In parent-child of pastor-congregation relationships we sometimes recognize that there is a separation is best in our imperfect world…
“We are all creatures of conflict. We cannot control all the forces that make or break relationships with other people, whether they be spouse, child, neighbor or parishioner.”
After the guidelines were approved, one of the delegates asked that the issue of common-law marriages among Mennonites be studied next by the executive.
The guidelines on divorce and remarriage were hailed as a move away from earlier rigid stands taken by Mennonites on those issues.
They reflect an approach that is both concerned about the meaning of marriage and the needs of people and their situations, rather than a rigid approach that is only concerned with principle,” said Rev. Vernon Leis, assistant moderator of the conference.
“It’s a good combination of theology and practicality. There was a time when Mennonites couldn’t deal at all with people whose marriage had broken down.”
Marriage called ‘too important’ for conference
The oldest delegate to the Mennonite Conference of Ontario doesn’t think Mennonites should even be talking about divorce.
But 85-year-old Jacob Wideman of Markham kept quiet Friday when a guideline paper on how congregations should deal with divorce and remarriage came before the conference.
He abstained from voting, but later said the question of divorce and remarriage “shouldn’t have come up here.”
“I don’t see how it ever came to the conference floor. Marriage is too important, it’s for life.”
Wideman, who has attended every conference since 1933, added that the “social glass” (alcohol) should never have come into congregations.
He intends to keep attending the yearly meetings as long as he can.
“I still come because any year now I might be too old. My intentions for coming next year are good, but you never know.
“I feel alright today, but in two days time it might be a different story.”
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| Language: | English |
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