Vision

Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology is published twice a year to encourage theological reflection on the identity, mission, and practices of the church from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.

The journal is published by the Institute of Mennonite Studies at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and by the Canadian Mennonite University Centre for Faith and Life (Winnipeg, MB). The AMBS editor is Andy Brubacher Kaethler, and the CMU editor is Karl Koop. IMS's David Cramer serves as managing editor, and CMU's Abram Bergen serves as advertising manager.

Vision is digital!

In addition to print copies for subscribers, current and back issues of Vision are all available free online. To read the current issue and any back issue, visit the official website.

Fall 2021: Reading the Bible as if our lives depend on it

Guest edited by Michelle Christian Curtis and Scott Litwiller; dedicated to Mary Schertz

From the editorial:

"Learning to read the Bible as if our lives depend on it is a journey from standing outside the biblical text to finding ourselves inside it. Instead of trying to master the Bible intellectually, we join biblical characters in a desperate search for God, who cannot be tamed by finite human minds. The phrase “reading the Bible as if our lives depend on it” came to us through our beloved Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary professor Mary Schertz, who adapted it from Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis. We proposed an issue of Vision dedicated to this idea in honor of Mary’s lifelong work teaching students to read Scripture in exactly this way. Our aspiration for this issue is to share with the church the practices of reading Scripture that helped us to encounter God in new ways, practices we learned from Mary."

Online notification: To be notified when a new issue is available free online, register at www.mennovision.org.

Print subscriptions: A one-year subscription is $15; subscribe for three years for $40. Send your check—made out to AMBS—to IMS, 3003 Benham Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46517-1999, or pay by credit card by calling the AMBS receptionist at 574-295-3726. For more information, contact [email protected]. Canadian subscribers, contact [email protected].

To request permission to copy or reprint articles, contact Vision permissions. To request information about advertising rates or to reserve ad space, contact Vision advertising. To request a print copy of back issues, contact the Vision managing editor. Complete text of all back issues is available at www.mennovision.org.

Forthcoming issues

  • Music and the arts (Spring 2022)
    Edited by Jonathan Dueck

  • Spirituality and Aging (Fall 2022)
    Edited by Andy Brubacher Kaethler and Jane Kuepfer

Back issues

Health, Healing, and Hope 22:1 (Spring 2021)
Laughter 21:2 (Fall 2020)
Encountering God 21:1 (Spring 2020)
Originating sins 20:2 (Fall 2019)
"Be not afraid" 20:1 (Spring 2019)
Gifts of a global church 19:2 (Fall 2018)
The church and young adults 19:1 (Spring 2018)
Proclaiming Christ in a pluralistic context 18:2 (Fall 2017)
Faith and politics 18:1 (Spring 2017)
Body 17:2 (Fall 2016)
Discernment 17:1 (Spring 2016)
Technology 16:2 (Fall 2015)
Sabbath 16:1 (Spring 2015)
Joy 15:2 (Fall 2014)
Economics 15:1 (Spring 2014) 
Peace 14:2 (Fall 2013) 
Upside-down church 14:1 (Spring 2013)
Rethinking discipleship 13:2 (Fall 2012)
The Holy Spirit and the Christian life 13:1 (Spring 2012) 
Baptism into Christian vocation 12:2 (Fall 2011)
Idolatry 12:1 (Spring 2011)
Teaching the Bible in the congregation 11:2 (Fall 2010)
Unity and diversity 11: 1 (Spring 2010)
Testimony 10:2 (Fall 2009)
Preaching 10:1 (Spring 2009)
Sexuality 9:2 (Fall 2008)
Creation care 9:1 (Spring 2008)
Suffering 8:2 (Fall 2007)
Reconciling 8:1 (Spring 2007)
Prayer 7:2 (Fall 2006)
Salvation 7:1 (Spring 2006)
Worship 6:2 (Fall 2005)
Scripture 6:1 (Spring 2005)
Power and leadership 5:2 (Fall 2004)
End of life 5:1 (Spring 2004)
Catechesis 4:2 (Fall 2003)
Beginning of Life 4:1 (Spring 2003)
Confession 3:2 (Fall 2002)
Hospitality 3:1 (Spring 2002)
Transformation 2:2 Fall 2001)
Communion 2:1 (Spring 2001)
Spirituality 1:1 (Fall 2000)

Vision editorial council

Rick Neufeld (Mennonite Church Manitoba)
Michael Danner (Mennonite Church USA)
Irma Fast Dueck (CMU faculty)
Allan Rudy-Froese (AMBS faculty)
Jennifer Davis-Sensenig (MC USA pastor)
Susanne Guenther Loewen (MC Canada pastor)
Staff: Karl Koop (CMU editor), Andy Brubacher Kaethler (AMBS editor), David Cramer (managing editor), Abram Bergen (advertising manager)


Tell me when a new issue of Vision is available.

“Vision articles inform the worship leading, spiritual direction, and conversations here in my congregation.”

“I look forward to receiving the new issues of Vision—relevant topics from well-informed authors. Excellent content!”

“Thanks so much for pulling together quality writing/reflections on topics deeply important for the church!”