A Vision for Mennonite Church USA
What is the Purposeful Plan?
The Purposeful Plan is one part a strategic organizational plan, one part a road map for the future work of Mennonite Church USA, and one part a document that outlines our dreams and vision for God’s mission breaking forth across the church. In 2011, through prayer and discernment, the Executive Board sensed that God was calling Mennonite Church USA to move more deliberately toward fulfillment of our missional purpose as a church. Since then, we have pursued this purpose through prayerful planning that involves all parts of the church — congregations, area conferences, constituent groups, and church-wide agencies.
The Purposeful Plan is a living document. This means that it gets updated each biennium (every two years) with new goals and refreshed language.
Christian Formation
We equip our churches to follow Jesus. This priority reflects our commitment to discipleship in the way of Christ. We call people to Christian commitment, teach them to embrace Scripture, develop Christian identity from an Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective and ground vocational calling in Christian faith and values.
Christian Community
Together, we are the body of Christ. This priority reflects our commitment to worship together, extend hospitality, discern the meaning of Scripture for our lives, reflect on our history, embrace the diversity in our midst, and practice active love and mutual accountability.
Holistic Christian Witness
We share the good news of Jesus Christ in truth and action. This priority reflects our identity as a missional church and our commitment to birthing new communities of faith. We bear witness to God’s kingdom by striving for peace and justice.
Stewardship
We offer what we have for the sake of the gospel with generosity and gratitude. This priority reflects our commitment to whole-life stewardship, caring for creation and practicing mutual aid.
Leadership Development
We develop leaders at all levels of the church. This priority reflects our commitment to empower all of our members to reach their potential as they follow God’s call in their lives, to name and claim the power that we have and to nurture diverse gifts across the church.
Undoing racism and advancing intercultural transformation
We celebrate the diversity of our church. This priority reflects our commitment to dismantle individual and systemic racism, develop intercultural competence, heal racial divisions and value all the gifts of God’s diverse people.
Church-to-church relationships
We join with the ecumenical church in witness to God’s kingdom. This priority reflects our commitment to give and receive gifts in the broader body of Christ. We cultivate a particularly close relationship with Mennonite Church Canada, sharing a common history, confession of faith, ministerial polity and many joint ministries.
How can I get involved?
We are praying for God’s grace and help to carry out the vision, the purpose and the plan. We encourage each congregation, area conference, or church agency to:
Work through the document section by section
Study the missional traits and signposts of the faithful church laid out in the Purposeful Plan
Embrace the seven priorities, adapting goals that are suitable to your own context
Wrestle with the polarities that reflect faithful church life
Share with others what you are learning