Global Shelf of Literature Launched
Mennonite World Conference has announced the launching of The Global Anabaptist-Mennonite Shelf of Literature.
Each year Mennonite World Conference will announce the Selection of the Year. This may be a book, a booklet, or a series of articles. The selection may have been published first in any language from within any of the Anabaptist-related fellowships situated in 62 countries around the world.
"We do not intend to become publishers urselves," explained Mennonite World Conference Executive Secretary Larry Miller. "Instead we want to encourage the development of an international shelf of common literature. Our hope is to encourage publishers in various language groups around the world to make The Selection of the Year available in their own language each year.
"In this way The Selection of the Year may be available in as many as possible of the 12 main languages used by 95% of Mennonite-related peoples around the world."
Miller noted that Semilla (Guatemala) and CLARA (Colombia) have been very active in publishing books in the Spanish language. GKMI has issued a number of titles in Indonesian. The Francaphone Network is working to encourage the publication of books for Congo, Burkina, Faso, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Canada (Quebec). The Japan Anabaptist Center is publishing some books in Japanese. The Ethiopian church (MKC) has issued a number of books and booklets in Amharic.
Miller will work with MWC Communication Consultants Phyllis Pellman Good and Merle Good, along with regional editors, MWC staff and officers, and others from around the world in choosing and promoting the annual Selection each year.
Persons from any Anabaptist-related fellowship from any part of the world may nominate books, booklets, or collections of essays or articles for the annual Selection by writing to Mennonite World Conference, 8, rue du Fosse des Treize, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
"Mennonite World Conference is not forming its own publishing house," explains Phyllis Pellman Good. "Our goal is that, over the next 10 to 20 years, a common literature may emerge for the global Anabaptist-Mennonite churches. MWC can play an encouraging role by shepherding and advocating one given selection each year."
This would be a decentralized effort, requiring little outlay of finances or staff time from MWC, Larry Miller observed, "If the various language groups need subsidy to translate and distribute The Selection of the Year in their languages, they will need to develop their own channels to do this. MWC will not be able to fund this."
"The 'Shelf' needs to have spirit, diversity, and conviction," added Merle Good. "If all of the selections come from the same continent or address the same topic over and over, the 'Shelf' will fail. We need themes of stewardship and prayer, family life and the work of the Spirit, as well as theology, peace, and history."
The Selection for 2002 has just been announced (see adjoining article). The search for the Selection for 2003 is already underway. "We hope to receive nominations from our fellowships all over the world," said Larry Miller.
— MWC News Service
2002 Selection Named
From Anabaptist Seed: The Historical Care of Anabaptist-Related Identity by Arnold Snyder has been selected as the first title for The Global Anabaptist-Mennonite Shelf of Literature.
Intended to cover basic defining points and to be highly readable, the booklet describes the Anabaptist "seed."
Subjects covered in bite-size fashion in this 54-page book include Anabaptist doctrines and their consequences, specific Anabaptist ordinances, and practices of discipleship (truth-telling, economic-sharing, and pacifism).
Comments Snyder, "The book provides a point of departure for continuing conversations."
