• 95% of what goes on in the church is cultural (ex:  hymns, Sunday School)  If you throw all that away, what are you left with, that Jesus would have us do?  How would you organize that?
• [Our generation] is getting old and dying!  Your generation needs to redefine somehow what church should be.
• That’s encouraging—isn’t your generation often afraid of your ideals being lost?
• Only this form of worship would be lost, which is fine!  We shouldn’t be stuck in our current structures.

• The church shouldn’t be so motivated by fear, defending itself against the world.  “I’m afraid of you, you might contradict me!”  We should actually be the least fearful, and able to have conversations with anybody.  The church is not a safe place against the evils outside, with rigid walls.  Church should be woven together, in touch with each other, and able to accept more differences.

What is it like to be a Mennonite in Boise?

• Sometimes they confuse you with being Mormon, because it starts with an M.

Or they ask, “Isn’t that like Amish?”  Do I look Amish to you?

Do you emphasize the distinctiveness of Mennos, or what you have in common?

• I emphasize pacifism.  I usually stay away from the “Christian” part of it, since most people in this area have bad connections with Chistians.  My lesbian friend has been told all her life that she’s evil and going to hell because of who she is.  But I tell her, “No, that’s not right!  Come to my church!”  Teens are being ostracized from their church because they question things.  I love this church because I can come as I am and feel accepted.
• 15 years ago I’d always say I was a Christian; Mennonite would take too much explanation.  Now the negative aspects of “Christian” are so prevalent that I say Mennonite.  Christian is synonymous with anti-gays, anti-environmentalism, pro-war…I don’t want any part of that.  The meaning of the word has been corrupted.  I listen to any pastor on the radio, and I disagree with 90% of what they’re saying.  [But unfortunately, their opinion] has become predominant in the media.
• We’re on the fringe of the Mennonite world, but we’re not dominated by the Mennonite [church].  We’re pretty free-thinking here.  What’s it like in the east?
• Franconia conference includes some of the oldest churches in the area, which have the most people, and the most money… but the least life.  There are churches on the periphery who have better ideas but less money.  Boise sounds like that.  To step into the Menno culture [in the east] is very difficult—if you don’t look like one, don’t have a Menno last name, can’t play the menno game… what are you doing here?
• Boise is creating a community that’s open and safe for everybody…
• We feel alone and disconnected.  We’ve tried to teach people about Mennonites, but a lot of our members identify themselves with this community, not the larger Menno church.
• I wouldn’t say [our church] a safe place for everyone.  Some people have come here that have been freaked out because we’re so liberal.  I can see them squirming, and how they can’t wait to get out the door!  It would be hard for a staunch Republican/Bush supporter to survive here.
• Is it possible for one congregation to be a safe place for everybody?
• No.  …Maybe.  I’ve never been able to picture that, exactly.
• This is such a small Mennonite church à I’m the youth group at this church!!  I do feel disattached. [Sic]
• Identity issues are big for our youth. They don’t know what their age group is like [within the menno church]