Manifesto of the

Mennonite Anti-Mission Association

We are Mennonites (and fellow travelers) who reject the churchs mission activities. We love human diversity and seek to preserve it. We believe the world would be a poorer place if all Buddhists, for example, were converted to Christianity. So we oppose evangelistic crusades and mission boards, no matter how well-meaning they claim to be. Because even missionaries who profess cultural sensitivity still have the hidden agenda of persuading non-believers that Christianity is the only way. We are universalists. We believe hell is a myth, and that every person who has ever lived gets a seat at the celestial banquet table. We reject the authenticity of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20). We simply dont think Jesus said it. Most bible scholars doubt its authenticity as well. Firstly, any statements attributed to the postcrucifixion Jesus must be called into question, for obvious reasons. Secondly, if Jesus told his followers to proclaim the good news to everybody then the later debate between Paul and James (over whether or not uncircumcised Gentiles can be included in the church) makes little sense. Why didnt Paul settle the dispute by quoting the Great Commission? (No doubt because that particular Jesus saying wasnt known to Paul or James.) Clearly, the language of the Great Commission sounds more like the post-70 A.D. church talking than the historical Jesus. We think the missionary world-view contains inherent contradictions. This is illustrated by the story of the Inuit hunter and the missionary: The Inuit asks the missionary, If I didnt know about God and sin, would I go to hell? The missionary says, No, not if you didnt know. To which the Inuit replies, Then why did you tell me? If God condemns only those who reject the gospel upon the hearing of it, then missionary preaching itself is the catalyst that moves non-believers from a state of grace to a state of condemnation. In which case missionaries are responsible for more souls being lost than saved. Wouldnt it be best to leave non-believers alone, in their state of grace, in the first place? We are persons whove come to know and love folks from a variety of traditions: Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Bahai, Jain, Native American, Pagan, and more. We recognize the common themes and emphases that make these paths more alike than they are different: mercy, compassion, forgiveness, non-judgment, non-attachment, etc. In our view, their origin and inspiration derive from the same place: the Source of All Truth and Beauty in the Universe. Human efforts to elevate any one path above others are misguided and pointless. Therefore, we call on Mennonite mission agencies (specifically, Mennonite Mission Network, Eastern Mennonite Missions, Virginia Mennonite Missions, and Rosedale Mennonite Missions) to: 1. Reevaluate their work in light of modern understandings of the Bible, and the realities of our pluralistic world; 2. Change their mandate from converting the masses to helping preserve religious diversity around the globe; and 3. Send people out to investigate the truth and beauty in other traditions, and bring those elements back for the enlightenment and edification of folks at home. Mennonite emissaries, not missionaries.
The Mennonite Anti-Mission Association was created in July 2012. Visit the Mennonite Anti-Mission Association Facebook page, and like us. Manifesto last revised: September 24, 2012.