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2009-10-20 issue:

Conflict resolution is focus of CLC

by Anna Groff

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Women comprised half of the Constituency Leaders Council meeting in Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center, Toano, Va., on Oct. 19-21.

It was the highest percentage in the history of CLC, said Dorothy Nickel Friesen, vice chair of CLC and Western District Conference conference minister. The gathering also drew the highest percentage of first-time attendees and one of the highest percentages of underrepresented racial/ethnic participants.


Dick Thomas shows the dots on the map marking conferences' church planting efforts. Photo by Anna Groff.

Discussion of resolutions: A resolution on conflict, "Growing Together as Communities Even in Conflict," passed by delegates at Convention 2009, was the primary focus of the meeting. However, most of the discussion was in closed sessions on Oct. 19 and 20. Representatives from conferences, African-American Mennonite Association and Iglesia Menonita Hispana shared their progress in responding to the Executive Board (EB) on the resolution.

"This time provided a space for leaders to hear and learn from one another," said Dick Thomas, moderator-elect. "I hope this is helpful to conferences as they continue to shape their responses to EB. I was very pleased with the level of sharing and depth of listening."

The EB has asked conferences to provide their response to the resolution and indicate what resources would be helpful by Jan. 8.

CLC also discussed the format and value of resolutions at church-wide conventions. Several table groups expressed a desire to see drafts of the resolutions prior to the convention so that delegates could communicate with their congregations and conferences ahead of time.

Resolutions are good if there is commitment and follow through—financially and otherwise, said Ivonne Díaz, director of Iglesia Menonita Hispana. "People would think a lot more carefully," she said. She provided an example of this disconnect: the 2003 resolution on immigration and the lack of attendance at the consultation on immigration in September.

Antiracism task force: Karl Shelly, member of CLC's antiracism task force, announced that CLC is making progress on its antiracist goals. With five additional racial/ethnic people, this meeting would have met its goal of 30 percent participation. Shelly placed five empty chairs at the front of the room to symbolize those missing. 

"These chairs are not only a symbol of our shortcoming, but also a sign of hope," he said.

Another member of the task force, Iris de-León-Hartshorne, led CLC in an experiment, the "Circle Process," to encourage deep listening at table groups. In this process, participants pass an object around the table and the person who has it is the only person permitted to speak.

"It's one thing to invite people to come [to CLC], but then we need to hear their voice [when they come]," she said.

In other business: On Oct. 21, conferences reported on church planting efforts and added dots to a map of the United States to indicate locations. In total, conference leaders reported 27 new congregations, 88 church plants in various stages and 13 locations of exploration.

CLC traveled to Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va., to tour the church and school and worship with church leaders.


Darlene Dockery (center), Nicole Francisco (left) and Julia Dukes (right) lead worship during CLC's trip to Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va. Photo by Anna Groff.

On Oct. 19, Kurt Horst and Larry Miller, CEO of Mennonite Mutual Aid, served cake to CLC members to celebrate plans for the launch of The Corinthian Plan. In mid-October the Association of Mennonite Schools and Camps committed its members to participate at the reinsurance level.

The next CLC meeting is scheduled for March 15-17, 2010 and will be held in Kansas City, Mo.

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