Church Connections

MCC Ontario is a ministry of the church.
Seven Anabaptist conferences guide our work through our Board of Directors, not to mention the countless volunteers and donors committed to sharing God's love and compassion with all.

A message from Rick Cober Bauman

May 15, 2012

Dear Friends,

Have Canadians made peace with going to war?

The plan for a War of 1812 commemorative parade in Stouffville next month, complete with a CF-18 fly-by, puts more distance between today's Canada and the Canadian peacekeeping I grew up with.

Maybe it was the energy of their Brethren in Christ and Mennonite church mates from Niagara area which sparked Stouffville Anabaptists to raise concern about how the War of 1812 is going to be "celebrated" in their town.  With plans to wear MCC's "To remember is to work for peace" buttons, these peace churches are hoping to join the June 16 Stouffville military parade with a different message...that their town was in fact founded by sacrificial Jesus-followers, the same Jesus we call the Prince of Peace.

Our Stouffville and Niagara peace church friends know of course that their challenge to a military version of local history risks sending a message of disrespect for our soldiers then and now.  I have often thought MCC could go a long way toward countering this perceived message of ingratitude if we would actively play a role in comforting and supporting the military families who have lost sons and daughters in Canadian armed service.  Are we big enough to quietly send a condolence gift to grieving mothers...with no mention of our contrarian views about soldiering?

I recently noticed a Palestine peace conference entitled "Challenging Oppression, on a Donkey."  Not a bad description of how Jesus acts against injustice!  Maybe in addition to our alternative celebrations with plaques, bicycle tours and MCC peace buttons, we should consider joining the military parades riding on a donkey.

To our sisters and brothers in Stouffville and Vineland and Bertie and Sherkston who are inviting us to remember our heritage of peacemaking: MCC Ontario is with you, in the name of Christ.

Rick Cober Bauman
Executive Director | MCC Ontario