Here’s a blog entry I wrote December 2010—“Word and Deed: The Strange Case of John Howard Yoder” and a February 8, 2011 addendum. Here’s a link to the articles mentioned in my essay that are from 1992 in The Elkhart Truth by reporter Tom Price on allegations of Yoder’ sexual misconduct.
On May 29, 2011, I posted an essay responding to an anti-pacifist critique of Yoder: “Defending Yoder: Part One—Responding to Peter Leithart’s Critique.” Here is the next part: “Defending Yoder: Part Two—Earl Zimmerman’s Account,” posted June 5.
In another blog post, July 31, 2011, I addressed the theme: “Mennonite Theology and War: Kaufman and Yoder”.
I devoted two blog posts (April 2, 2012 and April 3, 2012) to reflecting on a recent book, The Heterodox Yoder, by Paul Martens.
I am starting to gather some of my writings dealing with John Howard Yoder—I hope to add to these over time.
2. A Yoderian Reading of Romans
3. John Howard Yoder’s Pacifist Epistemology
4. A Faithful Teacher in the Church: A Personal Tribute to John Howard Yoder
5. Ted Grimsrud/Craig Carter Dialogue on Carter’s Book, The Politics of the Cross
6. John Howard Yoder’s Christology [a short summary essay from 1982]
7. John Howard Yoder and Contemporary Anabaptist Theology [June 2011]
I became aware of John Howard Yoder because of the appendix on church discipline he wrote for John White’s book, Healing the Wounded.
I attempted to use discipline process with teenager who had gone to Planned Parenthood for birth control pills. I found out about this because I was her doctor.
I was excommunicated by Evangelical Lutheran Church of America predecessor church for my efforts. I attempted to seek the help and support of Yoder when he came to Des Moines to lecture some of the same clergy who were involved with my excommunication.
He gave me “cold shoulder” similar to your description in speculation about Asperger’s Syndrome.
It seems like discipline process was flawed in Yoder’s case also.
When I attempted to contact his church and raise my concerns with them about Yoder’s lack of help in my efforts, they seemed to show very little interest. They seemed more concerned about his predator victims, than his potential hypocrisy with respect to church discipline. It seemed like he “preached, but did not practice” with respect to promoting church discipline.
Your comments on Asperger’s and Yoder were helpful, in the sense that, they explained somewhat his rejection of my efforts.
I also spoke with John White, who was doctor and Christian. He suggested discipline would be futile because Lutherans were not “Bible believing”.
Here’s some recent posts which are related.
James Bradford Pate seemed to reject my post because I was suggesting Yoder was not supportive of my attempts at discipline. He felt this was saying bad things about powerful people. I thought it ironic that it seemed like Pate was afraid of being sued by perhaps the top “peace” theologian of the 20th century.
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