Finding the Spirit Outside the Church

Summary

The (old) Mennonite church that I grew up in was deeply suspicious of the broader world. To keep North American society away, the church of my childhood tried to erect visible markers of difference. Women were to wear prayer coverings. Men were to dress plainly. Youth were to stay away from rock music because that would surely lead to illicit sex and illegal drugs. Everyone was to avoid jewelry. The list of forbidden things was long. Among people in the General Conference Mennonite Church things were a little different, but for us (old) Mennonites it was a big deal to keep the church pure by keeping the world at arm’s length.