It has been a long time since I last wrote a post. This is, naturally, a reflection of it being Fall and therefore my schedule is busier with school. But it’s also a reflection of a new problem I’ve never had before: a wee touch of writer’s block. That’s because the things that have gotten me all fired up this term are not, in fact, textile/fashion/interfaith related. Oh, those are there, of course. They always are. But nothing in particular has inspired me enough to actually blog on it. What has been inspiring me are all theological. And then, sitting here at the computer tonight, reading through various Mennonite blogs (we’ll get to why I was doing that on a Saturday night in a moment), the problem dawned on me. You see, it constantly frustrates me that people don’t see the connection between theology and textiles. “They both start with a “t”?” you may ask? No! Well … yes, but that’s not what I meant! There is so much theology in what people do with textiles – particularly where dress is concerned. There are a few enlightened souls out there that do get this, but most people give me a look somewhere between “how do I retain a polite expression while thinking that is completely and utterly out to lunch?” If you have trouble picturing that, it’s similar to the expression people have when they’re eating at a friend’s house and the food put in front of them resembles puréed cheese — sort of a “why would you do that?” mixed with, “oh, how very interesting! … ahem.”
The point is, I was doing precisely what I so dislike — not seeing the connection between the two. I thought that since this was a faith based textiles and fashion blog, I should probably leave more overtly systematic theological aspects out of it. Pah! No more!
With all that lead in, this isn’t actually going to by about systematics. Sorry. Not today. But it is going to be about ponderings. You see, I feel it is time for me to confess something: I’m not really a Mennonite. Okay, that’s not really true. I am a card carrying Mennonite in that I am an active member in a Mennonite congregation, I am a passionate grad student in a Mennonite institution, I am a pacifist, I love potlucks, and I plan on doing my PhD dissertation in part on Mennonite beliefs. But most importantly, these activities are not some happy coincidence, but a reflection of the deep resonance I find in Mennonite theology and community. These are my people, by choice and by association.
Proud to be Mennonite - Too Humble to Say So Out Loud
But not by bloodline. My mother is Mennonite, but it’s not in her genes, either. She joined the church in her early twenties for many of the same reasons I did at about the same age. But I can pass. My heritage is thoroughly German, I speak it a bit, and my family is from Ohio and Indiana. But alas, there is one dead giveaway. I don’t have a Menno name. My husband also identifies as a Mennonite (usually) but is also lacking the pedigree. So I didn’t even get it through marriage. This has always been present in my mind, but has become more so lately. I’m not really sure why. But at the lunch table in my school the other day, I was discussing how I need to learn which Mennonite names are Swiss Mennonite, and which are Russian Mennonite for a project I’m working on. Those at the table who also joined the church as adults identified with this, but one of my professors — who has the Kentucky Derby bloodline of Mennonites — commented on how, for him, it was simply an instinctual thing.
Why do I covet this so? Literally millions of people have joined the Mennonite church without said historic bloodlines, so I’m certainly not alone. And frankly, it’s probably a good thing — genetically speaking — to mix it up a bit. But my family has been Methodist for generations, and while I have nothing against Methodists, I don’t identify with the denomination. It also doesn’t exist in Canada anymore. As I’ve already mentioned, I resonate with Mennonite Anabaptism — the people, the activism, the focus on community, the music, the textile arts, the culture, and most of all, the theology. (Side note: in my first year Intro to Theology class we discussed whether or not there was “Mennonite theology,” and the final consensus was that this is all Christian theology, not Mennonite. While yes, I agree it is certainly Christian theology, I find a very distinct flavour to the Mennonite theology and witness)
This is a tribe I absolutely love belonging to, and it is so important to me that this is the community in which we are raising our children. Besides, I know many Mennonites who have the lineage but do not identify with the faith. I just wish I had both.
