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Commentary: Celebrating the church we are becoming

“…Our vision and call to engage in God’s purposes in the world are not adequately supported by our present relationships, behaviors and organization.”
- Mennonite Church USA Executive Board, February 2008

The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board expressed in February its desire to reframe our present church systems to increase our ability to be more faithful and effective as a church. We believe we have a message the world is longing to hear and that we can do better than in the past.

The Executive Board is asking all parts of the church to change relationships, behaviors and organization, not for our own good, but for our increased witness through our congregations to the world.

We have too much infrastructure for a church our size. There is too much duplication among our churchwide agencies. Our churchwide system does not encourage collaboration among agencies and conferences, nor does it adequately equip congregations for ministry in their communities.

Our future can look pretty bleak. The recent Mennonite Member Profile that surveyed our beliefs and values tells us that, as a church, we are getting older, we are losing our young people and we are less willing to share our faith. It’s also clear that we are increasingly taking our cues from our culture rather than our church.

While our Racial/Ethnic congregations are growing, we have not adequately provided resources to these congregations nor embraced their gifts.

But we know this is only half the story. Many opportunities are coming our way as we join in what God is doing in the world. We have much to celebrate.

The Anabaptist/Mennonite commitments we value ­ following Jesus, serving others, peacemaking and more ­ make us increasingly sought after by others. Entire congregations are making their way to our doorstep.

Our commitment to become a missional church ­ a church that sees where God is at work and joins that work in the world ­ is entwining its way among us, taking deep root in our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. This is an exciting time to be a part of Mennonite Church USA.

So what are the behaviors that need to be changed? We can make some changes quickly, changes that will help congregations understand the resources that are available to them and how they can support these efforts.

More often, though, we see a need for changes for the overall system. The behaviors we need to change are not about a particular agency or program, but about “us,” about a system that doesn’t support our vision for growing as communities of grace, joy and peace.

The Executive Board is inviting the church on a journey. It has set a direction, but the ways we will get there have yet to be determined. We all need to join this journey if we are truly to become the church God is calling us to become.

Currently, Executive Board members are meeting with people from across the church, including conference ministers, young adults, Racial/Ethnic leaders and many others to listen to concerns and gain wisdom as we discern the best way to change the behaviors, relationships and structures that are preventing us from living out our calling in the world.

No doubt the insights shared in these meetings will guide us as we prepare for a gathering of all Mennonite Church USA boards of directors June 20 to 21 in Columbus, Ohio.

As you have opportunity in the months ahead, we hope you will share your hopes and dreams for God’s church called Mennonite Church USA with church leaders.

May God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.

This testimony comes from Mennonite Church USA moderator Sharon Waltner (SharonW@MennoniteUSA.org), moderator-elect Ed Diller (EdD@MennoniteUSA.org), executive director Jim Schrag (JimS@MennoniteUSA.org) and associate executive director Ron Byler (RonB@MennoniteUSA.org). They invite you to share your thoughts with them.