During the meeting of the MWC General Council in Guatemala City this July three half days will be devoted to the work of the Faith and Life Council. Why are we doing this, and what are we hoping to achieve?
     Prior to the MWC Assembly in Calcutta in 1997 a survey was taken in various MWC member churches around the world to see how they understand themselves and how they explain to others who they are. A report on the results of this poll was given at the Calcutta sessions. It was later published in Courier (Issue 4, 1997).
     Members of the General Council received and discussed the report in Calcutta. This was an important step. These were some of the questions which were discussed: Who are we as members of the Mennonite/Brethren in Christ family? What does it mean to be Anabaptist today? What do we have in common? Where do we have different experiences and opinions? How do we interpret scripture? How do we understand our Anabaptist roots?
     It was agreed that we should continue this discussion because it would help us to grow together in our common faith. After the Calcutta meeting and the publishing of the Faith and Life report, a series of articles by church historian C. Arnold Snyder on "Anabaptist Seeds" was published in Courier and Correo, and also in booklet form. It showed a common historical core among the Anabaptists in the 16th century. This material has been well received by many around the world.
     In Guatemala City we want to take a few more steps. We want to begin to find out what we can say together is a common contemporary core of our Anabaptist-Mennonite faith community. To do this we will start with a reminder of the report given in Calcutta and a review of the historical insights provided by C. Arnold Snyder. Then we will listen to about five comments on that input from persons representing different parts of the world. This will be the basis for a longer period of conversation in international discussion groups. People from different continents will be participating in each group to provide a broad perspective. Theology and Bible teachers will serve as resource persons in each group to help if specific questions arise.
     Some of the questions we will be looking at are: Where do we see common ground? What are common questions we are dealing with in the different parts of our worldwide Mennonite and Brethren in Christ family? How can we grow together in deeper communion?
     Let us look forward to meet with each other as a Faith and Life Council in Guatemala City in July. --Rainer W. Burkart is Secretary of Faith and Life Council

New Book:
Garden in the Wilderness: Mennonite Communities in the Paraguayan Chaco, 1927-1997, by Edgar Stoesz and Muriel T. Stackley, CMBC Publications, Winnipeg, Canada, 1999, 220p. $24.50, plus handling. "One of the greatest Mennonite stories of the 20th century. Photographer Mark Beach presents arresting images of Chaco wilderness and garden."
-Robert Kreider, USA.
     "A powerful, moving story that plays itself out on three continents, with a touch of Asia. It provides a series of wonderful windows into this complex, holistic development project. The book is especially reader-friendly. This personalized account of the 72-year-old history of positive Indian-Mennonite cooperation will be welcomed by both former residents of the Chaco and by many foreign observers who have actively contributed to the planting and watering of the Garden both through prayers and material contributions."
-Titus Guenther, Canada (formerly of Menno Colony, Paraguay); Address: EdgarStoesz@juno.com