For The Record

Submit birth, marriage and obituary records online.

Personal Ads

Meet new friends today!

Advertising

Put your message in front of 19,000 readers.

PDF documents on this site require the free Adobe Reader:

Get Adobe Reader

2010-06-01 issue:

Willard Metzger next general secretary of Mennonite Church Canada

by Don Friesen, secretary of the General Board for Mennonite Church Canada

Print Article

The General Board of Mennonite Church Canada has announced the appointment of Willard Metzger to the post of General Secretary. He will succeed outgoing General Secretary Robert (Jack) Suderman, who served in the post since 2005 and will retire this summer.
 
Andrew Reesor-McDowell, moderator for Mennonite Church Canada, made the announcement to staff on behalf of the General Board on May 20, adding that the search committee and the General Board unanimously supported the decision.
 
Metzger is the outgoing chair of Mennonite Church Canada's Witness Council, the mission and outreach ministry of the national church. He served in that position for nine years. Metzger has also been a pastor in Mennonite congregations for eighteen years, and most recently was Director of Church Relations for World Vision Canada.
 
Metzger received his Bachelor of Theology degree from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ont., a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of Waterloo, Ont., and a Master of Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, also in Waterloo. He also has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, OH.
 
"This is a great church, and we have much to celebrate," says Metzger. He speaks of strengthening our "sense of anticipation and hope." One of the areas Metzger will pay particular attention to is the denomination’s financial health. Another is ministry with young adults. He also wants to strengthen a “culture of call” in Mennonite Church Canada's churches and schools.
 
Metzger acknowledged the work done by Suderman, his predecessor. "Jack's leadership has strengthened our sense of trust, of being heard," he said, referring to Suderman’s 2006 God's People Now! cross-Canada visits to all congregations. "We're working on a strong platform," he said.
 
Reesor-McDowell says, "I am very pleased with the decision to appoint Willard Metzger as the next General Secretary for Mennonite Church Canada. Willard’s vision for the church is a broad and exciting vision."
 
The transition from Suderman to Metzger will begin in the fall.
 
Metzger is married to Lois. They presently live in Drayton, Ont., and have two adult sons, Matt and Chris.

Reader Comments

Add Comments

Current Stories

Articles

News stories, digests and Meno Acontecer

Columns

Births and Marriages

Readers Say

Subscribe