Malinda Elizabeth Berry, overseeing the “Anabaptist Thriving Congregations” initiative, seeks to rejuvenate Mennonite communities across the United States and Canada through a comprehensive five-year program. The initiative, hosted by the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s Faith Formation Collaborative (FFC), emphasizes equipping congregations to interpret Scripture within their socio-cultural contexts, fostering a deeper connection to the gospel within their local communities.
Central to Berry’s approach is the Anabaptist belief that ordinary believers, guided by the Holy Spirit, can collectively engage in Scripture interpretation. “The more diverse the participants in studying and interpreting Scripture,” Berry asserts, “the better equipped congregations become in identifying shared values and mission.”
Despite historical traditions, regular communal study of Scripture has waned among North American Mennonites. Berry highlights the program’s aim to bridge this gap by uniting “professional readers” versed in Biblical languages with everyday readers who engage with translated texts.
The genesis of the initiative arose from a 2021 listening process conducted by AMBS, involving leaders from sponsoring denominations Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. Leaders expressed a need for support in understanding social contexts, guiding congregational discernment, and applying biblical teachings to contemporary issues.
To address these needs, the program introduces Confessional Bible Study, a method pioneered at AMBS. Annually, teams of “Congregational Guides,” led by AMBS faculty and professionals termed “Seminary Sages,” will undergo training. This will enable them to facilitate structured learning processes within their congregations, incorporating insights from social and cultural contexts into their study of Scripture.
Ruth Yoder Wenger, a pastor and conference minister for Mennonite congregations in New York City, notes a growing interest among pastors in communal discernment through biblical engagement. She anticipates this initiative will foster deeper theological exploration and communal growth among congregations.
By its conclusion in 2028, Berry envisions the program will generate a wealth of resources to benefit ongoing seminary endeavors. The initiative not only aims to revitalize biblical literacy but also to empower Mennonite congregations to embody the message of God’s love within their communities.