Eastern Mennonite University - Shenandoah Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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Christian faith supplies the basic cohesion and vitality of Community. But this level of community is not ' something which can be taken for granted or which can be thought of as being achieved and maintained as the status quo. Rather, community is always happening, it is the gift of God in His work among us, and it is the dy- namic of fellowship which must come Did we spend more energy in 1971-72 being conscious of what divided rather than being conscious of shared moments that made groups into group? — faculty afresh between peoples who gather in every new situation. If community is taken for granted at EMC, it dies. But if community is looked at as a vital part of our calling in God's grace to share with one another in the Spirit of Christ, it will be a continuing dynamic of renewal, inspiration and fellowship. —faculty 17

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Community is where God is working in giving meaning, health, joy and love through Jesus. | think the question of whether EMC is achieving community is irrelevant. Community is not acheived. It is the spontaneous outgrowth of the Spirit of God moving in individuals. The institutions are a mere physical setting for the reality. The organizations are peripheral to the workings of Jesus. | find myself disliking the sort of uptight measuring we do to discover the degree of com- munity at EMC. Frankly, | don’t give a rip if there are ten more prayer groups this year than last. | am just unbearably excited about the fact that I’m a part of God's family. EMC can become so much a family that it becomes stifling. | sometimes want to run away from all the patriar- chal figures and start singing and shouting and crying on the stage of the world. But, | can stand it when | think of the last time | prayed with a good friend. At times like those, | am convinced that EMC was God-initiated and | can forgive its institutional status. —student Experience seems to divide more than unify the campus residents. Each person goes his own way and avoids encountering different viewpoints by keeping to his own circle of friends. — student Hilda Shirk, Robin Miller iii) Yaad Jeanette Noll, Herman Bontrager

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Gaye Berkshire Community is working together at resolving differences, recognizing that some differences cannot be completely resolved but that they can be neutral- ized so that they no longer corrode relationships . Marcella Tams Community is being personally involved with other people, yet never violating their most private selves — ready to share when that is wanted, simply to stand by in supportive silence when to question would be to intrude . Community is being realistic enough to accept the fact that nothing is ever totally ideal or acceptable to everyone in the group, yet optimistic enough to keep on trying to resolve as many difficulties or differences as possible .