Running on fumes

“An excellent car, but little fuel.” This is how treasurer Ernst Bergen described the situation currently facing Mennonite World Conference (MWC) when the Executive Committee met in Akron in late May, in preparation for the next global assembly—the 16th—to be held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., in July 2015.

He spoke highly of the qualified people on staff, on the four MWC commissions—Deacons, Faith and Life, Mission and Peace—and on the Young Anabaptists Committee. “But all these groups cannot work as they would like to, because they lack money,” he said.

MWC has prepared an “opportunities budget” to identify the cost of increasing its networking capacity through initiatives such as regional staff appointments and increased commission activity. Until additional money is raised, however, MWC is committed to a balanced budget and the “opportunity” plans will not be implemented.

In response to the financial challenge, the Executive Committee took an initial step in reviewing the current per member Fair Share formula, which is designed to cover the unrestricted or operating budget and the Travel Fund, a total of around $985,000 per year. According to reports, however, only about 25 percent of this amount comes in, since not every member conference pays the requested amount.

Other revenue for the unrestricted budget comes from individual, business and congregational donations. In addition, MWC needs to raise money for a number of restricted funds, such as the Assembly Fund, Global Church Sharing Fund and Global Youth Summit Fund.

“No one is so poor they can’t give the equivalent of one lunch per year,” noted general secretary César García. If that were to happen, the budget goal could be achieved, he said.

The idea was picked up by a number of others, who added the suggestion that congregations be invited to plan communal meals and to ask congregants to contribute the equivalent cost of a lunch, however that is calculated in each country.

Assembly theme chosen

Those attending the Executive Committee meetings toured the site of the next global assembly and imagined the global faith family worshipping and relating in that space.

“Walking with God” was the assembly theme agreed on after several rounds of intense discussion. A smaller task group had proposed “Walking in the light of God.” Some liked the biblical language, drawn from Isaiah, while others saw “light of God” as “insider” language, and wanted a theme that would communicate to people both inside and outside the church. Also discussed was a formulation emphasizing unity and diversity: “Many members, one body” or “Many clans, one tribe.”

Growth in networking capacity

Leaders of the four commissions talked about how to accompany member
churches in difficult times and how to help the global MWC community strengthen its Anabaptist identity. They made plans to add new resources to the Global Shelf of Anabaptist Literature and discussed ways to relate with existing service and mission networks and a growing number of other networks that would like to connect in some way with MWC.

The secretary for each commission has a part-time salary for less than one day per week; other work is done by volunteers. The commissions have met in person only once since they were established in 2009. All commissions are hoping to meet in person at least one more time before the 2015 assembly, but funds are limited.

Also present at the Akron meetings were candidates for a part time, one-day-per-week regional representative position for Europe. Given the geographic spread of Asia, plans call for a part-time position in each of three continental regions.

García said he hopes the continental representative positions for both Europe and Asia can be in place by the end of 2013, if funds can be found. He would like to see similar positions in Africa in 2014 and Latin America in 2015.