Canadian Mennonite
Volume 9, No. 07
April 4, 2005


InConversation

Letters

This section is a forum for discussion and discernment. Letters express the opinion of the writer only, not necessarily the position of Canadian Mennonite, the five area churches or Mennonite Church Canada. Letters should address issues rather than criticizing individuals and include contact information. We will send copies of letters referring to other parties to them to provide an opportunity to respond in a future issue if their views have not already been printed in an earlier letter.

Please send letters to be considered for publication to letters@canadianmennonite.org or to Canadian Mennonite, 490 Dutton Drive, Unit C5, Waterloo, ON, N2L 6H7, “Attn: Letter to the Editor.” Letters may be edited for length, style and adherence to editorial guidelines.

Paying taxes is a civic duty

I want to register another perspective on taxes for this forum than the one expressed in a letter in the Feb. 7 issue (page 15).

I agree that sometimes governments are ineffective and wasteful. But just because the execution is imperfect, doesn’t mean the plan is wrongheaded.

I posit that taxes play a key role in maintaining the physical, social and economic infrastructures that support our society and all the individuals in it. Everyone benefits from the roads, railroads, water lines and wilderness parks that form part of our physical infrastructure. All benefit from social infrastructures such as healthcare, museums and sports leagues. The economic infrastructures provided by taxes also benefit everyone, whether that be an education, a regular pay cheque for work done, a disability pension or welfare cheque to stave off the worst effects of poverty, or corporate tax breaks intended to stimulate profitability for investors and economic growth for the community.

All benefit. A democracy such as ours depends on the participation of all citizens. All should gladly contribute taxes to the maintenance of society. And I think it is fair that taxes should be geared to income.

I do not expect taxes to accomplish a just redistribution of wealth, but I do expect taxes to accomplish a minimum standard of existence and level of infrastructure in our society. I see taxes not only as a short-term drain on my own pocket, but as an investment in society that will benefit the children and grandchildren of my generation.

—Ron Flaming, Waterloo, Ont.

Legal unions and sacred marriages

After many months of casual consideration on this topic, and reading many opinions about what the “real” issue is from many angles and positions, I sincerely now believe that the correct and obvious answer to the debate lies in the letter by Darren Kehler (Canadian Mennonite, March 7, 2005, page 12).

You would have done well to reprint this short letter on the cover, back cover, and in the space provided for the Wider Church segment, as well as sending it off to every elected official you can think of. Mr. Kehler has indeed found the solution.

It is too bad Mr. Nighswander and Mr. Eriksson have been dragged through the quicksand of a ludicrous argument when the real issue gets lost far in the dust in the panic to demand answers to an unfair question. The un-fair question being brought before religious leaders and politicians across the country regarding same sex-marriage is, “Are you then a bigot or a blasphemer?” This kind of question does not merit an answer, but I am afraid that in an attempt to politely respond, “Neither,” Mr. Eriksson and Mr. Nighswander will, of course, be branded both.

I propose Mennonite Church Canada adopt Mr. Kehler’s position and advocate for the immediate separation of church and state: Legal unions and sacred marriages.

—Carl Froese, Winnipeg

Cost to Charlotte a concern for some

Our Charleswood Mennonite Church is committed to being a full participant in all conference matters. We want to do our fair share. We do, however, have concerns about the costs and our ability to do the Canadian agenda at Charlotte.

When we put the total costs per delegate together for the Charlotte assembly in July, CMC can expect to pay in the neighbourhood of $2,000 per delegate or about $10,000-$12,000 for our church of 270. If we decide to send only three delegates, that could come to $6,000 for our church. If all our 200 Canadian churches did the about the same thing, then the total assembly cost is in the neighbourhood of $1 million. That is a lot of money!

Now we read in the same issue that the general board is wrestling with a projected shortfall of $120,000. Since the Canadian delegates will spend major time with the bi-national agenda, I wonder if we will have enough time to be able to pay proper attention to our Canadian Conference issues. I know the delegates at the Winkler assembly in 2004 approved the meeting at Charlotte, but to us it does not seem to be good stewardship to do so at this time. It does suggest that for our church we might be making a more meaningful contribution by giving a contribution to the general budget instead.

—Peter H. Peters, Winnipeg

MCC relief discussions need to continue

I am pleased that MCC Canada responded promptly to Jacob Dyck’s concerns over sending relief kits to Indonesia.

MCC Canada executive director Donald Peters’ points do have validity since North American Mennonites want to feel connected with victims of disasters, and MCC wants to listen to, and actively foster relations with, local partners and churches. Peters is candid with readers in stating that serious discussions within MCC over material and development continue.

North American Mennonites are already involved and connected to people in need through quilt making, and volunteering at relief sales, thrift shops, during beef canning season, and in sundry other ways.

When future natural disasters strike, we need to be ready. Purchasing and assembling relief kits after the fact, and then shipping them where they are needed are both praiseworthy and inefficient activities. Money moves quickly, whereas relief kits assembled here take weeks to get to where they are needed.

North American Mennonites could donate money to MCC for relief kits. In turn, MCC, in consultation with local partners and churches, could seek out supplies made or available locally (or closer than North America and likely at lower costs). Then MCC, with local partners and churches, could plan on how the relief supplies are assembled and distributed quickly and efficiently.

I would like MCC to raise a permanent and substantial contingency fund now, before the next disaster strikes. This fund could then go to work immediately when it is needed. The fund would then have to be replenished for the next disaster, and the ones that will certainly follow. Second, I would like MCC to continue the relief and development discussions—even inviting constituency members to join them.

—Richard MacBride, Waterloo, Ont.

God’s love must guide same-sex marriage discussions

I read that the process of discernment on same-sex marriage has started (Canadian Mennonite, March 7, 2005). I wish you well with this divisive topic. At the very least, it can help us understand tolerance, and give us new opportunities to practise it.

The odds suggest thatthere are gay and lesbian members. in the Mennonite church. Given the “church’s call to extend the love of Christ to all…who seek ministry and guidance,” how does it respond to a gay or lesbian couple who wish to publicly proclaim their love for each other in their church community, and seek to obtain acknowledgement, acceptance and blessing of their relationship? Can we accept the relationship but deny sanctifying it? Do we split hairs and accept the people, but reject their choice? Is that truly acceptance? When we talk of strengthening the family, are we being overly restrictive? Should we start by examining how our love of God is expressed in all relationships?

Personally, I support gay and lesbian marriage because I cannot see how the broader Christian principles of love, community and acceptance allow us to exclude people from the support of their church.

As I look back over the public debates on this topic over the last several years, the thing that seems paramount to me is that the lesbian and gay community does not feel accepted or acknowledged by the larger “straight” community. Ironically, their feelings of abandonment and rejection are mir-rored by the feelings of those on the other side who feel marginalized by the government that supports same-sex marriage. However the marriage topic is resolved, this feeling of not belonging is one that must be addressed. Separate but equal no longer cuts it. It is not acceptable to ride the bus, but be restricted to the back.

May God’s love guide your discussions.

—Bruce Bauer, Kitchener, Ont.


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