Daniel, point #4 is especially good. One of the problems with conservative Mennonite culture and teaching is that anyone who departs is implied to be departing from God. Especially if the women start cutting their hair and wearing shorts and tank tops. And jewelry. We can, of course, debate for a long time about whether or not such actions are disobedience to God. But beyond that point, what seems to be overlooked is the myriad of women who demonstrate much fruit of the Spirit, despite having short hair and short pants. Maybe they’re wrong. But are they sisters in Christ? If the answer is yes, then we should treat them like family!

I singled out women here, because they are the most distinctively dressed. But the same sort of thing goes for men too.

Daniel Uliano, this is very good. I agree with both of you. If someone is truly seeking an answer this is spot on.

Thank you for your comment, Daniel!

You are correct, of course, that there are deeper ways of addressing this question, and I love your thoughts. Unfortunately, the questioner is not usually looking for a discussion. They are simply giving a knee-jerk, fear-based response.

Thank you so much for your excellent fleshing out of these ideas!

They provide an excellent starting point for a discussion, in the event that the question truly does want a conversation.

I appreciate your input! Blessings to you.

Your response to #6 – the slippery slope argument – is delightfully snarky, but not truly helpful. In my experience, this is the most common concern expressed, and I’d love to see a more fulsome, constructive consideration of the question.

I’m not sure where you’re coming from, but for those who hold to the Word of God as the final authority for life, here are a couple responses:

*​Where is this going to lead? Other people have been right where you are now, and look at where they end up.*

1. The Word of God is what keeps me from going down a slippery slope to the heresy and debauchery you fear. That’s what I’m holding on to.
2. I don’t know fully where this will lead, but I have concerns about where the reliance on these rules/culture/tradition will lead. If there’s a slippery slope with where I’m headed, there’s an equally slippery and dangerous slope with where things are in the current setting.
3. Other people have *NOT* necessarily been where we are. They may or may not have had different reasons than we do. Our reason is ultimately to follow God’s Word – see my response #1.
4. Furthermore, some of these other people still love Jesus, have dynamic ministry, etc – I’m not convinced that they are such a bad example as all that. IOW, there are perhaps more important concerns than those that you are aware of. The “others” have maintained their center.

For the purposes of this blog, conservatism Anabaptism is all strains of Anabaptism that are centered around preservation of the Anabaptist distinctives by use of coercive, hierarchical authority structures.

In the world I come from, suggesting the BMA is part of conservative Anabaptism would have met with derisive snorts.

Hope this clarifies.