MWC shifts Assembly 17 to 2022

August 20, 2020 | Web First
Mennonite World Conference
A band leads worship at Assembly 16 in Harrisburg, Pa., in 2015. (Photo by Jonathan Charles)

In close consultation with the national advisory committee in Indonesia, the host country, the executive committee of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) has decided not to hold Assembly 17 in 2021, as originally announced. Instead, MWC has decided to postpone its next global assembly until July 5-10, 2022. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect hundreds of thousands of people each day,” says J. Nelson Kraybill, MWC’s president. “Restrictions of large group gatherings are still in place, and travel is not advised. These limitations will remain in place for many more months. The likelihood we can safely gather in person as a global family for group worship, service and learning in 2021 seems low. To allow both MWC staff and attendees to properly plan for the event, we have chosen to postpone it to 2022.”

“The Indonesian Mennonite churches are committed to hosting the assembly in Indonesia,” says Reverend Paulus Widjaja, chair of the Indonesian national advisory council. “Please continue to pray for the healing of the world, and for the assembly.”

“The assembly venues will remain the same,” says Liesa Unger, the assembly’s chief international events officer. “The gathering will still happen in Semarang at Holy Stadium, at the beginning of July—but in 2022. Similarly, the Global Youth Summit will remain in Salatiga, but will shift to July 1 to 4 in 2022 instead.”

“2022 will come quickly,” Unger adds. “Stay tuned to MWC’s website and social media for more information as you plan to attend assembly. We are looking forward to a Psalm 133 experience of how good and pleasant it is for brethren [and sisters] to dwell together in unity!”

Related story:
Remembering the 1990 MWC assembly in Winnipeg

A band leads worship at Assembly 16 in Harrisburg, Pa., in 2015. (Photo by Jonathan Charles)

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