wfn.org | Mennonite Media to produce TV documentary

[BethAH@mbm.org]

December 6, 2000
Beth Hawn
Communications Coordinator
Mennonite Board of Missions
phone (219) 294-7523
fax (219) 294-8669
<www.MBM.org>

December 6, 2000

Mennonite Media to produce TV documentary for ABC

HARRISONBURG, Va. (MBM) – Mennonite Board of Missions Mennonite
Media is leading the production of a documentary scheduled to air
next fall on ABC-TV, announced Burton Buller, director of
Mennonite Media.

The documentary will explore the issues of forgiveness and the
end of life.  Other church groups assisting include Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of the Brethren and United Church
of Christ.  The project is being developed through the auspices
of the Interfaith Broadcast Commission and the National Council
of Churches, which cooperate in supplying religious programming
to the three major networks.

“We jumped at the chance [to lead the project],” said Buller.
“We have been looking for ways to become part of the public
debate in North America as people consider spiritual questions.
By taking on end-of-life issues, we are allowed to provide
answers to essentially spiritual questions.  Everyone must face
death.  Implicit questions arise immediately regarding how one
wants to die.  How can I die well?  What does it mean to die a
good death?”

The documentary will include stories and interviews with people
who have experienced murder or terrorism in their family, and
also deal with the more ordinary circumstances that affect just
about everyone: dealing with death and forgiveness in family
systems, how siblings are affected, and how hospice greatly
enhances the end of life.  “We will look at how people have found
forgiveness and brought closure to important relationships,” said
Buller.

Jerry L. Holsopple is producer for the documentary and author
Walt Wangerin has been secured as storyteller.

“My hope is that this documentary becomes a springboard for a
heightened awareness of the need to live and die with a forgiving
spirit, both among our own people and more broadly in North
America,” said Buller.  “It is appropriate for a group of God’s
people who place a strong emphasis on peace and reconciliation to
seek to express this in the public media. ”

The participating groups will help supply funding, footage or
in-kind contributions for various aspects of the documentary.
Mennonite Media is working with other Mennonite agencies for
spin-off activities, study guide materials, and ancillary
Internet-based materials on the theme of forgiveness.

* * *

Melodie M. Davis