Description
Book available after August 15
The Church by the Playground: The Story of the Sharing Community in Rosedale
Dorothy Nickel Friesen
Published by Rainbow Mennonite Church,
1444 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66103
What? Churches cooperating instead of competing?
That happened in Kansas City, Kansas, starting in the late 1950s and continued into the 21st century. The three
congregations (Methodist, Disciples, Mennonite) were urban congregations that formed the Sharing Community in
Rosedale. They bought a vacant lot across the street from the big limestone church building and built a playground.
The neighborhood was transformed! Plus, some church members’ urge to flee the inner city to the suburbs was
stunted. Ecumenical friends continued to honor each other’s religious traditions and faith practices, but invested
time, talent, and treasure in service to the Rosedale community.
The church by the playground story serves as a challenge to modern-day neighbors to be friends, co-workers,
and advocates for peace and justice. “Seek the welfare of the city” is as relevant today as it was thousands of years
ago when the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed a God-inspired message. Read this remarkable story and catch a vision
of urban ministry.
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Dorothy Nickel Friesen graduated from Bethel College, Kansas (BA English 1969), the University of Kansas (MA in Education and Religion 1979), and St. Paul School of Theology (MDiv 1984). She served as teacher, editor, pastor (ordained 1985), seminary administrator, and Mennonite denominational conference minister. She published articles in journals and magazines, authored The Pastor Wears a Skirt – Stories of Gender and Ministry (Wipf and Stock 2018), and co-edited Proclaiming the Good News – Mennonite Women’s Voices 1972–2006 (AMBS – Institute of Mennonite Studies 2023). Dorothy is married to Richard Friesen, mother of Melissa and Joanna, grandmother to Lydia and Sam. The Friesen family lived in Kansas City, Kansas from 1974 to 1984 and were members of the Rainbow Boulevard Mennonite Church. She is retired and living in North Newton, Kansas.
