It’s easy to think that the gay issue is the only issue that has divided the Church, but it seems like Mennonites have something of a “culture of division,” accord to Neu Bruderthaler’s recent post, “A Divided Kingdom?”

Mennonite Weekly Review reports that three Mennonite churches–House of Healing Mennonite Church of Dallas, Texas, Eden Mennonite Church of Inola, Oklahoma, and Boynton Mennonite Church of Hopedale, Illinois–have left Mennonite Church-USA because they were unsuccessful in demanding that MC-USA discipline two Mennonite pastors who performed same-sex unions.

House of Healing and Eden bailed from Western District Conference after MC-USA chose not to discipline Pastor Joanna Harader for performing the ceremonies, and Boynton left after Pastor Megan Ramer did the same.

It is interesting to note that this year, Germantown Mennonite Church celebrates its tenth year of independence from MC-USA, after having been expelled from their conference in 2002 for ordaining a gay man. Since that time, the Germantown has continued to thrive.

It’s not like Sheldon Funk didn’t have enough on his plate. His last audition, for the reality television series House Bingo, had gone disastrously wrong. His mother was in the late stages of dementia. His savings were depleted, his agent couldn’t care less, and his boyfriend was little more than a nice set of abs. Now, Sheldon also has to contend with decomposition, the scent of the open grave, and an unending appetite for human flesh. Plus another audition in the morning.

Husk, a new novel by author Corey Redekop .

The highly-anticipated sequel to Rhoda Janzen’s best seller Mennonite in a Little Black Dress will be released October 2. In her second book, Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?: A Mennonite Finds Faith, Meets Mr. Right, and Solves Her Lady Problems, Janzen picks up where Mennonite left off, as she explores religion, relationships, and some dodgy health issues.

Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? is for people who have a problem with organized religion, but can’t quite dismiss the notion of God, and for those who secretly sing hymns in their cars, but prefer a nice mimosa brunch to church. This is the story of what it means to find joy in love, comfort in prayer, and—incredibly, surprisingly—faith in a big-hearted God.

This week on “Anderson Live,” host Anderson Cooper talked to Amish and Mennonite cast members of the new reality show “Breaking Amish” about leaving their communities.

“Breaking Amish” airs on Sunday nights at 10/9c on TLC.

Mennonite Michael Shank, a former policy advisor and communications director with Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.), writes on “Republicans and the Mennonite vote.”

And while the Mennonite church has made some progress on inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities, there is still a long way to go. No doubt the Democrats’ efforts to be more inclusive has marginalized my more conservative relatives. But again, I cannot help but think, as exemplified by his prophetic teachings, what would Jesus do? This must be what guides us, not polemical media channels.

As reported previously in Gay Menno, Les and Susan Molnar were sued for refusing to allow a gay couple to stay at their B&B. Last week, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal awarded the two men, Brian Thomas and Shaun Eadie, about $4,500 in damages and expenses.

“I respect the [tribunal’s] ruling and we have no ill will toward the complainants, either before or after this hearing,” Molnar said.

Joanna Harader on why it’s personal.

In our ongoing discussions about the church and sexual minorities, I think we all need to give up the illusion that any of it is not personal. We need to admit that what we say and the policies we create deeply affect the lives of actual human beings.

If you think it’s only the younger generation who support an inclusive Mennonite church, you might be wrong!

Pastor Joanne Harader explains.

Blogger Joel Mathis (Cup O’ Joel) blogs about leaving the Mennonite Church because of it’s position against gays.

He also mentions a recent post from Pastor Joanne Harader, “Here’s the Thing,” in which she explains why she chooses to remain in the Mennonite Church and marry same-sex couples in spite of the Church’s position against it.