Readers write: October 13, 2014 issue

Love our enemies because we worship the same God

Re: “‘Global caliphate’ a Muslim goal, not a myth'” letter, Sept. 1, page 15.

It is my prayer that someday we will all come to realize that the God of Israel and Allah are the same. So long as we choose to separate and divide, we become paranoid and fearful. 

We believe that it’s our God who created everything we know. If the God we worship doesn’t care for those who worship “another,” then why would our God allow them to enjoy the same sunshine we do?

If we refer to them who are not like us as our enemies, then, according to Jesus, our only recourse is to love.

John Gascho, Warman, Sask.

To be blessed themselves, Arabs need to bless Israel

Re: “From milk and honey to a land of rubble,” Aug. 18, page 4.

All nations are God’s and each nation is supposed to honour and serve him. Isaiah 19:2: “Blessed be my people Egypt, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.” 

God fights for Israel. Joshua 23:10: “For the Lord your God is he who fights for you, as he has promised you.”

God gives every nation its territory, according to Acts 17:26-27. Therefore, concerning Israeli settlements in the West Bank, or Judea and Samaria, I can only repeat Balaam’s blessing, Numbers 24:5: “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel.”

Arabs have much more land than the Hebrews and don’t need to fight against Israel. Life is hard for Palestinian Arabs because they use their resources to fight against Israel, instead of building up their own infrastructure and developing their own resources in their own lands. Arabs have their own blessing and are also supposed to honour the God that heard Ishmael’s cry in the desert (Genesis 21:17-18). If the Arabs blessed God and blessed Israel with peace, it would result in their own blessing.

In world history a nation’s persecution of Jews was followed by the nation’s demise. Canada is still doing okay economically while the rest of the world has been in an economic slump for many years. Could that be partially because Canada still supports Israel? 

Gamaliel once warned the Sanhedrin not to kill Peter and the other apostles before they find themselves fighting against God (Acts 5:34-39). Likewise, before anyone says something against Zionism or Israel, I would encourage them to refrain, lest they find themselves personally fighting against God. Jesus is, after all, the light to the nations and the glory of Israel (Luke 2:32).

Karl Friesen, Morden, Man

Yoder discipline, past and present, procedurally unfair

Re: “More evidence of sexual abuse uncovered,” Aug. 18, page 28.

Earlier this year, I analyzed the disciplinary hearing of John Howard Yoder from a legal perspective (http://bit.ly/Y6B3pG).

I believe the hearing was procedurally unjust, and that the evidence did not support the conclusions that some people drew from it. In particular, I do not believe there was evidence of sexual assault or sexual abuse within the meaning of the law at the time, or even the law as it exists today. 

The discernment group now says it has discovered “additional evidence of sexual violation perpetrated by Yoder on many women,” and, “There are documented reports of sexual violation by Yoder, including fondling and sexual intercourse. In some instances, women who engaged in sexual encounters were persuaded, at least initially, by Yoder that such behaviour was permissible between Christian ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters.’ Many others resisted his unwanted advances, and were perplexed and distressed by his pursuit.”

Were there acts of sexual intercourse that were not consented to? If there was initial consent by an adult, then there was no sexual abuse and no sexual assault within the meaning of the law.

If there were acts that were not consented to, it is important to know the context. Was Yoder acting as pastor, teacher or as an individual? These details matter. If Yoder merely made “unwanted advances” that were resisted, that would not constitute sexual assault or abuse. The fact that some were “distressed by his pursuit” is also not sufficient to prove sexual assault or abuse.

Of course, the church may still find such conduct to be immoral. But morality and legality need to be distinguished, and the terminology needs to be correct if the Mennonite church is genuinely interested in seeking justice and fairness.

Perhaps, unlike the evidence at his disciplinary hearing, the new evidence proves that there were sexual assaults within the meaning of the law. I would have the greatest sympathy for any such victims.

And yet I would still be troubled by procedural issues. Yoder, being deceased, clearly cannot defend himself. Since written materials will not be made public until 2015, judgments are being made by the discernment committee without evidence being made public.

I hope this will not set a precedent for how allegations of abuse are handled by the Mennonite church, whether in Canada or the U.S. There must be justice and fairness for the accused as well as for those bringing forward the allegations.

J. Glenn Friesen, Calgary, Alta.

Women’s stories disqualified by Yoder online postings

Re: “More evidence of sexual abuse uncovered” and “Works of John Howard Yoder now available online,” Aug. 18, page 28.

I was dismayed that these two articles appeared on the same page. In doing this I felt it was disqualifying the women’s stories by the good works of John Howard Yoder.

It’s hard to fathom that another Mennonite institution would accept monies to make the writings of Yoder available online. I think that if the monies had been used to safeguard our Mennonite institutions from this atrocity ever happening again, it would have been a much more worthy cause. Are the women in our Mennonite institutions any safer than they were in the days of Yoder?

Elsie Wiebe, Morden, Man.

Did stewardship consultant subtly influence client?

Re: “Beware of ‘undue influence” column, Sept. 1, page 13.

I wonder if giving estate planning advice when you work for a charitable foundation could be considered “undue influence.”

In the example cited, Maggie was clearly being pressured by her new friend in her estate planning. But was she also being subtly pressured by her stewardship consultant into choosing a certain charity over other charities and beneficiaries?

Is it appropriate for a charitable foundation to be giving estate-planning advice?

Della Lee, Brandon, Man.

--Posted Oct. 8, 2014