“He has done marvellous things!” An international ensemble with members from the USA, Germany, Colombia and Indonesia led the congregation in singing these words to open the fundraising celebration of 100 years of Mennonite World Conference.
One of those marvellous things is 110 national churches agreeing to walk together through MWC. César García preached from Psalm 133: “‘Living together as one’ is a gift from God, a tangible and attractive reality,” he said, like “a pleasant aroma draws attention” and “that can be seen and felt here and now.”
Challenges facing societies in 2025 are remarkably similar to those of 1925, historian John D. Roth recounted: a recent pandemic, political polarization and rising nationalism.
“There were approximately 250,000 baptized Mennonites in the world: 98% of them lived in Europe and North America,” he said. “Today… the Anabaptist family includes 2.13 million members in more than 80 countries.”
MWC at its 100th anniversary celebrates with living out unity amid diversity. (Sadly, today, as in 1925, some church leaders were unable to be present due to visa problems.).
“We continue to face many challenges. And yet, 500 years after our beginnings in Zurich, MWC continues to keep alive a vision of believers who are committed to following Jesus; living out Christ’s call to unity; and seeking peace within our families, our congregations, our communities, our countries and in all human relationships.”
MWC impacts church leaders today through friendships and opportunities to learn. YABs mentor Ebenezer Mondez interviewed leaders from MWC’s past and present.
“MWC has been the best place to see and participate in movements transforming and extending the church and to find friendships,” said Larry Miller, former general secretary.
Taking the role then called executive secretary “saved his life,” Larry Miller said. Rather than writing dusty theology books no one would read as a theology professor, he spent his working energy on the global church as MWC grew from Northern-dominated to Global-South-inspired; from a focus on local congregations to an awareness of the global church; from a meeting every six years to life together as a global communion; and from nursing wounds of martyrdom to healing wounds of division.
For Amos Chin, living in a country suffering military dictatorship for decades, MWC connected him with role models who inspired him to walk the way of peace in his own community. The leader of Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite, in Myanmar says MWC leaders have challenged him to discipleship and service that move from theory to action on subjects like climate justice.
“Unity in Christ does not erase differences but transforms them into opportunities for mutual learning and love,” Amos Chin said.
Young AnaBaptist (YABs) leader Valetina Kunze of Uruguay said MWC has taught her humility and widened her perspective as she has seen how “my own way is not only way; how other cultures have other qualities of Jesus.”
Former vice president Rebecca Osiro of Kenya said MWC not only “expanded her courage to love but implanted courage to serve.” Coming from a church “where women were not seen,” she found opportunities to exercise leadership among women theologians, the trilateral dialogues group and as MWC vice president. MWC has taught her that “each one has something and we come together and share,” she said.
Timo Doetsch, General Council delegate from Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mennonitischer Brüdergemeinden in Deutschland (AMBD), spoke of lessons learned and hopes held. Through MWC, he has learned about mutuality – “being served by those we don’t necessarily like” – and the hope that “our little gift of peace can shape world Christianity and beyond.”
“We (MWC) are small but have lots to share,” said Philipp & Elke Horsch of the HORSCH Foundation in Germany. They support MWC’s mission “to help Anabaptists work together for a more peaceful world where we are salt and light, learning to cross borders between ourselves so we can model crossing borders in the world.”
Special guests at the celebration included leaders of nine world communions or multilateral church organizations. (These ecumenical guests remained as observers at the General Council meetings that followed and brought greetings from their constituencies.)
Representing the future of MWC, leaders offered closing prayers of blessing in English, Ndebele, Swiss German, Spanish, Bengali, French, Amharic: “rooted and centred in faith and renewed for the road ahead.”
Visit MWC’s YouTube channel in the future to find a recording of the whole event.