1. The Vision for a Stronger Mennonite Church Canada

2. 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

3. 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.

4. Lets look more closely at the history of congregational giving to the wider church.
in congregations contributed $2.36 M to MCEC and MC Canada
You can see that giving increased to a high of $2.87 M in , 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.

5. 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 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. 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

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