Mennonite World Conference produces three types of documents approved by the General Council:
- governance documents (pertaining to the function of MWC)
- statements (speaking to the MWC family about our values & convictions)
- teaching resources (helping local and national churches reflect on Anabaptist identity and mission)
On this page you will find links to MWC teaching resources, produced by our Commissions.
Teaching Resources from the Commission:
A Heart With Four Chambers: A Theological Foundation for the Work of MWC’s Four Commissions (Peace, Mission, Faith and Life, and Deacons)
by Alfred Neufeld Friesen
The “Anabaptist tradition” is a historical movement, rooted in the sixteenth century Radical Reformation, of contextualizing the Bible’s apostolic and prophetic legacy as lived out by the early church. Tradition is a historic witness of moments of renewal and contextualization, a dynamic in need of permanent perpetuation
The ‘Anabaptist Tradition’ – Reclaiming its Gifts, Heeding its Weaknesses
by Hanspeter Jecker
Throughout Scripture God repeatedly confronts his people with this insight: if you want to reach the Promised Land, then remember the path in which God has led you until now (Deuteronomy 8:1-2). The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) invites us, as Anabaptist congregations, to ask ourselves what convictions have been entrusted to us as a treasure from our history, and what things we should readily toss aside in exchange for others. Could it be that certain important biblical perspectives have not yet been heard in the world simply because we do not nurture, develop or know how to appreciate those gifts?! Could it be that even the “Anabaptist tradition,” with all of its weaknesses, holds within itself precisely these treasures, which are not to be buried but rather are meant to be developed?
Koinonia – The Gift We Hold Together
by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld
The word koinonia has rightly become a central term and concept for Mennonite World Conference. In addresses, publications and programmatic efforts, leaders have been nudging the global Anabaptist community to a deeper relationship with each other. Even when we don’t use the word koinonia itself, much of the terminology we use depends on it: meeting needs, mutual encouragement, gift giving and receiving, fellowship, interdependence, solidarity, consensus, communion, community, unity, being “together.”
An Anabaptist Theology of Service
by Arnold Snyder
The Anabaptists came to Scripture in what we might today call a “naïve” way;
for them, Scripture was simply the written word of God that gave witness to the living God. However, they read Scripture not in search of dogmatic truths, but rather with a real expectation of finding truth and light for their pilgrimage as children of God.
Identity and Ecumenicity: A Theology of Interchurch Hospitality and Denominational Identity
by Alfred Neufeld Friesen
When we speak of the global church of Christ in the context of Mennonite World Conference the apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth offers a helpful point of reference. In chapter 13, which focuses on the theme of love, Paul recognizes that all human knowledge – even Christian, theological and denominational knowledge – is limited. As we do theology we know only “in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9), seeing the truth as a “reflection in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our knowledge, as well as our capacity to understand, is always influenced by our perspective. In the eternal presence of God things will be different (1 Corinthians 13:12). But for now this is all we have. In our journey as human beings—limited by time, space, and our five senses—our knowledge is always partial and our understanding of the Truth is shaped by our context and personal perspectives.
Gathered into One
by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld
The overall title for my three presentations or Bible studies is “Gathered into One.” To put
it that way refers not only to being one in unity with each other, but to the “One” in whom
our unity is found – Jesus Christ, “our Peace” (Ephesians 2:14). In this first presentation, I will focus on Christ as the unity we share; in the second, on what Ephesians 4:3 calls “the unity of the Spirit”; finally, on how we live in and into that unity, how we “walk” together.
For God so loved the cosmos
by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld, Anicka Fast, Doug Graber Neufeld
“Creation care” is taking on ever-increasing urgency. The news reminds us daily of alarming changes in our climate. As the Creation Care Task Force‘s survey shows, our sisters and brothers in our global family of faith suffer drought, floods, destructive storms, fire, famine and the devastation brought by war. Diverse species are endangered or even going extinct. We are witnessing terrible violence against God’s beloved creation. And we are increasingly aware of how much we share in the harm, both as sinners and as sinned-against. How do we respond?
In addition to teaching resources and statements, the MWC Reference Notebook also contains Governance documents (guidelines, terms of reference, other documents defining relationships with other organizations) and other Reference documents (history and teaching) presented at GC but not officially commissioned or approved).