What does leadership mean in the Anabaptist tradition today? More than 230 people gathered at 草莓社区 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 7-9 to explore that question at 鈥淟eading into the Common Good: An Anabaptist Perspective.鈥�
The conference, sponsored by a spectrum of Mennonite-related organizations and higher education institutions, brought together viewpoints from inside and outside the Mennonite church. Author and consultant and Mother Earth News founder headlined an array of speakers who shared over the course of six sessions.
Block, addressing the event via a live videoconference from Cincinnati, encouraged participants to seek a 鈥渢hird way of leadership鈥� that overcomes a tendency toward isolation and emphasizes community.
鈥淗ow do we in small groups come together so that everyone鈥檚 voice is heard?鈥� Block asked. 鈥淎 small circle means you鈥檙e facing the people you鈥檙e creating a life with.鈥�
He said Mennonites are particularly well-equipped to shift the focus toward dialogue and building something new due to their values.
鈥淢ennonites have the strongest foundation to initiate that conversation in the world because you stand for something,鈥� Block said. 鈥淓verywhere I go where I see democracy breaking out鈥攁n egalitarian spirit, caring for the whole鈥攐ne of you is always in the room.鈥�
Melia Watkins, a Goshen (Indiana) College junior, was one of numerous millennials from six Mennonite colleges and universities invited to share reflections during the gathering.
鈥淭he most impactful thing I learned was to think about what I really care about,鈥� said Watkins, a marketing major from Cincinnati. 鈥淓ver since Peter Block mentioned that phrase I鈥檝e been thinking, 鈥榃hat do I really care about?鈥� I鈥檓 really glad I鈥檝e been here to experience that.鈥�
, faculty emeriti and former director of EMU鈥檚 , said Block also struck a chord for him.
鈥淭he thing I鈥檝e resonated strongly with is Peter Block鈥檚 comment on leadership as convening鈥攃reating spaces for new forms to emerge,鈥� Jantzi said. 鈥淔or those of us who are now in my generation, our task is to be space creators in the world. That鈥檚 where the miracle of transformation is going to occur.鈥�
Earlier, Welch鈥攏ow CEO of B the Change Media, which encourages socially and environmentally responsible business practices鈥攍ooked at leadership trends through the eye of a business executive.
鈥淥ne of the most important movements shaping the 21st century is the global movement of people with a passion for using business as a force of good,鈥� Welch said. He also underscored the need for a positive spirit and consensus-building. 鈥淣o one wants to follow a pessimist,鈥� he said.
Anabaptist entrepreneur and Mennonite Central Committee founder Orie O. Miller received significant attention during the conference as a foundation for discussing leadership. Hesston (Kan.) College professor John Sharp, author of a , shared reflections and noted Miller鈥檚 鈥済enius at connecting people.鈥� EMU also dedicated a new, flag-filled in its University Commons.
Speakers underscored the need for new styles of leadership to meet today鈥檚 needs, examining values, theology and identity. EMU professors and hosted sessions and facilitated discussion, including a closing plenary session that allowed small groups to generate ideas. Five workshop choices provided additional learning opportunities.
, vice president and dean of at EMU and one of the primary organizers of the conference, said he was pleased with the event and hopes similar gatherings happen in the years ahead.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of polarization today in society in general and in our church,鈥� Smucker said. 鈥淭he hope of the conference was that we could contribute to new models of leadership and ways we can work together going into the future that are more constructive. We had lots of rich conversation, lots of rich input from a variety of voices; it probably exceeded my expectations in terms of the quality of input.鈥�
Participants seemed to echo that sentiment, closing the conference with a simple unison benediction of 鈥淲ow!鈥�
The conference was sponsored by 草莓社区, Everence, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, Mennonite Health Services, and the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society. Co-sponsors included Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind.; Bethel (Kan.) College; Bluffton (Ohio) University; Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg; Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ontario; Goshen (Ind.) College; Hesston College.
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