Lisa Carr-Pries, MWC vice president, leads the EC, YABs Committee and staff in morning prayers before a day of meetings. Photo: Ebenezer Mondez.
Executive Committee approves Assembly date, creation care group and new ways of working
“The resurrection is not just an event; the resurrection is God’s power today,” said Sunoko Lin (USA/Indonesia), Mennonite World Conference treasurer, as part of morning prayers at the annual MWC Executive Committee (EC) meeting from 16-19 March 2026 in Lumban, Laguna, Philippines.
The meetings were surrounded by prayer. Each morning, MWC Officers led prayers
focussed around the MWC tagline, “following Jesus, living out unity, building peace.” Each evening, a member of the staff leadership team ended the day with prayers.
The Executive Committee is made up of 10 representatives appointed by the MWC General Council (two from each continental region) and the five officers. Siaka Traoré (Burkina Faso) attended for the first time as the fifth Officer; his title was updated to Continental Adviser.
This was the first in-person meeting of the new EC after appointments were approved by the General Council in 2025.
The EC and Officers were accompanied by the staff leadership team, some senior staff
and the YABs (Young AnaBaptists) Committee who held their own meetings, but joined together for times of prayer and learning.
John D. Roth (USA) led resourcing sessions from a historical perspective. He examined:
“where is the church?” and “where do we experience communion in the Anabaptist tradition?”
Next Assembly approved
The EC gratefully approved by consensus the invitation to host the next Assembly in Tanzania in the first two weeks of June 2028.
“Our Africa caucus supports this invitation for our worldwide Anabaptist family to come to Tanzania,” says Samson Omondi (Kenya), EC representative for Africa.
Creation care affirmed
There was strong affirmation for continued work on creation care in the global church. The EC approved by consensus a proposal for the Creation Care Task Force to become a permanent part of the MWC structure under the name Creation Care Working Group. The Task Force had been created to explore what creation care means for MWC; th Working Group will continue to promote faithful creation stewardship in MWC’s operations and among its members. The Creation Care Working Group (CCWG) will work alongside and meet with the four Commissions.
In the spirit of reducing the high environmental cost of flying, CCWG will only meet in person during General Council and Assembly years.
Mennonite World Conference has a tradition to plant tree on the grounds of a Mennonite institution when the Executive Committee meets: “in honour of God’s creation and the church universal.” Along with (r-l) Integrated Mennonite Conference President Zaldy Magansay and Bishop Moderator Eladio Mondez, the MWC Officers (Siaka Traoré, Sunoko Lin, César García, Henk Stenvers, Lisa Carr-Pries) planted a second kamias tree (averrhoa bilimbi) in the Philippines at Lansay Mennonite Bible Church. (In 2008, then-president Nancy Heisey and then-president-elect Danisa Ndlovu planted a tree at Lumban Mennonite Bible Church.) Photo: Ebenezer Mondez.
New meeting cycle created
The EC approved a new cycle for MWC meetings. “Over the last number of years, MWC meetings have become unmanageable, as more members and groups are added to MWC,” said Liesa Unger (Germany), manager of international events. Meeting space is difficult to secure. People with multiple roles end up double booked for meetings.
In light of these challenges, the EC approved a new cyclical plan that has the General Council and Networks (GAEN, GAPN, GASN, GMF) meeting in alternating years, beginning& after the 2028 Assembly. The Commissions will meet each time.
Within this new plan, either General Council or Network meetings will occur approximately every 18 months.
The EC also approved updates to the Networks’ Terms of Reference and Networks’ membership fees documents.
Young adults plan and discern
The YABs Committee met or the first time in person with the new representatives (Asia, Europe, North America) appointed after Global;Youth Summit (GYS)in 2025. In their report to the EC, they shared a road map for the years ahead to continue building the YABs network.
The YABs Committee continued to brainstorm their long-term goals, including ways to integrate YABs delegates with the General Council delegates in 2028.
“We want to honour the wisdom of the General Council and take time to test out changes to come up with a better proposal than the one that did not pass in 2025,” said Valentina Kunze (Uruguay) YABs chair and Latin America representative.
The Committee and YABs manager are now also supported by the new role of YABs Coordinator, filled by Isaac Nii Torgbor Gborbitey (Ghana), who is also the YABs Africa representative.
The EC were encouraged by the work of the YABs Committee. “You worked hard and you are an inspiration to us,” said Sipra Biswas (India), Asia representative on the EC.
Finally, the Executive Committee considered and approved the 2026 budget, 2025 financial reports and projections for 2027 and 2028.
“This important discernment meeting is also a space where the guidance of the Holy Spirit transforms us. It’s about a journey we make in communion with one another and with Christ himself,” says César García (Canada/Colombia), general secretary.