As members of the Executive Board Staff, we want to invite you to intentional prayer for all of Mennonite Church USA. For our staff as we strive to serve as a supportive community for area conferences and congregations; for Mennonite Church USA agencies, area conferences and congregations themselves, as they join in God’s work in the world in their local contexts; and for all those individuals connected to our denomination, as they seek to follow Jesus, day-by-day.
And, at this time, we’d especially like to invite your prayers for the Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA, as they meet together from June 26 to 28 in Chicago.
For many years, Mennonites have been involved in conversations about denominational membership guidelines, about the participation of members of the LGBTQ community in congregational and denominational life, and about how individuals and congregations read and interpret Scripture. These conversations will continue during the upcoming Executive Board meeting in June. One of their primary tasks will be to prayerfully discern how Mennonite Church USA can move forward together in the midst of disagreement, drawing on feedback received from the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) and the task force.
Here are some examples of prayers and dreams for Mennonite Church USA that were shared by members of the North Newton, Kan., community (including some children), as well as members of the Constituency Leaders Council, during the CLC’s meetings in March.
“I pray that we would be a family of differences, but not division.”
“May our listening and our conversations inspire actions that emulate Jesus. May our listening and our conversations inspire us to extend love, acceptance, respect, kindness, brotherhood and sisterhood. May we be called to look at ourselves as ever-extending, ever-growing, ever-flowing, and ever-more the body of Christ…”
“The Fruits of the Spirit among us: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Goodness, Gntleness, Self-control, Generosity.”
“Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us LOVE, send us POWER, send us GRACE.”
“Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Have mercy, O God, have mercy. Make a way in the wilderness. AMEN.”
“I wish for a world where love and God will be realized.”
“May we find ways to be Christ to the world together.”
What prayers or dreams for Mennonite Church USA do you have? Would you consider holding each Executive Board member in your prayers during their June meetings? Would your church consider building a prayer mural or sharing some of your prayers, favorite scripture passages, hopes and dreams with us?
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See also:
- Executive Board releases statement on Mountain States decision, approves resolution on immigration
- Executive Board statement: Moving Forward
- Executive Board appoints task force to frame questions for CLC meeting
- Constituency Leaders Council prepares to meet
- Constituency Leaders Council meets, offers direction to the Executive Board