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News archive
Contact: Laurie L. Oswald (316) 283-5100, E-mail: LaurieO@MennoniteUSA.org
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Lessons of Ohio farm girl shape her values as Mennonite
high school principal. |
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by Laurie L. Oswald
LANSDALE, Pa. (MC USA) -- As an Ohio farm kid, Elaine Moyer
picked tomatoes, drove tractors and became friends with Hispanic
families in a world that's light years away from her role
as principal of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (CD).
A three-decade career in education took her far from the farm
of her parents, Kenneth and the late Violet Aeschliman, in
Archbold, Ohio. But childhood was her greatest teacher in
highlighting how important the value of following Christ and
building community are in educating Mennonite Church USA's
young people and shaping them as leaders.
Developing leaders is one of the denomination's priorities
-- a priority that Elaine's upbringing in Ohio prepared her
to do. It was on the farm with five siblings and playmates
from farm worker families where she learned that God creates
each person as valuable, gifted and capable, she says. Elaine,
CD's principal since 1990 and a former teacher and assistant
principal, strives to model what she learned as a girl to
young persons and their teachers at CD.
"It was wonderful to grow up on the farm with its steers,
pigs, grain, 40 acres of tomatoes and lots of Hispanic families
who came to work with us," Elaine says. "It was
a wonderful place to gain self-confidence and to relate in
community while playing, working and worshipping with people
from other backgrounds.
"Very early, the expectation was that I could do anything
if I was willing to try. And we were to respect everyone for
who they were and what they did. Everyone was valued, everyone
was needed and everyone pulled their weight. The question
wasn't what your skin color was or how old you were, but 'Are
you doing your work and are you cooperating with others to
get it done?'"
Elaine remembers how each summer her family enlarged to include
other Hispanic families, as seasonal migrant workers came
to their farm. "We had our own little international community,"
she says. "We played softball on Sunday afternoons in
our front yard and held church in one of our buildings, and
a pastor from a Hispanic Mennonite church came to preach.
"This togetherness taught us how to treat each other
and fostered an accountability to and respect for each other
-- and those are lessons that I've learned over and over again
as I strive to help shape the CD campus with that same attitude."
The tiny community tucked into Ohio farmland taught her lessons
that Hesston (Kan.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University
reinforced, she says. She attended Hesston College and then
served as a trainee for one year with Mennonite Central Committee
as a nanny in North Germany and in Switzerland. She returned
to the United States, where she graduated from Bluffton in
1972 with a health, physical education and recreation degree.
After teaching in public schools in Lima and Bluffton, Ohio,
she received her master's degree in physical education from
Marshall University in Huntington, W.V. Upon finishing, she
and her husband, Dave, moved back to Bluffton, where she taught
physical education at Bluffton University and later became
department chair.
Dave changed careers from higher education to business, which
brought them to southeastern Pennsylvania. Just before the
move from Bluffton to the Lansdale area with their two small
sons, Jonathan and Jason, she got a call in 1983 from Elam
Peachey. The CD principal offered her a part-time physical
education position.
"I remember when I got Elam's call: I was standing in
the kitchen making dinner, with two toddlers playing in the
background," she says. "It was wonderful timing
and a wonderful offer. ... It gave me a chance to re-enter
the world of school and community."
While teaching at CD, administrators encouraged her to seek
her principal's certificate at Temple University in Philadelphia.
After Mike Lambright, coach and assistant principal, resigned,
she became assistant principal. When Peachey went on sabbatical,
Elaine became interim principal, and then CD asked her to
permanently continue in that post.
Just as childhood was fertile soil for her adult life, her
background as teacher and administrator is good "fertilizer"
for wider church involvements. Along with her involvement
on Bluffton University's board of trustees, CD belongs to
the Mennonite Secondary Education Council (MSEC).
The ministry -- with guidance from Mennonite Education Agency,
a churchwide agency of the denomination -- promotes Anabaptist
values in Mennonite Church USA high schools. It helps them
to offer the distinctives of Christ-centeredness, educational
excellence, opportunities, community and peace and service.
"We hope and pray that our Mennonite schools can go beyond
helping our students become good American citizens,"
Elaine says. "We also want to help them to be citizens
of the world, by expressing their Christian witness through
peace and service.
"Being connected to my colleagues in such organizations
as MSEC helps me to help CD to be a caring community where
we can foster the freedom to express our individual giftedness
as teachers, students and administrators and to challenge
each other to extend that community beyond our campus into
the world."
Laurie L. Oswald is news service director for Mennonite Church
USA.
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| Making
peace attractive: reaction to ribbon magnets gives rise
to new business |
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by Vera Koehn
TOPEKA, Kan. (MC USA) -- A Kansas couple grew weary of seeing
too many car magnets bearing messages they didn't like, so
they created their own product.
Topeka residents Duane and Elvera Johnson, members of Southern
Hills Mennonite Church, are marketing their own line of
magnets as a way to respond to the increasingly popular
"ribbon" magnets that many motorists display on
their vehicles. The fish-shaped magnets say "God Bless
Us All" and "Support Peacemakers" as deliberate
responses to the more common ribbon magnets.
"We believe catch phrases like 'Support Our Troops'
and 'God Bless America' promote militarism and uncritical
patriotism," Elvera Johnson says. "Our peace magnets
will give people a chance to express beliefs that are more
universal and that make it clear that God's will comes before
national interests."
Her husband, a former journalist and a freelance writer,
says he feels uncomfortable with what he calls the "chilling
effect" that such phrases have on valid criticisms
of government policy.
"The slogan 'Support Our Troops' grew out of the debate
over whether to invade Afghanistan," Duane Johnson
says. "Proponents of a military response insisted that
while it might be acceptable to argue against going to war,
to continue to speak out after the shooting began would
be unpatriotic.
"In other words, the phrase was intended, at least
in part, to silence critics of the war."
The couple conceived the idea Labor Day weekend 2004 during
an early morning breakfast trip. As they parked in the lot
of a local restaurant, they noticed a "Freedom Isn't
Free" magnet on the pickup truck beside them. When
they came out an hour later, the pickup had been replaced
with a car with the same message. They commiserated as they
drove home.
"Elvera said someone should come up with an alternative,"
Duane says. "In that same moment, I was thinking about
the similarity between the ribbon and fish shapes. We can't
remember which of us mentioned using a fish shape first
-- we seem to have thought of it at the same time."
They compiled a list of more than 20 possible phrases before
deciding to begin with "God Bless Us All" and
"Support Peacemakers." Then they named their new
product AttractPeace magnets. For the sake of simplicity
and to minimize production costs, they agreed to begin with
just one color, emerald green lettering on a white background.
In late October, they began selling the magnets to retailers,
suggesting a retail price of about $5. Initially, they're
focusing their marketing efforts on campus bookstores and
certain Christian bookstores. Local peace and justice groups
and Mennonite churches have also shown an interest in purchasing
the magnets.
Although the couple would like to make money, Elvera made
it clear that this is a personal ministry as much as a business
venture.
"Rather than borrow money, we're using part of our
personal savings account to pay the costs of starting the
business," she says. "We're willing to take that
risk because we believe in the message."
They've also agreed to tithe 10 percent of their profits
to the proactive peace organization Christian Peacemaker
Teams.
If the magnets sell well enough, Duane said, the couple
will consider other phrases, other color combinations and
perhaps other designs.
"One advantage of the fish design is that it's close
enough to the shape of the ribbon magnets that most people
immediately recognize it as a counterpoint," Duane
says. "But its close connection to Christianity means
that people who embrace other faiths may not feel comfortable
buying the magnets even if they like what they say.
"That's an important point that eventually should
be addressed. Commitment to peace, justice and nonviolence
is not unique to Christianity, and we should nurture it
in all religious faiths."
To order magnets or for more information, e-mail emerald@eefreelance.com
or call (785) 267-6386.
Vera Koehn, a freelancer from
Topeka, wrote this story for Mennonite Church USA news service.
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Freeman Academy announces Bold Vision -- Faith and the
Arts |
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by Dennis Schrock
FREEMAN, S.D. (MC USA) -- In a community faced with declining
rural populations and a weakened farm economy, Freeman (S.D.)
Academy seeks to secure the future of the school into its
second century.
"To prosper for 100 years through depression, drought
and the unpredictability of agriculture, this small community
has displayed unusual fortitude and vision in holding on to
an institution that they value highly," says Marlan Kaufman,
president of Freeman Academy, a Mennonite school in Central
Plains Mennonite Conference, one of 21 area conferences in
Mennonite Church USA.
To that end, Freeman Academy announces Bold Vision-Faith and
the Arts, a $3.5 million campaign. Its purpose is to build
enrollment, strengthen the program, renovate facilities and
provide strong annual budgetary support.
Opened in 1903 as South Dakota Mennonite College, the school
developed into high school and college programs. The college
program, Freeman Junior College, was closed in 1986. Middle
school grades were added in 1986 and 1992.
Enrollment development is at the heart of the initiative.
In 2000 the school year opened with just 67 students in grades
5 to 12. This was down from 101 students in 1994. High school
enrollments in the 1960's had hovered near 90 students.
School officials recognized that eroding enrollment jeopardized
the future of the school. That winter they convened a retreat
for community leaders, church officials, alumni, board, staff
and students. About 70 participants indicated a strong desire
to see Freeman Academy prosper and shared ideas for confronting
the future. "I think the seed (for the campaign) started
to grow out of the retreat," Kaufman says.
Faith and the Arts was the first action. It consists of a
creative arts emphasis in all parts of the curriculum. Capitalizing
on the community and school's historical love of music, drama
and art, the school desires to attract students with a unique
integration of arts and Christian education. The program added
music and art electives, as well as a required humanities
course. Faculty have also added arts topics into all subjects.
For example, this year written expression is an emphasis in
all classes.
Enrollment goals soon raised questions about facilities, curriculum
and staffing. Ongoing budget concerns led to discussions of
endowment and other income sources. "It boggles the mind
how quickly that stuff adds up to big dollars," Kaufman
says.
In establishing the campaign, the board of directors sought
the assistance of Jerry Kennell of Advancement Associates,
a Mennonite-based consulting group specializing in fundraising
and enrollment counseling.
"Fundraising is hard everywhere, but in a small community
in the Northern Plains it's a substantial challenge,"
Kennell says. Projected budgets show that gift income the
school normally receives from churches, organizations and
individuals will provide $1.2 million. These gifts will still
be used to fund current operating expenses.
The remaining $2.3 million will have to come from new sources.
To date the fund-raising campaign has received $800,000 in
cash gifts and pledges. The board, faculty and staff seeded
the campaign by pledging more than $115,000.
Recent staffing and program changes can be traced to the campaign
goals. The hiring of an enrollment director met an early goal.
The Faith and the Arts initiative created the need for a creative
arts coordinator. A projected $400,000 has been earmarked
for program development and staff training.
A professional architectural study produced the good report
that the aging buildings on campus were structurally sound.
However, the school needed to address fire-code violations,
handicap accessibility issues and a heating and cooling overhaul.
The thorough renovation of an abandoned dormitory and the
addition of a multi-use storage facility brought the cost
estimate to an estimated $1.8 million. A portion of the dormitory
has already been remodeled and opened as weekday housing for
students living far from campus.
The board has committed 10 per cent of all funds raised to
endowment. Endowment funds will create scholarships and stabilize
budget income. An inflationary factor and funds for campaign
support services account for the balance of the campaign's
financial goal.
Lonnie and Mary Waltner, alumni of Bridgewater agreed to serve
as co-chairs of the campaign. A team of volunteers assists
them in planning and making contacts.
In a published statement the couple says, "We treasure
the blessing Freeman Academy has been to us and our children.
We fervently desire to see future generations experience similar
blessings." With a bold vision, Freeman Academy seeks
to guarantee that future.
Dennis Schrock, a mathematics
instructor at Freeman Academy, wrote this story for Mennonite
Church USA news service.
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Storyteller, peacemaker -- or both? |
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by Duane Johnson
TOPEKA, Kan. (MC USA) -- Give Laurel Gugler an audience eager
to hear a tall tale or a children's story, and she knows exactly
what to say. But finding the best way to share what she's
seen during her two trips to Israel and the Occupied Territories
is a different story.
"I think it's important
not to soft-peddle what I saw," says Gugler, a resident
of Toronto who grew up Mennonite on a farm near McPherson.
"But barraging people with facts is not the best approach."
Gugler spent 10 days with a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
delegation in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Hebron earlier in 2004
observing and learning first-hand about life for Israelis
and Palestinians in this tense region. For Gugler, complicating
the task of sharing what she learned is the danger that storytelling
can sabotage peacemaking attempts unless the storyteller shows
tact and compassion.
"Stories can be used to
judge, scold -- they can even be wielded as a weapon,"
she says. "What story to tell when, and how to tell it,
requires a blend of sensitivity, intuition and knowledge of
the audience."
Gugler knows that part of a peacemaker's task is to help people
from diverse backgrounds understand and respect each other's
point of view. Otherwise, simply presenting new information
can be counterproductive.
This presents a challenge to a professional storyteller.
"Storytellers learn to let the story speak for itself,"
Gugler says. "You tell a story and let each person take
their own meaning from it. To go in and say, 'This story means
...' is discouraged among storytellers."
She stresses that stories can be effective vehicles for illustrating
a point, so long as they aren't "preachy." The key,
she suggests, is to find a way to tread that thin line between
forcing her own point of view and simply allowing her audience
to form conclusions that might conflict with the message she
wants to send.
Gugler shows slides as one way to resolve the potential conflict
between peacemaking and storytelling. She uses slides in her
presentations to illustrate points she wants to make as she
shares her stories of what she did, saw, heard and felt while
in the Middle East. Those same pictures, she says, can also
portray undeniable truths about what is happening in Gaza
and the West Bank in ways that can penetrate and puncture
misconceptions.
Even this can be divisive, however, without concern and respect
for the listeners' background and experience. Both the peacemaker
and the storyteller in her prompt her to be wary of confrontation.
"People's minds are not changed by facts; they're
changed by touching their inner feelings," she says.
"Our peace stance needs to come from a source of compassion
that begins inward and spreads outward."
Gugler's recent audiences have included mostly church groups
and informal gatherings in friends' living rooms. Typically,
she tries to convey a feel for what it's like for Palestinians
living under Israeli control. This includes slides and descriptions
of family life, home demolitions, Israeli settlements, the
wall that is being built by Israel supposedly for security
purposes, and other depictions of daily life in the West Bank.
Invariably, she ends on an optimistic note, describing some
of the efforts of various Israeli and Palestinian groups that
are working for peace, such as Rabbis for Human Rights, Daughters
of Peace, Sabeel and Bat Shalom.
"I believe
it's important to tell what I saw in a bridge-building way,
and I'm still struggling with how to do this," she says.
"But I believe we need to place emphasis on where there
is most hope. That hope lies in partnerships between groups
from opposing sides working together."
Duane Johnson, a freelancer
from Topeka, wrote this story for Mennonite Church USA news
service.
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Israeli occupation delicate subject with Jewish friends. |
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The depth of her feelings after two trips to Israel and the
West Bank makes it even more difficult for Laurel Gugler to
speak to audiences that include American and Canadian Jews.
"I'd thought the term 'ethnic cleansing' was a huge over-reaction,"
Gugler says. "Now, I don't."
Passion lines her face as she recounts conversations on the
Israeli occupation with Jewish friends near her home in Toronto.
The pitch of her voice rises then falls, as she portrays the
intense feelings she encounters.
"Some are totally understanding," she says. "They
also speak of the injustices that are going on. ... Some are
defensive and express disbelief -- 'This is not true!' And
then it becomes difficult. It becomes a struggle with how
to respond."
With a Jewish audience, Gugler is careful to stress the hopeful
signs, such as the way some families of victims of the violence
have overcome their grief to work together for peace and reconciliation.
"It's important to listen deeply to my Jewish friends
and the whole terrible thing they've been through," she
says, referring to the Holocaust. "It's deeply felt in
Jewish communities, even among those who didn't experience
it personally.
"And yet, we can't deny what is happening there."
-- Duane Johnson
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