Comments on: 91��Ƶ president Loren Swartzendruber calls for action, pledges engagement in response to extremism of all forms

By: Marian Beaman

Marian Beaman — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:34:13 +0000

Recently, I published a blog post that made reference to Menno Simons' call for peace and love and to the Center for Justice and Peace-building at 91��Ƶ: http://plainandfancygirl.com/2015/12/09/just-friends-kitsa-and-lydia/ As an alumna, I am happy that my institution remains steadfast in its position and pro-active in practicing it.

By: Moderator

Moderator — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:09:17 +0000

In reply to Ken Fellenbaum. A Crisis Preparedness Management Team (CMPT) meets regularly at 91��Ƶ and complies with all federal and state requirements for emergency preparedness. We work closely with local law enforcement agencies to schedule "table top" exercises and simulation drills according to FEMA guidelines. --President Loren Swartzendruber

By: Ken Fellenbaum

Ken Fellenbaum — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 03:49:05 +0000

I just want to register a hearty “amen” to the last couple responses….

By: James W

James W — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:40:58 +0000

In reply to Chris Raber. Chris... You are asking the same questions of Loren which I asked above. You are going into greater detail and I thank you for that. I would certainly like to know if 91��Ƶ has a proactive plan in dealing with an active shooter situation. Many of the comments above appear to suggest a completely passive and non aggressive approach to any acts of violence. I completely understand and respect this if this is one's individual belief, BUT, for a university who is accepting students of all beliefs and backgrounds and not specifically Mennonites, I would certainly hope the school's first response to violence against the student and faculty would be countered with appropriate force to eliminate the threat. It would be nice to get a response from 91��Ƶ. Thanks.

By: David Powell

David Powell — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 03:13:25 +0000

In reply to Deren Winn. "...indeed, we are called to love our enemies. However, we are also called to be salt and light." What's with the word "however." Loving our enemies is the most intense and mature way of being salt and light!

By: Chris Raber

Chris Raber — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 17:16:03 +0000

Unfortunately in the current state of affairs this is far more than a conversation piece.
To get right to the heart of the matter is a reality check.
Loren,
If a gunman appeared on your campus and started shooting students,
what would be your response?
Are you ready for this harsh reality, and what would you do as the top authority and top daily decision maker with responsibility for your campus and students?
Are you going to attempt to talk to the gunmen?
Are you going to place yourself between your students and gunmen and become a human shield?
If you go this route, have you prepared your faculty to make the same life giving sacrifice?
Are your faculty ready and willing?
Or…
Will you call in the use of deadly force?
Have no allusions…
The police will use guns, and will shoot to kill.
If this is the route your will be choosing…
response time is critical.
Once the shooter encounters return fire, it will keep him from having free reign
and likely save many lives.
So… will 91��Ƶ campus security be armed?
Hmmm… now you are not so far from the other university’s position.

These are difficult questions with difficult answers.
Maybe you have a better option?
Please detail for me your campus plan – if the unthinkable should happen.
I have a nephew who is currently a student at 91��Ƶ.

By: courtney winn

courtney winn — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 23:10:20 +0000

In reply to Roger Horst. Awesome analysis. Perfect. Thank you for sharing this. Right on the mark. Good question. 91��Ƶ would 91��Ƶ NOT call the police with "guns " to protect individuals in campus God forbid?

By: Deren

Deren — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 17:06:36 +0000

In reply to Buff Showalter. very good!

By: Roger Horst

Roger Horst — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 03:33:26 +0000

Oh where to begin? Why do I find so much wrong with this? Is it because I know that in the world of Mennodom, terms like “restorative justice” are merely buzzwords for Socialism and Marxism which are so antithetical to the Scripture? Is it because Loren’s call for “interfaith engagement” sounds like the proverbial fingernails on the chalkboard to my ears and so misses the Biblical mark. Where does Loren find Jesus’ call for “interfaith engagement”? Did Jesus call for “interfaith engagement” with Baal worshipers? Jesus’ call was for all to come to the Father through Him that all might be saved. Loren’s term “expressed hatred of immigrants” is a red herring designed to totally obfuscate the immigration issue. I have happily been a member of several Churches which have sponsored refugees/immigrants and I have many valued friendships with immigrants . I have no hatred for immigrants, however, I am strongly opposed to illegal immigration and I am strongly against those who would come to our country out of their hatred for us to do as much harm as possible to us such as 911, San Bernadino, et al. But in Loren Swartzendruber’s utopian world, I am pigeon-holed pejoratively as a hater. Loren’s derisive statements about Liberty University’s President calling for students to take up arms to defend themselves and others, totally ignores our responsibility to protect our families and loved ones and the fact that Jesus’ own disciples carried state-of-the-art defensive weapons, and at Jesus’ request, by the way. I’m guessing Loren locks the doors to his house. That is a closed border and by Loren’s own implication, he is a hater! I’m also guessing that if a man broke into Loren’s house with the intent to murder, rape, pillage and plunder, while he evidently does not have a gun, he would call a man with a gun!

By: Non Political Ana-Baptist

Non Political Ana-Baptist — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:31:03 +0000

These comments bring to mind Jesus’s comments..

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me; except Muslims they don’t have to follow me; oh yes and secular humanists they get an exemption, and we are currently negotiating a deal with the followers of Bail that don’t perform human sacrifices they also get an exemption.

After a moment Jesus paused, then Jesus sad to him, “Pick any religion, follow any god as all religions are equal, and all gods are equal to my father. Do not risk offending anyone. I approve of all gods, and religions and humanism.”

Get real people. Read Christ’s words.

By: John Yoder

John Yoder — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:28:54 +0000

Thank you, Loren, for taking a reflective, rational and public stand amid the cacophony of todays too often hysterical voices.

By: Donna Bochner

Donna Bochner — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 09:27:52 +0000

I was raised in the Mennonite church and my father was a solder. So I see both sides whether I want to or not. I personally would never have a gun in my home. But that does not mean I should not be prepared for self-defense. People will confound me because their ideals and religion will offend me. What I am called to do is what God asks me to do.
From Robin McGraw comes this saying: “You can’t control other people. You cannot control what they say, what they think, or what they do. People have the right to think and say whatever they want to. But you have the right not to take it to heart, and not to react.”
Sometimes words are TOO much and it is better to be seen doing the Kingdom’s business.
God be with us.

By: Buff Showalter

Buff Showalter — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:01:27 +0000

In reply to Deren Winn. Well said, we will never experience true peace so long as Christians are willing to compromise the truth of the gospel. While we are called by Jesus to live in peace we are also called to make disciples of all nations, Matt. 28:19. In our rush to worship pacifism we have become peacekeepers rather than peacemakers. Jesus was not afraid to call out evil, we should follow his example. If we truly love our neighbor we will share the truth with them rather than apologize for those who do.

By: Merrill Ewert

Merrill Ewert — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 21:34:15 +0000

Beautifully stated! At a time when the voices of intolerance, condemnation, fear and xenophobia seen to be dominating discourse in the public square, we need to hear this message of Shalom. Thank you, Loren, for speaking into this issue in such a thoughtful and Biblical way.

By: Harvey Yoder

Harvey Yoder — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 19:11:11 +0000

Thanks for your leading out on this issue, Loren.

Comments on: 91����Ƶ president Loren Swartzendruber calls for action, pledges engagement in response to extremism of all forms