“My experience at helped me to see the line between Anabaptist theology and Mennonite culture,” said Kolb, who is the youth pastor at Grace Mennonite Fellowship near Harrisonburg, Va. “It made me think about how we can take Anabaptist theology into other cultures or sub-cultures.” Hundreds of the newest attendees at Woodland Hills come from the surrounding community, largely populated by African-Americans, Hispanics and Hmong immigrants from Laos.

Kolb, who has spent most of his life surrounded by “ethnic Mennonites” in small, rural Virginia churches affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, wanted to get a different kind of cross-cultural experience and contacted Woodland Hills.

“I have gained a new spark for Anabaptist theology,” says Kolb. “I could see how life-changing and new it can be” to those who have been attracted to this theology rather than born into it.

“Greg’s interactions with people who listen to his podcast [heard by thousands each week], and are excited about his teaching, have shown him how Anabaptist theology is really important for the church in the United States. He wants [born and raised] Mennonites to get excited about it too.” Of the 15 books authored or co-authored by Greg Boyd, two of the best-known are The Myth of the Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church (2009) and Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father’s Questions about Christianity (2010).

“We are at a place in the United States where Anabaptism suddenly makes sense to people,” says Kolb.

Kolb spent time learning about various ministries of Woodland Hills and about how the Central Plains Mennonite Conference has been interacting with Woodland Hills staff as they explore Anabaptist beliefs and practices. Woodland Hills is weighing whether to join the conference or to partner with Mennonites in a variety of ways.

“Some of the [staff’s] perceptions of Mennonites were good, like Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee, and then there were others who only knew about Mennonites from the media and shows like “Amish Mafia” on the Discovery Channel. I got a lot of questions about buggies and electricity,” Kolb says. “One of the things I learned is that Mennonites default to community, where most evangelical Christians default to individuality.

“This experience has opened some new possibilities in terms of where I see myself in ministry in the future. Before I would have been comfortable serving a culturally Mennonite congregation, now I think I can see myself in leadership in a variety of settings.”

Read more…

Greg Boyd, author of The Myth of the Christian Nation and other works, will speak at a community event Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. at Park View Mennonite Church.

Admission to the Tuesday night event is free and open to the public.

SLT keynote speaker

Boyd travels to 91����Ƶ as the keynote speaker at Eastern Mennonite Seminary‘s annual School for Leadership Training (SLT), a resource for Mennonite pastors and EMS alumni who gather on campus each year in the hundreds to focus on social issues.

The 2010 leadership program runs Jan. 18-21 with a theme of “Centered in Christ in a Right and Left World.”

91����Ƶ Greg Boyd

Boyd is an internationally-recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author. Among his 18 books and numerous articles are Letters from a Skeptic, The Myth of the Christian Nation, and most recently The Jesus Legend and Lord or Legend (co-authored with Dr. Paul Eddy).

Boyd is founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church, an evangelical mega-church in St. Paul, Minn. In 2000 Greg founded Christus Victor Ministries, a non-profit organization that promotes his speaking & writing ministry, raises funds for related research, and has assisted several refugee families.

His theological education was obtained through Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. For 16 years he was professor of theology at Bethel University, St. Paul.

Learn more about Boyd at his website:

The 2010 School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary will give pastors and church leaders tools for dealing constructively with these concerns.

The theme for the January 18-21 program is “Centered on Christ in a Right and Left World,” with plenary discussions, worship and workshops focusing on this theme.

Greg Boyd, pastor and author

Jennifer Davis Sensenig, pastor

Plenary speakers are Greg Boyd, pastor at Woodland Hills Church, St. Paul Minn., and author of 18 books, including The Myth of a Christian Nation, and Jennifer Davis Sensenig, lead pastor at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.

David R. Brubaker, associate professor of organizational studies in 91����Ƶ’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, will lead a special “Dialog on Difficult Issues” training session.

Special interest workshops will focus on preaching preparation, immigration, poverty and racism and spiritual practices to stay centered on Christ. The 91����Ƶ alumni and church relations departments will host a leadership award banquet Wednesday night. Ervin R. Stutzman, EMS dean and newly-appointed executive director of Mennonite Church USA, will speak at the dinner meeting.

To register online or for more information, visit the SLT website: www.emu.edu/seminary/slt. The cost for registration is $150 per person or $275 per couple by Dec. 1; $170 per person and $315 per couple by noon on Dec. 31; and $190 per person or $365 per couple after Jan. 1, 2010.