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Stout on Pacifism

Here's a quote that hits me between the eyes:

Mere pacifism - in which the memory of distant martyrs and the vision of the peaceable kingdom are divorced from a practice of social justice - is 'like the combatant who, in the conflict, is only concerned with keeping his sword bright" (Stout, Jeffrey, Democracy and Tradition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 161).

exclusion and belief

Recently, I was speaking with a friend who is a leader in an evangelical church, we'll call him Joe.  Anyway, Joe was talking about the strange place he inhabits as a leader in this particular community.  Here's a snippet of our dialog for your reflection:

Think about this for a moment.  If I were to reveal in the foyer that I believed that two women in a committed monogamous(sic!) relationship do not constitute a moral contradiction with the Bible and Evangelical Christian Faith, I would lose my job, faith community, and credentials as a leader. I would be blacklisted, "prayed for," and people would seek to bring me back into "the fold."

On the other hand, if I revealed that I believed that my child could, as a Bible believing Christian, go off to Afghanistan and kill Taleban soldiers, there would be a entirely different reaction.  People would say that on the matter of whether it is appropriate to use violence to solve conflicts there are a variety of Christian opinions.

He continues,

Look at the irony of this situation.  On the first issue, the Old Testament has some murky references, embedded in complex laws regarding religious purity, about lesbian behaviours.  Jesus is silent on the issue, only Paul makes a somewhat direct reference to the issue, but again, what exactly he said and how it is to be applied today is an open question.

But, on the issue of killing, consider this.  Even though the Old Testament contains stories of God sanctioning violence, we can't forget that one of the 10 Commandments is "you shall not kill."   Jesus says, "love your enemies," which presumably means that you can't shoot them.  The New Testament as a whole is clear about the immorality of the use of violence to solve conflict.

This issue reinforces for me the simple fact that evangelicals do not, as they presume, have the market cornered on appropriate morality and ethics.  Our ears are deaf to the voice of God and the path of Jesus (but I'm getting carried away!).

And here's where what he said was most personally challenging: 

What would it take to re-order our moral hierarchies such that central human issues, like those of the appropriate use of violence, be moved to the "top" (yes, I know this language is problematic) and issues such as whether women and men are allowed to live in committed same sex relationships be moved down a rung or two. 

I yearn to be a part of a community that can make this moral shift. But, alas, the context I inhabit simple will not allow me this freedom.  Even as I think these thoughts, I hear the crowds hungering for blood.

Free Speech?

Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University, opened the speech by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with a series of critical and inflamatory remarks directed towards the president.  You can read his remarks here.

Apparently, as a compromise with many who violently opposed Ahmadinejad's coming to Columbia, Bollinger agreed to open the speech by asking these hard questions.  But, his remarks go beyond simply asking hard questions, and degenerate to the point of name calling.  He in fact succumbs to several tactics (unqualified, inflamatory statements made for attention-grabbing purposes) that he accuses his opponent of using.

Ahmadinejad responded quite eloquently to Bollinger's opening tirade by asking:

In Iran, tradition requires when you invite a person to be a speaker, we actually respect our students enough to allow them to make their own judgment, and don’t think it’s necessary before the speech is even given to come in with a series of complaints to provide vaccination to the students and faculty.

He has a good point.  Bollinger says that the invitation to Columbia was done as an expression of the American ideal of free speech.  But, in his opening remarks he displays a remarkable attempt to subvert the principles of free, open, respectful debate.

For the President of a preeminent American University to make these kinds of remarks is for me a sad commentary on the loss of the University's goal of shaping and forming disciplined minds.  It speaks of the need to de-politicize the role of University.  Here the words of Bollinger are relevant:

In universities, we have a deep and almost single-minded commitment to pursue the truth.  We do not have access to the levers of power.  We cannot make war or peace.  We can only make minds.  And to do this we must have the most full freedom of inquiry.   

I couldn't agree more.  I just wish that you would have displayed this same kind of commitment to discovering the truth through spirited dialogue, rather than resorting to politicized, rhetoric aimed at your opponent's character rather than the larger issues facing human civilization.

Africa 2007 Trip

I am headed to Africa in June of 2007 for 5 weeks to teach Systematic Theology from an Anabaptist perspective at Meserete Kristos College near Addis Abba, Ethiopia.  I received this invitation to teach from a friend with whom I went to seminary.  I am fundraising for this trip and you can learn about how to support me here.

The Challenge of Pastoral Leadership

Over the past months, a few things have happened that have made me fundamentally re-evaluate my role as a leader.  The issues I am wrestling with surround my identity as a leader.  What identity do I wear as a pastor: do I don the garb of the congregation? or do I look for an outfit that sets me apart?

I think in most of the last four years here, I have done the former.  I have assumed that my identity and the identity of the congregation are more or less the same.  I have assumed that I represent the congregation.  But, as I mentioned above, I think that this has created some problems for me personally.  Most problematically, I think it has made me into a controlling kind of leader, because if the congregation fails, or goes in a direction I don't like, it will pull my own personal identity in that direction, too.  The issues of enmeshment become huge and ugly and create all sorts of unecessary stress.

Over the past few months, I have become a bit more "detached" from the congregation.  This has been a struggle, but a healthy one, I think.  Healthy, mostly, because I think it creates the ability for me to lead and direct.  Distance creates the potential for leadership. A very important lesson that I knew before I got here, but I really hadn't internalized.

The Eaglet Has Landed - Remix

Anastasia Chloe Eagle
Born June 18, 4:18am
at the Victoria General Hospital, Victoria, BC
8lbs. 2oz.

David, Alison and Joshua are pleased to announce the arrival of a new baby in the family, Anastasia Chloe Eagle.  Even though she gave her mother endless problems during the pregnancy, she arrived healthy, chubby, and ready to eat!

You might be wondering about her very Greek name (it's a hazard of pastor's kids).  She is named for her father's maternal grandmother, Anastasia Spack.  She was a woman of tremendous strength, kindness and character.  She left a tremendous impact on her children and grandchildren. Anastasia in Greek means simply "resurrection," and our prayer is that she learns to “know Christ and the power of his resurrection” (Phi. 3.10).

In classical Greek, Chloe means "the first shoots of green in the spring" or "the green blade of grass."  Born in a city bursting with green in the spring, this seemed appropriate.  We hope she will share her parent's love of nature and especially things that grow.

With new babies come new challenges, but we are looking forward to getting to know this precious gift. Her big brother is both excited and proud!  You can view some video of Joshua meeting his sister at Khora's sibling site, eaglesnest.  A photo album can be found here>>.

For those of you in or visiting Victoria, please drop by to meet the newest member of the Eagle clan. Just give a call before you come.  Praise to our God from whom all blessings flow!

The realm of discontent

Compromise. noun.  1 a : settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things  2 : a concession to something derogatory or prejudicial (from www.m-w.com).

With this definition staring me in the face, I think I can see why compromise can sometimes seem so right and good; and other times so very wrong. 

Talk to anyone who's been involved with churches, and I think they'd agree that the church demands compromise.  Much of my life in the past years as a church employee has been an exercise in compromise.  Negotiating life as a church community requires that people take other people's opinions in mind, which inevitably demands compromise.  As a Mennonite compromise is a good thing.  We're all about conflict resolution.  "Let's find a solution that fulfills the interests of both parties' interests," I was taught to say in my Conflict Management course at Fresno Pacific University.

But recently, I've become worried that some of the compromises I've made have been under category 2, as concessions to something derogatory.  These concessions are inevitably made to protect someone's feelings and/or avoid me having to have a very awkward conversation.  But these concessions do something to my soul.  They eat away at the foundations of my life, and I've begun worrying if the whole thing might just come crashing down.

I've been one to veer away from Platonic ethics and towards relational ethics.  So I've justified the compromise of my own principles on the grounds of protecting relational truth.  But, I'm beginning to think that I've not wrestled with the implications of relational ethics strongly enough.  I'm worried that I've equated relational ethics with keeping everyone happy.  And a life lived at the expense of the happiness of others is a costly life.  I've begun to feel that I've become the perfect chameleon - I make everyone else so happy so that I can't even distinguish myself anymore.

Relational ethics demand that not only I strive to honour the alterity of the Other, but also that I recognize my own personhood as unique.  Of course, in the everyday rough and tumble of life, alterity is an impossible dream, but it is an organizing principle that gives my actions direction.  Relational ethics requires that I work to protect my own selfhood as much as respecting the dignity of others.

So, I have work to do.  Work to better define who am I, and not be so quick to sacrifice me on the altar of others.  I am God-breathed and God-loved.

Miles for MK College - Post Race Reflections

It seems fitting that Kassahun Kabiso from Ethiopia won the Vancouver International Marathon on Sunday.  Even though my Ethiopian friends had been hoping for an upset, I couldn't pull through and win the medal.  Maybe next time.

This race took me all the way back to 12 years ago in Edmonton.  I've never been an athletic person, and that always frustrated me.  My coordination isn't great, and I don't have a terribly tactical mind.  But 12 years ago, I figured that I probably could manage running.  I signed up for a "learn to run" clinic at the Running Room's original store on 109st in Edmonton.  John Stanton was my run coach for that clinic.  And I can still remember at that clinic saying to myself, "I want to run a marathon someday." 

So Sunday concluded a very long dream and many years of slowly working up to the fulfillment of that dream.  All of my runs in the Winter in Edmonton, the "NNPH" run club in Davis, my first half-marathon in Paso Robles, my move to Victoria and more half marathons, and the Frontrunners Clinic combined to propel me to my goal.  But more than events, it is people - people like Chris, Alison, Ron, Andrea, Greg, Brad, Ian, Tom, Michael, Mel, and Joannie - who have shared a few (and more than a few) kilometers of asphalt, concrete, and trail with me.  A big thanks to all of you for helping me realize my dream.

The marathon was the hardest thing I've ever done.  I have never faced such physical and psychological exhaustion as I did on Sunday.  But the exhiliaration of finishing was something that goes beyond words.  And my time, although 10 minutes slower than I hoped, was beyond what I expected possible at mile 18.  The weather and the hills made this a much harder marathon that I anticipated.  So I am totally satisfied with my result.

Thanks to everyone for your support.  I ran this marathon not just to support a dream, but also to help out my friends at MK College in Ethiopia.  I managed to find a sponsor for each of the 26.2 miles.  That $2620 represents an entire year's salary for a faculty member.  The thought that I would let someone down if I didn't run that mile, was what propelled me to the finish.

Here's in brief, how the run went:

Miles 1-5: way too much pre-race adrenalin, running way too fast
Miles 5-11: falling into a more reasonable pace, enjoying the sights, feeling great!
Mile 10: Mel speeds off ahead. She will finish 10 minutes ahead of me
Mile 12: The 4:00 hour pace bunny passes me.  I speed up to keep up.  Michael encourages me to break away, I do!
Half way: right on target at 2:01 and change.
Mile 13-16: Stanley Park, then downtown Vancouver, scenic, legs starting to hurt, my mind starts saying: how on earth are you going to run another 2 hours!  I pop a GU and hope for the best.
Mile 17: Burrard street bridge, I run the whole thing.  Feeling worse.  My mind is starting to scream: you'll never finish this thing.
Mile 18-19: Settling back into pace.  Doing OK physically, but struggling mentally.  Wondering if I'm "hitting the wall."
Mile 20-22: I've hit the wall, no doubt about it.  I begin to wonder if I'll finish.  Tell myself that I'll walk the rest of the way if I have to.  Begin realizing that 4:00 is unattainable.  Tell myself that I'd be happy with 4:30.  At mile 20.5, I meet the 4:15 pace bunny approaching the Kitsilano turn around.  He works at the Broadmead Running Room.  I distinctly remember him saying, "I don't want you to see my backside on Sunday!"  That encourages me to keep going.  I set a goal of 10:00 miles.  I down a GU, drink more Ultima, and push on.
Mile 23: This is the Dave Jackson supported mile.  Somehow, through mystical muscle telekinesis, I recieve an ever-so-slight burst of energy.  And manage to keep my miles just over 10:00.
Mile 24: Things are really starting to fall apart.  My mind is entering delerium.  I'm beginning to feel faint.  I down a GU, drink more Ultima, and push on.  "I won't let that damn 4:15 pace bunny to catch me," I tell myself.  We run under the Burrard St. bridge.  It is a REALLY long way up.  I tell myself that I can walk the bridge.  I walk up the bridge.  Spectators are encouraging me.  An endtimes prophets flashes a "the end is nigh" sign.
KM 40: 20 steps to the top of the hill.  "If I can make it to 40k I can run it home," I tell myself.  A fat guy in a lawnchair with a megaphone says, "you're just about there, don't give up now!"   Easy for you to say...and I start running.
Mile 25: Downhill and feeling OK.  Adrenalin starting to kick in.  I realize that I just might do this thing.  I grab a cup of H20 at the last water station and choke.  I cough and sputter but keep running.
Last Mile:  Past the marker to the last mile.  Everything in my body is telling me to stop running and walk.  My legs are both aching and numb.  I'm feeling very light-headed.  The crowds are cheering.  I spot two women up ahead that I vow to overtake.
Finish Zone: I overtake the women, and then the Finish Line comes into view.  I dig as deep as I can and run hard to the finish.  I see the clock roll over 4:10.  I can't believe that I'm finishing.  12 years of dreaming coming to a culmination!  All my doomsday predictions at mile 21 of a 5 hour finish coming to naught.  Tears streaming down my face.  Totally delerious that I don't even see my family cheering me at the finish.  And then the glorious beeping of the timing chip machine.  And then I hit the rubber mat!  Done!

Running for Theological Education!

Ethiopia is home to some of the fastest long distance runners on the planet. It is also home to one of the largest and fastest growing Anabaptist churches in the world, the Mesrete Kristos Church.

Because of factors such as poverty, isolation, and the pace of growth, the church has always struggled with to keep up with training church leaders, and so they established a college, Meserete Kristos College (www.mkcollege.org) in 1994 to train leaders for churches. But, God has begun to expand the vision for the college. The college now seeks, “to become a full Christian University, offering a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs relevant to impacting the Ethiopian societies and beyond towards a more honest, just, compassionate and prosperous future.”

I became aware of this college during my three years at Seminary in Fresno, California. I was close friends with the college’s academic dean, Woudineh Endalyelalu, and their dean of students, Shewaye Yalew. They inspired me with their passionate faith, rigourous scholarship, and desire to see an indigenous, holistic church thrive in Ethiopia.

Because the College is seeking University status, the Ethiopian government is requiring their faculty members to earn PhD. Degrees. And this brings me to why I am writing. The purpose of my writing is to raise awareness about this fledgling Christian University and to help raise money to assist faculty members like Woudineh and Shewaye to earn doctoral degrees.

In 13 days, I will run the 26.2 mile Vancouver International Marathon in honour of the
Meserete Kristos College. I am seeking financial partners to sponsor each mile of the race for $100/mile. All donations will be made through Mennonite Church Canada/USA and will be fully tax receiptable.

If you would like to become a sponsor, simply email me indicating so. Don’t delay (the race is on May 7^th).  Don’t send any money! I will send you payment details after the race.

Thanks for considering this opportunity to partner in God’s work around the world.

In Christ,

David Eagle

List of sponsors:

The Final .2 - Brad Thiessen
Mile 26 - Bert and Corrine Zantingh
Mile 25 - Horst Unger
Mile 24 - Andrea Feary (the toughest mile!)
Mile 23 - David Jackson (yes, THE David Jackson...)
Mile 22 - Martin and Lorna Herzog
Mile 21 - Jon Isaak
Mile 20 - Martin Taylor
Mile 19 - Stan and Helen Stark
Mile 18 - Hildi Banting
Mile 17 - Jamie Falk and Rachel Mills
Mile 16 - Joel and Kelley Durkovic
Mile 15 - Alison Eagle
Mile 14 - Margaret Eagle (Thanks, Mom!)
Mile 13 - Aaron and Linda Needles
Mile 12 - Pierre and Lee Ann Dil
Mile 11 - Ben and Carol Koop
Mile 10 - Spring Halland
Mile 9 - Michelle Hobby
Mile 8 - Tom Hobby
Mile 7 - Gerry and Pamela Giesbrecht
Mile 6 - John Martens
Mile 5 - Ken and Cheryl Marr
Mile 4 - John Eagle (Thanks Dad!)
Mile 3 - Harry and Martha Jantzen
Mile 2 - Dale Wall
Mile 1 - Christine Falk-DuQuesnay