There are 50 shades of Mennonite. Come say hello when you see us in Kansas City | Opinion

Attention Kansas City Convention Center staff, local hotels, restaurants, and ordinary residents or tourists: Mennonites are coming to town the first week of July. You may see one (or a whole crew of them) out and about in Kansas City and no, they (most likely) won’t be wearing bonnets or long, black dresses. Downtown valet services need not worry about parking horse and buggies. In fact, the only telltale sign that a Mennonite might be close by is this: They will likely be wearing lanyards and name tags with our green Mennonite Church USA dove logo on it.

Other than that, you may not be able to spot a Mennonite in the wild as we gather in Kansas City for MennoCon23. If you do spot or come into contact with one, here are some tips from a local Mennonite pastor. (And Mennonites, if you are reading this, please give generous tips during your time in KC.)

Often when I’m out and about and introduce myself as a Mennonite pastor, people will stop what they are doing, look up, look back down, scratch their heads and get this look in their eyes that suggests confusion or amusement. Once in a while, someone will verbalize what they are actually thinking or wondering about. Take a hospital receptionist recently who said, ever so kindly: “I hope you don’t mind me asking you a question. I’m curious, what’s a Mennonite again?” I loved the question and the inquisitive, respectful manner in which he asked.

More often, I will get responses such as, “But I thought Mennonites wore head coverings.” Or, “You mean you are Amish?” Or, “I didn’t think Mennonites had female pastors.” Sometimes people will even joke while looking past me, hoping they see my horse and buggy in the hospital valet area. I’m always sorry to disappoint them.

Back to my friend the hospital receptionist and his lovely question. I didn’t want to hold up the line, so after I thanked him for asking, I gave him my business card and encouraged him to look for information online about the two local Mennonite churches: Rainbow Mennonite Church and Eden Life Church. I now look for this friendly receptionist every time I return to the hospital.

I hope he’s reading this because I write with him in mind and anyone who has wondered the same thing: “What’s a Mennonite again?”

When you ask Siri to tell you what Mennonites are, she might say that they are groups of Anabaptist Christian church communities. So what is an Anabaptist? The truth is, I can’t answer that definitively, nor can Siri or any other artificial intelligence. No one can. No one Mennonite church can.

What I can say is that we at Rainbow Mennonite Church are part of a movement that stretches back to the 16th century Reformation, a time of great upheaval and change for those who professed faith in Jesus. The Anabaptists (or “re-baptizers,” as they were often critically labeled) were among those who called for radical (meaning going back to roots) reform. Most of these 16th century Anabaptists went so far as to practice believer’s baptism and nonviolence or rejection of the sword, believing that Jesus meant what he said in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and that he was talking to us, his followers of every age.

So instead of baptizing infants, we dedicate children and we dedicate ourselves as adults to be part of their lives in a way that we hope will draw them into closer communion with Jesus and his teachings on nonviolence, love of enemy, rejection of greed and materialism. We hope and pray that drawing closer to Jesus will happen in the context of a community. Another way to say this is that we yearn to become a community shaped by Jesus’ life and teachings. While personal faith is important, following Jesus is not some private, solely individualistic pursuit. Mature faith, we believe, is best expressed and built within a community. And building a community shaped by Jesus’ teachings is hardly ever easy — and wow, is it extraordinary when it occurs.

Each Mennonite and each Mennonite or Anabaptist group has its own distinct character or style. There are, in fact, more than 50 shades of Mennonite. Some of us live or go to church in rural areas, while others of us are in urban or suburban settings. We hold all sorts of professions and careers. And yes, I grew up riding horses, but not in the way many people assume.

So if you happen upon a Mennonite during the upcoming convention, or a Mennonite happens upon you, try starting with a question. Perhaps set aside assumptions or preconceived notions. And hopefully Mennonites will do the same when learning from those we meet. Instead of throwing shade, let’s enjoy learning the variety of shades that make up individuals’ lives and communities and religions. Peace out.