New lines seem to be crossed every day. But at some point, it will come down to what the military does when these orders are given. Revealing the deep structure of our political order.

Saying some words about some things, at a conference. Put another way - “The Nicene Creed and in the Anabaptist-Mennonite Tradition: Ethics, Complicity, and Unity.”

I’m on first leg of journey to Thessaloniki for conference on Nicene creed. My travel could yet be disrupted by KLM ground crew strike but at this point my flights are showing as on time, and I’m hopeful. Looking forward to the people, ideas, and location! thessaloniki2025.ei-research.net

My four most recent book purchases. Looking forward to each one!

I've been appointed a member of the Faith & Life Commission of Mennonite World Conference. I look forward to meeting (virtually) my fellow commission members soon and contributing where I can. mwc-cmm.org/en/stories/t...

Well this is a fantastic surprise. @kevinwhector.bsky.social is coming to Winnipeg for the JJ Thiessen lectures this year!

Roller coaster with Air Canada over past few days. We were booked to fly to Winnipeg, expected it to be cancelled because of strike, told it would go ahead today, then cancelled. Trying to request refund: email says do it online, website says to call, when I call they say do it online. Arghh..

Very happy to see this history of the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre published. It's by Susan Fish, based on both documentary sources and several interviews (including of me). ml.bethelks.edu/2025/07/10/t...

I published a short article, “Anabaptist Martyrs and the Ambivalence of Mennonite (Non-)Violence," in the June issue of Ecumenical Trends. As always, happy to provide PDF to anyone who asks.

“The World Council of Churches has formally launched an Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action…a ten-year ecumenical commitment to addressing climate injustice, rooted in biblical theology + global solidarity. The theme of the plenary = Jubilee for People + Earth”

My term as Associate Chair (Undergraduate), Religious Studies dept, UWaterloo is ending. The role is mainly working at curriculum, and advising students. I also moved program name change to "Religion, Culture, and Spirituality" thru the system and now implementing it. Two highlights have been...

Always a privilege to help celebrate student accomplishments - in this case a student in the Religious Studies program at the University of Waterloo. uwaterloo.ca/religious-st...

The final virtual class meeting of my "Peace Church Theology" course is tonight. Students are presenting on books they reviewed which is always engaging.

I have written a letter to the board and administration and strongly encourage colleagues to do the same. It is important that Ambrose University know that many are watching.

Israel attacks Iran. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.

Just don’t know what to say.

Some FOMO right now. I'm teaching a spring course and so not participating in either of these conferences in the coming days: Canadian Theological Society (in Toronto), and Believers Church Conference (in Amsterdam). Great people & interesting ideas at each event, but here I sit, at home...

Very pleased to see that ecumenism, reconciliation, and common witness will be major themes in the Zurich worship service marking 500th anniversary of Anabaptism (in progress now).

I noted a few weeks ago the fact that The Conrad Grebel Review is ceasing publication. Here's an official announcement with some reflection on its significance, and the reasons it was ended. uwaterloo.ca/grebel/news/...

This is the skeet I needed today.

Today’s the day, Canada. Get to the polls and politely, but firmly, say NO to American fascism.

Yes, this seems like a horrifying to-do (have-done) list for current US regime.

Cruelty is the official policy of the United States.

Yes - this really is the crisis moment

Here is the situation if I’m understanding it correctly: 1. They are deporting lawful immigrants erroneously to prisons overseas 2. They are claiming no recourse to return these individuals 3. They say they are open to deporting citizens in the same way

Just responded to excellent virtual presentation by Palestinian theologian Samuel Munayer on "Christian Martyrdom and Discipleship in Palestine" for a primarily Canadian Mennonite audience. He called us to engage more deeply around baptism, martyrdom, & calling of the church.

🎉 Welcome Sung Hyun Lee, PhD! The AMBS Board of Directors has appointed her as Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Psychology, beginning July 1. 📚 Read more: loom.ly/BWdQC0Y

Just finished final class of the term--3rd day of excellent student presentations on topic of martyrdom. I especially appreciate when students try to answer a genuine question, pursue their curiosity, or test an intuition. It was my first time teaching this course but I hope to do it again soon!

I contributed an article to a Catholic blog series on the ecumenical significance of the 500th anniversary of the start of the Anabaptist movement. slmedia.org/blog/anabapt...

If you accept that non-citizens have no right to due process, you are accepting that citizens have no right to due process. All the government has to do is claim that you are not a citizen; without due process you have no chance to prove the contrary.

A powerful witness to the gospel.

We are looking for a new subject professor in Theology (which according to our subject mapping includes exegetics). www.umu.se/en/work-with...

It really does seem that defiance of court orders by the executive is a new level of U.S. authoritarianism. The guardrails are not holding this time.

Free Mahmoud Khalil!

I recently discovered that an article of mine which appeared in Theology Today is available as free access. This was a programmatic piece for me: "Whether, and how, a church ought to repent for a historical wrong" journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

A highlight of the term: a celebration of research by undergraduate students (which I helped to organize and host on Thursday). 10 students gave 3-minute presentations on their work. Amazing stuff. This reminded me of why I do what I do, and what a privilege it is. uwaterloo.ca/arts/news/se...

A bald eagle tried to kill a Canada goose in Burlington Ontario but didn't succeed: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The last ever issue of The Conrad Grebel Review has just been published. As a former editor of this journal, I wrote some reflections on this occasion. (Link is to full PDF, my reflections begin p.220): uwaterloo.ca/grebel/sites...

Looking for a great conference not the US? The Ecclesiological Investigations Research Network is holding “Dissent, Power, and Christian Identity after Nicaea,” in Thessaloniki, Greece, Sept 17-20, 2025. CFP extended to March 15 (according to email I received) thessaloniki2025.ei-research.net

I haven't posted much on here about the fundraiser last week. But in addition to raising $10k for material relief in Palestine seeing this real one singing with this smile felt pretty healing for Winnipeg as well.

Great episode! Including comments from Willie James Jennings.

Highly recommended book by Hyung Jin (Pablo) Kim Sun and glad it is finally out in the world. Buy it, read it, tell others!

One more thing re GenAI. Given that I ban it, I’m required to police it. Yet the implicit official message is that if students do use it, it’s because I didn’t design assignment properly or didn’t convince them why their learning requires them to not use GenAI. Anyone else feel this?

I teach at a large institution with different approaches to AI. Nevertheless, I often get the sense that while there's a grudging willingness to accommodate out-of-touch profs (like me) who ban use of AI in courses, a GOOD instructor would incorporate AI into their teaching & student learning.

Missing these kinds of classic posts from Weird Medieval Guys.

Pope Francis has written a sweeping letter to the U.S. bishops decrying the "major crisis" triggered by President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans and explicitly rejecting Vice President J.D. Vance's attempts to use Catholic theology to justify the administration's immigration crackdown.

Digging in to this.

The 16 yo seems to be listening almost exclusively to Nirvana, 90s Pearl Jam, early REM, The Clash, and even some Pixies. So maybe his dad was / is cool?!

Don’t mean to avoid the question but The Obvious 4-5 Whites Guys is essentially the name of a lot of bands I’ve seen.

Some good news…