Q. What is the purpose of the delegate session at Gathering 2019?
A. Delegates will review and ratify Joint Council actions; receive and review reports from our programs—International Witness, Indigenous-Settler Relations and CommonWord—as well as the regional churches; and act on any recommendations coming from Joint Council or regional churches.
They will also review and assess progress in implementing the new MC Canada structure, elect executive officers of Joint Council, and confirm auditors.
Q. Who are the delegates under the new structure?
A. Congregations no longer select or send delegates. Delegates are now appointed by the five regional churches. Six members of the board of directors of each regional church, five delegates appointed by the regional church, and additional delegates based on regional church membership (one for every thousand members) make up the delegates sent to MC Canada gatherings.
Q. Is anything different under the new MC Canada structure?
A. In 2017, the regional churches covenanted together to constitute MC Canada to nurture a nationwide Anabaptist identity. It is now the five regional churches (MC British Columbia, MC Alberta, MC Saskatchewan, MC Manitoba and MC Eastern Canada) that make up MC Canada and collectively set the agenda and program for MC Canada. The annual general meeting will include reports from the regional churches on how this agenda is being carried forward locally, regionally, nationwide and globally.
Q. What reports will be presented at this annual general meeting?
A. An update on implementation of the new MC Canada structure. Reports from MC Canada programs: International Witness, Indigenous-Settler Relations and CommonWord. Reports from regional churches. An update on the MC Canada communications strategy. A report on the inaugural MC Canada mission consultation, which took place in Calgary from March 29 to 31.
Q. Are there key decisions that will be made?
A. MC Canada is still living into the new structure. No actions or recommendations have come from the regional churches. Approval of the finances and of the content and schedule of future gatherings are the decisions to be made at this time.
Q. Are there other things to look forward to during this session?
A. The annual general meeting is scheduled for the morning of June 29. In the afternoon, Gathering 2019 officially kicks off with worship that will include a session with guest speaker Elaine Heath and the installation of Doug Klassen as executive minister of MC Canada.
Registration for Gathering 2019 is now open! Visit ignitegathering2019.ca/registration.
Further reading about Gathering 2019:
Gathering 2019 events
Gathering 2019 is for the whole family
Meet the speaker for Gathering 2019
Welcome to Gathering 2019
Raspberry capital beckons Gathering 2019
Places to visit while at Gathering 2019
Prepare for something new and yet familiar
Come and let your imagination be ignited
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