Life in the Superpower: Then and Now

Christian Citizenship Sunday materials

July 6, 2003 (or whenever is convenient for your congregation)
Compiled by Susan Mark Landis, peace advocate
Mennonite Church USA Executive Board

Introduction to Theme

Post-September 11, 2001, our congregations have re-examined our relationship to the United States government. The horrid events in New York City, our wars on terrorism and Iraq, have forced this scrutiny on us, unasked. We have discovered that both within our congregations and within our denomination, we disagree on this topic, passionately. Some of our members have left our congregations. Some of our members have spent time in jail for civil disobedience. Some of our members have joined the military. Some of our members have entered voluntary service. Our pastors and elders have struggled to lead prophetically and yet hold our congregations together.

We live in the world's only superpower. We must not deny that this reality deeply affects our religious and everyday life. We must come to understand what this power means as we relate to the government and to our God, to our sisters and brothers around the world, and our neighbors down the street.

While we believe, pray, and act differently one from another, the discussion must continue, respectfully, yet also prophetically.

For these reasons, our theme and materials for Christian Citizenship Sunday, July 6, 2003, are an invitation to thought, rather a neat package of answers:

Life in the Superpower: then and now

Jesus lived in the most powerful country on earth. So do we. What does Jesus have to say to us about our relationship to government?

	Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective Article 23. The Church's Relation to Government and Society
	Second Mile Bulletin Insert
	Best preparation resources for Christian Citizenship Sunday 2003
	Discussion questions for Sunday schools or small groups
	Additional good resources
	Mennonites and Hitler
	"Christian Citizenship Sunday Logo" (150K .GIF)

July 6 is Christian Citizenship Sunday this year. Our congregations are invited on this day to emphasize that the church is the primary community, not the nation-state. Loyalty to God often brings the church in conflict with the values, practices, and loyalty expected of citizens of the state. On Christian Citizenship Sunday we reflect on the claims that nationalism tries to pin onto us and we often gladly accept. We also wonder about what our relationship is and should be to the State. What policies do we support? What policies do we take for granted? What policies do we ignore because they do not affect us?

Peace Sunday is November 9, 2003. Leo Hartshorn, Minister of Peace and Justice, Mennonite Mission Network ( ) is coordinating resources.

Responses to Questions:

	How should Christians relate to the United States government, the only super power in the world?
	What has been your recent experience in talking about your Christian relationship to government in your congregation? You might comment on sermons, Sunday school lessons, or private conversations.

NOTE on resources:
Our theology on church/state relations varies. If we lack representation from a genuinely Mennonite viewpoint, please send me a good example to include. Thanks!