Radical Reformation: History, Thought and Practice

Transcription

1 Radical Reformation: History, Thought and Practice 9am -4 pm May 18-22, Credit Hours. Instructor: Layton Friesen, B.R.S, MCS, ThM, ThD cand. laytonfriesen@mts.net Course Description The Anabaptist movement in the 16 th century Reformation was a startling, invigorating, vexing and ultimately durable attempt to re-discover the roots of Jesus centred discipleship. It was a gathering of spirits deeply congruent with its times, but one that nevertheless almost died as the most hated of all sects in the 16 th century. This course will glimpse the color of the characters, ideas, events and assumptions that fueled this revolt, and trace the way this movement rippled into the 21 st century. History, theology, spirituality, ecumenical relations and ethics will all be examined to grasp the convictions that have emerged 500 years later on every continent. While primarily focused on the concrete expressions of Mennonite faith, this class will approach Anabaptism as revealing aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ that all disciples need to grapple with and live out. Course Objectives To understand 16 th century realities that are important to the Anabaptist movement. To understand the leading pastors, theologians, rebels and martyrs that made up this movement, and to grasp how each contributed to the texture of what emerged. To trace in broad strokes the development of Anabaptism into the churches that make up the Anabaptist church today. To understand the main theological convictions that set this movement apart, and to ask how these convictions, in their modern form, still witness to the whole of the gospel. To imbibe the spirituality of the early Anabaptists by attending to their prayers, sermons, hymns and stories. To consider the Anabaptist peace witness, and to feel its theological force. To investigate the original division from Roman Catholicism and to investigate how that wound is changing today in ecumenical relations. To ask what Anabaptism means for the contemporary church, and how its concerns offer promise as well as difficulty for church leaders.

2 Required Textbooks 1. Arnold Snyder, Anabaptist History and Theology: Revised Student Edition, Kitchen, Pandora Press, This is simply the best, all around book on the full scope of the early Anabaptist movement. A book you need to own for future reference. 2. A bound packet of the individual readings for each class. This will be available for purchase on the first day of the class. 3. Recommended: Anabaptism in Outline edited by Walter Klaassen. Kitchener; Herald Press, This is the best compilation of Anabaptist writings organized by topics such as Jesus Christ, the Church, economics, and eschatology. A great resource for preaching later. Course Requirements 1. Class participation and readings. Readings will be provided for each evening of the week. Students should plan for 2 hours of work each night and come each morning prepared to discuss and apply these key texts. 2. Notes on Snyder. The student will read the Snyder textbook and compile notes on his/her reading. In point form, these notes will show that you have assimilated the material in the book, and that you made lots of connections to present-day faith issues as you read. Show chapter headings and page numbers. Undergraduate: 10 pages. Graduate: 15 pages. 3. Final paper. The student will write a paper investigating a specific event, person or issue in the Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition. This paper will connect the topic both to the 16 th century Anabaptism and to its relevance for the 21 st century church. Students will chose their topic during the class week and share their plan with the class on Friday. Undergraduate: 10 pages. Graduate 15 pages. All course work is due by June 30, 2015 Tentative Schedule 1. Monday, May 18. a. Morning i. Preliminaries. ii. What sort of thing is an Anabaptist? b. Afternoon i. The Anabaptist Story I 1. The European background 2. The Swiss and South German beginnings. 3. The Dutch experiences of the 1530 s. 4. Fleeing persecution: Prussia and Pennsylvania Reading for Monday evening: The Significance of Anabaptism and Anabaptist Research, James Stayer. The Schleitheim Confession

3 2. Tuesday, May 19. a. Morning: i. The Anabaptist Story II 1. The Russian experience 2. Mennonites converging in North America 3. The rise of global Anabaptism b. Afternoon: i. Key Theological Themes I 1. The scriptures 2. Jesus Christ 3. Salvation Readings for Tuesday evening: Selections from Anabaptism in Outline; Conclusion from Anabaptist Baptism by Rollin Armour; To Helena von Streicher by Pilgram Marpeck. 3. Wednesday, May 20 a. Morning: i. Key Theological Themes II 1. Discipleship 2. The church 3. The sacraments b. Afternoon: i. Key Theological Themes III 1. Pilgram Marpeck: a portrait of Anabaptism in maturity 2. Conclusion: Modern Mennonite theology Readings for Wednesday evening: Selections from The Diaries of David Epp and The Martyrs Mirror 4. Thursday, May 21. a. Morning: i. Mennonite spirituality: Martyrdom and Gelassenheit b. Afternoon i. Ethical Questions Pacifism considered. Readings for Thursday evening: Selections from Called Together to be Peacemakers: Report of the International Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Mennonite World Conference. 5. Friday, May 22 a. Morning i. Healing the original wound: an examination of Mennonite-Roman Catholic relations 500 years later. ii. Relations with other traditions

4 b. Afternoon i. Issues in the Mennonite global church today ii. Panel discussion with Mennonite pastors. Course Policies and Grading Summary Class participation and evening readings 30% Reading Textbook and Notes 20% Final Paper 50% Percent G.P Grade Quality Percent G.P Grade Quality A+ Exceptional C+ Satisfactory A Excellent C Adequate A C B+ Superior D+ Marginal B Good D Poor B D- < Failure Students are permitted to use laptops in class for note taking only. A Reading List on Anabaptism Anabaptist History (16 th Century) Primary Sources Baylor, Michael G., ed. The Radical Reformation. Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought. Cambridge University Press, Bender, Harold Stauffer, ed. The Complete Writings of Menno Simons, C Herald Press, Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theater,: Or, Martyrs Mirror of the Defenceless Christians : Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith, and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus, Their Saviour, from the Time of Christ to the Year A.D Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1951 Denck, Hans. Selected Writings of Hans Denck. Pittsburgh: Pickwick Press, Dyck, Cornelius J., ed. Spiritual Life in Anabaptism. Scottsdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Harder, Leland, ed. The Sources of Swiss Anabaptism: The Grebel Letters and Related Documents. Herald Press, Klassen, William., and Walter. Klaassen, eds. The Writings of Pilgram Marpeck. Kitchener, Ont.: Herald Press, 1978.

5 Klaassen, Walter, ed. Anabaptism in Outline : Selected Primary Sources. Kitchener, Ont.: Herald Press, Klaassen, Walter., ed. Sources of South German/Austrian Anabaptism. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Pipkin, H. Wayne., and John Howard Yoder, eds. Balthasar Hubmaier, Theologian of Anabaptism. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Philips, Dirk. The Writings of Dirk Philips, Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Riedemann, Peter. Peter Riedemann s Hutterite Confession of Faith: Translation of the 1565 German Edition of Confession of Our Religion, Teaching, and Faith, by the Brothers Who Are Known as the Hutterites. Translated by John J. Friesen. Herald Press, Williams, George Huntston, ed. Spiritual and Anabaptist Writers: Documents Illustrative of the Radical Reformation. Westminster John Knox Press, Yoder, John Howard, ed. The Legacy of Michael Sattler. Herald Press, Secondary Sources Armour, Rollin S. Anabaptist Baptism : A Representative Study. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Bender, Harold Stauffer. The Anabaptist Vision. Herald Press, The Life and Letters of Conrad Grebel. Goshen, Ind.: Mennonite Historical Society, Clasen, Claus Peter. Anabaptism; a Social History, : Switzerland, Austria, Moravia, South and Central Germany. Cornell University Press, Davis, Kenneth Ronald. Anabaptism and Asceticism : A Study in Intellectual Origins. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Estep, William Roscoe. The Anabaptist Story : An Introduction to Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub., Friedmann, Robert. The Theology of Anabaptism : An Interpretation. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Hillerbrand, Hans Joachim. A Bibliography of Anabaptism, Elkhart, IN: Institute of Mennonite Studies, Klaassen, Walter. Marpeck : a Life of Dissent and Conformity. Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, Anabaptism Revisited: Essays on Anabaptist/Mennonite Studies in Honor of C.J. Dyck. Wipf & Stock Publishers, Klassen, William. Covenant and Community : The Life, Writings, and Hermeneutics of Pilgram Marpeck. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., Krahn, Cornelius. Dutch Anabaptism : Origin, Spread, Life, and Thought ( ). The Hague: M. Nijhoff, Mast, Gerald J., J. Denny Weaver. Defenseless Christianity : Anabaptism for a Nonviolent Church. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Packull, Werner O. Peter Riedemann : Shaper of the Hutterite Tradition. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Rereading Anabaptist Beginnings. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Rempel, John D. The Lord s Supper in Anabaptism : A Study in the Christology of Balthasar Hubmaier, Pilgram Marpeck, and Dirk Philips. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Roth, John D., Stayer, James M., ed. A Companion to Anabaptism and Spiritualism, Boston: Brill, 2011.

6 Snyder, C. Arnold. Anabaptist History and Theology: An Introduction. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Following in the Footsteps of Christ: The Anabaptist Tradition. Orbis Books, The Life and Thought of Michael Sattler. Scottdale, Penn.: Herald Press, Snyder, C. Arnold, and Linda A. Huebert Hecht, eds. Profiles of Anabaptist Women: Sixteenth- Century Reforming Pioneers. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, Stayer, James M. Anabaptists and the Sword. Lawrence, Kan.: Coronado Press, The German Peasants War and Anabaptist Community of Goods. Hamilton: McGill- Queen s Press, The Radicals. DVD. Worcester, PA: Distributed by Vision Video, Mennonite History (post-16 th century) Epp, Frank H. Mennonites in Canada, : The History of a Separate People. Macmillan, Mennonites in Canada, : A People s Struggle for Survival. Herald Press, Epp, Jacob D. A Mennonite in Russia : The Diaries of Jacob D. Epp, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, Dyck, Peter J. Up from the Rubble. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Epp, David. The Diaries of David Epp. Edited by John B. Toews. Vancouver: Regent College Pub., Friesen, Peter M. The Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia, Fresno, Calif.: Board of Christian Literature, Keim, Albert N. Harold S. Bender, Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Kroeker, Wally. An Introduction to the Russian Mennonites. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, Loewen, Royden. Blumenort : A Mennonite Community in Transition, [Blumenort, Man.]: Blumenort Mennonite Historical Society, Springer, Nelson P. Mennonite Bibliography, Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Plett, Delbert F., ed. The Mennonite Kleine Gemeinde Historical Series. Steinbach, Man.: D.F. Plett Farms Ltd., Plett, Harvey. Seeking to Be Faithful : The Story of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Regehr, T. D. Mennonites in Canada, : A People Transformed. Mennonite Historical Society of Canada, Toews, John. B. A Pilgrimage of Faith : The Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia and North America, Winnipeg: Kindred Press, Czars, Soviets & Mennonites. Newton, Kan.: Faith and Life Press, Lost Fatherland;: The Story of the Mennonite Emigration from Soviet Russia, Scottdale, Pa. bherald Press c[1967]: Herald Press c[1967], Urry, James. Mennonites, Politics, and Peoplehood: 1525 to Univ. of Manitoba Press, None but Saints : The Transformation of Mennonite Life in Russia, Winnipeg: Hyperion Press, 1989.

7 Contemporary Mennonite Theology and Ethics Driedger, Leo. Mennonite Peacemaking : From Quietism to Activism. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Friesen, Duane K., ed. At Peace and Unafraid : Public Order, Security, and the Wisdom of the Cross. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Finger, Thomas N. A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology : Biblical, Historical, Constructive. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Self, Earth & Society : Alienation & Trinitarian Transformation. Downers Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity Press, Friesen, Duane K. Artists, Citizens, Philosophers : Seeking the Peace of the City : An Anabaptist Theology of Culture. Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, The Mennonite Quarterly Review is a cooperative publication of Goshen College, the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Mennonite Historical Society. Hershberger, Guy Franklin. War, Peace, and Nonresistance. Herald Press, Koop, Karl Peter. Anabaptist-Mennonite Confessions of Faith : The Development of a Tradition. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Kraybill, Donald B. The Upside-Down Kingdom. Herald Press, Lederach, Paul M. A Third Way, Conversations about Anabaptist/Mennonite Faith. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Murray, Stuart. The Naked Anabaptist: the Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith. Herald Press, Nation, Mark. John Howard Yoder : Mennonite Patience, Evangelical Witness, Catholic Convictions. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub., Redekop, Calvin Wall., ed. Creation & the Environment : An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000 Reimer, A. James. Mennonites and Classical Theology: Dogmatic Foundations for Christian Ethics. Pandora Press, The Dogmatic Imagination : The Dynamics of Christian Belief. Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, Roth, John D., ed. Engaging Anabaptism : Conversations with a Radical Tradition. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Sider, Ronald. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. Thomas Nelson Inc, Shenk, Wilbert R. Anabaptism and Mission. Wipf and Stock Publishers, Journal of Mennonite Studies. University of Winnipeg., Canadian Mennonite Bible College., Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society., and Mennonite Literary Society., eds Swartley, Willard M., ed. Essays on Biblical Interpretation : Anabaptist-Mennonite Perspectives. Elkhart, Ind.: Institute of Mennonite Studies, Weaver, J. Denny. The Nonviolent Atonement, Second Edition. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Yoder, John Howard. Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution : A Companion to Bainton. Elkhart, IN: [Mennonite Biblical Seminaries], Essential Writings. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, For the Nations : Essays Evangelical and Public. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, The Christian Witness to the State. Newton, Kan.: Faith and Life Press, 1964.

8 .The Original Revolution: Essays on Christian Pacifism. Herald Press, The Politics of Jesus: Vicit Agnus Noster. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, What Would You Do? : A Serious Answer to a Standard Question. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Mennonite and Roman Catholic Dialogue Bridgefolk is an association of Mennonites and Catholics who meet annually for dialogue and worship. Called Together to Be Peacemakers : Report of the International Dialogue between the Catholic Church and Mennonite World Conference, Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Kaufman, Ivan J. Follow Me: A History of Christian Intentionality. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, Just Policing : Mennonite-Catholic Theological Colloquium, Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, On Being a Mennonite Catholic. Mennonite Quarterly Review, April 1, Schlabach, Gerald. Unlearning Protestantism : Sustaining Christian Community in an Unstable Age. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, Schlabach, Gerald W., and Margaret R. Pfeil, eds. Sharing Peace: Mennonites and Catholics in Conversation. Liturgical Press, Mennonite Life and Spirituality A Dry Roof and a Cow : Dreams and Portraits of Our Neighbours. Winnipeg, Man.: Mennonite Central Committee, Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts : Global Mennonite History Series: Africa. Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, Boers, Arthur P. et. al Take Our Moments and Our Days : An Anabaptist Prayer Book : A Four-Week Cycle of Morning and Evening Prayers for Ordinary Time. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Dirks, Ray. In God s Image : A Global Anabaptist Family. Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, Driedger, Leo. At the Forks : Mennonites in Winnipeg. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, Kauffman, J. Howard. Anabaptists Four Centuries Later : A Profile of Five Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Denominations. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, The Mennonite Mosaic : Identity and Modernization. Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, Kraybill, Donald B. The Amish. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites. JHU Press, Loewen, Royden. Seeking Places of Peace: North America A Global Mennonite History. Good Books, Lapp, John. Mission and Migration: Latin America. A Global Mennonite History. Good Books, , ed. Testing Faith and Tradition: Europe. A Global Mennonite History. Good Books, Roth, John D. Beliefs : Mennonite Faith and Practice. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Practices : Mennonite Worship and Witness. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, Stories : How Mennonites Came to Be. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2006.

9 Helpful Websites Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Wiki - Anabaptistwiki. Mennonite Historical Society of Canada. Mennonites in Canada Bibliography by Ted Regehr. The Jesus Tribe: Grace Stories from Congo s Mennonites (A Project of Africa Inter- Mennonite Mission) m_congo%27s_mennonites_ _(a_project_of_africa_inter-mennonite_mission). Third Way Cafe - Third Way Media.