Mennonite World Conference has appointed new staff to succeed leaders who are moving on to other roles or retiring. “Each leader who serves MWC has gifts to bless our global communion,” says César García, MWC general secretary. “I am pleased to announce some new leaders on the MWC staff team. I also thank Jeanette and Ron for the gifts they have shared in these roles before.”
Commissions
Nelson Okanya has been appointed Director of Commissions, succeeding J. Ron Byler who retired from this role at the end of May. Nelson Okanya began his new role on 1 May 2026 and will oversee the four MWC commissions in their planning, program implementation and resource creation. He will also oversee the MWC Networks and Creation Care Working Group.
Nelson Okanya is an executive and leadership coach with a deep passion for the church, Anabaptist principles and our worldwide community. He is experienced in cross-cultural engagement, fostering global partnerships and developing serving leaders. He served as president of Eastern Mennonite Missions for more than seven years. Prior to that, he served as president of the nonprofit division of the Center for Serving Leadership, as pastor of an intercultural Mennonite church in Maryland and interim associate pastor at James Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.
This role is not Nelson Okanya’s first with MWC; he served as chair of Global Mission Fellowship (2018–2025).
Nelson Okanya grew up in Kenya and moved to the United States when he was 25 years old. He holds a Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, and a doctorate in intercultural studies from the School of Mission and Theology at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA.
Nelson and his wife, Pastor Carmen Horst Okanya, along with their two sons, live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. They are members of James Street Mennonite Church.
Operations
Effective 1 June 2026, Mark Baboolal serves as MWC’s Director of Operations, succeeding Jeanette Bissoon who enters retirement at the end of June 2026. The role oversees MWC’s operations and internal infrastructure and supports the implementation of key strategic objectives.
Mark Baboolal brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in operations, finance, strategic planning and digital transformation in the financial services, technology and manufacturing industries as well as in the government sector.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.
“What excites me most about joining MWC is the opportunity to continue my family legacy of church building and extending God’s kingdom across the globe during the increasingly challenging world dynamics,” Mark Baboolal says.
“I look forward to working with all team members as we aspire to achieve our shared vision and mission,” he says.
Mark Baboolal is a member of Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and has in the past volunteered on the parking, board of directors and special events team at Creekside Church and Grace Mennonite Brethren Church. He and his wife are based in Waterloo.
Regional representative
Gomes João de Miranda has joined MWC’s Communion Building team as Regional Representative for Centra/West Africa, replacing Siaka Traoré who now serves as continental adviser for the MWC Officers.
Gomes de Miranda is an information technology professor at the University of Luanda (UNIL) in Angola. He supports Angolan students and researchers at universities across Europe, mainly in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
He has served as executive secretary of Inter-Mennonite Community of Angolan churches (CIMA) (2020–2025) and as secretary of the international central council of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) (2024–2026).
Gomes de Miranda speaks a variety of languages including Portuguese, French, Russian, English and Lingala.
“I am looking forward to experience unity in the Christian faith in the diversity of customs and traditions of its members. This opportunity is really exciting as I will be able to learn more about the different ways of serving the Lord and share testimonies that strengthen our faith in a communal way,” Gomes de Miranda says.
Gomes is based in Angola with his wife Nsamba de Miranda and attend the central parish of Hoji ya Henda Church. They have four children.