Christians prominent on Winnipeg power list
WINNIPEG, MB—Peter Rempel felt honoured and flattered when he was named one of the 30 most powerful people in Manitoba by the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this year.
He also took some teasing from his colleagues.
"As you can imagine, in Mennonite circles, you can get razzed about [something like] this," laughs the executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba.
"So, I've gotten some razzing."
Rempel, who has led the Manitoba division of the relief, service and peace agency for the past five years, was number 29 on the newspaper's annual list, which ranks Manitobans who have "in their own way, shaped our world, influenced our lives, moved us to act or obey or follow."
Rempel was one of a few Christians on the list, including University of Manitoba president and vice-chancellor David Barnard and Conservative Party of Canada senator Don Plett.
Timing may have had something to do with his inclusion on the list, Rempel says, since MCC had a higher visibility than usual after its response to the earthquake in Haiti and flooding in Pakistan.
He adds that being included on the list says more about the work of MCC as a whole rather than him as an individual.
"It tells me it that I'm privileged to be leading an organization that has such visibility and affirmation in the wider community, beyond [MCC's] church constituency," he says.
Like Rempel, Don Plett says he felt honoured when he was included at number 16 on the list. A native of Landmark, Manitoba, Plett was appointed to the Senate last year after years of behind-the-scenes work in politics.
"Clearly this was their determination of who they thought wielded some political clout in the province of Manitoba, so I appreciated a mention," Plett said by phone from his Ottawa office, right across from Parliament Hill.
Plett attends Prairie Rose Evangelical Mennonite Church in Landmark and says he hasn't felt much of an impact as a result of being on the list, other than a few more people calling his office, asking if he can help them out.
The Bible has an upside-down view of power that is contrary to the way the dominant culture views it, says Sheila Klassen-Wiebe, associate professor of New Testament studies at Canadian Mennonite University.
"In the Bible, power comes not through human ability or strength or intellect or wealth or ability to do things, but through God," she says.
"And God works in strange ways. So, power comes through vulnerability and suffering often, and through weakness, because God uses those and turns them upside down to accomplish God's purposes."
Rempel agrees, citing 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
"Yes, we do have power that's even recognized in the wider society," says Rempel. "But it's a unique power that is characterized by love and gentleness."
Plett says he doesn't view himself as being in a position of power.
"I view myself as being in a position where I can serve my country," he says. "It's wonderful to have the opportunity to serve Canadians in the way I do. It's an honour, but it's not a position of power."
Plett doesn't use his position as a politician as a platform for his faith, but rather, strives to live consistently with the Christian values he holds dear.
He also knows that with great power comes great responsibility, citing Luke 12:48: "Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required."
"I take that seriously," Plett says. "I have been given a big responsibility and I will be held accountable for that."
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