As depicted on our front cover, Mennonite World Conference leaders, during meetings in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in early August, planted a tree as “an act of faith and renewal of the earth.” (See also pages 20-21.)

The “act of faith” language is not surprising, considering the risks that were being considered. With Zimbabwe in political and economic turmoil, planners had to make a considered judgment whether or not to proceed with plans for a world-wide Mennonite assembly in August 2003.

Planners are hoping for at least 1,500 international registrants, alongside 4,000 Africans. Even with 1,500 persons from outside of Africa, income from registration will likely have to be supplemented with fund raising. Act of faith? No doubt.

Potential registrants can’t help but be affected by media coverage of racial clashes and travel risks. Sending in registrations will no doubt be experienced as an act of faith, even with the warm and compelling welcome of African brothers and sisters.

Members of the MWC Executive Committee said they were inspired after talking with a variety of African church members, who were realistic about the problems in their country. But they encouraged visitors to come to their country “with the eyes of faith, rather than with views influenced only by politics or the media.”

Veteran observer John A. Lapp, former executive secretary of Mennonite Central Committee, reported that during the planning meetings he heard:

•that the critical issues in Zimbabwe are not nearly as acute as political conflicts in Congo, religious violence in Indonesia, economic despair in Uruguay or personal safety in the United States;

•that our world is turbulent and that it is impossible to have a foolproof assembly anywhere at any time;

•that if an assembly cannot be held in Bulawayo, it can likely not be held anywhere in the southern hemisphere where the majority of Mennonites and Brethren in Christ now live;

•that it is no more outrageous to meet in Bulawayo than to be convinced that the church is global and universal, and that the assembly is one way for the church to be seen as the worldwide body of Christ;

See also the letter on page 15 from veteran world traveller Ray Dirks who was in Bulawayo at the same time as the MWC Executive Committee.

Consider these reports as you decide about registering for African 2003. Whether or not you go, this is the time to stand in solidarity with the assembly planners and with others in our worldwide faith family.
What better way than to plant a tree.

—Ron Rempel, editor

New column

With this issue we introduce a new column called “Family Ties” written by Melissa Miller (page 12).

With experience in both writing and counselling, Melissa has agreed to write a column which “offers help and encouragement to individuals as they engage in building and maintaining healthy family relationships. The column will address a wide variety of situations with all kinds of families,” she wrote. “Common themes such as family ties across generations, being family when living apart, negotiating the holidays or balancing power....”

Now from Winnipeg, Melissa lived previously in Ontario where she served at Shalom Counselling, a church-related agency in Waterloo. “My multiple family roles—daughter, sibling, aunt, spouse, in-law and mother—fuel my passion for exploring the myriad dimensions of family life,” commented Melissa. Her column will appear every other issue.