As Mennonite World Conference’s Executive Committee and General Council delegates gather for worship, fellowship and discernment, there are farewells and hellos. Members of the Executive Committee and the Commission serve six-year terms.
The terms are staggered to ensure continuity.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is elected from the General Council (GC) and meets annually. Two members from each continental region are elected from the GC by their regional caucus. They represent not only their national church but the whole region.
The Executive Committee members appointed in Germany will serve from 2025-2031.
Asia
Sipra Biswas, Bharatiya Jukta Christa Prachar Mandali (India United Missionary Church), India.
Africa
Samson Omondi Ongode, Kenya Mennonite Church. He has been re-appointed to another term, having served from 2018-2025.
Europe
Wieteke van der Molen, Algemene Doopsgezind Sociëteit. She has been re-appointed to another term, having served from 2018-2025.
Latin America
Omar Pérez Reyes, Asociación Iglesias Cristianas Menonitas de Costa Rica.
North America
Linda Dibble, Mennonite Church USA. She has been re-appointed to another term, having served from 2022-2025. She replaced a previous board member who was unable to finish their term.
“The reappointment of members who are available to continue serving is an affirmation of their wisdom and discernment,” says César García, general secretary. “We are grateful for their leadership and we encourage our General Council delegates to continue to connect with their Executive Committee members between meetings.”
Commission specialists
The Executive Committee approved the appointment of new specialists, including the Faith and Life chair, to each of its Commissions to begin a term from 2025-2031. The new specialists were then received by consensus at the General Council.
The Commission specialist appointments considered the candidates’ willingness to serve on each commission, issues of gender balance, cultural and ecclesial perspectives and the current GC members involved in Commissions.
Peace Commission
- Katerina Gea, USA, pastor of Pasadena Mennonite Church, California, has a degree in peace studies and served as one of the first community mobilizers for the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery.
- Alina Itucama, Panamá, a Wounaan leader of the Indigenous Iglesia Evangélica Unida Hermanos Menonita, has served as director of a Bible institute in Panama.
- SeongHan Kim, South Korea, peace educator, is the Northeast Asia representative for Mennonite Central Committee.
Mission Commission
- Marianne Goldschmidt-Nussbaumer, member of Mission Mennonite (France), previously served in Benin.
- Emerson Cardoso, member of COBIM (Mennonite Brethren church) in Brazil, is part of the lead team of Multiply, training church leaders and global workers in Latin American and Portuguese-speaking countries.
- Teguh Karyanto, pastor at GITJ Pesantenan in Pati, Central Java, Indonesia, serves the GITJ synod and teaches at STAKWW, the GITJ Bible college.
Faith & Life Commission
- Timothy J. Geddert, professor emeritus at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in California, USA, is the author of several books on biblical interpretation, ecclesiology, and ethics. He will serve as chair.
- Cindy Alpízar Alpízar, pastor of Igesia Menonita Jesucristo es el Señor in Costa Rica, is co-coordinator of Movement of Anabaptist Women doing Theology from Latin America (MTAL).
- Jeremy Bergen, associate professor of religious studies and theological studies, served as the Director of Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College in Ontario, Canada, from 2014 to 2021.
- Zaraí Gonzalía Polanco, writer, peer reviewer and editor for various theological publications, based in Colombia, holds a doctorate in theology from the Faculdades EST in São Leopoldo, Brazil.
Deacons Commission
- Mary Soledad Cano, co-director of the Centro de Vida Infantil children home in Honduras, holds a theology degree in Bible and has a certification in conflict transformation.
- Walter Jakobeit, pastor of the Evangelische Freikirche Mennonitische Brüdergemeinde in Neuwied, Germany, for almost 20 years.
- Deusilene Martins Milhomen de Carvalho, pastor of Igreja Menonita do Gama in Brasilia, Brazil, coordinates Sister Care Brazil, where she teaches women theology. She represents Brazil in MTAL.
Due to changes in the delegate status of two General Council Deacons Commission members appointed in Indonesia in 2022, the EC also approved the new appointment of Raúl Rincón, Igreja dos Irmãos Menonitas de Portugal, and Brian Maphosa, Brethren in Christ Church, South Africa, to serve as General Council delegates on the Deacons Commission.
President and vice-president
After some discussion regarding aging and continental distribution, the General Council approved the proposal to re-appoint them for another term each: president Henk Stenvers until 2034; Lisa Carr-Pries vice-president until 2031.
The Executive Committee began discussing the candidates for the roles of president and vice-president in its 2023 meeting. “Due to the outstanding ministry that the current President and Vice-President are developing, the Executive Committee unanimously recommended that the General Council renew their current terms,” says César García.
With only four officers (president, vice-president, treasurer, general secretary), it is impossible to have complete continental representation in this leadership group. To address the potential disparity, the Executive Committee decided to create an ex-officio role so a leader from the missing continent can be appointed.
“Church leaders have many demands on their time and expertise. We are grateful for all those who serve with MWC, bringing their relationships, experience and wisdom to the work of the global church,” said César García, MWC general secretary.
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