Energized by a Super Bowl commercial, Executive Director Glen Guyton calls MC USA to reclaim foot washing as a tangible expression of our Anabaptist faith.
Glen Guyton washes feet on stage at Mennonite convention.
Glen Guyton is the executive director of Mennonite Church USA. He is the first person of color to serve in the role. Glen has almost 30 years of leadership experience in the denomination. He joined the MC USA Executive Board staff in 2009 as the director of Intercultural Relations, and for the next serval years, held various staff roles until becoming executive director. Guyton holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the United States Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in education from Regent University. He is the author of several books including, “Navigating Microaggressions at Work: A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Microaggressions in the Workplace,” and “Reawakened, Activate Your Congregation to Spark Lasting Change,” which explores eight keys to developing the abilities of congregations to bring healing and hope to their communities. Guyton is also a professional member of the National Speakers Association.
In the recent San Francisco vs. Kansas City Super Bowl, viewers were treated to an advertisement that featured the act of foot washing, a gesture that left many puzzled. This act, deeply rooted in Christian tradition, particularly among Anabaptists like the Mennonites, symbolizes humility and service. Yet, it begs the question: why aren’t we, as Mennonites, the ones leading the conversation about this profound act? After all, Article 13 of the Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective highlights this practice.
Background on foot washing in the Mennonite tradition
As outlined by Sarah Bixler, who teaches formation and practical theology and is associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, foot washing holds a special place in Mennonite and broader Anabaptist traditions. Stemming from Jesus’ act of washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17), it embodies humility, service, and the call to love one another. Historically, Mennonites have practiced foot washing during Communion services as a tangible expression of these values, underscoring a commitment to live in the way of Jesus.
Current Mennonite practices and perceptions
It wasn’t the weird, artsy, AI-like photos that caused my heart to skip a beat when I saw the He Gets Us ad, it was the underlying sentiment. My wife, Cyndi, turned to me and said, “You’re really excited about this commercial, aren’t you?” My reply was, “Yes! Yes! This right here is the message that MC USA should be sharing. We are foot washers. Why is someone paying millions of dollars to CBS to share the Gospel message we should be demonstrating as Anabaptists?” Then my heart sank as I got a text message from Michael Danner, associate executive director for Church Vitality. Not because I dislike Michael, but because I knew why he was texting me. His text said, “At a time when Mennonites don’t wash feet anymore … a Superbowl commercial featuring foot washing. L”
Yes, over time, the frequency and visibility of foot washing in Mennonite congregations have waned. This shift reflects broader changes in contemporary worship practices and, perhaps, a discomfort with such a vulnerable act of service. The move away from foot washing may also suggest a drift from some of the core values that have traditionally defined us.
The Call to Renewed Commitments
We need to reimagine who we are in 2024 and beyond. We need to reimagine what it means to be radical followers of Christ. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments call us to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace, and experience transformation. Re-engaging with the practice of foot washing could serve as a powerful symbol of these commitments, emphasizing our dedication to service, humility and community, in a divided and individualistic world. But how radical is too radical for a people once deemed, “the quiet in the land?”
Michael’s second text of the night to me was, “I have some ideas for the next convention! … Glen on roller skates.” Now that might be a bridge too far, but it would be a radical sight. While Cyndi and I debate whether I should roller skate into worship in 2025, I do know one thing, “We Can’t Keep Quiet.” It was the theme of Charlotte 2005 taken from Acts 4:20. Now some 20 years later, I am asking the kids that heard then to be the leaders who execute it now.
The 2025 Convention Theme: Follow Jesus
Our theme for the 2025 convention, “Follow Jesus” (Mark 8:34), invites us into deep reflection on what it means to be disciples today. Foot washing, as a model of servant leadership and radical love, offers a compelling way to embody this theme. It challenges us to consider how we might more fully live out Jesus’ call to serve and love one another in our communities and beyond.
Imagine the impact if Mennonites were to reclaim and champion the message of foot washing in today’s world. Such a movement could revolutionize our witness, offering a counter-narrative to the individualism and division that mark much of contemporary society. It could also reinvigorate our congregations, drawing us closer to the heart of the gospel and to each other.
The practice of foot washing, deeply rooted in our Anabaptist heritage, offers a rich symbol of the values we hold dear: humility, service and community. As we look to our Renewed Commitments and the call to “Follow Jesus,” let us consider how reclaiming this tradition might inspire us and others to walk more closely in the way of Jesus. Let us be the ones to spread this message of love and service, embodying the very essence of what it means to be followers of Christ.