White Mennonite Static

The Mennonite Church has the opportunity at this moment to become a dependable partner in the work of dismantling racism. The church as a whole has a record of racism - both overt and covert - that has been attested to by generations of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members both within and without the church. The question is not whether there is racism among white Mennonites, but rather whether we who are white and Mennonite will be able to do the work necessary to participate as effective allies in the struggles ahead.

In hopes of equipping the church to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, I offer here a few thoughts on six channels of white Mennonite static that get in the way of effective participation and ally-ship. They are: a tradition of martyrdom, conflict style, separation from society, familial connections, service superiority, and a sort of shunning.