Inescapable by Nancy Mehl Page A

looked up at me, her smile tight. “There are younger people in the church who . . . well, who are pushing for change. They say the old ways are too restrictive, and that the love of God should be emphasized more than His judgment. Pastor Mendenhall is very supportive of this opinion. He has said that the true tenets of the Mennonite church stress grace, as does God’s Holy Word. But your father and several of the elders do not agree.” She hesitated, her eyes searching my face. “Your father insisted we leave the church, Elizabeth Lynn.”
    I couldn’t hold back a gasp. “He . . . he’s left? I don’t understand. He’s no longer an elder?”
    She shook her head slowly. “No, and two of the church’s other elders have gone with him. Three others remain and three new elders have been appointed. That is where your father is today, meeting with the men who departed. They seek to find a way to remove Pastor Mendenhall from office.”
    â€œHow can they do that if they’re no longer part of the church?”
    â€œI do not know. But since Kingdom Mennonite Church was founded without the oversight of a larger governing body, there is no one to intervene.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Your father is determined to start a war in Kingdom. I do not know what to do.”
    â€œAnd where do you stand, Mother? On which side do you find yourself?”
    Her face turned pale and she looked away. I really didn’t expect her to contradict my father, so her response took me by surprise. “I hate the way people have been treated in this town,” she said, her voice trembling. “And I hate that my daughter had no choice but to run away.” She reached out and took my hand in hers. “My Bible talks of a God of love and forgiveness. This is not the God your father purports to know so well. I do not want to be disobedient to his headship in our home, but I believe he and his friends are wrong.”
    I was shaken by her words. For some reason the smile I’d seen on her face when Cora defied my father drifted back into my mind. “So what are you going to do, Mother?”
    She let out a long, tortured breath. “There is nothing I can do, Daughter. My job is to stand by your father even if I disagree with him. I am his helpmeet.” Even as she spoke of acquiescence, a look of defiance painted her delicate features. “But I pray every day, Elizabeth Lynn. I ask God for His help to change our church and our community into a place that honors Him.
    â€œMy parents raised me in the Mennonite faith, and I was proud to be a part of such a wonderful, caring group of people. Our congregation was small, but we were a family. We loved each other because God loved us, and we forgave each other because He became forgiveness for us. Our modest dress was beautiful and worn out of respect for our God. It was not a prison uniform. But then we came to Kingdom, and everything changed. Here, we have become hateful and critical under the rule of men like your father. And I believe it stinks in the nostrils of God!”
    Her sentiments were spoken with more emotion and passion than I’d ever seen from her. I was so shocked, at first I could only stare at her. It took several seconds for me to respond.
    â€œWhy didn’t Grandfather and Grandmother leave Kingdom, Mother? Why did they stay if they disagreed with the way the church was run?”
    Mother sighed. “My father died, and Mother had nowhere to go. So we stayed, and I married your father. But your grandmother never stopped trying to teach me the reality of who Christ really is. Her words of love still ring in my heart.”
    â€œThey ring in mine too,” I said softly. “I have to say that I’m surprised to hear you say these things. But I’m also happy to know that you don’t agree with the meanspirited teachings that have caused so much pain in