The Vision for a Stronger Mennonite Church Canada

Current Context Increasingly secular society Culture has lost touch with a faith-based world view Decline in church membership Aging congregations Decline in young adult engagement in congregations Movement of dollars from the regional and national church to the congregation

A Generous People The upward trend line shows that members increased their giving to the local congregation by almost 25% over the 5 years Some of this might be attributed to capital projects undertaken in member congregations, however, there is still a definite trend toward increased giving to the local congregation.

Lets look more closely at the history of congregational giving to the wider church. in 1988-89 congregations contributed $2.36 M to MCEC and MC Canada You can see that giving increased to a high of $2.87 M in 1990-91, but the support has been on a slow downward trend since then, with this past year’s donations totaling $2.31M This is the opposite trend than we saw in the giving of members to their congregations Congregations are keeping more of their receipts and using them to support the local church and its ministries.

And then there is the inflation factor Once again we see the actual giving as shown with the black trend line The first point on the red line shows the 1988-89 fiscal year’s giving and expenditures of $2.359 M As we move along the red line you can see how inflation impacted the costs in the subsequent years. the ministries provided in FYE 1989 would cost $3.6M in today’s dollar. That’s (^^) $1.3M less buying power for MC Canada and MCEC to carry out ministries as compared to current congregational revenues of $2.3M

Congregational Concerns: MCEC 2014 Listening Project We want to learn how to reach out Our congregational structures need to adapt We have to re-vision our mission and ministry We need to embrace diversity We have to focus on essentials

Emerging Themes: MCEC 2014 Listening Project We can’t name or articulate our mission We have excellent words but not the action to go with it More capacity to articulate our experience of God Every member should be able to talk about their faith. Every congregation should be involved in the community. We need to get the church into the neighbourhood.

Emerging Themes (continued) People are worried about the future of the church. Half of our churches are in survival mode instead of engaging in mission Change is needed but few are proactive. Want MCEC to provide support to work at these issues. Some want lots of change & experimentation

Emerging Themes (continued) We need a new understanding of mission Congregations tend to think of themselves as only worship and nurture centres Congregations need to regain a sense of mission Need to find God at work in the neighbourhood Need to be local centres of mission activity

Future Directions Task Force (FDTF) Study Process initiated June 2011 and FDTF formed in Fall 2012 Task Force formed of reps from national and Area Churches Final Report from FDTF November/December 2015 The final report is a vision and directions document Not a structure document but pointing the way Willard Comment

Future Directions Task Force Study Findings affirmed by the research and study of the FDTF MCEC experience was similar to the national scene Christianity in Canada is in the midst of immense change Not the first time the Church has experienced a change of this magnitude. Compare the 16th century Reformation So what is God calling us to in this 21st century?

Vision for Future of Mennonite Church Canada   1. Strong, healthy, revitalized congregations Spiritually engaging worship and faith formation Supportive community and pastoral care Actively engaged in expressing their Christian faith through local and global witness

Vision for Future of Mennonite Church Canada   2. Strong Area Churches Resourcing Congregations Empowering congregations to engage in ministry Support pastoral and lay leaders Oversee pastoral credentialing and calling of pastors Help congregations innovate Equip for ministry within and beyond the congregation

Vision for Future of Mennonite Church Canada   3. Strong National Church that Resources Area Churches Area Churches align around a common covenant and collaborate on national priorities Initiatives at a national level are determined by the needs of the Area Churches Ongoing national discernment with pastors and lay leaders through biennial study conferences

What will this look like? Redesigned national structure National structure no longer governed by delegates but by a national board comprised of reps from each Area Church National structure only does what the Area Churches discern needs to be done so that the church is strong and healthy

What will this look like? National staff focused on key priorities as discerned together by the Area Churches National staff will be required to achieve the following priorities

1. Identity, Vision & Executive Oversight Fostering Anabaptist/Mennonite identity and vision Executive leadership role Representational function to the ecumenical community Representational function to the secular community

2. International Witness Coordination of international mission opportunities Regional missional facilitation for confirmation of call Facilitation of CRA compliance Facilitation of financial obligations Training for overseas assignments Liaison with other mission partners Willard Comment

3. Communications Maintenance of integrated national/regional websites Integrated national/regional logo and branding Integrated communication vehicles to congregations Collective communication coordination across Area Ch. Regional reporting with integration of the national National webmaster resource

4. Leadership Development Integrated ministerial leadership training events Spokesperson to MC USA and interdenominationally Oversight of a Congregation of Ministers Support, coaching and training for AC Ministers Oversee national protocols for credentialling Oversee national development of leadership policies

5. Integrated National Strategy for Disciple-making Area Churches collaborate around a vision for disciple- making Focus on disciple-making both within and beyond the congregation Integrated training and resourcing for Area Churches Sharing of internal and external resources

6. Indigenous Relationships Representational role to the indigenous community, ecumenical community, and broader society National educational material Helping the church to build healthier relationships with the indigenous community Integration and collaboration with regional initiatives and the work of other Mennonite agencies such as MCC

7. Gathering and Curating Anabaptist Resources Acquisition and development of Anabaptist oriented resources Expanded resources to congregations through the existing Common Word platform Digital and online resources for Congregations

8. Mennonite Education & Leadership Development National strategy for pastoral training and postsecondary education National strategy for calling, formation and development of pastoral leaders

9. Support Services Administrative functions Event planning for national events Administration of health benefits for pastors Administration of a pension plan for pastors IT services

The Impact and Vision of a New MC Canada Stronger focus on mission, especially congregational Stronger national Anabaptist/Mennonite identity Stronger Area Churches to better equip congregations Stronger congregational connection to international witness Stronger leadership development across the Area Churches

The Impact and Vision of a New MC Canada Stronger, integrated disciple-making across the Area Churches Stronger focus on discernment through the College of Ministers and national study/discernment conferences Stronger integration of Mennonite education and leadership development Stronger, simpler, sounder, more financially viable denominational structure

MCEC Executive Council Recommendation Endorsed by MCEC Executive Council in December 2015 Approved for recommendation to delegates at 2016 Annual Church Gathering Executive Council requested congregations be updated via regional information and consultation meetings

Implementation Affirmation in principle by Area Churches at their AGMs Affirmation of MC Canada delegates in July in Saskatoon Appoint a Transition Working Group post July 2016 Further approvals as needed by Area Church boards or delegates if required

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11