How does my faith inform my political views, engagement and assessment of candidates? The Mennonite value of consensus building and a communitarian ethos inform my involvement on the Goshen City Council. That means that when a decision needs to be made, I do not necessarily vote for my personal preference. Unless it is an issue about which I have strong convictions (such as forming the Community Relations Commission) I will make my preference subservient to what seems most indigenous to the culture in our city. I see my task as “exegeting the community” much like a pastor must exegete his or her congregation to preach a good sermon.

When the seven-member council had a Mennonite majority (along with an Anabaptist mayor), we had the power to pass all kinds of laws. We could have declared Goshen a nuclear-free zone or established it as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. To have done something like that, however, would have awakened memories of Thomas Munzer and Munster. In fact, the power we had left me strangely uncomfortable during those two years. Somehow, it just feels better to be in the minority and attempt to change our community for the better through good relationships, bipartisanship and integrity.

I am drawn to candidates who use the political power invested in them in similar ways.