Sanford Yoder saves the day . . . and the church

  
The air was tense. The debate was vigorous. The 1944 special session of the Mennonite Church General Conference (now General Assembly) had been called to meet in Goshen, Indiana.

The question at hand was how to discipline one of the conferences for not keeping its members in line. For nearly a decade, issues such as biblical interpretation, nonresistance and nonconformity had been festering. Could this special meeting resolve the issues and avoid splintering the church?

On the final evening, official reports were set aside, and discussion was opened up. At the right moment, Sanford C. Yoder stood to speak. He had been a cowboy in the West, a pastor in Iowa, and president of Goshen College. He was now retired from the presidency, and well seasoned by many difficult assignments.

In his soft-spoken voice, he addressed the real issue. "We're having these problems because we don't love each other any more. We no longer have fellowship with each other the way we used to. That's why we can't agree."

In the silence that followed, hearts softened. From the softened hearts, confessions were made. Prayers and communion sealed a new attitude and a new era of love and respect in the Mennonite Church.

A cowboy-turned-college-president sensed the Holy Spirit's leading, and spoke words of wisdom and discernment in a time of great need. The day was saved. So was the church.

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