Church of God and Mennonite Church USA Leaders Meet
On August 1, 2011 in Cleveland, Tennessee at the International Offices of the Church of God, a historic meeting between the executive levels of leadership of the Church of God and Mennonite Church USA occurred. Previously, on May 27, 2005 a small group of Mennonites, including then Executive Director Jim Schrag, visited the Church of God Theological Seminary (now Pentecostal Theological Seminary), and met with a small group of Church of God pastors and scholars, led by Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns and Dr. Richard Waldrop, for what became the beginning of an ongoing series of informal talks. Since then laity, clergy, and scholars from the two movements have met on a number of occasions for dialogue and interaction. A “Consultation on Mission” at Reba Place Church in Evanston, Illinois, a large Mennonite congregation, on September 8-10, 2006 was particularly significant. However, until August 1 of 2011 there had never been a formal meeting at the highest levels of executive leadership. Accordingly, it was truly a historic occasion.
During the meeting, Church of God General Overseer Dr. Raymond Culpepper, met with the present executive director of the Mennonite Church USA, Dr. Ervin Stutzman. Both leaders later testified that it was an exceptional time of connecting personally and spiritually as each shared his heart’s burden. Then, the Church of God Executive Committee joined Stutzman and his companion, Pastor Virgil Vogt, Mennonite co-chair with Church of God pastor, Dr. Tony Richie, of the joint dialogue committee, and Dr. Lynn Stone, administrative liaison to the general overseer, for lunch. Conversation focused on what the Holy Spirit is doing in the churches today. Afterwards, a time of testifying and praying quickly became an intimate and extended encounter with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. The meeting adjourned with a strong sense of God’s providence at work. Some spoke of Jesus’ prayer for spiritual unity in John 17:20-23.
As it approaches its 125th anniversary, the Church of God is thought to be the oldest, continuing classical Pentecostal denomination in the world, and also one of the fastest growing denominations in the United States and globally. The Mennonite Church USA is the result of a 2003 merger between two Mennonite groups. Mennonites trace their roots back to the 16th century Protestant Reformation, specifically the Anabaptist tradition of the Radical Reformation. Mennonites are well-known for emphasis on evangelical values and social issues of peace and justice. About 20% of the members of the Mennonite Church USA testify to a Pentecostal-type experience of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostals in general have much in common with the Radical Reformation. Within the Anabaptist movement, it was not unusual for charismatic manifestations to appear, such as dancing, falling under the power, prophesying, healing, and speaking in tongues. Later Mennonite churches tended not to promote these manifestations, but did not totally reject the miraculous. Like contemporary Pentecostals, traditionally Anabaptists insisted upon the “free course” of the Holy Spirit in worship, yet still maintained it all must be judged according to the Scriptures.
