The Board took the action during its regular meeting, June 3-4, and today released a Decision Statement, which is available at www.goshen.edu/anthem.

The Board expressed a strong commitment to advancing with President Brenneman the vision for Goshen College to be an influential leader in liberal arts education with a growing capacity to serve a theologically, politically, racially and ethnically diverse constituency both within and beyond the Mennonite church. The Board concluded that continuing to play the national anthem compromised the ability of college constituents to advance the vision together.

“The Board has a diversity of views on this issue as reflected throughout the process of considering the anthem,” said Rick Stiffney of Goshen, the chair of the Board. “The Board itself struggled with significant differences and conflicting perspectives, so this decision was not easy and took many hours of discernment and prayer. Our resolution represents our best effort to find a path of wisdom that we could endorse together.

“We recognize that some people may not be satisfied with this decision, but we believe it is the right one for Goshen College. We also believe this decision will enable the college and the board to move forward and prepare with joy for the 2011-2012 academic year.”

Responding to the decision, President Brenneman said, “I am convinced that Goshen College is on a challenging and rewarding journey toward becoming a more diverse institution that serves an increasingly diverse community. I am hopeful that this resolution will help Goshen College move forward together, and focus on finding new ways to welcome students from our local and regional community.”

Carlos Romero, executive director of the Mennonite Education Agency and an ex-officio member of the Board, affirmed the decision and the message he said it will communicate to the college’s constituents, Mennonite Church USA members and other people of faith.

“Goshen College has been and remains a ministry of Mennonite Church USA with an enduring peace tradition,” Romero said. “The Board’s decision reflects a belief that faith and honoring country can co-exist without disturbing higher allegiances to God and that Goshen College will become increasingly diverse and will welcome diverse viewpoints.”

Romero also commended the Board, President Brenneman and the President’s Council for carefully studying, discussing and prayerfully deciding the anthem issue. “The willingness to listen and learn from one another has indeed modeled a process to the wider church and community about how to engage difficult issues. In today’s polarized culture, that is indeed an important gift,” he said.

Goshen College had not played the Star-Spangled Banner prior to sporting events, since beginning to participate in intercollegiate athletics in 1957, although it was never officially banned from campus. The U.S. tradition of performing the national anthem before baseball games began during World War II.

In January 2010, the Goshen College President’s Council, led by President Brenneman, decided to allow the college’s Athletic Department to play an instrumental version of the national anthem prior to some sporting events beginning that spring.

In mid-February 2010, the college’s Board of Directors affirmed the decision of the President’s Council and asked the college’s leadership to create opportunities for thoughtful and prayerful discernment in ongoing structured dialogue, especially with those beyond the college community (alumni and others). The Board also decided at that time that the decision would be reviewed in June 2011.

Goshen College is a ministry of Mennonite Church USA, an historic peace church. The denomination does not have an official position on the playing of the national anthem, and there are varying practices regarding the anthem among the other four Mennonite colleges and universities.

—Written by Richard R. Aguirre

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Director of Public Relations Richard R. Aguirre at (574) 535-7571 or rraguirre@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

• VIDEOS from this convocation are available in the multimedia section of the national anthem overview page
• FULL-TEXT of President Brenneman’s introduction
• FULL-TEXT of Dr. Kathy Meyer Reimer’s presentation
• FULL-TEXT of Dr. Joe Liechty’s presentation

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

GOSHEN, Ind. — Two Goshen College faculty members united in their commitment to pacifism, the teachings of the Mennonite church and extending Christian hospitality to others presented conflicting opinions on playing the national anthem before sports events at the college.In a March 24 campus convocation, students, faculty, staff and alumni were treated to fast-paced presentations by Kathy Meyer Reimer, professor of education and chair of the department, and Joe Liechty, professor of peace, justice and conflict studies and chair of the department. Meyer Reimer and Liechty argued their positions with theological sophistication, intensity and civility.

The 33-minute convocation, titled “Perspectives on the Anthem,” took place the morning after the national anthem was played before college sports events for the first time ever. The anthem was played March 23 before a baseball team doubleheader against Siena Heights University and softball team doubleheader against St. Joseph’s College.

In an introduction to the convocation, President Jim Brenneman said it is important to discuss complex issues with academic vigor and a spirit of love. And the college, he said, is committed to continued conversation on the anthem issue. “In a world where we have been so acculturated to disagree with each other in increasingly disagreeable ways, we have a moral imperative to model civil dialogue as the first principle of a Christ-centered peacemaking option,” he said.

Meyer Reimer began her presentation by stating that Goshen’s decision to play the anthem had removed “one of the symbols and sacred rituals borne out of Anabaptist convictions about nationalism. The anthem controversy also speaks to how we make decisions both large and small when there are conflicts between what we feel is asked of us by our faith and by the good country in which we live.”

She said those who approved playing the anthem in order to extend hospitality to non-Mennonite student-athletes and coaches may have made the college less hospitable. “If we want people who are not familiar with Anabaptism to understand some of the assumptions basic to practices that happen at Goshen College, we need to be clear and willing to talk about the core Anabaptist beliefs that become rituals,” she said.

Meyer Reimer said Mennonite and Anabaptist beliefs about militarism, nationalism and patriotism often are misunderstood as a lack of appreciation for the country. “Anabaptist Mennonites have not expressed gratitude for those things they appreciate about living in the United States as often as they could or potentially should,” she said, “but it is not that they haven’t, on the whole, worked for the good of their communities or been of great service in times of national disasters.”

She also said that Anabaptist Mennonites don’t pledge allegiance to any country or anything but God because of their faith understandings.

“There is an understanding that God loves all of God’s people — that God does not bless one nation more than another in a material or spiritual sense because God does not think one country is better than another,” Meyer-Reimer said. “If our country violates the rights of other people in other places — through war, oppression or other action — Anabaptist Mennonites believe God calls us to speak on behalf of their welfare as much as we would if they were our neighbors next door. Of Jesus’ two most important commandments — to love God and to love your neighbor — the critical thing is how Jesus interpreted these. Jesus defined neighbor in inclusive and non-nationalistic ways.”

Meyer Reimer said that she believes the anthem is too closely linked to national loyalty and to militarism to be played without sending a mixed message at the college, which promotes compassionate peacemaking and global citizenship. The college also should more strongly promote pacifism, she said.

“Our not playing the anthem should have been more clearly linked to living out biblical passages of ‘you shall not kill,’ ‘blessed are the peacemakers’ and ‘love your enemies and do good to those who hurt you’ — prophetic, costly, biblical principles upon which the teachings in Anabaptism were founded,” she said. “As Goshen College engages our country and our culture, we decide on many issues whether to assimilate or to live in alternative ways — when to be people of assent and when to be people of dissent.”

Liechty began his presentation by stating that he grew up uneasy about patriotism. “I was in second grade when I decided that I shouldn’t say the pledge of allegiance, and I didn’t. As a high school student during the Vietnam War, I experimented with not standing for the national anthem, but then I decided that standing was the cost of playing basketball and football at Goshen High School, and so I stood, praying that God would understand that I was at least grumpy in my heart,” he said. “Today, I don’t sing the national anthem or put my hand over my heart, which is a gesture that gets way too close to devotion for my comfort, although I do always stand for the anthem out of respect for those for whom the anthem is important.”

Despite misgivings, Liechty said he supported playing the anthem before campus sports events to promote the welfare of the college community. In reaching that conclusion, Liechty said he balanced one faith commitment to refuse militarism and the excesses of nationalism and another faith commitment that a Christian college must promote hospitality and inclusion. “One commitment cannot simply trump the other; both need to be taken seriously.”

Liechty drew a distinction between the hospitality at a Mennonite church and a Mennonite college. “To the 45 percent of our students who come from other religious traditions, or no religious traditions, we say, ‘If you can embrace our core values — that we seek to nurture graduates who are Christ-centered, passionate learners, servant leaders, compassionate peacemakers, and global citizens — even in fact if you can just tolerate and respect the core values, you are part of this learning community. You are not simply suffered… You are not a guest; you are family.’”

Because of that, Liechty said Goshen College should accommodate reasonable requests, such as playing the anthem. “When I think about what the anthem means, I conclude that it does not have a fixed, inherent meaning.” He said that since the college has decided that the anthem will be followed by the reading of the Prayer of St. Francis, “it would be hard for anyone to go away with the idea that Goshen College supports militarism and nationalism.”

Liechty also said that he believes the college can play the anthem without undermining its commitment to peace.

“By just about any comparative measure, it’s hard to imagine a place where peace has a more prominent role, where it is more honored, more reflected upon, more acted on. We can afford to honor the desire of community members who want to play the anthem,” he said. “For those of us who have wanted not playing the anthem to be a witness in relation to militarism and nationalism, we will need to find other ways, and we can.”

In his concluding remarks, President Brenneman thanked Meyer Reimer and Liechty for demonstrating “passionate learning and compassionate peacemaking at its best” and called for continued conversation. “Let us now leave more able to put into practice peaceful dialogue with those with whom we differ.”

In January, the Goshen College President’s Council, led by President Brenneman, decided to allow the college’s Athletic Department to play an instrumental version of the national anthem prior to some sporting events beginning this spring.

In mid-February, the college’s Board of Directors affirmed the decision of the President’s Council and asked college’s leadership to create opportunities for thoughtful and prayerful discernment in ongoing structured dialogue. They also decided that the decision will be reviewed by the Board in June 2011.

Though the college has had a practice of not playing the Star-Spangled Banner prior to sporting events, since beginning to participate in intercollegiate athletics in 1957, it was never officially banned. The U.S. tradition of performing the national anthem before baseball games began in World War II.

Goshen College is owned by Mennonite Church USA, an historic peace church. The denomination does not have an official position on the playing of the national anthem, and there are varying practices among the other four Mennonite colleges and universities.

—Written by Richard R. Aguirre

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

After the anthem was played at the baseball game today, President Jim Brenneman read the following statement to news reporters who attended the event:

“Goshen College is a special place. It’s more than a college. It’s an academic think tank, an international change agent, a Christ-centered, spirit-filled community, and it’s home to a whole new kind of peace movement.

“Students, faculty/staff, alumni and others have come to today’s games with different opinions, different faith understandings and different convictions. And I thank God for that, because I believe at the heart of making peace in this country — and in the world — is our ability to listen to each other and respect each other’s views.

“At Goshen College, our entire learning process is framed by a commitment to address complex problems, no matter the discipline, and to do so with academic rigor and civility. Playing the national anthem or not before our games is one such complex issue for us.

“The crux of the matter has to do with our relationship with God and with our country. We are asking ourselves such questions as: how should faithful Christians order their allegiances? How do we celebrate the freedoms and opportunities of this country and still challenge injustices that also exist in our midst? And how does a church college retain its historic peace heritage while welcoming an increasingly diverse student body from other traditions?

“On our campus, we have students from many backgrounds. Among them, we have students committed to pacifism whose parents or grandparents were conscientious objectors and who grew up with a deep suspicion of patriotic observances. We have students raised as pacifists who have no objection to flying the flag or playing the anthem, particularly as part of a pre-game sports ritual. We have students whose relatives served in the military and who are proud to fly the U.S. flag in honor of their service. We have students who are children of new immigrants who love this country for the freedom it has given their families. And we have international students for whom the Star-Spangled Banner has no personal meaning.

“All of these students are a vital part of this community, and I had them in mind when I led in the decision to play the national anthem before games. I am committed to retaining the best of what it means to be a Mennonite college, while opening the doors wider to all who share our core values. And I invite others to join us at Goshen College as we make peace in all of its forms, even with the national anthem.”

On Wednesday, March 24 at 10 a.m., the college will hold a campus convocation in the Church-Chapel about “Perspectives on the Anthem.” President Jim Brenneman will introduce differing perspectives on the playing of the national anthem at Goshen College. This event is free and open to the public.

In January, the Goshen College President’s Council, led by President Jim Brenneman, decided to allow the college’s Athletic Department to play an instrumental version of the national anthem prior to some sporting events beginning this spring.

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

There was a statement included in the game programs today and a pre-game announcement also were made before the games to share the college’s core values – Christ-centeredness, compassionate peacemaking, global citizenship, servant leadership and passionate learning – and commitments to diversity and hospitality. After the playing of the anthem, the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi was read.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

In January, the Goshen College President’s Council, led by President Jim Brenneman, decided to allow the college’s Athletic Department to play an instrumental version of the national anthem prior to some sporting events beginning this spring. That change in practice will first be implemented at the Tuesday, March 23 home baseball and softball games.

The Goshen College baseball team is playing a doubleheader against Siena Heights University at 1 p.m. The softball team is playing a doubleheader against St. Joseph’s College at 3 p.m. All games are free and open to the public.

There will be a statement included in the game programs and a pre-game announcement will also be made to share the college’s core values – Christ-centeredness, compassionate peacemaking, global citizenship, servant leadership and passionate learning – and commitments to diversity and hospitality. After the playing of the anthem, the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi will be read.

The instrumental arrangement that will be played was written by Peter Breiner in 1994 and was used as part of the 2004 Athens Olympics medal ceremonies. This arrangement was jointly chosen by the college’s Athletic and Music Departments.

On Wednesday, March 24 at 10 a.m., the college will hold a campus convocation in the Church-Chapel about “Perspectives on the Anthem.” President Jim Brenneman will introduce differing perspectives on the playing of the national anthem at Goshen College. This event is free and open to the public.

President Brenneman recently said at a gathering of alumni: “It would have been far easier to maintain the status quo and to avoid the discussion and decision regarding the playing of the national anthem on campus than not. However, at Goshen College our whole learning process is framed by commitment to address complex problems, no matter the discipline. I believe Goshen College is different than other colleges in exploring complex issues such as racism, climate change, sexuality, faith as it relates to patriotism. Indeed, at the heart and soul of a great liberal arts education is a commitment to dialogue with others of differing viewpoints.”

He added, “In my opinion, the biggest cultural issue exposed by our discussion, isn’t about a God/country confusion alive and well in this country that rightly needs to be challenged. Bigger still is a culture of uncivil discourse – the growing lack of tolerance for different views other than our own that undermines the common good. This all pervasive tendency to think our point of view is the more important (especially when our identity is at stake) is as old as time and serves as the fountainhead, the source, of violence.”

In mid-February, the college’s Board of Directors affirmed the decision of the President’s Council and asked college’s leadership to create opportunities for thoughtful and prayerful discernment in ongoing structured dialogue. They also decided that the decision will be reviewed by the Board in June 2011.

Though the college has had a practice of not playing the anthem prior to sporting events, since beginning to participate in intercollegiate athletics in 1957, it was never officially banned. The U.S. tradition of performing the national anthem before baseball games began in World War II.

Goshen College is owned by Mennonite Church USA, an historic peace church. The denomination does not have an official position on the playing of the national anthem, and there are varying practices among the other four Mennonite colleges and universities.

The baseball and softball field complex is south of the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center on the south end of campus. For directions and a campus map, visit: www.goshen.edu/aboutgc/map.

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

During the two days of meetings, March 5 and 6, we heard from faculty and administration concerning various college issues and programs including student life and enrollment. However, much of the time was spent processing the recent decision to play the national anthem before select sports events on campus.

The Alumni Executive Board presented the administration with strong concerns and responses from the alumni at large. Many have expressed their dismay, regret and strong opposition towards the decision to play the anthem while others have been supportive. Members of the Alumni Board also brought a wide range of personal views on this issue.

President Jim Brenneman listened to the concerns and addressed the Board with his vision and rationale for the decision. He stated his desire for Goshen College to keep its role as an institution of ‘prophetic utterance’ and ‘engagement’ in balance. While it is difficult to convey the full impact of his talk, we would encourage alumni to listen online to his sermon at the chapel service on January 15.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jim Caskey expressed regret for not informing or including the Alumni Executive Board prior to the final decision.

Associate Professor Doug Schirch spoke on behalf of a group of faculty and staff who disagree with the decision to play the anthem. Their open letter to the editor was published in the March 4, 2010 issue of the Goshen College Record.

The Alumni Executive Board now has a better understanding of how and why the decision was made and is confident that the core values of Goshen College remain strong. We also believe the historic Anabaptist peace witness continues to provide a strong foundation for Goshen College.

Although we are not in unanimous agreement on playing the anthem, we are confident in the future of Goshen College and the leadership of President Brenneman. We look forward to continuing dialogue and encourage alumni to engage in a constructive and respectful manner with Goshen College and the Alumni Executive Board on this issue.

Tim Manickam ’82
President, for the Goshen College Alumni Executive Board

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Public Relations Director Richard R. Aguirre at (574) 535-7571 or rraguirre@goshen.edu

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

“Our commitment to peacemaking has never been stronger at Goshen College, and I believe the way we are implementing this change in practice reflects that,” said President Brenneman. “I am willing to change this one practice as an act of hospitality because I know how committed we are to keeping Jesus’ call to peacemaking and nonviolence as central to this college and the wider church, which I love.”

The implementation plans announced today include:

• An instrumental version of the anthem will be played prior to games where it is culturally routine, as determined by the Athletic Department. This will include at least basketball, baseball and softball games.
• A U.S. flag will be placed on the court or by the field for the duration of each competition that the anthem will be played.
• The following statement will be included in programs for games at which the anthem will be played:
  

  “Goshen College – affiliated with Mennonite Church USA – is a Christian, liberal arts college that strives to represent its five core values in all we do. These values – Christ-Centeredness, Passionate Learning, Global Citizenship, Servant Leadership and Compassionate Peacemaking – are consistent with our historic peace church heritage. We continue to strive to keep Christ’s teachings, and in particular his teaching on peace, foremost in our lives. We are thankful for religious freedom, respect different viewpoints, and welcome all opportunities to share in open dialogue.

  As an institution that values diversity and seeks to provide a hospitable place for all to come, learn, and experience, we welcome you to today’s game. Prior to the game, we will invite you to stand for the playing of the national anthem followed by a reading of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. We offer this time as space for people to respond respectfully as they wish, recognizing that these rituals represent different things to different people. Thank you for joining us and we trust today’s game will be enjoyable.”

• A pre-game announcement will share the college’s core values and commitment to diversity and hospitality.
• After the playing of the anthem, the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi will be read.

In mid-February, the college’s Board of Directors affirmed the decision of the President’s Council and asked college’s leadership to create opportunities for thoughtful and prayerful discernment in ongoing structured dialogue. They also decided that the decision will be reviewed by the Board in June 2011.

Though the college has – since beginning to participate in intercollegiate athletics in 1957 – had a practice of not playing the anthem prior to sporting events, it was never officially banned. The U.S. tradition of performing the national anthem before baseball games began in World War II.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

I am writing today on behalf of the Goshen College Board of Directors and the President’s Council to give you an update on the national anthem decision and related action taken last weekend by the board. Last month, with the full support of the President’s Council, I led the decision to allow an instrumental version of the national anthem to be played on campus prior to some sporting events beginning this spring. Throughout our 14-month conversation leading up to the decision, we heard from many of you on campus on this issue – some in favor, some opposed.

Over the past several weeks we also have heard from many alumni, friends and members of the larger Christian community – some in favor and more who oppose this decision. In the midst of strong emotional responses and appeals to overturn the decision, we have been reminded of the deep love many people have for Goshen College, as well as the deeply held beliefs in the Mennonite peace witness. We strongly affirm both of these.

This past Friday and Saturday, members of the Goshen College Board of Directors engaged several agenda items during their quarterly meeting, including addressing the national anthem decision. Amidst prayerful deliberations, we discussed ways the process could have been improved, the Board’s feedback in December when it was requested, the rationale for the decision, and the reaction on and off campus. The Board then took the following action:

“As the Board of Directors of Goshen College, we affirm the decision of the President’s Council to play a music-only version of the national anthem at select sports venues. We recognize the deeply held and divergent opinions around this decision and ask the leadership of Goshen College to create opportunities for thoughtful and prayerful discernment in ongoing structured dialogue, especially with those beyond the immediate college community (alums and others). We encourage the open exchange of ideas characterized by respect for each other and the church that is central to the teaching and learning commitments of Goshen College. This decision will be reviewed by the Board in June 2011.”

I appreciate the Board’s meaningful engagement and look forward to working with them to design continuing dialogue. As one example, we will convene a symposium to discuss the anthem in the larger context of Mennonite identity, peacemaking and civic engagement. We will also work with the Board to determine the criteria for reviewing the anthem decision after a year of implementation.

Many wonderful and challenging things are going on at Goshen College right now, but I want you to know that we will continue to take this issue — and what you think about it — seriously. In the coming weeks and months, I invite your continued questions and feedback. I will let you know soon about future opportunities to participate in this important conversation.

I welcome your prayers for the President’s Council as we strive to lead Goshen College, and for the entire campus as we engage the complex problems of this world in which we live.

Peace,
President Jim Brenneman

Editors: For more information about this release or to arrange an interview, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

This decision will take effect in March, at the start of the spring sports season and was made after discussion and deliberation over the past year. Providing a more hospitable atmosphere for athletic events was a primary reason for the recommendation and ultimately for the decision.

“One of the greatest U.S. freedoms is that we can express our faith and love of country in different ways, and we recognize that Christians differ in how to do that,” said Goshen College President Jim Brenneman said. “We believe this is the right decision for the college at this time. Playing the anthem offers a welcoming gesture to many visiting our athletic events, rather than an immediate barrier to further opportunities for getting to know one another.”

In addition, the national anthem is one way that is commonly understood to express an allegiance to the nation of one’s citizenship. The college has shown that in the past in other ways: flying a flag on campus, praying for all men and women serving our country, welcoming military veterans as students and employees, annually celebrating the U.S. Constitution and encouraging voting.

The college had been discussing the historic practice of not playing the national anthem for many years, but the conversation was delayed because of regional and national media attention in the fall of 2008.

The college’s President’s Council formed a National Anthem Task Force made up of faculty and students in the spring of 2009 to develop a proposal for a college policy. The task force made the recommendation in September 2009 and the process then included several campus sessions to gather the varied opinions from students, faculty and staff. The President’s Council made the decision in January to accept the task force’s recommendation.

One concern that many Mennonites have had with the playing of the national anthem has been that it places love for country above love for God. But, Brenneman said, “we believe playing the anthem in no way displaces any higher allegiances, including to the expansive understanding of Jesus – the ultimate peacemaker – loving all people of the world.”

Finally, the decision was made with the belief that “playing the anthem opens up new possibilities for members of the Goshen College community to publicly offer prophetic critique – if need be – as citizens in the loyal opposition on issues of deepest moral conviction, such as war, racism and human rights abuses,” according to the statement by the President’s Council announcing their decision.

Brenneman gave some historical context for the change of practice. “Playing the national anthem has not been among Goshen College’s practices primarily because of our Christ-centered core value of compassionate peacemaking seeming to be in conflict with the anthem’s militaristic language,” he said. “We are a college owned by Mennonite Church USA and we have a diverse student body that comes from 40 different Christian denominations, several world religions, 35 states and 25 countries and all races and ethnicities. We believe being faithful followers of Jesus calls us to regularly consider how to be a hospitable and diverse community.”

Mennonite Church USA does not have an official position on the playing of the national anthem, and there are varying practices among the other Mennonite colleges and universities.

The college’s core values are as central to the campus’ identity as ever. “As we have made this decision, we continue to – more publicly, boldly and explicitly – declare our commitment to Christ, to compassionate peacemaking, to servant leadership, to global citizenship and to passionate learning,” Brenneman said. “These core values are being integrated in new ways into our curriculum, student learning outcomes, hiring decisions, employment practices and board orientation. They are being embedded in the deep structures of Goshen College.”

Campus debate and engagement around important issues will continue to be a significant part of the Goshen College experience. “We are always in dialogue at Goshen College about important issues – as our recent Martin Luther King Jr. Study Day reflects – and strive to do so respectfully,” said Brenneman. “This is part of being an institution of higher education, but even more so because we are a college committed to making peace in all of its forms – with ourselves, with our community, with the world and with God.

He added, “Though we have made a decision on this matter, we continue to welcome dialogue as a campus, as a community and as a church about how to be more faithful as citizens of this world and God’s Kingdom.”

Visit the national anthem overview page, with more news and views about the college’s decision.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Public Relations Director Richard Aguirre at (574) 535-7571 (office), (574) 524-5946 (cell) or rraguirre@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.