Theological Perspectives of Unity

The following is an address given by Glenn Zehr at the integration of the Mennonite Church Eastern Canada in 1987. Asked to provide theological reflections, the following was Glenn's prayer and vision for the new conference.

"Today I think we have arrived at the next stage of the integration processed for these three conferences. I believe this is an historic event. As we look back it is not very difficult to see that, time and again, we have had splits and separations between congregations between conferences, within congregations and even within families. Today I think we are on the verge of reversing that trend at least in a small way.

Since December 1984, when the three individual conference executives met with the Inter-Mennonite Conference executive to decide what we could do about the structural confusion we found ourselves in, there have been many meetings of executives, the integration committee, the transition team, and many ad hoc and sub committees to work at the details of this structural complexity. Throughout this whole process there have been those who have been reminding us that we dare not ignore the theological implications. I am not so naive to believe that we all think alike or all agree on every detail of biblical interpretation or on the application of the biblical principals with which our congregations all struggle. I am aware that there are some differences between the three conferences but I have also learned that there are more differences within a conference than between the conferences. As leaders we have not ignored these theological differences but we have agreed that there are far more similarities and we should dwell on those. I believe as we share together, study together, and confer together, that our understandings will continue to blend more and more.

Last March, in a booklet that was presented to the delegates, there was an affirmation of faith  - a one page statement that we use in a small way to try and say what we believe. That statement gives recognition to God as our Creator who is worthy of our praise and worship, to Christ as our Saviour, Redeemer, and Lord, and to the Holy Spirit who enables us to grow to greater Christ-likeness. That statement also stated that we accept the scriptures as the ultimate guide to Christian life and faith and that as we follow Christ, the Prince of Peace, we will also attempt to be peacemakers in a world of turmoil and unrest. We committed ourselves in that statement to be a good news people in daily life. If that is our aim and our desire, then we can truly be united in Christ.

I am also aware that on the North American scene, there is a group of Mennonite Church people and General Conference people working on a new confession of faith. Hopefully in a few years we will have a new confession of faith.

Anyone who has studied the New Testament, knows that it was Christ's desire for the new kingdom he introduced to include people from every race and nationality. On numerous occasions, Jesus reminded his 12 disciples that his desire was that they should get along as brothers and sisters, as members of a family, and as servants and not as lords. When Paul started to explain his concept of the church in the letters he sent to the churches he had established, he used the analogy of the body to describe what he had in mind. 1 Corinthians 12 goes into great detail to highlight that the body is a unit made up of many parts and yet the many parts form one body.

'The body is a unit, thought it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave of free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.'

He then goes into the section of the chapter where he talks about the foolishness of the hand, the feet, the eyes, and the ears arguing with each other about who is the most important. In verse 18 he goes on with this:

'God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body by? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.'

Verse 27 tells us:

'You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostels, second prophets, thrid teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of adminsitration, adn those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.'

Desire the greater gifts and I will show you the most excellent way - leading into 1 Corinthians 13 where he emphasized the importance of working in love. According to the 13th chapter, even though the Holy Spirt has given us these gifts, we are cautioned that unless we do these things in love they would only be as wasted noise or as useless as a wisp of smoke.

So in summary - let me repeat. It is my believe that we need to continue to discuss theology together as congregations, as congregational and conference leaders, and as delegates. We need to continue to seek the Holy Spirit's direction, leadership, and empowerment so that we can be the kind of followers that Christ wanted his disciples to be. Thirdly, we need to work together in love if there is to be any sense of body as we relate together in the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada

In closing I would like to read some of Jesus words from that familiar prayer in John 17. In the first part of that prayer Jesus was praying for himself; he was facing death within a few hours. In the second part of that prayer he was praying for his disciples that they would have the courage and strength to continue. Starting in verse 20 he was praying for us.

'My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me... I have made you known to them, and will continuue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.'

That is my prayer and vision for the new conference."