By Adrienne Wiebe, MCC Latin America
Mennonites have interpreted the Biblical call to peace in various ways throughout history and around the world. During a recent trip, I was struck by the living examples of three strands of Mennonite peace-making that are evident around Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Adrienne with two Mennonite colony girls in Bolivia
A Separate, Community-based Way of Life
Members of the Low-German speaking Mennonite colonies of Bolivia believe that to be faithful they need to live simply and peaceably in closely-knit communities separate from the world. There are about 60,000 colony Mennonites in the eastern lowlands of Bolivia in some 70 colonies. These are Mennonites who have immigrated from Canada, Mexico and Paraguay since the 1950s, searching for a place where they can live out their alternative vision in farming communities that reject “modern” conveniences such as electricity and cars. Faithfulness in their daily lives includes very simple church services, producing their own food, modest clothing, basic levels of schooling, and refusal to participate in military service.
Daycare Center: Guardaria Samuelito, operated by Mennonite churches
An Individual Way of Living within Society
The Spanish-speaking Mennonite churches in the Santa Cruz area were started by MCC service workers in the 1970s, and later supported by missionaries from North America and Argentina. There are now 8 churches in the Santa Cruz area with a strong evangelical perspective. Attending a worship service and conversing with church leaders, I noticed a strong emphasis on individual peace with God and with family and neighbours. Church members actively reach out to their neighbours, responding to both spiritual and material needs. The churches operate a wonderful daycare center that supports poor and single-parent families. They are also concerned about the increased pressure for youth to fulfill obligatory military service, and wonder how they as a church should respond to this given their belief that Christians should not participate in war.
Workshop on Urban Violence and Peace with the Platform for Peace in Santa Cruz Bolivia
A Form of Engagement in the World
In the last few years, MCC workers have begun to take steps to be more actively engaged in peace-making in the current context of inter-ethnic and regional social conflict in Bolivia (see previous posts about Bolivia). In order to participate in a process of dialogue and conflict transformation , MCC has supported the formation of the Plataforma por la Paz -Peace Platform- a space for civil society organizations in Santa Cruz to share, learn, and work together for peace in the region. While I was in Santa Cruz, the Platforma held a two-day workshop on urban violence and possible responses. This is an example of a form of peace-making that is more active and engaged in the wider-world than has been common in Mennonite circles in the past.
Value in all forms of Peacemaking?
Maybe we can learn from all of these forms of peace-living and peace-making. The colony Mennonites remind us of the importance of not getting caught up in the material, secular world, as well as the importance of living in community in an increasingly individualistic society. The evangelical Spanish-speaking Mennonite churches demonstrate the importance of cultivating inner peace and individual ways of life that bring peace to those immediately around us. The engaged peacemakers highlight the need for active intervention for peace in the contexts of conflict within which we live.
What form of peacemaking fits with your own perspective and way of being in the world? What can we learn from others who live out their peace convictions in alternative ways?
A good balanced message when these three approaches are woven together. Thanks.
Super interesting! I was in the region in 2009 for the investigation of my thesis and although it was never the main focus of my studies, the Mennonites and their way of life fascinated me from the beginning. I think it’s amazing they are actually taking part in some processes on a level beyond just their family farms. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
Hi epibee, Just to be clear: the colony Mennonites are not involved in urban peacebuilding or external community projects. I was just comparing the various forms of Mennonite peace-building occurring in the Santa Cruz area: comparing the colony Mennonites to the more evangelical Spanish-speaking Mennonite churches and the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) more social justice approach.
BTW – I looked at your blog – very interesting reflections and critique of aspects of development, justice and Latin America…I will be following it. Thanks Adrienne