News release on 2008 Bridgefolk conference
by Kent Yoder
Collegeville, Minnesota (Bridgefolk) — On July 24-27, forty-five Mennonites and Catholics gathered at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota for the seventh annual Bridgefolk conference. Under the theme “Holiness the Road: Saints and the Spirituality that Sustains,” participants explored common and divergent threads between Catholic and Mennonite traditions regarding the role of saints and heroes of the faith. Despite recognizable differences between the two traditions on this topic, the group agreed that this is not a unity breaking issue. Opening presentations by Gerald Schlabach, Marlene Kropf and Ivan Kauffman, several of Bridgefolk’s founding members, introduced listeners to Mennonite and Catholic perceptions of the saints and holiness in the other’s tradition. Schlabach contributed a role-play dialogue between “Ana B” (Anabaptist) and “Cathy” (Catholic), in which the conversation characterized perspectives of each tradition. Kropf then offered a personal reflection on the witness of Saint Francis and Saint Claire of Assisi from a Mennonite perspective in which she expressed her gratitude for their stories.
In the keynote address “Peace and Sanctity in Mennonite and Catholic Traditions,” Kauffman traced the commonalities between these traditions around the theme of peace. Sharing stories of Catholic and Mennonite martyrs, he illustrated the way in which they continue to inspire faith and discipleship for Christians today.
The opening presentations also identified a number of contentious issues that the conference went on to address: the hierarchical structures related to canonization of saints in Roman Catholicism, the dilemma of how to respond to saints with obvious moral imperfections, biblical and doctrinal issues related to Mary, and religious practices such as praying to the saints.
The Friday morning session turned to the theme “Saints Who Weren’t Perfect.” Margie Pfeil, a Catholic theology professor at Notre Dame, reflected on the life of Mennonite John Howard Yoder and recognized his enormous contribution to the development of peace theology in the Catholic Church. Ron Pagnucco from the College of St. Benedict told the moving story of Franz Jagerstatter. An Austrian Catholic, Jagerstatter was beheaded for his refusal to bear arms in the Nazi army, and he was beatified in the fall of 2007 in his hometown of Linz, Austria.
During the second session of the morning, the group viewed a film, “The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It,” an account of persons, including Mennonites and Amish, who refused to join the military and fought tirelessly for peace in World War II. Catholics and Mennonites alike were moved by the profound peace witness of these conscientious objectors.
The Friday afternoon session focused on “Saints Who Stayed.” Under this theme, the group heard evocative stories of ordinary people whose commitment to Christ and the church was maintained in the face of extraordinary challenges. Several listeners commented on how vivid the experience of the communion of saints had been during this session.
Two young musicians from Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana, Kristin Kauffman and Jen Shenk, led the traditional Friday evening hymnsing. The joy shown in this time of worship expressed the deep friendship shared among Bridgefolk participants.
On Saturday morning the group heard reflections on Mary and Marian devotion. A survey of New Testament texts and Roman Catholic doctrines regarding Mary introduced listeners to traditional Mennonite and Catholic understandings of Mary. Rhoda Glick, a Mennonite who has become a Catholic while maintaining membership in both churches, told a personal story of Marian devotion. A presentation by Abbot John Klassen covered the historical development of Marian devotion in Roman Catholicism.
During the Saturday afternoon discernment session it became clear that these stories remain significant models for faith formation within each tradition. Yet despite some lingering questions about theology and practice, the topic proved less divisive than that of Eucharist and the divided table, which has often been painful for Bridgefolk. One commenter on the topic of prayer to the saints noted that Mennonites do not hesitate to ask fellow Christians for intercession in prayer. He suggested that asking departed Christians in the “great cloud of witnesses” to pray for us is not really any different.
As the conference drew to a close, the group honored Gerald Schlabach for his six years of volunteer work as founding Executive Director of Bridgefolk. Schlabach will continue as a board member. Father William Skudlarek from Saint John’s Abbey was also recognized for his service as secretary of the board and for his participation in the program planning committee. In August, he is departing for Rome to continue his work as Executive Director of the Interreligious Monastic Dialogue.
The group offered a blessing for Biff Weidman, a Mennonite, and Margie Pfeil, a Roman Catholic, who met as Bridgefolk participants and plan to be married this fall in South Bend, Indiana where they are engaged in ministry with the Catholic Worker House.
On Saturday evening, Ivan Kauffman invited participants to join in a conversation related to a current book project. He and his wife Lois have been invited by St. John’s Abbey to spend January through May of 2008 at the Ecumenical Institute where Ivan will work on a manuscript describing Mennonite-Catholic conversations and interactions over the past ten years. His writing will cover the international dialogue between the Vatican and Mennonite World Conference, the Mennonite Catholic Colloquium, Bridgefolk, local Bridgefolk chapters and ecumenical visits with the pope.
Because of impediments to open communion between Catholics and Mennonites, footwashing has become a common ritual. On Sunday morning the group met for a festive agape meal, which concluded with footwashing. The service was led by Pat Shaver, of Seattle Mennonite Church, and Joetta Schlabach, of Faith Mennonite Church in Minneapolis.
The Bridgefolk board met twice during the conference. One major item for discernment was whether or not to host a gathering in the Summer of 2009 due to the scheduling of two Mennonite national conferences and the Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay. Participants gave strong counsel not to forego the annual meeting, and in response the board will continue to discern plans for a conference in 2009. The board also discussed a proposal for a future communication strategy and fundraising.
This year’s event saw many new faces. There was an increase in attendance by young adults – about 20% – while nearly 30% of registrants were new participants. The group also recognized some who wanted to attend did not because of increased travel costs.
As the group reflected on its future, it became clear that this community continues to provide an important space of ecumenical learning and hospitality for its members. Bridgefolk remains a spiritually sustaining movement, one that is based on deep friendship and a longing for more intimate relations between the Mennonite and Catholic traditions.
Other reports available by:
- Abbot John Klassen, Bridgefolk co-chair (article on p. 3)
- Erik Owski, first-time Bridgefolk participant (near bottom of blog page)