Mennonite World Conference mourns the loss of John A. Lapp, who died on Tuesday, 7 December 2023, at 90 years of age. <\/p>\n
John A. Lapp was coordinator and co-editor of MWC\u2019s Global Mennonite History <\/a>Series.<\/a> From 1997 to 2012, he and C. Arnold Snyder documented the planting and growth of Anabaptist-Mennonite churches in the world. He worked with Anabaptist-Mennonite leaders in each country on researching, writing and editing five books, one for each continental region. Although the books are more than a decade old, the stories continue to instruct and inspire. \u201cThis was his big retirement project, and a big gift to MWC and its member churches,\u201d says MWC regional representative coordinator Arli Klassen. <\/p>\n John A. Lapp taught history at Eastern Mennonite University (1956-1969), served as academic dean then provost at Goshen College (1972-1984), an served as executive director of Mennonite Central Committee from 1985 to 1996, and was honoured as executive emeritus in 2006. During his tenure, he nurtured MCC\u2019s relationship with MWC and was instrumental in MCC\u2019s $600 000 \u201cjubilee gift\u201d that was used to start MWC Global Church Sharing Fund. <\/p>\n \u201cI remember him as a gentle, softspoken, friendly man,\u201d say Henk Stenvers, MWC president. \u201cIt was an honour knowing him, and to continue his passion for making known the impact that the Anabaptist movement has had throughout the world.\u201d <\/p>\n