-
Together
A holy day message from the General Secretary Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for his followers to be one. This Easter, I am pleased to share this message from leaders of Christian communions across twelve distinct traditions. Through my work with various world communion leaders, I…
-
A pastoral letter from Anabaptists in Ecuador
A state of “internal armed conflict” has been declared in Ecuador since January 2024. The government continues to struggle against violence from organized crime groups. The three Mennonite national churches in Ecuador – Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Ecuatoriana (IEME – MWC member church), Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador (ICAME), Iglesia Cristiana Menonita (ICME) – call…
-
A spirit of teamwork
James Krabill with students at STAKWW (Sekolah Tinggi Agama Kristen Wiyata) in Pati, Indonesia. About the Mission Commission The Mission Commission provides MWC member churches with resources and a forum for dialogue on global witness and service. The commission brings together the Global Anabaptist Service Network (GASN) and the Global Mission Fellowship (GMF) and enables…
-
We are one
Evangelism rallies, energetic music and dancing all day; witnessing, altar calls with a dozen respondents. Praying is loud, through tears or joy. You can feel the enthusiasm. I was heartily welcomed by the Mennonite Brethren church in DR Congo to celebrate their 100th anniversary in August 2024. The multiday event was held in a big…
-
Prayer: To hope and act with creation
The Season of Creation, an annual ecumenical initiative, concludes with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on 4 October. Inspired by his Canticle of Creatures and Romans 8:19-25, this prayer invites us to praise, repent and lament, and then “to hope and act with Creation”. God, Creator of heaven and earth, We praise you…
-
The unity of the Spirit
About the Faith & Life Commission Anabaptist churches around the world live their faith diversely, addressing local challenges and opportunities while adhering to Shared Convictions. The Faith & Life Commission enables MWC member churches to receive and provide counsel on Christian faith and practice, as well as on Anabaptist witness in the world today. This…
-
Kenya Mennonite: a living church
After an eight-year gap, leaders and members of Kenya Mennonite Church (KMC) held its national convention in in the town of Migori in August 2023, attended by 1 300 people. A delegation from Mennonite World Conference consisted of president Henk Stenvers, Faith and Life Commission member Desalegn Abebe of Ethiopia, Mission Commission member Simon Okoth…
-
Renewal: the core of the gospel
Over the past 100 years, the world has changed immensely and at the same time, not so very much, says Henk Stenvers; both then and now, there is nationalism and polarization in church and society, and even war in Ukraine. As we prepare to mark 100 years of MWC and 500 years of Anabaptism in…
-
The house of God is never finished
It feels like a big responsibility; however, after four years of being president elect, I don’t know if I’m ready, but let’s begin. In MWC, we work as a team: the officers, Executive Committee, staff – we all work together. I feel honoured and humbled to stand in that line of presidents.
-
A Theology of Interchurch Hospitality and Denominational Identity
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…
-
Jesus Christ: Our Only Hope
Right now, the planet is in a panic about a strange disease: COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded from its evaluation of COVID-19 that it should be classified as a pandemic. This illness is infecting and killing people regardless of ethnic, linguistic or socio-economic background Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, has stated that…
-
A little more light
Like the chambers of a heart, the four MWC commissions serve the global community of Anabaptist-related churches, in the areas of deacons, faith and life, peace, mission. Commissions prepare materials for consideration by the General Council, give guidance and propose resources to member churches, and facilitate MWC-related networks or fellowships working together on matters of…
