My church is very good. The conference that my church is no longer affiliated with is the problem.
The other problem is that being Mennonite is, for me, not just a denominational choice. There's cultural stuff that goes with being Mennonite/Brethren in Christ/Anabaptist -- or it sometimes does; there are people who are Mennonite without that. I could find myself a nice UCC church with a supportive conference. But I would still feel like a Mennonite who doesn't get along with most of the rest of the Mennonites on a number of important issues.
Besides, I would miss the singing.
And MC USA is getting better. They may even be at the point where they're no longer kicking out welcoming congregations. There was definitely mutterings to that affect a few years ago.
Am I being too hard on myself? Maybe. But I think a decent part of being Christian is expecting more of yourself, in some direction, than you're doing right now. And I think it's easier to find a way to change my actions than to find a way to change my expectations.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2 Mar 2011 04:41 pm (UTC)The other problem is that being Mennonite is, for me, not just a denominational choice. There's cultural stuff that goes with being Mennonite/Brethren in Christ/Anabaptist -- or it sometimes does; there are people who are Mennonite without that. I could find myself a nice UCC church with a supportive conference. But I would still feel like a Mennonite who doesn't get along with most of the rest of the Mennonites on a number of important issues.
Besides, I would miss the singing.
And MC USA is getting better. They may even be at the point where they're no longer kicking out welcoming congregations. There was definitely mutterings to that affect a few years ago.
Am I being too hard on myself? Maybe. But I think a decent part of being Christian is expecting more of yourself, in some direction, than you're doing right now. And I think it's easier to find a way to change my actions than to find a way to change my expectations.