The MC USA Executive Board, meeting via Zoom on March 15-16, 2024, affirmed a clean audit and a new strategic plan that seeks to reimagine church in new ways.
Executive Director Glen Guyton presented the strategic plan, which calls the leadership to “[define] and [operationalize] the key practices of Anabaptism [to] ensure that our guiding framework is not just theoretical but lived out in tangible ways across all levels of MC USA.”
Objectives of the plan include identifying and leaning into the key markers and practices of the Anabaptist faith community, communicating in new ways and through new channels, providing prophetic leadership in peace and justice, developing a streamlined and effective denominational structure, and creating a sustainable funding system.
In his Executive Director’s report, Guyton emphasized the need for a more flexible understanding of leadership and membership in the denomination, to “[move] away from traditional hierarchies toward more collaborative and empowering frameworks.”
Glen Guyton, MC USA executive director
“We continue to have questions about membership,” he said. “What does it mean to be a part of this [denomination]? What’s the accountability? What is the mutuality? We can better define this for people,” he added. Guyton explained that MC USA leadership historically has worked to protect the role of the area conference.
“There are some creative ways that we can think about this,” he said. “We are finally in a place where we can do some forward thinking about the future. Are there different modes of engaging one another that serve us better?” Guyton asked.
MC USA Moderator Jon Carlson led the Executive Board through various discussions during the two days, addressing membership models, the pros and cons of churchwide statements, and alternate ways to engage the Delegate Assembly and the Constituency Leaders Council. MC USA administrative staff also provided the Executive Board members with a preview of the plans for Follow Jesus ’25, the biennial convention and MC USA’s largest faith formation event. (Please see news release here.)
Lesley Francisco McClendon, Executive Board member representing the African American Mennonite Association
“Perhaps it’s time to consider how can we follow Jesus’ message and fresh expressions that are relevant for today,” said Lesley Francisco McClendon, Executive Board member representing the African American Mennonite Association, on day two of the meeting, during her opening devotion on Acts 2:42-47. “Remember, the call to reimagine church isn’t a rejection of tradition but rather a response to a changing world. Reimagination is an opportunity to breathe new life into the message of Christ, ensuring its continued relevance for generations to come. (Read Pastor Francisco McClendon’s devotion in MC USA’s Menno Snapshots blog here.)
Financial audit and update
Karen Zehr, Executive Board member
Karen Zehr of the Executive Board audit committee reviewed the independent auditor’s report for the MC USA Executive Board, prepared by Regier Carr & Monroe, LLP, CPAs, for the year ended July 31, 2023, and said it was a clean audit consistent with previous years. The auditors noted that accounts receivables were up by $101,000, due to an estate gift about which MC USA was notified prior to July 31, 2023, but was not received until the beginning of the current fiscal year. However, MC USA experienced a $310,592 loss during last fiscal year. This was attributed to a convention deficit of $155,000 and a predicted shift in the timing of “first fruits” distribution from one agency.
The current fiscal year has started strong, with a budget surplus of $30,245, according to MC USA Controller Robin Schrag, as recorded in the Executive Director’s report. Schrag wrote that, although area conference giving is down, individual giving is rising, thanks to the generosity of donors.
“I think that we’ve done some really good work in MC USA,” Guyton said. I’m proud of this new board, the new leadership, the stability we have … we’re smaller, but we’re more consistent now. And we have a focus that maybe we haven’t had in the past.”
Update on Church Vitality
Michael Danner, MC USA associate executive director
Associate Executive Director Michael Danner provided an update on Church Vitality related to abuse prevention and response. He highlighted upcoming Safe Church webinars, the launch of the newly updated Circle of Grace curriculum and an upcoming cohort program for leaders of declining or plateaued congregations. Danner noted that Church Vitality is also continuing to offer Healthy Boundaries abuse prevention training, consultation and coaching, even while working to make the ecumenical program more distinctly Anabaptist.
In addition, he reported on the progress of Church Vitality’s Prevention and Accountability project, a centralized, comprehensive guidebook that addresses prevention of abuse by credentialed and lay leaders, as well as leadership accountability.
“We have been working for over two years on updates to the current sexual misconduct policies and procedures,” he said. “We’re now in the third draft of those resources and expect that to go to the conference ministers the first part of next week.”
Danner explained that the new resource for credentialed leaders is more nuanced than the current policy and will distinguish between abuse allegations and workplace performance issues. It also will help leaders determine appropriate next steps, whether that response is a formal misconduct process, mediation, leadership coaching or a restorative justice approach.
In other business
- Mennonite Retirement Trust (MRT) Amendment affirmed: Chad Horning, chief investment officer and senior vice president for Everence, presented a proposed amendment to the MRT plan documents to the Executive Board. Everence administers church benefits plans on MC USA’s behalf. Adopted unanimously by the Executive Board, the amendment enables the Church Benefits Board to develop variable pricing models to respond to the competitive market for retirement plans, particularly for large institutions participating in MRT.
“We would do this in a way so that, regardless the size of their employer, employees would have access to a competitive, comprehensive retirement plan,” Horning explained.
“It is a change that will help this program continue to be competitive,” added Guyton.
- Update on Mennonite Mission Network: Marisa Smucker, the newly appointed executive director of Mennonite Mission Network, provided an update on her recent work, saying she is striving to create a sense of belonging and a firm Anabaptist understanding among staff, as well as to reach out to constituents. “This year, my staff and I will be connecting and reconnecting with people to remind them that we’re here, we’re stable and we’re excited about what we do. That also means listening and asking, ‘What are you hoping for Mennonite Mission Network?’” said Smucker.
In direct response to constituent feedback, Mennonite Mission Network recently launched Just Peace Pilgrimages, one- to two-week-long learning tours for congregations, families or small groups that focus on civil rights or immigration.
- Learning about Mennonite Action: Learning about Mennonite Action: The Executive Board invited Adam Ramer and Nick Martin, organizers of Mennonite Action, to share about their organization. Mennonite Action is an independent, grassroots movement of Mennonites taking public action to stop war and end the occupation of Palestine and is the recipient of an unrestricted MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund grant.
The next meeting of the MC USA Executive Board is Aug. 22-24, 2024, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, founded in 2002 by the merger of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Members of this historic peace church seek to follow Jesus by rejecting violence and resisting injustice. MC USA’s Renewed Commitments state the following shared commitments among its diverse body of believers: to follow Jesus, witness to God’s peace and experience the transformation of the Holy Spirit. Mennoniteusa.org
Written by Camille Dager. Photos by Camille Dager.