This month, Anabaptists will gather to mark two anniversaries—the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement and the 100th anniversary of Mennonite World Conference.
Some 200 Anabaptist church leaders from around the world will be present as delegates for the triennial General Council meeting. The fellowship time begins with a 100th anniversary celebration May 25 in Germany and culminates with a one-day, registration-free, open-to-all event May 29 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Those attending the anniversary events representing U.S. Mennonite Brethren include Tim and Gertrude Geddert, Aaron and Jennifer Box, and Sebastian and Raquel Morales. A group of 18 students and faculty from Tabor College will attend the May 29 events.
The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is coordinating its annual summit with the MWC events. The ICOMB summit will be held May 30 to June 3.
Centenary celebration
Mennonite World Conference is celebrating its 100th anniversary May 25 with a worship service and reception in Schwäbish Gmünd, Germany.
“We hope Anabaptists will be able to make the journey to Schönblick from hundreds of kilometres in each direction around Europe to celebrate this momentous anniversary with leaders from around the world. Mennonites living out interchurch unity for 100 years—truly something to celebrate,” says Liesa Unger, chief international events officer.
The service will include singing favorites from the Assembly songbook, a presentation on the history of MWC, reflections from past MWC leaders, prayers of blessing from leaders representing each of MWC’s five regions and a display featuring historical photos from member churches around the world. The latter can also be viewed in Zurich May 29.
“We invite you to be part of this historic celebration: by attending, contributing a donation or joining us in prayer,” says Pilar Aguirre, MWC development associate. “Together, we can make this 100th anniversary unforgettable and ensure that the unity we’ve fostered continues for generations.”
General Council triennial meeting
The MWC General Council meets May 26 through 28 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. These delegates appointed by national MWC member and associate member churches form the body that governs the life, work and organization of MWC. They represent each national member church of Mennonite World Conference from Argentina to Zimbabwe. General Council delegates serve a six-year term that spans two meetings: one alongside the global Assembly and one in the interval halfway between.
“These meetings form an important piece of our life as churches following together in the Anabaptist tradition,” says César García, MWC general secretary.
This year’s General Council resolutions include a significant proposal regarding official inclusion of YABs (Young AnaBaptist) delegates which requires constitutional changes. The proposal for a name change, considered by the General Council in 2018, continues to be discerned by the Executive Committee and will not come before the General Council at this time.
A lot of information goes into the triennial meetings: sharing recommendations for the General Council, updates from Commissions and Networks to collecting statistical information from all the churches. Data processing assistant Ana María Morales Villarreal, a member of Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas de Colombia, has temporarily joined the MWC administration team until after the event.
MWC’s four Commissions, the Creation Care Task Force and the Global Anabaptist Networks will also gather, including the emerging education and peace networks (GAHEN, GAPSEN, GAPN).
Anabaptism@500 livestream
The Courage to Love 500th anniversary service on May 29 in Zurich, Switzerland, will showcase music of Anabaptists from around the world and will include a joint statement of reconciliation between MWC and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
The service will be live streamed and the event recording will be posted during the first week of June for those unable to view in real time.
“You can tune in from around the world,” says Unger. “We encourage local congregations to host a screening so members can watch together, worshipping where two or three are gathered.”
The stage language is English; a separate broadcast will be available with interpretation into German, French, Spanish.
“Our worship service will offer a taste of Assembly,” says Unger. “Starting at 17:00 local time (CEST), the worship service will take place in the morning for the Americas, early evening in Africa, and later in the evening and into the night as you head east into Asia.”
Global Youth Summit
Global Youth Summit (GYS) is a time for worshipping together, reflecting on faith across cultures, learning about the local culture, and growing understanding through relevant workshops. The fifth Mennonite World Conference GYS will take place May 30 to June 1 in Schwabisch-Gmund, Germany, with the theme, Empowered by love (1 John 4:11).
Young adults aged 18-30 are the target audience, but youth groups accompanied by a supervising adult could also participate.
“This will be a perfect opportunity for young people to immerse themselves to our heritage and the origins of the Anabaptist movement while also having fun and making connections with young people from all over the world,” says Ebenezer Mondez, Young Anabaptists (YABS) mentor from the Philippines.
Mennonite World Conference is a communion of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness. USMB is a member conference of this global ministry.
