Foot-washing is completely biblical and since Jesus did it, Mennonites like to do it, too. But it’s weird. It involves feet. It involves other people’s feet.
And there isn’t really any actual washing in foot-washing. Just some scooping of water over feet that have been cleaned and prepped in advance. Sometimes women wear knee high stockings and leave them on, so there’s no touching of actual skin. (This is old school).
The last part of foot-washing is the hug. This can be awkward, but it’s important to watch out for. You don’t want someone coming at you for hugging when you’re not expecting it.
Oh, and mixed genders? No. Unless you go to small house church, then maybe you’ll be washing the feet of someone of the opposite sex. But in most churches, women are with women (possibly in the basement) and men are with men. The men are faster.
Foot-washing, like most Mennonite things, is very optional. You don’t have to do it. And some churches have abandoned the practice all together, because it’s weird (post on this to follow).
But if you can get past the weirdness and appreciate the symbolism, it’s pretty sweet.
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