An open apology to the anabaptists dispersed

[MrJim]

I've been away for a while-for reasons I won't go into here. This note is to those anabaptist folks-particularly Crazy Liz, tulc, and others that were removed from the baptist forum but also not made welcome here. When the anabaptists were separated from the baptist forum I viewed it as a great thing, but was in the minority-I think I was the only one that liked the idea. Since I was in the forefront of helping form this new forum I pushed my own idea of how things should be, which took a conservative turn, thereby leaving the less conservative folks in the cold. While not shunned they were also not welcomed.

I repent of my arrogant manner in this situation, and do apologize for my actions, and ask forgiveness from the "homeless" anabaptist folks.

I am not much of an anabaptist-I attend a baptist church and have been in baptist churches for 8 or so years now. My last official membership in a church was mennonite, and still hold to many anabaptist doctrines, but certainly am no true anabaptist representative. How dare I attempt to form a forum around my ideals

Jim

 

[CelticRose]

Oops! I arrived after the hoo~ha & was made very welcome by you, Menno ~ & I'm certainly not Anabaptist!

 

[ZiSunka]

I appreciate what you say Menno. I felt like the regular mennonite folk were not welcome to post regular mennonite thought and teachings. I felt like everyone either had to agree with the conservative churches or it would start a fight.

I quit coming to this forum because I was just sick of being blasted for being a mennonite. It wasn't worth it. Especially when a certain person would start his posts with the words, "That's what's wrong with the Mennonite church today," or "That's where the Mennonite church went wrong," as if there is something wrong with the Mennonite church that is caused by having doctrine different than what that certain person agreed with. It made many of us feel unwelcome in our own forum.

I have no intention of coming back to post here. I just wanted to offer my olive branch in return for the one you have extended to us.

Thanks for your friendship and fellowship.

 

[MrJim]

I appreciate what you say Menno. I felt like the regular mennonite folk were not welcome to post regular mennonite thought and teachings. I felt like everyone either had to agree with the conservative churches or it would start a fight.

I quit coming to this forum because I was just sick of being blasted for being a mennonite. It wasn't worth it. Especially when a certain person would start his posts with the words, "That's what's wrong with the Mennonite church today," or "That's where the Mennonite church went wrong," as if there is something wrong with the Mennonite church that is caused by having doctrine different than what that certain person agreed with. It made many of us feel unwelcome in our own forum.

I have no intention of coming back to post here. I just wanted to offer my olive branch in return for the one you have extended to us.

Thanks for your friendship and fellowship.

 

[RenewedbyFaith]

It wasn't just you Menno. There was an atmosphere of unwelcome here caused by several people, or at least several screen names.

These kinds of forums where everyone is bunched together by denomination, rather than ideology, are never pleasant. It would be different if instead of denominational tags, there were ideological tags, such as conservative or liberal or moderate, pre- post- or amillenial, ID, evolutionist or creationist, etc. Organized that way, there would be more agreement and less fighting.

Think of all the anamosity caused by discussions about women's clothing. If men had to only discuss their own clothing, that wouldn't happen. Men who try to control women are going to create tension.

Of course the best thing of all would be to simply respect that there are other viewpoints. But that seems to be very difficult even for most adults these days. I guess people feel so insignificant compared to famous preachers and entertainers, they feel the have to shout and control in order to be heard.

I found it especially uncomfortable to be picked on because I am from a family that abandoned the Amish life. One person in particular made it clear that I am allowed no voice because my family made a choice he didn't agree with. Plus, his version of the Amish life was completely distorted by his fantasies and he refused to receive that reality is very different.

The only thing I can say is RESPECT. Even if a person disagrees with you (in the global sense, not just you personally Menno), you can still respect them and their feelings and not try to crush them so they will submit to your take on something.

 

[JimfromOhio]

I was a Baptist for many years before moving on to Anabaptist. I have been an Anabaptist for 20 some years before moving to a smaller Church which is not an Anabaptist but rather a Reformed church. I still believe many of the Anabaptist beliefs which are similar to Anabaptist beliefs (except baptism and other minor doctrines).

Baptists and Anabaptist are so similar and it saddens me that they are divided. I am still around fellowshipping with other Anabaptists

 

[Crazy Liz]

Thank you for those words, Menno. I know I pouted about statements that liberals were unwelcome, but really didn't feel like I had anything to talk about after the split. The threads seemed to be mostly about headcovering & other stuff I couldn't relate to at all. I can do a rhetorical analysis of 1 Corinthians 11 to demonstrate the chapter isn't REALLY about headcovering at all, but is entirely about an economic theory of the Lord's Supper, as advocated by John Howard Yoder, and about not paying attention to something very complex, but unimportant, while neglecting something simple, but central. But why should I argue with people who wanted to talk about headcovering & didn't want me?

I doubt I'll ever feel at home in this forum, unless the Anabaptists decide to begin talking about what community means in Anabaptist theology, or dry subjects like that. But I very much appreciate your posts about this, Menno.

 

[seebs]

All is forgiven, and indeed, it was quite some time back.

I can hardly blame you for wanting a home forum.

Ultimately, while your posts may have contributed a bit to the pointlessness of this forum, the real problem lies with the fact that a small group of like-minded folks, none of whom were you, used your posts and misquotes or misrepresentation of Liz's to do an end run around the normal procedure for forum splits. You couldn't have known or anticipated that, and the people who did it know what they did and why.

Be well, wherever your path takes you. Rest easy, knowing that we will all one day be welcomed.

 

[Flynmonkie]

MENNO! Don't you know I think you hung the moon? You can do no wrong in my eyes. I believe I know the intent of your heart and I have never found you to be acting in such a "selfish" manner you speak of. I hope any of my comments would not have led you to believe I would think this about you!

I vehemently agree with Seebs here. I do not point a finger at you and of course Anabaptists should have had a forum for yourselves, you know my thoughts on this.

Of course, I am not a member of the Anabaptist community, but you are all sorely missed by me in the Baptist forum! I liked having that balance even in difference. Not to mention, I hate divisions. It has not felt like home ever since!

 

[MrJim]

Thank you all for your kind words. This apology was something that has been burdening me for many weeks.

Jim

 

[Joykins]

menno--even though I remain "homeless" now I never did hold this against you. Be forgiven and go in peace

 

[LittleladyinChrist]

I am not a Mennonite, but the Baptists originated out of the Anabaptists, so I wanted to be honest to my heritage and call myself an Anabaptist, which I think is a beatiful denomination for the most part. I actually go to a Independant Baptist church. The only thing that bugs me is that I cannot post in the Baptist forum either. They warned me the other day about that, but Im really a baptist I think.

 

[Joykins]

If you attend a Baptist church you should be able to post there. It must be your faith icon throwing them off.

 

[Crazy Liz]

Yeah. Even when it was B/A the black cross icon used to throw the mods off. If you'd like help working this out with the mods, Joykins as Ombuds or I as a Conciliator would be happy to do all we can. Drop one of us a PM.

 

[ZiSunka]

Yep, I got a censure once for posting in this forum because my icon is the regular old cross and certain people at the time didn't believe I was really anabaptist.

If we all go to bat for you with certain people, it should be okay for you to post here. Liz and I and a few others don't use the anabaptist icon, in fact, more of us anabaptists don't use that icon than do use it.

 

[Crazy Liz]

ZiSunka, did you change your screen name?

I think I should know you. You've been here longer than I have. In fact, I think you're on my Buddy List, but I just don't remember the name. Am I afflicted with dementia, or do I know you by a different name?

 

[JimfromOhio]

I am not a Mennonite, but the Baptists originated out of the Anabaptists, so I wanted to be honest to my heritage and call myself an Anabaptist, which I think is a beatiful denomination for the most part. I actually go to a Independant Baptist church. The only thing that bugs me is that I cannot post in the Baptist forum either. They warned me the other day about that, but Im really a baptist I think.

Not all Anabaptists are Mennonite. I was a member of an Anabapist Church for years under "Brethren".

 

[Joykins]

I think ZiSunka used to be lambslove, then AshesEmeraldsAndDiamonds???

 

[Joykins]

Not all Anabaptists are Mennonite. I was a member of an Anabapist Church for years under "Brethren".

me too! Same denomination I think, too.

 

[JimfromOhio]

me too! Same denomination I think, too.

Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches