The executive committees of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada, along with representatives of MennoMedia and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, met May 22-24, 2026, at Jackson Point Retreat Center in Ontario.
Front row: Lynn Rempel, MennoMedia Board; James Gunden, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary board chair; Amy Gingerich, MennoMedia executive director; Marty Lehman, MC USA moderator; Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director; Al Rempel, Mennonite Church Canada associate executive minister; Todd Lehman, MC USA moderator elect.
Back row: Geraldine Balzer, Mennonite Church Canada moderator; Doug Klassen, Mennonite Church Canada executive minister; David Boshart, AMBS president; Paul Gilbert, Mennonite Church Canada; Bruce Baergen, Mennonite Church Canada assistant moderator; Jennifer Regehr, Mennonite Church Canada; Rosetta Landis, Mennonite Church USA.
JACKSON’S POINT, Ontario, May 2026 — The executive committees of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada gathered May 22-24, 2026, at Jackson Point Retreat Center in Ontario for a Joint Executive Committee meeting hosted by MC USA. Representatives from MennoMedia and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary also participated in the gathering.
The weekend began Friday evening with dinner, introductions and prayer, followed by a full day of reports, discernment and conversation on Saturday. Participants received updates from Mennonite Church Canada, MC USA, MennoMedia and AMBS, and reflected together on the ongoing meaning of “one denomination, two countries” in 2026.
The group affirmed the importance of continued partnership wherever shared ministry strengthens the church’s witness and capacity. Discussion highlighted several current and future areas of collaboration, including Christian formation, leadership development, resources for congregations, and a new or updated binational and multicultural Ministers Manual. The committee also noted the continuing value of models such as the Voices Together hymnal project, which grew out of the Joint Executive Committee’s work.
Two policy-related actions were identified for future work. The committee agreed to work together to add AMBS to the MC USA bylaws and MennoMedia to the Mennonite Church Canada bylaws, using common language where appropriate. The action reflects the shared relationship both ministries hold within the broader binational Mennonite church.
Participants also discussed the 1995 Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, agreeing that each confession stands as its own document rather than being updated through an addendum. The group agreed not to pursue a new Confession of Faith in the foreseeable future and instead encouraged work on a resource to help congregations and leaders better understand Mennonite confessions of faith.
The Joint Executive Committee meets twice a year. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2026, by Zoom. An in-person meeting is planned for May 14-16, 2027, at AMBS in Elkhart, Indiana.