News

The air was buzzing at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo on September 3, as new students moved into the residence, accompanied by their parents and welcomed by enthusiastic upper-year students. The energy that comes with starting something new continued all week and was evident across the entire University of Waterloo campus, with groups of new students – many on campus for the first time – navigating new friendships, locating classrooms, and adjusting to life on their own.

In recognition of Mennonite Heritage Week in Canada, Mennonites in Ontario are highlighting the bicentennial of Amish immigration to Canada.

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and Conrad Grebel University College are pleased to announce the renewal of Jane Kuepfer as Schlegel Specialist in Spirituality and Aging.

Professor Emeritus Calvin Redekop passed away on July 19, 2022, at the age of 96 years. Redekop was a sociologist, writer, teacher, and activist, and he worked for environmental change for his entire life. 

Last month, the Theatre of the Arts at the University of Waterloo was brimming with thrumming beats, haunting voices, layered melodies, and a unique blend of electronic cello and traditional Indigenous music. As part of the Indigenous-Mennonite Encounters conference organized by Conrad Grebel University College, Indigenous and Mennonite musicians offered a concert that addressed relationships, beauty, nature, hope, and betrayal.

I’ll admit it – I was nervous when I accepted the offer to live at Conrad Grebel. I had visited a couple of times and knew the rooms were lovely, the food was fantastic, and the people were friendly. But as a bisexual person who grew up in a faith community, I had some doubts about how my queerness would be viewed in the Grebel residence. I moved into Grebel at an important time in my life – one where I was learning to accept who I am and to live with pride.

The Indigenous Mennonite Encounters in Time and Place: A Gathering of Body, Mind, and Spirit conference was held at Conrad Grebel University College on May 12-15, 2022. It was a valuable opportunity to hear stories of encounters and relationships between Indigenous peoples and Mennonite settlers on Turtle Island (aka Canada). 

Queerness and theology do not always play well together. Ever since the word “homosexual” entered the English-language Bible (1946, RSV,) many of our own local, western Christian groups have been working hard to exclude LGBTQ+ folks from the family of God. This intentional exclusion and constant discrimination has resulted in high rates of suicide and suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, substance use, chronic stress, and general mistrust of religious institutions. No Christian space is exempt from this legacy, and we must all learn to do better.

“Writing illuminates our interior world and sometimes, illuminates the world for others,” wrote Sandy Conrad, Master of Theological Studies (MTS) student at Conrad Grebel University College. “Personal and honest stories have the greatest impact on the reader.” During the winter 2022 term, Sandy offered an eight-week creative writing workshop, where current MTS students and other alumni gathered to explore unique styles of writing and build confidence in their writing.

“First year at Grebel was like being in a musical. There never seemed to be dark days and we were always singing,” reminisced Kathleen Cleland Moyer, (BA 1981). “I loved every single day, just the feeling of waking up and wondering what fun I was going to have!”