Religion as a Frame for Connection: Why I Am Going to BMC’s 50th Anniversary
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Joel Nofziger served with BMC from 2002–2003 as administrative assistant and head of Kaleidoscope, BMC’s young adult programming arm, and has remained connected with BMC in the years since. Joel is our accessibility coordinator for Rooting Our Stories, BMC’s 50th Anniversary Gathering.
I’m [an atheist] Mennonite by upbringing—and I think religion can function for some of us in helpful ways. Our social nature is reflected in our neurology. We are social creatures wired for connection. For some, "religion" isn't about metaphysics; it’s a frame for how we can be connected with others.
There can be resonance in finding a community that thinks as you do, where you can give and take support. It’s the "lotus" that grows in the "mud" of church history. For me, there can be meaningful reasons to cleave to the culture even after the creeds become irrelevant:
• The Music: The beauty of four-part acapella (e.g., “the old 606,” Lift every voice and sing, Blest be the tie that binds, etc.).
• The Rituals: The potlucks, the quilts, foot washing (serving others), and the intentionality.
• The Mutual Aid: Humanitarian work that actually helps people, along with peace traditions and the concrete ways Mennonites and Brethren show up for people in crisis.
I blame no one for wanting nothing to do with religion after being institutionally harmed. Engagement with religion can and should happen on our own terms. And yet, inclusive communities can be a safe space for those of us who are "religious but not spiritual" who value human connection and the tradition of service without a magician God.
That’s exactly why I am going to the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests’ 50th anniversary in Minneapolis this May. The theme is "Rooting Our Stories: Reveling in 50 Years of Queer & Trans Anabaptist Resilience." We’re centering queer and trans dignity and reclaiming our stories from a place of power rather than pain.
Consider joining us. It’s a gathering of folks across the spectrum: atheists like me, people who have walked away entirely or who have been forced out, and those still active in congregations. Through connection on our own terms — connection we are neurologically wired for — we decide what to carry, how we remember where we come from, and who we are becoming.
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