{"id":114206,"date":"2025-06-23T14:19:07","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/?p=114206"},"modified":"2025-12-17T20:11:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T20:11:35","slug":"from-celebration-to-commemoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/from-celebration-to-commemoration\/","title":{"rendered":"From celebration to commemoration\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MWC General Council plans for the future <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mennonite World Conference (MWC) concludes its triennial General Council (GC)<\/a> meeting 26-28 May 2025 in Schw\u00e4bisch-Gm\u00fcnd, Germany, with a clear framework for the future.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meetings were bookended by celebration and commemoration. A special program 25\u202fMay 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Executive Committee (EC)* convened on May 23-24, 2025, to approve MWC\u2019s operational plan for 2025-2028, which is based on the 2025-2031 strategy discussed at the General Council.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Global Anabaptist Networks for education (GAEN)<\/a>, mission (GMF),<\/a> peace (GAPN)<\/a>, and service (GASN) <\/a>held planning and resourcing sessions concurrently with the General Council, along with participation in worship times.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the third day, they offered perspectives on Anabaptist identity and ecumenical relations during a panel moderated by C\u00e9sar Garc\u00eda, MWC general secretary. Representatives of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (Roman Catholic Church), the Old Catholic Bishops\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more about the ecumenical participation
in MWC events next month<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Clearer path forward <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur 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,\u201d says C\u00e9sar Garc\u00eda, MWC general secretary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Council came to consensus that MWC\u2019s future direction should forge strong connections between churches, address creation care and empower MWC networks and young people.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two teaching documents, \u201cFor God so Loved the Cosmos<\/a>\u201d (on creation care in the climate crisis) and \u201cRestoring Our Family to Wholeness: Seeking a Common Witness: A Common Statement of Confession, Gratitude and Commitment<\/a>\u201d (arising from dialogues with the World Communion of Reformed Churches) were approved.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MWC strategy 2025-2031<\/a> was agreed upon with one yellow card.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this strategy as guidance, MWC staff will be able to formulate operational goals and plans,\u201d said C\u00e9sar Garc\u00eda.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn about the consensus voting process  <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"consensus\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

General Council approved the Network<\/a>s\u2019 terms of reference (TOR). First proposed in 2012, the revised terms provide a clearer purpose and consistent structure for MWC Networks in 2025.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis 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,\u201d said J. Ron Byler, MWC coordinator of Commission secretaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(In its earlier meetings, the EC decided to dissolve the Global Anabaptist Health Network due to a failure of the Network to coalesce.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025-2028 Fair Share plan and financial projections were also approved. In the discussion, delegates were reminded that Fair Share can be negotiated.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNegotiating is particularly relevant for member churches who are experiencing war or natural disasters or those whose financial means are lower than their country\u2019s economic indicators. Meanwhile, in the spirit of 2\u202fCorinthians\u202f8:13\u201315, we encourage churches with more financial capability to give beyond their Fair Share amount,\u201d said Bruce Campbell-Janz, MWC Chief Development Officer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about fair share<\/summary>\n
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An act of justice, a gesture of love\u00a0<\/a><\/blockquote>