MWC has new president, vice president

A woman represents Africa for first time; Miller concludes service in 2012.

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What’s new with Mennonite World Conference (MWC)? A new president and vice president; a new General Council and Executive Committee, with a woman representing Africans for the first time; new member churches, including the Mennonite Church in Vietnam; a growing involvement of young people; a new treasurer from Paraguay; a revised constitution and four new commissions ready to work.

The business of MWC was done by its General Council and Executive Committee at meetings held in Asunción in conjunction with MWC’s global Assembly 15, July 14-19.

Danisa Ndlovu from Zimbabwe, who was vice president for six years and president-elect for three, was installed as president of MWC for six years. He succeeds Nancy Heisey of Harrisonburg, Va. Janet Plenert from Canada was elected vice president for six years.

The General Council elected a new Executive Committee from its members, with two people nominated by each continental caucus and affirmed by the Executive Committee. For the first time, the African Caucus chose a woman, Mawangu Biavula Ibanda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as one of its representatives. The second African is Thuma Hamukang’andu from Zambia.

Other Executive Committee members elected are those from Asia: Prem Prakash Bagh, India, and Adi Waludjo, Indonesia; Latin America and the Caribbean: Edgardo Sanchez, Argentina, and Felix Rafael Curbello Valle, Cuba; Europe: Rainer Burkart, Germany, and Markus Rediger, Switzerland; North America: Iris de Leon-Hartshorn, United States, and Ron Penner, Canada.

The first action of the new Executive Committee, which met on July 19, was to accept by consensus a report from AMIGOS, the young adult team, and its nominations for a Youth Task Force to operate for one year.

Four national churches were accepted as full members of MWC. In addition to the Vietnam Mennonite Church, new members are the Brethren in Christ Church in Mozambique, the Gilgal Mission Trust (Mennonite Church) in India and the Bible Missionary Church in Myanmar.

For the first time, management of MWC’s finances has moved to the global South with the appointment of Ernst Bergen from Paraguay as treasurer. Paul Quiring from California concluded 11 years as treasurer at the Asunción meeting.

During the past decade, MWC’s income, investments and expenses have increased dramatically to approximately $1.2 million at the end of 2008, with positive fund balances. Assembly 15 finances are not yet final.

The General Council has about 116 members named by member and associate member churches. Approximately 50 percent of the new General Council (GC16) were also members of GC15. Work completed by GC15 included adopting a revised constitution.

Discussion between MWC and the Global Mission Fellowship concluded with the formation of the MWC Mission Commission. The chair of the commission, Richard Showalter from the United States, was elected in Asunción. He also chairs the related GMF, whose planning committee is responsible for global mission events.

The General Council also approved the merger of MWC’s Asia Caucus and the Asia Mennonite Conference, which the AMC had already ratified. Within MWC, this body will be known as the Asia Caucus; for programs and communication within Asia, it will be known as Asia Mennonite Conference.

Lutheran World Federation representatives reported that the LWF Council plans to present a statement on the final report of the MWC-LWF Joint Study Commission at its 2010 world assembly. The statement is expected to ask for forgiveness of Lutheran persecution of Anabaptists in the 16th century.

There is strong support for continuing global assemblies. A study is underway to determine the time and place for the next global gathering.

Already a major celebration is anticipated in Europe in 2025, the 500th anniversary year of the beginning of the Anabaptist movement and MWC’s 100th anniversary.

The next General Council meeting will take place in May 2012 in Switzerland in conjunction with Mennonite European Regional Conference.

In May 2012, Larry Miller will conclude 22 years as general secretary of MWC.

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