MWC appoints fifth Officer
“An organization that is vibrant and serving its members must be willing to change and adjust as we learn and grow. Our latest addition to MWC Officers team is an example of being responsive to our membership,” says César García, MWC general secretary.
Siaka Traoré has been appointed an ex-officio officer for Mennonite World Conference as a representative for Africa, effective immediately.
“I am not joining this team as an expert, but I come with faith and conviction that if God wills it, he will use me for the good of MWC,” said Siaka Traoré. “My prayer is that MWC will meet the needs of its members.”
The decision making body of Mennonite World Conference is the General Council whose delegates represent our member churches around the world. From that body, an Executive Committee is chosen, and that group is led by officers: the general secretary, president, vice president and treasurer. These roles are currently filled by César García (Latin America), Henk Stenvers (Europe), Lisa Carr-Pries (North America) and Sunoko Lin (Asia).
These four roles are not able to represent all five regions of MWC’s membership. At the General Council meetings in 2025, it was decided that the Executive Committee should appoint an ex-officio officer to ensure full continental representation. This person should come from Africa, the region currently absent from the officers.
The Officers meet twice a year in person and once a month online.
Rev. Siaka Traoré serves as a pastor with Église Évangelique Mennonite du Burkina Faso. He earned a masters degree in missions from Bangui Evangelical Seminary Of Theology (BEST). He has worked with Mennonite Central Committee on a peace program in West Africa.
Within Mennonite World Conference, Siaka Traoré has served as chair of the Deacons Commission (2015-2022) and as regional representative for Central and West Africa from 2022 until his appointment to the Officers.
“For me, this appointment expresses MWC’s desire to include all members from all parts of the world in the management of the organization’s life. In view of the make-up of MWC, it has adopted the image of a mosaic. By joining the team of officers, we want to make this mosaic visible,” said Siaka Traoré.
“Over many years as a servant-hearted church leader both in his home country of Burkina Faso and internationally as a guest speaker, a mentor, a skilled peacebuilder and a cultural interpreter, Siaka has become well known through the MWC family. We are pleased to invite him into this role for which his experience has equipped him,” says César García.