{"id":124401,"date":"2026-02-27T20:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/?p=124401"},"modified":"2026-02-27T20:15:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T20:15:15","slug":"regional-gatherings-connecting-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/regional-gatherings-connecting-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Regional gatherings: a space for connecting and learning\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What do you gain from meeting with fellow believers from different countries, but in the same vicinity?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeyond participating in programs, people find that the most memorable time in regional gatherings is the bonding that takes place,\u201d&nbsp;says&nbsp;Miekje&nbsp;Hoffscholte-Spoelder,&nbsp;chairperson of the board of the Dutch Mennonite conference.&nbsp;\u201cWe make new friends and re-unite with&nbsp;old friends. We connect with fellow believers who are not always of the same opinion and background as us.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building friendships and growing relationships is a feature of regional gatherings.&nbsp;Many are self-organized by groups within the region, many of whom are Mennonite World Conference members.&nbsp;For <a href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/contact-us\/regional-representatives\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/contact-us\/regional-representatives\/\">MWC&#8217;s regional representatives<\/a>, this is&nbsp;a great opportunity&nbsp;to meet with many leaders at once.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have so much to learn from each other as we continue living out unity,\u201d says&nbsp;Bruce Campbell-Janz, Communications and Engagement director for MWC.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Europe&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260105JoseArraisPHOTO-2025-12-06-17-54-21-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Large group of people lined up for photo in a courtyard of a brick building\" class=\"wp-image-124492 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260105JoseArraisPHOTO-2025-12-06-17-54-21-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260105JoseArraisPHOTO-2025-12-06-17-54-21-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260105JoseArraisPHOTO-2025-12-06-17-54-21-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260105JoseArraisPHOTO-2025-12-06-17-54-21.jpg 1366w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A gathering of the MWC member church in Spain <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>European Mennonite churches will meet in the Netherlands on&nbsp;14-17 May 2026&nbsp;for&nbsp;their&nbsp;regional gathering&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cmerk2026.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CMERK<\/a>*&nbsp;(formerly MERK). Originating in 1972 and planned as a one-time event,&nbsp;it has grown into a sort of&nbsp;mini Assembly&nbsp;between&nbsp;MWC global&nbsp;Assemblies where Mennonites&nbsp;in Europe share theological ideas, find common&nbsp;ground&nbsp;and exchange the gifts they can offer to the regional Mennonite communion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miekje&nbsp;Hoffscholte-Spoelder&nbsp;adds:&nbsp;\u201cMy husband and I&nbsp;had the privilege to attend&nbsp;the global&nbsp;Assembly&nbsp;in Indonesia in 2022,&nbsp;but&nbsp;such a trip is not possible for everyone.&nbsp;It is important that we get to know our Mennonite&nbsp;neighbours;&nbsp;worship and pray together;&nbsp;and discuss urgent topics&nbsp;including&nbsp;the role of churches in&nbsp;accompanying migrants in Europe.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Members of Mennonite World Conference\u2019s commissions will&nbsp;meet at&nbsp;Mennorode&nbsp;in the Netherlands, just prior to CMERK&nbsp;so they can join the regional gathering afterward.&nbsp;In-person gatherings build the relationships&nbsp;that&nbsp;undergird&nbsp;the work&nbsp;they do year-round through online meetings and&nbsp;text communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/transmission-love-and-peace-european-mennonite-gathering\/\">Transmission of love and peace at European Mennonite gathering<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latin America&nbsp;&amp; Caribbean&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"479\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-1024x479.jpg\" alt=\"large group of people lined up for photo in the drop off loop of a hotel\" class=\"wp-image-124450 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-1024x479.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-768x359.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-1536x719.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/202501AndrewBodden20250121_1144101-2048x958.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/479;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Participants at the 2025 Latin American 500th anniversary of Anabaptism event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Anabaptist churches from 16 countries in Latin America&nbsp;gathered in Peru in January 2025&nbsp;to&nbsp;commemorate 500 years of Anabaptism.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis has been a precious time for thinking about the fathers and mothers who showed us the way with their trails of blood, sweat and tears, and a commitment to follow Christ Jesus,\u201d says Jaime Prieto, Anabaptist&nbsp;theologian&nbsp;and historian from Costa Rica.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor me, what mattered most was meeting with people from&nbsp;different cultural&nbsp;backgrounds\u2026. We brought to light problems, solutions, and, above all else, important topics for our life in community&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;always with our Anabaptist principles as the foundation of our reflections,\u201d said Yuri De Ara\u00fajo of Brazil,&nbsp;one of several&nbsp;participants&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/yabs-committee\/yamen\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"11440\">YAMEN<\/a>, a&nbsp;service&nbsp;program of Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite World Conference, who attended the event.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mennonites in&nbsp;Central America and the Caribbean region&nbsp;are looking forward to&nbsp;CAMCA (Consulta&nbsp;Anabaptista&nbsp;Menonita&nbsp;de M\u00e9xico, Centro Am\u00e9rica y&nbsp;el&nbsp;Caribe), 13\u201318&nbsp;July 2026, at Iglesia Nacional&nbsp;Evang\u00e9lica&nbsp;Menonita&nbsp;Guatemalteca&nbsp;in Alta Verapaz,&nbsp;Guatemala. Like CMERK, this event&nbsp;takes places every few years, drawing a large group to learn, discern and be mutually encouraged.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/trail-blood-sweat-tears\/\">Trails of blood, sweat and tears&nbsp;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Asia&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20251104JeremiahChoi-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"large group of Asian people lined up for photo\" class=\"wp-image-124416 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20251104JeremiahChoi-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20251104JeremiahChoi-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20251104JeremiahChoi-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20251104JeremiahChoi.jpg 1366w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Regional meeting in Asia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Regional meetings&nbsp;can also focus on a shared idea to deepen thinking and develop actions to live it out.&nbsp;Mennonite church leaders from Asia under the umbrella of Asian Anabaptist-Mennonite Education Network&nbsp;met to learn from each other about contextualizing Anabaptist theology for churches in Asia. Joined by mission and theology leaders from Canada and USA,&nbsp;they have met in Indonesia in 2024 and Thailand in 2025.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/biennial-thai-anabaptist-gathering\/\">Biennial Thai Anabaptist Gathering<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">North America&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250525ElinaCiptadiIMG_6456-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Diverse men and women smile at camera from around lunch table. \" class=\"wp-image-124478 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250525ElinaCiptadiIMG_6456-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250525ElinaCiptadiIMG_6456-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250525ElinaCiptadiIMG_6456-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250525ElinaCiptadiIMG_6456.jpg 1366w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">North American leaders from MWC member churches on break at General Council meetings in Germany, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And most recently, MWC organized a meeting for leaders of member churches from the United States on 6-8 January 2026.&nbsp;Reflecting on her time as one of the facilitators of this meeting, MWC director of communion building Janet Plenert says,&nbsp;\u201cSometimes the meetings are meaningful not because of what was decided or achieved, but because there was an environment of respectful, grace-filled sharing, and loving kindness in the midst of direct and honest conversations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We were vulnerable&nbsp;with&nbsp;one another, expressing kind, direct honesty. We&nbsp;also&nbsp;had substantive conversations about the issues that brought us together. We sensed that God\u2019s Spirit was among us, and we believe that the prayers of many people contributed to that.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Africa&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20231026SiakaTraoreIMG_2378-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"large group of mostly African men lined up for photo in front of building\" class=\"wp-image-124464 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20231026SiakaTraoreIMG_2378-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20231026SiakaTraoreIMG_2378-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20231026SiakaTraoreIMG_2378-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20231026SiakaTraoreIMG_2378.jpg 1366w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A gathering of Mennonite church leaders at AIMM meetings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDeep within us, there is always a longing for experiencing life together. Regional meetings, whether independently organized by local churches or by MWC, provide that space to build bridges among us. Through it we learn each other\u2019s struggles and joys, encourage one another, collaborate, and face the future together,\u201d&nbsp;says Danisa Ndlovu, MWC manager of church relations.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy region, Africa, is mostly communal in their way of life. So, while it is&nbsp;very diverse, in terms of culture, language, colonial histories and worldviews, regional meetings enable us to build bridges among ourselves,\u201d&nbsp;he&nbsp;says.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;regional&nbsp;meeting for Africa among MWC member church leaders is being planned for 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag has-link-color wp-elements-4795dccc25dd561b10d5c166c095ced0 wp-block-post-terms has-text-color has-gray-color has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/tag\/living-out-unity\/\" rel=\"tag\">living out unity<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/en\/stories\/tag\/unity\/\" rel=\"tag\">unity<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building friendships and growing relationships is a feature of regional gatherings.\u00a0Many are self-organized by groups within the region, many of whom are Mennonite World Conference members.\u00a0For MWC&#8217;s regional representatives, this is\u00a0a great opportunity\u00a0to meet with many leaders at once.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":124416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1579,282],"network":[],"eventcategory":[],"class_list":["post-124401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-living-out-unity","tag-unity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Regional gatherings: a space for connecting and learning\u00a0 - Mennonite World Conference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Building friendships and growing relationships is a feature of regional gatherings. 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