wfn.org | 'Third Way Caf‚' web site launched

[Beth Hawn]

Microsoft Mail v3.0 (MAPI 1.0 Transport) IPM.Microsoft Mail.Note
To:  'Worldwide Faith News'
Date: 1998-08-12 14:18
Priority: 3
Message ID: F4CA999FBA31D211AAB0006008075ABF
Conversation ID: ČThird Way Caf‚É Mennonite web site launched

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August 12, 1998
Mennonite Board of Missions
Beth Hawn
219-294-7523
<NEWS@MBM.org>

'Third Way Caf‚' Mennonite web site launched

HARRISONBURG, Va. (MBM) - Everybody-it seems-has a web site. Experts say
Internet use has grown to include about 24 percent of U.S. households,   
with
many additional using the Internet at libraries and homes of friends and
relatives.

Mennonite Media has launched a new ministry web site, "Third Way Caf‚"
<www.thirdway.com>, engaging the general Internet-using public on the
intersection of Christian faith and current issues.

The web site includes:
* a photo gallery of some 30 Mennonites and quotes from around the world
* an "About the Mennonite Church" section with new full color photos,   
beliefs,
 brief history and David Augsburger's popular "Mennonite Dream"
* another gallery of photos by Howard Zehr of inmates serving life   
sentences
 to add the human dimension to a "Beyond the News" discussion/feedback
 section currently featuring the issue of Christians and capital   
punishment
 (a new topic launched periodically)
* a Frequently Asked Question section featuring answers to questions
 which have come to Mennonite Media staff from the MennoLink web site
 and the Mennonite Church General Board web site
* weekly updated commentary on political issues and faith from various
 Mennonite writers in Ottawa and Washington D.C.
* weekly family and personal issues "Another Way" column by Melodie
Davis with a place to send in stories/feedback

Launched in May of this year in an experimental phase and unveiled to the   
MBM
Board at its June 11-12 board meeting here, the web site is fully   
operational
this month. A number of key words such as "Anabaptist" "Mennonite"
"peace" and "community" have been registered with web crawlers and
search engines to help web users find the site. Staff will continue to   
add new
pages and sections including a major section on peace beliefs; sections   
on
Jesus; upcoming public media radio spots on anti-racism produced by
Mennonite Media and more.

Dubbed "Third Way Caf‚" because the name implies a place for relaxed and
stimulating conversation, for many Mennonites and Anabaptists the name
also refers to the way of Anabaptism as a "third" way that is neither
Protestant nor Catholic.

The objectives for this ministry-oriented web site include:
* engaging the Internet public on the intersection of faith and issues in   

 society
* responding to the interest in "Mennonite and "Amish" things in society
 by helping to shape public awareness and information on what it means to   

 be Mennonite, Anabaptist, and Christian
* amplifying prophetic voices in the church

In addition to engaging the public on topics and issues that will help   
them in
their personal and community life, the stance of the web site is to   
encourage
persons toward involvement in local congregations for more personal
relationships and accountability in following Jesus.

The team designing and managing the site include Jerry L. Holsopple, web
designer and staff video producer; Wayne Gehman, photographer and video
assistant; Sheri Hartzler, production assistant; Melodie Davis, writer
and response coordinator; and Erma Brunk, staff associate for response.

Holsopple took courses in multi-media and web design from George   
Washington
University, Washington D.C., on a commuter basis for the last two years   
and
took a study leave from MBM last fall to earn a Web Specialist   
Certificate.

"Our culture needs what we as Anabaptists have to offer," says Holsopple.   

"What does it mean when we take concerns like peace and discipleship and   
try to
talk to a culture that is into strength, violence and consumerism? The   
web
site will interactively address these issues."

Mennonites have prided themselves on being the quiet in the land,   
Holsopple
points out. "But the Anabaptists were not very quiet. They asked to   
dialogue
with their captors and the officials. We are called to speak the truth   
with
humility, and with openness to other people, but we're still called to   
speak
to the culture and to the society."

Early reactions to the web site have been very positive. "Now this is a
creative, informative and engaging web site!" wrote Tom Garlitz, director   

of peace and social justice ministry for the Catholic Diocese of Joliet,   
Ill.
"Congratulations and blessings on what I'm sure will prove to be a rich
ministry in this tech age."

Brad Lehman, who has his own web site called "Mennonite Connections on   
the
Web," in referring another computer user to Third Way Caf‚, calls it "an
official church site specializing in introducing people to what   
Mennonites
are about. They have a staff who are well trained to follow up on the   
questions
people send them."

David Orr, of Friendship Mennonite Church, Cleveland, Ohio said,
"Mennonite Media has put up a rich site."

The web site is just part of Mennonite Media's driving vision "to   
introduce
Anabaptist Christian perspectives into our society's marketplace of
ideas," said Mennonite Media director Kenneth J. Weaver. "We seek to
challenge society, including Mennonites and other Christians, on
contemporary issues and prompt people to consider the way of Jesus."

As a department of MBM, Mennonite Media also creates discussion videos   
for
small groups (which will frequently supply material for the web site);
public service radio and TV spots distributed nationwide; the Another Way   

newspaper column which is also syndicated to newspapers by Globe   
Syndicate;
and music CD's and cassettes.

* * *

Melodie M. Davis