What we call ourselves is not nearly as important as what Jesus calls us. Does He call us His sheep because we routinely hear His voice, trust, and obey? Does He commend us as a group of churches for obedience to His commission to go and make disciples? Does He see us as those who embody His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount? Will He recognize us as those who clothed Him when He was naked, fed Him when He was hungry, and visited Him when He was in prison? These questions are of greater importance than the question of our name. Yet, we do have a new name. Why did the ministers settle on Rosedale Network of Churches?
- Why Rosedale Network of Churches?
Since our Bible college and mission agency accepted the word Rosedale as a descriptor many decades ago, Rosedale has become associated with our churches’ efforts to serve our Lord Jesus together. The impact of the efforts of our churches through Rosedale Bible College (RBC) and Rosedale International (RI) has led people to associate our type of Mennonite with the word Rosedale. Our conference pastor and international affiliate liaison have both reported hearing people refer to CMC as “Rosedale,” even while our name was “CMC.” This association with the word Rosedale shows the fruit of our work together for the Lord. Our churches continue to send ministers to serve on the RBC and the RI Boards. We continue to send our church members as missionaries to the least reached places in the world through Rosedale International. We continue to train our young people to be Kingdom workers through Rosedale Bible College. We have alumni from RBC and RI working all over the world for the sake of the Kingdom. As Rosedale Network of Churches, our name will be synced with our mission agency and Bible college. - Why Rosedale Network of Churches?
The second definition of network accurately describes our group: “A group or system of interconnected people or things.” In our history book, Together in the Work of the Lord, published in 2014, Nathan Yoder uses the word network to describe our beginnings. Our network began with informal fellowship among pastors: letter writing, visiting, and preaching in one another’s congregations. As churches discovered shared convictions, challenges, and opportunities to advance the gospel, the Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference was born. Our network formed around core beliefs that were eventually defined by Rosedale Bible College as “evangelical Anabaptism.” Those convictions remain the life of our network, as our commission to mature and multiply churches was supported by 100% of our ministers. The life of our network comes from our common convictions, continued fellowship, and consistent work to see the Great Commission carried out. Together, we work to multiply disciples of Jesus, preparing each one to overcome evil with good. - Why Rosedale Network of Churches?
I believe that local churches are the hope of the world. When I drive to Shiloh Mennonite Church on Sunday mornings, I’m encouraged by the thought of our churches all across the country gathering for worship, prayer, preaching of the Word, and fellowship. Like the early church in Acts 2, we devote ourselves to what matters most in God’s sight. The local church is where we live out our mutual commitment to submit to God’s Word and urgently proclaim the gospel. The local church is where we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth (in our neighborhood!) as it is in heaven.” When the Holy Spirit moves in answer to this prayer, some in our congregations reach their neighbors for Christ. We learn to disciple them in our churches. We find others go to learn and grow at Rosedale Bible College, or serve in missions through Rosedale International. Now we may find those called to reaching new neighborhoods and send them as church planters through the Rosedale Network of Churches.
Our new name flows from the work we have been doing together. Our new name will serve us well in our future work together to bring others into relationship with Jesus, and live as members of His Kingdom on earth. Let’s give our Great Commission work our best effort, as the return of our Lord Jesus draws closer with each passing day. May we watch for His coming, and work for His Kingdom, and one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
One Response
My own less-than-scientific research has caused some shock to my egocentric thinking in the degree to which other Mennonites have never heard of Conservative Conference, obviously the culmination of the Anabaptist movement in the same way Anabaptism was the culmination of the Reformation. How could they possibly have missed us?
To change the name of a church for the reasons given under Mr. Yoder’s paragraph one, that two leaders have heard people say something, that the new name has more recognition, also requires one to believe that “Rosedale” is more descriptive, more widely known, than “Mennonite.” Does anyone seriously think that is so? Maybe it is, but I would need some data in order to act on such a proposition.
In my cynicism I think there is something else going on. It appears we are running from our peculiar beliefs. “Rosedale” can mean anything we want it to, tells the uninitiated nothing. Sure the insiders might find the new name familiar, but is that our target demographic? Mennonite at least conveys some sense of what our historic positions were.
Truth be told, part of my visceral reaction to this move has to do with the idea that a cornfield in Ohio is the center of what I would have considered MY church, based on religious considerations. What of Delaware and Oregon? We are now identified with a place, which excludes most of us. Which I guess you could say gives plausible deniability to those who want it. But I would prefer that the denomination I claim as my own at least acknowledge my existence.
I realize this is a done deal. That no one asked for my opinion. That my influence is roughly zilch. That I may be the only one that has a problem with it. But I can not see it as a positive thing for our church.