BURGOS, Spain—Anabaptists in Spain are experimenting with a new way to train lay church leaders, and they’re doing it with help from a seminary in Switzerland, a Mennonite Mission Network worker, a grant from MCC Europe, and a former Jesuit-priest-turned-Brethren-in-Christ pastor.
Antonio Gonzalez, a former Jesuit who is now a Brethren in Christ leader; Julian Mellado, a BIC pastor; and Dennis Byler, an MMN worker; are beginning Anabaptist leadership courses specifically aimed at adults who need a way to learn about Anabaptist values without spending semesters at school. The three men and the Spanish Anabaptist Network see this as an important way to train new lay leaders.
Named Kenosis Theological Seminary, this is the first specifically Anabaptist training offered in Spain.
The word Kenosis comes from Philippians 5, in which Paul explains that Jesus emptied (kenosis) himself of Godhood and took the form of a servant.
“It’s a very Anabaptist idea of leadership,” Byler said. “Leaders don’t grasp at being the greatest, but are humble and serve others.”
The idea for the seminary came to life when Mellado and Gonzalez visited Bienenberg Seminary, an Anabaptist educational institution in Switzerland. Each course can be completed in about a month, with 10 hours of outside reading and one Saturday all-day seminar. Knowing the need for leadership training in their own churches, Gonzalez and Mellado brought the idea back to the Spanish Anabaptist Network, who gave it their blessing.
On Oct. 8, Byler taught the inaugural course: Introduction to the Bible. Twenty-two people, more than expected, attended—many of them from outside the nine Spanish Anabaptist churches.
“That shows an interest in Anabaptist values that’s beyond our churches,” Byler explained.
Byler is using material from his 2010 book on the Bible for his class. A church in Madrid offered their facilities, and MCC Europe donated funds, which meant that the shoestring budget could be expanded to include advertising and a projector.
The course offerings follow the Bienenberg Seminary curriculum. The Saturday seminar only costs 10 euros (about $14) to attend, and if students complete enough courses, they can graduate with a degree from Bienenberg.
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
