Two Mennonite medical groups may merge

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HARRISONBURG, Va.—The joint annual convention of Mennonite Medical Association (MMA) and Mennonite Nurses Association (MNA) traditionally has been a time for fellowship, worship and learning.

This year, held June 19-22 at Snow Mountain Ranch near Fraser, Colo., it also included some historic decision-making.

MMA was founded in 1944 as a professional association for physicians, dentists and medical or dental students who are members of Anabaptist congregations. MNA, founded in 1942, is a parallel organization for nurses and student nurses.

In 2007, MMA members voted unanimously to change their bylaws to open membership to all graduate-level health-care professionals.

Recognizing the significant implications of this decision for MNA in particular, the executive committees of the two organizations met several times over the past year to look at long-range needs for both groups.

Following committee reports at separate business meetings at Snow Mountain Ranch, members of both MNA and MMA asked for a study team to be formed that will, by the next convention at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., in June 2009, develop a recommendation either to continue the current separate structures or form one new association for Anabaptist health-care professionals.

The total membership of both organizations has been notified of this plan and will be able to address comments and concerns to organizational officers and members of the study team.

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