MWC committee begins planning 2021 assembly
A six-person program committee met last November to develop the activities and schedule of the 2021 Mennonite World Conference (MWC) global assembly in Indonesia next July. The six come from five different continents and span the decades from their 20s to their 60s. “It has been an incredible experience to see how, despite all of…
Everything is under the authority of Christ
Gunungan is a figure from traditional Indonesian theatre that represents the world. The leaf-shaped art is used frequently around the country, including at the Mennonite church in seaside Jepara. “This wood carving expresses the mission and vision of the church,” says artist Harjo Suyitno through the interpretation of Danang Kristiawan, his pastor. With the cross…
MWC Commissions strengthen bonds of communion
Approximately 40 leaders and members of the four Mennonite World Conference (MWC) commissions met together in the Netherlands for three days in late June for a time of face-to-face discussion, reflection, worship and strategic planning to advance the mission of MWC. They met at the Mennonite Conference Centre in Dopersduin, one of three retreat centres…
Move to Canadian office ‘a blessing’
For César Garcia, general secretary of Mennonite World Conference (MWC), relocating to office space in Kitchener has “been a blessing.” He shares the office with four staff, some of the 40 people who work and volunteer for MWC around the world. MWC shares space at 50 Kent Avenue with staff from a variety of other…
A global conversation through books
“Although each congregation has its own history and social and cultural background, it is common to experience the same sorts of conflicts, troubles and situations,” says Ellul Yongha Bae, a Mennonite church leader and publisher in South Korea. “[Mennonite World Conference] communications is very helpful to show that, as Mennonite churches, we have raised similar questions…
Expect to have your worldview challenged
Are you over 18 years old with a love for your regional, nationwide and global Mennonite church? Mennonite Church Canada is seeking representatives from each of the five regional churches to represent their respective communities at the next Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Global Youth Summit (GYS) in Salatiga, Indonesia, in 2021. Past delegates for MC…
MWC deals with ‘controversial issues,’ funding shortfall
The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) executive committee met in Heredia, Costa Rica, in early April to carry out the work of MWC. Two representatives from each global region manage the finances, authorize programs, approve task forces, articulate the vision and mission, and develop long-range plans. Some of the things discussed included: – The withdrawal of the…
Praying through the decades
A Sunday school assignment in the 1940s to exchange letters with a missionary began a Canadian woman’s lifelong investment in prayer for India. Erla Buehler. (Photo courtesy of MWC) Erla Buehler was a teenager when a Sunday school teacher at Elmira Mennonite Church in Ontario assigned her to write to Lena Graber, a registered nurse…
Militia lays down arms in Congo
As truckloads of militia drove into Tshikapa to lay down their arms, Joseph Nkongolo went to meet them. Nkongolo—Coordinator of the Service and Development Department of the Mennonite Church of Congo—spoke of militia members saying they want to re-enter civil life. “Pray for us,” they said to him, “we have done horrible things; forgive us…
MWC census shows increased numbers
“Uganda is ripe for evangelism and the church is growing,” says Bishop Simon Okoth, national coordinator of Uganda Mennonite Church. The new Mennonite World Conference (MWC) member church, accepted by the Executive Committee in 2017, grew from 310 members in seven congregations in 2015 to 553 members in 18 congregations in 2018. Every three years,…
