Our member churches are like the many pieces of a mosaic. Each piece is different, but together we form one beautiful mosaic. Thank you to everyone in our churches supporting MWC.
#mwcmm #followingJesus #livingoutunity #buildingpeace
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Transmission is the title given to a series of 5 films of 10 minutes which present Anabaptist thought to people around the world to encourage a life of faith created by Affox AG, a multimedia production company. We would like to do this by providing a glimpse at the journeys we experience as disciples of Jesus in different parts of the world. It is our hope however, to strengthen our sense of shared identity and community in the midst of all the diversity present throughout the Anabaptist body. Young people represent one of the important target audiences.
Find also a study guide for sharing questions about the film in small group or youth groups.
Transmission 2023 Migration
Transmission 2023 – English “How worldwide migration an displaced persons are being supported by loving and caring people.” This global phenomenon is the subject of 2023’s Transmission video.
In this video, young Mennonites in Greece, Lebanon, Colombia, USA and DR Congo share about their work of welcoming displaced persons.
Transmission 2022 Latin America
Transmission 2022 – English The third production in the Transmission series focusing on creation care is ready for viewing. Ophelia, a Swiss woman, after living and working in Costa Rica, wondered what she could learn from her contemporaries in Latin America on the subject. The production includes stories from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Honduras. This production ends with challenge triggered by an enterprise in the Netherlands as a way of inspiring all viewers, young and old to think and act boldly and with vision when it comes to creation care.
Transmission 2021 Indonesia
Transmission 2021 – English In Transmission, Hani and Adi share amazing faith journeys while they relate as Mennonites (a small minority) and Muslims (a large majority) in Indonesia. Hani reflects on how she sees the face of God in the people (both Muslim and Christian) she encounters in the remote village of Tempur, high in the mountains of Jepara. Adi introduces us to the power of interfaith dialogue and the resulting transformation of Solo from a city of violence to a city of peace.
From Indonesia we jump to the Netherlands where the relationship between Anabaptists and Muslims is impacted by a Muslim minority.
Canadians, Europeans, and Indonesians worked together to bring this unique production to life.
Transmission Ethiopia 2020
Transmission 2020 – English Transmission Ethiopia 2020 introduces its audiences to the Meserete Kristos Church through their experience with persecution (and freedom of religion), spiritual maturity, the place of youth in the church, the importance of music and prayer life. In this case, Salom, a French young adult reflects (after her return to France from her visit to Ethiopia), on what she learned from her peers and elders in the church.
We hope to gain a young generation of people who will be involved in making the next in the series and the final 90-minute documentary which we hope to expand to a secular audience in 2025. For the moment, we are targeting the Christian world.
Video in English, Spanish, French, German, Amharic subtitles
–release by Affox AG
Transmission 2020 – Amharic -
The World Council of Churches called for a “pilgrimage” of justice and peace. Applying a transformative spirituality, local communities have been visited in every region, to celebrate the gifts of life, to touch the wounds, and to transform the injustices. Key-themes have emerged on the way: Truth and Trauma, Land and Displacement, Gender Justice, and Racism.
Presenters: Fernando Enns, Mennonite (born in Brazil, living in Europe), representative of the Association of Mennonite Congregations in Germany at the World Council of Churches; Professor for Peace-Theology and Ethics at the Free University Amsterdam/The Netherlands and University of Hamburg/Germany. Andrs Pacheco Lozano, Mennonite (born in Colombia, living in the Netherlands), Secretary of the Global Mennonite Peace Network (MWC); Lecturer and Researcher at Free University Amsterdam/The Netherlands, secretary.
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A Common Statement of Confession, Gratitude and Commitment
Mennonite World Conference appointed several people to participate in an ongoing ecumenical dialogue with the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). This is one of the state churches who in the 1500s persecuted the early Anabaptists in Europe.
Together, this group of theologians from WRCR and MWC prepared a shared statement for public delivery on 29 May 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The title of the statement is “Restoring Our Family to Wholeness: Seeking a Common Witness.” The statement includes sections on giving thanks and celebrating our common confession of Jesus as Lord; confession and lament; and ends with God’s call to unity and peace.
The statement will be found here once it is released.
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Study guide
Growing in Faithfulness: Living out our baptism
Guide for study and reflection on Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church: The Report of the Trilateral Conversations between Lutherans, Mennonites and Catholics (2012-2017)
Report
Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church
It was with the twin goals of increasing mutual understanding and helping one another grow in faithfulness to Jesus Christ that a trilateral dialogue took place between Lutherans, Mennonites and Roman Catholics, from 2012 to 2017.
Courier / Correo / Courrier
Believe and Be Baptized: A Global Conversation on Baptism
The roots of Christian baptism draw deeply on the biblical images of water – an enduring symbol of cleansing, refreshment, and life itself. In the Old Testament, water is often associated with God’s healing presence – a spring in the desert; a life-giving well; or justice that flows “like a mighty river.”
Renewal 2021: webinars
The Anabaptist-Mennonite Tradition
History, theology and pastoral challenges
Giving and Receiving within the Body of Christ
Learning from the Mennonite-Catholic-Lutheran Conversations on Baptism
Mennonite Quarterly Review
Issue 95
Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church
Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic Trilateral Conversations 2012–2017
Report of the Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic Trilateral Dialogue Commission
The trilateral conversations
Dialogues on baptism close with learning and prayer
The commission discussed and developed its final report, entitled “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church,” drafted by professors Theo Dieter (Lutheran, France), William Henn (Catholic, US/Vatican) and John Rempel (Mennonite, Canada). The trilateral commission agreed on a further process to finalize the report, which summarizes the rich discussions that have taken place over the last five years on three fundamental themes.
Incorporation into the body of Christ
The Commission developed the general topic of the dialogue “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church” through papers on “Living out our Baptism,” the theme of the fourth meeting.
Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Trilateral Dialogue Commission on Baptism
The Commission developed the general topic of the dialogue “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church” through papers on “Baptism: Communicating Grace and Faith.” Professors John Rempel and Fernando Enns (Mennonite), Rev Prof. William Henn (Catholic), and Bishop Emeritus Dr Musawenkosi Biyela (Lutheran) made major presentations.
Mennonites, Catholics and Lutherans hold second round of dialogue on baptism
“I continue to be inspired by the mutuality of our work,” commented John Rempel of Toronto, Ontario, one of the Mennonite participants in the 26-31 January 2014 second meeting of the Trilateral (Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite) Dialogue Commission on Baptism.
Baptism the focus of trilateral dialogue by Mennonites, Catholics and Lutherans
An international trilateral dialogue between Mennonites, Catholics and Lutherans began in Rome, 9-13 December 2012.
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A Conversation between Mennonite World Conference and the Seventh-day Adventist Church 2011-2012
In 2011 and 2012, representatives of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and of the Mennonite World Conference met together for official conversations. In many respects the meetings proved to be a journey of mutual discovery.
Background
Mennonites and Adventists have had frequent contacts during the past forty years, particularly through their participation in the annual meetings of the secretaries of Christian World Communions. These periodic encounters, along with other contacts, gradually led to the conviction on both sides that an official conversation might be both instructive and valuable.Adventists and Mennonites have distinct identities that are critically important to them. From the outset of discussions leading to the conversation, it was understood that organic union was not the objective. Rather, the dialogue would provide an opportunity for learning about each other’s history, beliefs and values, clarifying misunderstandings, and removing stereotypes. Out of the discussion, therefore, might emerge areas where Mennonites and Adventists can join forces in selected areas of mutual concern.The two communions, viewed superficially, might appear to have little in common.
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A teaching resource from the Faith & Life commission
Mennonite World Conference embarked on the first formal dialogue process with the Baptist World Alliance in 1989. Since then, MWC has entered into conversations with Lutheran World Federation, Seventh Day Adventists, Catholics, and, most recently, a five-year trilateral dialogue with Lutherans and Catholics. Seeing the value of these dialogues, the Faith and Life Commission developed this document to give MWC national churches and local congregations a better understanding of the theological basis for ecumenical hospitality and why we think such conversations are consistent with Anabaptist values.
The document was approved as an MWC teaching resource by the General Council in Limuru, Kenya, April 2018.
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Guide for study and reflection on
Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church: The Report of the Trilateral Conversations between Lutherans, Mennonites and Catholics 2012-2017
by Thomas R Yoder Neufeld, on behalf of the Faith and Life Commission
This study guide is an aid for member churches of the Mennonite World Conference to receive and process the “Report” (The Report of the Trilateral Conversations between Lutherans, Mennonites, and Catholics, 2012-2017) on the trilateral conversations on baptism. It has been prepared on behalf of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Faith and Life Commission (FLC) by Thomas Yoder Neufeld, Chair of the FLC, with the benefit of consultation with numerous persons in MWC, the FLC and participants in the Trilateral Conversations.
This guide is not a replacement for the rich and carefully worded Report. By distilling the content and adhering to the structure of the Report the guide provides an outline or road map. Readers of the guide are thus directed to the numbered paragraphs in the Report itself (e.g. [§ 120]). Quotation marks identify when specific words or phrases are taken from the Report.
The guide adheres to the structure of the Report:
- Chapter One focuses on the relationship of baptism to sin and grace [§§ 7-54]
- Chapter Two on communicating grace and faith in relation to baptism [§§ 55-83]
- Chapter Three on baptism and discipleship [§§ 84-112].
- The Conclusion identifies the convictions, gifts,challenges and considerations [§§ 113-164].
Throughout the guide readers will find questions for reflection on and testing of the Report. In keeping with the intentions of the participants in the Trilateral Conversations, the questions are intended to lead to a deepening of commitment to baptism and discipleship. Readers are, of course, not limited to these questions.
We give thanks to and for the MWC delegates to the Trilateral Conversations:
- †Alfred Neufeld Friesen (Paraguay),
- co-chair; Larry Miller (France/USA),
- co-secretary; Fernando Enns (Germany);
- Rebecca Osiro (Kenya); and
- John D. Rempel (Canada).
We give thanks also for the Catholic and Lutheran conversation partners who journeyed the path of unity in Christ together with them.
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Rethinking security, welcoming the marginalized, interfaith cooperation Ð peace church witness takes different forms. The ecumenical network Church and Peace brings together and encourages those working on peace and reconciliation in their contexts across Europe. Hear about current examples and themes and join the discussion on steps forward.
Presenters: Lydia Funck, Anthony Gwyther, Zaira Zafarana and Karina Knight-Spencer.
Lydia is a Mennonite from Germany and General Secretary of the European peace church network “Church and Peace” which brings together Christians from a wide range of church traditions from across Europe (www.church-and-peace.org). Anthony Gwyther lives in Germany is a member of the Base Community Wulfshagenerhtten (basisgemeinde.org/), Zaira Zafarana from Italy is working for the International Fellowship of Reconciliation in Geneva (www.ifor.org/) and Karina Knight-Spencer from France is coordinator of Stop Fuelling War (stopfuellingwar.org/en/).
Read also:
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Report on the Consultation on Believers’ Baptism
Participants in the Consultation on Baptism in Kingston, Jamaica 08-10 January 2015
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Reference documents
Presented to the General Council of Mennonite World Conference Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, July 2015
By Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation
