Froese replaces Plenert as head of MC Canada Witness

Tim Froese, executive director of Mennonite Church Canada’s International Ministry program, now heads the office of Witness

, filling the spot vacated by Janet Plenert who resigned from the post April 21, according to staff reports.  

The office of executive director for International Ministries has been phased out with Froese’s responsibilities for Latin America being  transferred to colleague Hippolyto Tshimanga.  International Ministries as an arm of Witness remains in full force.

With his assumption of those responsibilities, Tshimanga’s position as Mission Partnership Facilitator for Europe, Africa, will become full-time with the addition of responsibilities for Latin America. He will share the Europe portfolio with Gordon Janzen, Mission Partnership Facilitator for Asia and the Middle East.

Plenert, who served for five years under the leadership of General Secretary Robert J. Suderman, came to her position in Witness as Suderman’s successor when he became secretary in 2005.  Her prior international ministry experience in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo and Brazil brought “wide affirmation,” according to a staff news release, as she provided overall leadership to Native Ministry, International Ministries, Multi-cultural Ministry, and worked with Area Churches in regards to Evangelism and Church Planting.

Plenert also oversaw numerous Mennonite Church Canada relationships to organizations such as Mennonite Central Committee, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Mennonite Disaster Service, Mennonite Women Canada, Mennonite Men, Mennonite Voluntary Service Adventure and the Global Mission Fellowship of Mennonite World Conference.

Her appointment as vice president of Mennonite World Conference continues.

The director of Multi-cultural Ministry (Samson Lo), the Chief Operating Officer (Vic Thiessen), and the director of Christian Nurture (Elsie Rempel) positions have been discontinued. The Youth Ministry Facilitator (Anna Rehan) has ended as a permanent position. It will be offered as a contract position for the year during which the biennial youth assembly convenes.

The discontinuation of 3.4 full time equivalent (FTE) staff positions, in addition to some ministries and other expense-side budget reductions totalling $415,000, was done in a response to a downturn in income and other expense factors during the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2011. In addition to staffing and ministry reductions, MC Canada’s grant to Canadian Mennonite University will be reduced by $105,000, effective Feb. 1, 2012.  The reduced support level will be $200,000 per year.

Some staff in discontinued positions have accepted alternate or altered roles, and some have declined those offers and will end their employment:

• Vic Thiessen will step into an altered position, combining the responsibilities of executive secretary, Church Engagement and the newly created Chief Administrative Officer role. The position of Chief Operating Officer previously held by Thiessen has been eliminated.
• Norm Dyck completes his role as executive secretary, Church Engagement, on June 30.
• Samson Lo will conclude his half-time position as director of Multi-cultural Ministry on July 31.
• Elsie Rempel’s position as director of Christian Nurture will end on July 31. She has accepted a newly created position as Christian Formation Consultant at a reduced FTE.
• Anna Rehan will conclude her position as Youth Ministry Facilitator on July 31.
• Val Pankratz, executive assistant, Witness, has declined an altered position, creating a vacancy after July 31.
• Lois Friesen Wiebe, Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer and General Secretary, has declined an altered role. This position will be filled by existing staff.

In addition to these changes, several additional full time staff have accepted increased responsibilities in their job descriptions, and some staff will increase their time to take on added responsibilities. Unrelated to the reductions, Neil and Edith von Gunten, co-directors of Native Ministries, have retired.

These changes have resulted in a few new ministry opportunities at Mennonite Church Canada. Recruitment has begun for these openings. (see www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/241 for details).

Willard Metzger, General Secretary, said, “We recognize the human impact this has had. I invite prayers for those experiencing unexpected job changes. Despite these changes, our calling as a church remains the same. We will continue to grow leaders for the church, become a global church, and form a people of God.”

--June 13, 2011