Jesus is Lord! Post-Easter Pilgrimage and Celebration
A festive celebration of our allegiance to the risen Christ and witness to Goshen College.
GOSHEN, April 5, 2010—On Monday April 5, the day after celebrating the resurrection, we gathered for a post-Easter celebration and pilgrimage to Goshen College. As part of this celebration, we sang hymns that shape Christians to be people of the Resurrection and brought with us the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) flag and the Earth flag—two symbols of Jesus’ peace that promote a wider hospitality than the symbols Goshen College has decided to endorse.
In addition to the primary task of publicly celebrating our risen Lord, the aim and end of this pilgrimage was to deliver a physical copy of the Letter of Resistance to the National Anthem at Goshen College. This letter contains more than 1260 names and hundreds of comments from Christians across the North American Mennonite Church and beyond. There are theologians, lay persons, pastors, priests and students who have signed. Together, these signatures and comments express disappointment, concern and sadness at the school’s decision to break with its 114 year old practice and longstanding witness of nonconformity to this nationalistic ritual.
This week, we will also mail a physical copy of the letter and the names to each member of Goshen College’s Board of Directors. Moreover, people who could not be present with us have been invited to participate in a “virtual pilgrimage” by emailing Jim Brenneman and members of the Board to respectfully express their thoughts on the college’s decision. That “pilgrimage” will continue for some time.
The people that walked to and gathered at Goshen College represented a small segment of all of those voices who are imploring, praying and hoping that the college will reverse this decision. We hope this worshipful action can speak into the process when the college reviews their decision in 2011. Even though we have delivered a physical copy to the board and the college, we plan to continue allowing people to sign the petition, and will send hard copies periodically to the college and the board of directors over the next year. So please consider signing it.
About the Agnus Dei Flag
Agnus Dei art reaches back into the early church and was used throughout the Middle Ages. The blood pouring from the heart of the lamb represents Jesus’ suffering and death, poured out for the whole world. The lamb standing with the banner is a symbol of Christ’s triumph over death in the resurrection. The image, which represents Jesus’ victory over the cross, is a nonviolent one.
About the Earth Flag
Seeking a symbol through which all people of the world could find hope, John McConnell created the Earth Flag in 1969. There are no land masses to represent territory, boundaries and borders. Adorned only with a full-color photograph of Earth, taken from outer space, the Earth Flag is still the only flag for all people.
All photos taken by David Horstkoetter, friend and fellow Anabaptist at Marquette University. For video see Video of Jesus Is Lord Pilgrimage to Goshen College
