Follow Up: Goshen College and the National Anthem

Goshen students show their support of "The Star Spangled Banner" 

Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana has Mennonite roots.  

Through March of 2010, true to its peace-church heritage, it did not play the national anthem at its sporting events.  I blogged about a change, the playing of the national anthem before a baseball game:  In My Estimation, March 25, 2010.

An article in today's NY Times reports on a reversal of playing the national anthem, using instead, "America the Beautiful."

According to the article, the issue of anthem/no anthem has theological implications.  Obviously, the overarching issue is peace/war.  A second theological issue is hospitality.

In 2009 the college began a campaign emphasizing its pacifism called "Peace by Peace."  Apparently there was some push back from non-Mennonites, particularly recruited athletes.  Perhaps the anthem controversy reflected this push back.  The playing of the anthem, theoretically, made the college more hospitable to non-Mennonites.

The NY Times article reported remarks by a college official:  "There is a theological question, 'which was that if we talk so much about peace, that will make it hard to attract non-Mennonite students.'

"'And if we can’t attract non-Mennonite students, are we being hospitable?' Dr. Berry said.

"Hospitality is, like pacifism, a core Christian virtue, and some Mennonites believed that playing the anthem was justified to help students from other backgrounds feel welcome."

This controversy, in a tiny college ensconced in conservative Middle America,  fascinates me.

I admire Goshen's faith tradition, particularly Mennonite practices, including pacifism.  I suspect the implicit issue is the school's long term survival.  It needs a steady supply of students beyond the Mennonite culture.  The theological concern over hospitality seems to me to be a subterfuge that skirts the ultimate issue of mere survival.  Yet I don't doubt that those engaging in talking about anthem/no anthem were sincere in wanting to be a hospitable place without violating Mennonite pacifism.

The compromise playing of "America the Beautiful," settles the issue for now.  Each side saves some face.  The college will survive.

I invite you to read my 2010 blog for background regarding the playing of the national anthem at sporting events, a curious custom now deeply embedded  in the American culture of sports--a practice that has theological undertones.