MWC General Council plans for the future
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) concludes its triennial General Council (GC) meeting 26-28 May 2025 in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Germany, with a clear framework for the future.
The meetings were bookended by celebration and commemoration. A special program 25 May 2025 celebrated how the first Mennonite World Conference 100 years ago has grown into a world communion of Anabaptists. Leaders rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation continue to live out the audacious vision to seek unity amid diversity. General Council members from 52 countries across the globe represented the church of today and the future at the 500th anniversary commemoration day in Zurich, Switzerland, on Ascension Day, 29 May 2025.
The Executive Committee (EC)* convened on May 23-24, 2025, to approve MWC’s operational plan for 2025-2028, which is based on the 2025-2031 strategy discussed at the General Council.
MWC General Council is made up of delegates from all member churches. This group of church leaders meets every three years to shape the mandate of MWC, share concerns and insights and worship together.
Additionally, the Global Anabaptist Networks for education (GAEN), mission (GMF), peace (GAPN), and service (GASN) held planning and resourcing sessions concurrently with the General Council, along with participation in worship times.
Representatives from world Christian communions and multilateral ecumenical bodies attended the General Council meetings as observers (Anglican Communion, Baptist World Alliance, Disciples of Christ, Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Lutheran World Federation, World Communion of Reformed Churches, and Global Christian Forum, World Evangelical Alliance and Organization of African Instituted Churches). Each one brought greetings from their church or entity at the start of a session.
On the third day, they offered perspectives on Anabaptist identity and ecumenical relations during a panel moderated by César García, MWC general secretary. Representatives of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (Roman Catholic Church), the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference / Union of Utrecht, the Moravian Church Worldwide Unity Board, the Pentecostal World Fellowship, the Salvation Army, the World Methodist Council, and the World Council of Churches joined the ecumenical delegation for the worship service in Zurich.
Clearer path forward
“Our gathering with church leaders every three years is a time of learning together and building a common mind for being the church together in the world,” says César García, MWC general secretary.
General Council came to consensus that MWC’s future direction should forge strong connections between churches, address creation care and empower MWC networks and young people.
Two teaching documents, “For God so Loved the Cosmos” (on creation care in the climate crisis) and “Restoring Our Family to Wholeness: Seeking a Common Witness: A Common Statement of Confession, Gratitude and Commitment” (arising from dialogues with the World Communion of Reformed Churches) were approved.
MWC strategy 2025-2031 was agreed upon with one yellow card.
“With this strategy as guidance, MWC staff will be able to formulate operational goals and plans,” said César García.
General Council approved the Networks’ terms of reference (TOR). First proposed in 2012, the revised terms provide a clearer purpose and consistent structure for MWC Networks in 2025.
“This will make it easier for member organizations to focus on their purpose: stronger collaboration, sharing of best practices, providing shared opportunities for training and accomplish things together that each cannot attempt individually,” said J. Ron Byler, MWC coordinator of Commission secretaries.
(In its earlier meetings, the EC decided to dissolve the Global Anabaptist Health Network due to a failure of the Network to coalesce.)
The 2025-2028 Fair Share plan and financial projections were also approved. In the discussion, delegates were reminded that Fair Share can be negotiated.
“Negotiating is particularly relevant for member churches who are experiencing war or natural disasters or those whose financial means are lower than their country’s economic indicators. Meanwhile, in the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8:13–15, we encourage churches with more financial capability to give beyond their Fair Share amount,” said Bruce Campbell-Janz, MWC Chief Development Officer.
Learn more about fair share
“MWC will enter the next three years on solid financial ground due to increased foundational and individual giving, and we thank our donors and supporters for your affirmation of MWC’s work,” says MWC Chief Financial Officer Jeanette Bissoon.
Young adult engagement
Several proposals regarding youth engagement were on the decision docket. Since the YABs Committee was implemented in 2011, the role has continued to be refined.
General Council approved re-appointment of the YABs (Young AnaBaptists) Committee members on a three-year cycle (instead of six). Two currently serving YABs Committee members will remain for a second three-year term to ensure continuity.
This change follows the decision to make the Global Youth Summit (GYS) a triennial event (increased frequency from every six years) on the same schedule as the General Council.
“For young adults today, the probability of life-altering changes happening within their six-year term is high – from studying to working, from singlehood to raising their own family, or relocating between cities or even countries. Three years is a more feasible length of commitment,” said Ebenezer Mondez, YABs mentor.
The proposal to change the MWC Constitution to include YABs delegates in the body of General Council did not reach consensus. In the discussion that ensued, General Council members affirmed the work of the YABs and the importance of training young adults for leadership. However, there was reticence to bring on a young adult as an additional voting General Council delegate for each full member church.
The decision was postponed for more discernment.
“If it were accepted, it would be great,” said Tusia Andina, the YABs delegate from JKI, Indonesia. (the YABs held parallel meetings to the General Council). “We’d have ‘youth thought’ in discussions; critical questions on decisions, more of a wider view on everything.”
“If we function on consensus, we have to believe that the Holy Spirit is acting, even when a proposal is defeated or deferred,” said Erik Loewen, YABs delegate from Asociación Hermandad Evangélica Menonita – Filadelfia, Paraguay.
Learn more about YABs
New member churches
Since 2022, several churches have engaged the MWC membership application process and were approved by the Executive Committee. General Council welcomed the new members of MWC:
- Mennonite Church Burundi – full member (approved by Executive Committee in 2024)
- Kanisa La Mennonite La Kiinjili Tanzania – full member (approved by Executive Committee in 2023)
- Association of Mennonite Brethren Churches of Ukraine – associate member (approved by Executive Committee in 2023)
The Executive Committee meeting also approved associate member church Iglesia Cristiana Menonita del Perú, bringing the total to 111. However, the Peruvian church planted by Colombian children’s ministry workers will come before the General Council in 2028.
“Though the information sessions involved a great deal to process, they reflected the genuine care and commitment for the global church,” said Tigist Tesfaye, Deacons Commission chair and member of the listening committee.
Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld, outgoing chair of the Faith & Life Commission, offered a resourcing session on how the Gospels and Paul’s letters to speak about the nature of baptism and following Jesus. “Baptism is linked indivisibly to the unity and diversity within the body of Christ,” he said. “Our challenge is to make baptism operational in our churches and within MWC itself. We are God’s hands and feet in our world.”
Commissions led a time of worship to open each day and “life in the global church” closed the day with testimonies of witness from around the world.
Among others, Tom Eshleman and Hyacinth Stevens from LMC spoke of operating with love amid diversity on the “fault line” of polarization in the USA while Roman Rakhuba of Association of Mennonite Brethren Churches of Ukraine shared about pastors serving on the front line in Ukraine, sharing God’s love with children and soldiers affected by war.
“We prayed when people shared their stories with us. We prayed in our delegate sessions. We prayed in our caucuses. We prayed in our Anabaptist family meetings. At these meetings, we prayed,” said J. Ron Byler, member of the listening 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; a president and vice president are also elected by the GC. The treasurer and general secretary are also members of the Executive Committee.