Married To An Ex Mennonite: Part 3

      Special note! Some of you may notice how delayed this post is. As we move into the nitty gritty of Daniel's expulsion, it must be understood that there is a weight that comes with the memories. It takes emotional energy to relay what happened because the experience of rejection never really ended. This telling is akin to the end of Daniel's experience in the Mennonite world and the beginning of a new kind of experience. The whole world opened up for him in the form of thoughts and ideas, while his family slowly became more and more estranged.

The only known pictures of Daniel in his youth are the ones he saved from old driver's licenses.

         The moment that Daniel realized that the bishop was more interested in moving members than he was in reconciliation, was a turning point. But it wasn't Daniel's first run in with the ministry. It seems it had taken a few "a-ha" moments to bring him to some clarity on what he was facing.
     Daniel loved church life and felt proud of his church's calling. Members spent thousands of hours reviewing and seeking to practice "Christian love" for one another and their communities. Sermons and singings and lectures and homework, were all based on reviewing those principles. Honesty, humility, reconciliation, and integrity were supposedly practiced in all things. But after he became a member, cracks began to show in the beautiful façade. There were members who left and left extremely distraught but would not say why!
      There were members who were expelled...a husband was put out while his wife was encouraged to stay. The children were caught in the middle. Businesses and houses were sold quick or auctioned off as members rushed out of the community to other "churches".
     Another member, upon building his own telescope and doing the math, realized that the Earth was older than the taught 6,000 years. The ministry demanded that he repent or they threatened expulsion. The ministry reported that the member was unworkable. Daniel took the time to visit and asked the man, "An older than 6,000 year old Earth is beyond the group's belief system. Could you hold that thought until we catch up to you or if we can catch up to you? Can you not promote it at this time since it is not what our minister's teach?" The member said of course and he understands the caution! Daniel found him highly "workable" and struggled to relate to the ministry's animosity toward the man.

Daniel's parents did not have a camera and believed pictures were not good. 

       Daniel's own father had been expelled. Though there was much animosity at the time between his father and the sons, Daniel began to look back and realize that his own father's distress might not have been because of his guilt but because of the way the ministry was handling the situation.
       Daniel began to step out publicly and question the ministry openly. When his sister witnessed a convert from society ask a sincere question about the dress code and was labeled as "someone undermining the position of the "church", he realized there was something deeply wrong with the way the ministry handled the members, but he was not sure what to do about it.
       On the surface, it is not unusual for leadership in any organization to utilize some discretion in how they run their organization. On a deeper level, though, it must be understood that the hierarchy in this church ended with the bishop being at the top. There was no higher power to appeal to or ask for review. On the surface, conservative congregations will tell seekers that they make decisions based on a voting system made up of men in the membership. But in the "Book of Standards", (Rulebook that each group creates and uses.) for the Tennessee Churches, it states that "No majority shall ever be able to overrule a clear scriptural principle.  Of course the ministry decides what that is and what should even come to the membership for a vote! And who runs the ministry? YES. In essence, the bishop's position was ultimately equal to that of an unquestionable dictator and disagreeing with that dictator would have dire consequences.
       There was no aspect of one's life which was sacred or protected. The ministry had access to everything from the medications one took, your income or business, even your spouse and children were within his domain to tamper with, obstruct, or divide.
       But with thousands of hours of training in "Christian principles and life", it was hard to imagine that the ministry could be anything but at the highest levels of Christ-like attainment. Indeed, member standing and credibility rested on following the dictates of the ministry. Favor from the ministry was likened to favor with God himself.
       The average member was lulled into a trained silence at an early age through the methodical teaching  that the "Church" was an extension of God and that the ministry was God's anointed guardians of the church. Having an opinion that differed from the main teachings of the church and speaking about them to anyone showed "pride" because one was leaning on one's own understanding rather than that of the "Church". Being separated from the "Church" through expulsion meant certain hell in the afterlife. On the opposite end of the spectrum, to be seen as loyal and dutiful to the "Church" and ministry was akin to righteousness and "peace with God".
   

     By challenging the Bishop's word and declaring his intention to check behind the Bishops announcements to the brethren, Daniel had placed a target on his back. And soon the repercussions would be palpable.

Did You Start Reading In The Middle? Go To Part 1, Here!