2. Hilda Hildebrand (Moderator, Mennonite Church Canada)

3. We are extremely grateful for the hard work of the FDTF
We are extremely grateful for the hard work of the FDTF. We are also thankful for their willingness to stay engaged during the Assembly to help us understand the Final Report and Addendum more fully.

4. The work now transitions to the Boards and the delegates of the Area and National Church. We want to spend this time focusing on what is being requested of the delegates. The recommendation is found on page 11 of the Discernment Guide. The recommendation of the General Board is as follows:

5. That Mennonite Church Canada approve in principle the directions proposed by the Future Directions Task Force Final Report, and collaborate with the five Area Churches (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Eastern Canada) in developing a more integrated nation-wide church body along the lines envisioned to better resource all levels of our church in responding to God’s call to live out and share the peace of Jesus Christ with local through global neighbours.

6. In approving this motion, it is understood that:
• Prior to implementation there will be opportunity to vote on a more fully developed proposal no later than July 2018, with ongoing consultation with congregations in between;
• The final proposal will incorporate some form of area church delegate involvement in the governance of national agenda and priorities;
• The final proposal will include provision for national gatherings for study, fellowship, worship and discernment;

7. • Formal conversation will be undertaken (e. g
• Formal conversation will be undertaken (e.g. via working group, conference or other means) to review our future vision and strategy for international relationships and witness, addressing questions in the Addendum and related ones, to be completed by December 2017; • The final proposal will include concrete provisions that recognize and respond to the vulnerability of smaller area churches; and

8. • Formal conversation will be undertaken (e. g
• Formal conversation will be undertaken (e.g. via working group, conference or other means to build on the Report and engage congregations to:
dream about how to live out the gospel of Christ locally, across Canada and abroad;
think creatively on how congregations can resource our common life together in being the church; and, in the short term,
work together and generously support our mutual ministry and transition from where we are to where God invites us to be.

9. Aldred Neufeldt (Vice Moderator, Mennonite Church Canada)

10. I am very grateful for the engagement that the FDTF Final Report has received. One of the key questions identified by Area Church delegates is: What is meant by “approval in principle”? During this time of our plenary session the Area Church Moderators and I will help answer that question.

11. Paul Wideman (Moderator, MCEC)

12. The Final Report is not a blueprint
The Final Report is not a blueprint. It proposes directions for us to take in this uncertain time for the church, with propositions to be carefully considered and details to be worked out.

13. The General Board’s motion is to accept the Final Report in principle, taking into account provisions identified in the Addendum. The details need to be worked out in a transition time during which a number of important decisions will have to be made.

14. Peter Rempel (Moderator, MCM)

15. The General Board and Area Church leaders anticipate a transition time of up to two years. If done well, such a transition time should be a time of renewal, even as we lament changes to once treasured programs. We’ll take a look at the major tasks that will to be completed if the Final Report and Addendum are approved.

16. Lee Dyck (Moderator, MCBC)

17. We will need to prepare and finalize a covenant binding our regional bodies to a common vision. This vision will be global, national, regional, and local. It will include common regional priorities (with allowance for regional variation), national priorities, shared ministries, governance, costing and flow of funds, polity and related matters.

18. Prepare and implement a workplan that considers changes in the program emphases proposed in the Report, each involving a:
Review of what is currently done
Consideration of alternative approaches that hold promise for strengthening church ministry
Gathering input from ‘stakeholders’
Developing costing/funding and implementation scenarios
Prepare plan for review and approval.

19. Dan Jack (Moderator, MCA)

20. This covenant will be negotiated by an Interim Council of National and Area Church Moderators. The work would be led by a Transition Team of up to 3 persons reporting to the Interim Council, each member with complementary area of expertise, all with a love for the church.

21. Senior staff of area and national church bodies would conduct necessary research and develop implementation proposals for consideration. Some of this research might be done by working groups of constituents.

22. An experienced ‘project manager’ would be hired to coordinate work, facilitate research and preparation of written reports or proposals, and other activities required to assure timelines are met.

23. Ken Warkentin (Moderator, MCSK)

24. As a way of strengthen constituency involvement we envision a Listening Group of diverse voices to receive draft reports and proposals prepared by the Transition Team for consideration by the Interim Council (IC), providing their input and advice for the IC to consider.

25. We also envision working groups to research specific topics (e. g
We also envision working groups to research specific topics (e.g. international relations and witness). This will be an opportunity to involve constituents with relevant experience and knowledge.

26. We also envision larger constituency feedback loops back to Area Church boards and, for some issues, back to congregations.

27. Any major decisions with policy implications would be referred to delegate assemblies. We will create regular feedback to all congregations and interested members on work in progress via joint communication channels.

28. In approving this motion in principle it is understood that prior to implementation there will be opportunity to vote on a more fully developed proposal no later than July 2018, with ongoing consultation with congregations as has already been indicated.
Aldred

29. The final proposal will incorporate some form of Area Church delegate involvement in the governance of national agenda and priorities.
Paul

30. The final proposal will include provision for national gatherings for study, fellowship, worship and discernment.
Ken W

31. Formal conversation will be undertaken (through working groups, conference or other means) to review our future vision and strategy for international relationships and witness. This will address the questions identified in the Addendum. We envision this review to be completed by December 2017.
Peter R

32. The final proposal will include concrete provisions that recognize and respond to the vulnerability of smaller Area Churches.
Dan J

33. Formal conversations will be undertaken (via working groups, conference or other means) to build on the Report and engage congregations to dream about how to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ locally, across Canada and around the world.
Lee D

34. You will be invited to think creatively on how congregations can resource our common life together in being the church across Canada.
Aldred

35. In the short term, you will be invited to think creatively on how we can all work together to generously support our mutual ministry and transition from where we are to where God invites us to be.
Aldred

36. From what has been said, you can see that although much of the detail still needs to worked out, approving the FDTF Final Report and Addendum in principle is anything but signing a blank cheque.
Aldred

37. Table discussion
We will now invite you to have conversation around table groups. The question we want you to work at together is: Is there anything else still needed before you are ready to respond to the recommendation.