Imagine a world in which thousands of formerly persecuted followers of Jesus gather in and around the church building where it all started.
Imagine the spiritual descendants (and in some cases the physical descendants) of the very first Anabaptist Christians meeting with representatives of the church that kicked them out, harassed them and often burned or drowned them meeting in a service of celebration and reconciliation.
Imagine the world leader of the Anabaptist movement (Mennonite World Conference General Secretary César García) and the world leader of the Reformed Church movement, which were enemies of the first Anabaptists back then, washing each other’s feet, while thousands of celebrants spoke words of confession and forgiveness, reconciliation and hope for unity and joy going forward.
Some of us don’t need to try to imagine it. We were privileged enough to be there in person to see it all happen and to participate in all the surrounding events.
The event was live-streamed around the world and included not only a reconciliation event that united formerly persecuting and formerly persecuted Christians. It also included words of blessing and gratitude to Anabaptists for their contribution to the worldwide Christian movement from world leaders of many different Christian faith communities, including a moving message from the newly elected pope.
Anabaptists are a small part of the world Christian movement, and U.S. Mennonite Brethren a very, very small part of that. (We make up about 1.5 percent of the total number.) But our positive influence there is not insignificant, and, if we let it happen, the inspiration and joy of the larger movement can deeply enrich our own identity and mission as we learn to follow Jesus more faithfully.
All I can say is please start planning now already. In about two years and eight months, an even larger group (perhaps six to eight thousand) will be gathering in Ethiopia for the next Mennonite World Conference worldwide gathering. I, personally, can hardly wait.
Tim Geddert and his wife, Gertrud, serve as USMB delegates to Mennonite World Conference. They attended the MWC General Council meetings in Germany and The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500 events in Switzerland in May 2025. Geddert was elected chair of the MWC Faith and Life commission.
Tim Geddert served as professor of New Testament at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California, until his retirement in May 2023. He is a member of the U.S. Conference Board of Faith and Life.
