I had followed with some interest, but had not had time to post about, the controversy surrounding Goshen College and its historic refusal to play the national anthem before sporting events. Goshen’s own website hosts an archive of news coverage of the anthem flap, as well as its own press releases. A Mennonite institution, Goshen belongs to the historic pacifist tradition of the Anabaptist movement. Mennonites have, like their stricter Amish cousins, refused military service (and been incarcerated for it); they have also refused to pledge allegiance to any flag or any nation. Mennonites have a tradition of simplicity, of passionate service to God and the most vulnerable members of His Kingdom.
Mennonites are often placed in a difficult position in America. Often socially conservative, with their largest population centers in places like Indiana and Pennsylvania, they frequently attract the ire of their intensely patriotic evangelical neighbors. Mennonites often proffer a consistent-life ethic, opposing abortion as well as military intervention; opposing the death penalty and euthanasia as well as jingoistic displays of national pride. Despite their peaceful witness, they don’t fit easily into conventional ideological brackets — they lean right on the sexual issues, far left on peace and justice issues. And Goshen, with its historic refusal to play the anthem and salute the flag, had in recent months come under heavy fire from more traditional right-wingers (including Sean Hannity, the talk show and Fox News host.)
The Times this morning offered a brief glimpse into campus life these days. The Goshen campus now plays an instrumental version of the anthem; the tune is there, but no reference to “rocket’s red glare”. (That would be a bridge too far for any self-respecting Anabaptist.) There’s a quote from Goshen’s president, Jim Brennemann, who helped craft the wordless compromise; Jim speaks of a “whole new peace movement” underway on campus.
Jim was my pastor when I worshipped and served at Pasadena Mennonite Church from 2002-2004. During my two and a half years there, I served on the leadership team and headed up the Prayer Commission. It was never an easy fit for me culturally; I loved the peace witness of the Mennonites but was discomfited by the sexual conservatism of the institution. Eventually, that gap between the church’s commitments and my own views led to my very amicable resignation from leadership. Jim Brennemann was as kind as could be through the whole process, which I’m afraid was a bit painful for some of my fellow congregants. Heading a church that held in tension tradition and modernity, radical peacemaking with traditional morality, is no easy task. Jim did it with grace and humor and consummate skill. And though I am sorry that Goshen is now playing the anthem, I am proud of my old friend and pastor that he is now dealing with greater controversies on a greater stage, employing that same winsome and irenic style.
I have been down many roads on my faith journey. I loved my years with the Mennonites. I honored their simplicity, their pacifism, their commitment to Christ and to radical social justice. I could not live as they lived. But I learned much from them. And among the things to which I still adhere is their practice of standing at quiet attention during national anthems, my hand nowhere near my heart.
It was the Mennonites who taught me that while I may have two passports, I do not belong to her Majesty or to the Republic that broke from her predecessor’s rule. I am, in Stanley Hauerwas’ happy phrase, a “resident alien” wherever I go, regardless of my citizenship, until I return to my truest home.
So I’m sorry that the Mennonites at Goshen, the church’s flagship school, have surrendered one of their most impressive distinctives. Truly, the refusal to join the orgy of patriotism (rendering far more to Caesar than is his due) was one of the best aspects of the Anabaptist witness. That witness is compromised, but not entirely. May it be just another tune that is played before the Goshen Maple Leafs take the field. And may another generation of students refuse to sing the words.
Hi Hugo,
As a side note, you are right that Mennonites generally lean right on sexual issues. The Mennonite congregation here in Minneapolis that I’ve been part of for about 8 years actually split in two over the issue of gay rights about 12 years ago. About a third of the congregation didn’t show up one Sunday, and formed a new church. The church that remained (which I belong to) is welcoming to gay folks and even has a delegation in the local Gay Pride parade each year. About half of our members weren’t raised Mennonite, so that might have something to do with the more liberal stance on sexual issues. Our church was “under discipline” by the greater Mennonite church body (Central Committee? I’m not even sure what it’s called), but I think that was lifted at some point. There is also a Mennonite congregation in St. Paul, St. Paul Fellowship, that is welcoming to gay folks. I wouldn’t say there’s a widespread trend towards greater sexual liberalism among Mennonites, but at least there are a few rays of hope.
Interesting to hear Gigi’s Mennonite experience in Minneapolis because Pasadena Mennonite Church might be heading in the same direction. The landscape is different (or maybe just more vocal) from when Hugo was with us just a few years ago. In June—after a year of study, discussion, and a lot of listening on both sides—PMC will decide if it will go the way of Tucson, San Francisco and San Diego (three churches in our conference who welcome Gay and Lesbian members).
Due to the consensus process PMC is slow in working out its theology regarding sexual orientation. But not in its theology of peace. Hugo, if you happen to see us this weekend marching in the Palm Sunday Peace Parade give us a friendly honk!
I am a Mennonite student at Goshen College. I also disagree with the decision to play the anthem at sports games. Unfortunately, the publicity of this issue has become the sole defining point of GC for the past year or two (which is unfortunate because there are many more positive qualities to GC, and most of these are more valuable to me personally than this issue), and we have been getting constant feedback about it from all over the world. It became a very divisive issue on campus before the college announced their decision and it has continued to be ever since. Many students are getting to a point where we are sick of hearing about it. I see the national coverage of this issue as oversimplifying and one-sided. The school approached this issue–and still does–in the spirit of cultivating conversation and dialogue, offering students, faculty, and community members many opportunities to voice our opinions. The news coverage, on the other hand, downplays the lengthy consideration and discussion that went into this decision. The issue of inclusiveness is, of course, difficult, but especially so when more than half of Goshen’s athletes are non-Mennonite, and they are stuck with explaining an issue that has nothing to do with athletics. This is a difficult, subtle, and changing issue at Goshen College. I was very excited to see GC mentioned by Hugo, and I am open to any questions or clarifications on this issue (although I’m a theater person, not a sports person, nor do I claim to speak for the entire student body or the administration).
It really bothers me to see a group who’s ideals and principles I have a great deal of respect for, such as the Mennonites and Goshen College, have to give in a little bit to get mouth-breathing jingoists like Sean Hannity to go away and find someone else to torment.