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The gospel with two hands: physical and spiritual development
Malawi “I am Yao,” says Madalistso Blessings Kaputa. That people group is regarded to be Muslim in Malawi. “Someone has reached me.” Chewa, Yao, Lome (major people groups in Malawi): they can all be part and parcel of this family of God, he says. As a Yao, he is able to represent the church in…
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Believers baptism churches meet to share changing understandings
Kingston, Jamaica – A consultation held here 08-10 January involved representatives from six different believers baptism church traditions. They shared their understandings and practices of baptism and explored how their thinking has changed in light of the emerging theological convergence on baptism and growing ecumenical encounter over the past 30 years. This was the first…
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Greek Catholics in Ukraine restore former Mennonite church building
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – In Ukraine a former Mennonite church building is being restored and transformed – with the help of Canadian Mennonites – into a Greek Catholic church. This development, according to observers, is an example of Mennonite-Catholic collaboration in the spirit of other exchanges over the past decade or so. The Mennonite church…
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Global North mission agency learns from Global South partners
Changi Cove, Singapore — President Nelson Okanya and others from Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) found themselves celebrating the growth of and learning from Global South mission partners at the annual meeting of the International Missions Association (IMA), a group of 22 Anabaptist mission groups, held 26 August to 2 September in Singapore. Asia Pacific Mission…
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European Mennonite leaders seek renewal of identity as peace church
Elspeet, The Netherlands – At the annual meeting of the leaders of European Mennonite conferences, interest in creating a centre of coordination was reaffirmed. The conference leaders also gave attention to the renewal of the peace witness and to the varied perspectives of the churches in Europe. At the outset of the gathering, held 23-25…
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Regional workshops lay foundation for MWC Africa Caucus
Kinshasa, DR Congo—Two separate meetings of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Africa representatives occurred on successive weekends at the end of October and early November 2011 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Together they marked the “end of the beginning” of a five year long process to put into place a new structure for fellowship and…
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Europeans plan to hire coordinator; seek to be ‘a place of blessing’
Madrid, Spain—At their annual gathering, held here in November 2011, leaders of European Mennonite conferences decided to hire a coordinator to serve as their liaison to Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and to fulfill some coordination tasks for the European conferences. They also reflected on the challenges they face in the European context. The decision to…
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Terms renewed and specialists appointed
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…
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An act of justice, a gesture of love
Many hands make light work This adage is one we use frequently when we’re doing work together. A core part of our identity as Mennonite World Conference is living out unity, so pooling our efforts to make a positive difference in the world is fundamental. Living out unity is calls on each one of us…
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Sharing of gifts with other church communions
“Being chair at the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions is a role of service. It is a role where you serve other secretaries by preparing the agenda, logistics and materials for our meeting, and leading and facilitating robust discussions on matters critical to the global Christian church today,” says MWC general secretary César…
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Telling others what you have tasted
Why is the Meserete Kristos Church the fastest-growing Mennonite church? Ethiopia is a multiethnic, multireligious and multilingual nation with more than 120 million people, the second most populated country in Africa. Located in northeast Africa, Ethiopia is a landlocked country. European powers did not colonize Ethiopia. However, internal conflicts tore the country apart and broke…
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Executive Committee approves theological education and creation care grants
Continues shaping networks, adding membership and supporting learning and action in member churches Funding for theological education and carbon tax small grants was passed at the annual meeting of Mennonite World Conference’s Executive Committee meeting, 8-11 April 2024 in Curitiba, Brazil. Two new funds For many years, MWC member churches have called for more…
