Luke 24:13-36 tells the story of two friends who leave Jerusalem in despair. On the road to Emmaus, a stranger joins them. He listens to their sorrow and confusion, then speaks with them about the Scriptures – about God’s fragile yet enduring promise. And their hearts burn. They say, “Stay with us, for it is evening.” And when they break bread together, they recognize him: Christ, the living one. But as they come to that realization, Jesus disappears from sight.
Over 14-17 May 2026 in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in a space that resembled an ark, more than 600 Mennonites from Europe and beyond gathered as witnesses for CMERK*. They listened to each other, built on each other’s ideas and collaborated.
Plenary speaker Marius van Hoogstraten (Germany) spoke on the Luke 24 text. Being a witness is not only about declaring God’s victory, but also about walking with people who don’t recognize the divine presence yet, he said. Just like Jesus walked with those two disciples.
Learning together
In the workshop, “Mennonite Responses to Militarization,” Mennonites shared how peace is lived out in their countries with war raging in Ukraine and elsewhere.
- A Ukrainian witnessed to his struggles to live out his convictions. He was studying in Lithuania in 2022 when the war broke out, and he chose pacifism.
- In the Netherlands, young people explore what peace means in conversations at events called peace meals.
- MWC staff and Commission members from the USA spoke about churches are joining together in response to the reintroduction of automatic draft registration.
- MWC Commission members from Colombia shared how the church is mobilized to support conscientious objectors.
In the workshop “Creating a Safe Church”, participants shared the different ways churches have responded to abuse, lamented incidents that were not managed appropriately and brainstormed ideas on what more could be done.
Meanwhile, in a workshop about climate justice, a group of young theologians in Europe brought awareness on the need to protect communities from industrial and farming practices that destroy ecosystems predominantly in the Global South.
Every voice is layered, every context different. Yet, every story is connected by the same search: How do we move – in faith – in a world that is increasingly under pressure?
Creating together
Beyond group discussions and workshops, CMERK provided space to create and feel together:
- through building a LEGO ® church;
- through dances and collaborative art projects;
- through group meditation and prayers;
- through packing relief kits for Ukraine.
Witness was lived out in actions that started as an individual choice to participate, but done in sync with others. Just like faith that is personal, but never solitary.
Through four days of sharing, listening and partaking, something happened that resembled Emmaus: people listened. And hearts began to burn.
“In this limited space, the ark, we learn to try new things and live with each other, however uncomfortable. We challenge each other. But learn we will if we welcome each other’s wisdom. Because we are in this journey together,” said Wieteke van der Molen (Netherlands), plenary speaker and MWC executive committee member.
—Article adapted from “CMERK 2026: Blijf bij ons, in de stroom” from Doopsgezinden.nl, written by Kalle Brüsewitz, with files from Marius van Hoogstraten, Franka Riesmeijer and Iris Speckmann.
*CMERK, a regional gathering for all European Mennonite churches is a combination of two names for the event: Conférence Mennonite Européenne (French) + Mennonitische Europäische Regionale Konferenz (German).