Mennonite Church Canada isn’t finished, disbanded, archived or dead.
That’s the message Doug Klassen, MC Canada’s executive minister, delivers in a video uploaded to YouTube this past Friday.
“Mennonite Church Canada is alive and well because the regional churches that comprise Mennonite Church Canada are alive and well,” Klassen says in the four-minute video, which you can watch below.
In October 2017, MC Canada delegates at a special assembly in Winnipeg approved a restructuring plan to shift the centre of ministries from the nationwide church office to each of the five area churches, which were renamed regional churches.
Now, technically, congregations belong only to the regional churches and donate only to the regional churches, with a portion of money forwarded to MC Canada
Connecting to the nationwide church starts in the local congregation, Klassen says in the video.
“When each of you faithfully offers your gifts and talents and abilities, the Holy Spirit takes them and multiplies them to bring healing and hope to your communities and all who grace your presence,” he says. “When your congregation offers volunteers and finances to your regional church, and your regional church brings its offerings to the nationwide level, the Spirit again multiplies.”
Klassen goes on to discuss MC Canada’s three ministry initiatives: Indigenous-Settler relations, CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre, and International Witness.
“Mennonite Church Canada looks a little different now, but it is just as committed as ever to God’s mission in the world,” Klassen says. “Through your local congregation, your regional church body and through Mennonite Church Canada, we are living into what God has called us to be: agents of healing and hope in the world. Mennonite Church Canada is living and growing in faithful service.”
—With files from Donita Wiebe-Neufeld and Will Braun.
Do you have a video we should see? Email submit@canadianmennonite.org.
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Mennonite Church Canada is alive and well, says Doug Klassen, MC Canada's executive minister. (Photo courtesy of YouTube)
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