July 15th

Commemorating 500 Years of Diverse Anabaptism

On Ascension Day, May 29, as over 1,000 people packed the Grossmünster in Zurich, Switzerland, for Mennonite World Conference’s commemoration of 500 years of Anabaptism, 40-50 people came together in the chapel of Canadian Mennonite University to watch the livestream of the event (see article image).

“We felt it was important to gather along with our Anabaptist siblings in Zurich and around the world,” says Michael Pahl, Executive Minister for Mennonite Church Manitoba. “Meeting at the same time, singing together, praying together, hearing testimony of God’s faithfulness over 500 years, witnessing acts of reconciliation with other denominations. It was a meaningful experience.”

Danika Gingerich was MCM’s delegate for the Global Youth Summit (GYS) at the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Germany, planned to coincide with the 500th anniversary commemoration in Zurich.

“Very powerful,” Danika says, speaking of the commemoration day spent in Zurich. “There was a strong sense of being part of the same family, even though there are many differences among us, culturally and otherwise.”

As part of GYS, Danika joined other Mennonite Church Canada delegates (see image, Danika is on the right) to participate in workshops of various kinds. Some, such as “Communal Living in the Anabaptist Tradition,” were eye-opening for Danika as she heard from Anabaptists with generations of communal living experience. Other workshops, such as “Turning Aggressions into Play,” were more hands-on, learning how to turn physical aggression into more constructive activities. All the GYS activities built connections for young adults from across the globe.

Laura Rodriguez-Reyes from Mennonite Church Eastern Canada was MC Canada’s delegate to the Young Anabaptist (YAB) conference before GYS. Danika notes how Laura shared with the other MC Canada delegates about her experience at YAB, how it was very challenging to wrestle with different perspectives from others around the world on things like women in ministry and Indigenous spirituality.

Danika says, “I would rather know that we have differences but recognize that we belong to the same Anabaptist family, than ignore those differences. Everyone was still always respectful, and we didn’t allow those differences to get in the way of relationship-building.”

To watch the 500th anniversary commemoration service, see here. If your church is interested in having Danika come and share about her GYS experience, please contact the MCM office. To give financially to support MCM’s and MC Canada’s connections to our global Anabaptist family through MWC, see www.mennochurch.mb.ca/giving.