The relationships in Mennonite World Conference are always growing. From the member churches that make up MWC to the emerging networks linking church-supported agencies, MWC facilitates connections between Anabaptist organizations.

• The Executive Committee heard reports at its second of three two-day Zoom meetings for 2021. New Chief Operations Officer Jeanette Bissoon reported that contributions from individuals have kept pace with the budget except in regard to Assembly fundraising. “We have only received 6% of the Assembly budget for the year,” she says.
  The Executive Committee approved the Peace Commission’s statement on conscientious objection, and two membership applications. The General Council will consider these proposals at the 2022 meetings.
  Global Youth Summit and Assembly organizers continue to plan for several scenarios in July 2022. In all scenarios, the events are planned as hybrid: on-site in Indonesia and online at the same time. The scenarios range from an on-site event as known in the past to an event with reduced numbers of participants to a completely online event. Registration will start in December.

• Marianne Hlavaty completed her service with the Lancaster office on 25 June 2021. Since 2017, she has tended to MWC administrative tasks alongside work with Mennonite Central Committee. “We are grateful for Marianne’s contribution to the global family,” says Jeanette Bissoon, MWC Chief Operations Officer. “Her generous work has facilitated connection with our members in the USA.” The work that Marianne did is now being carried out by volunteers in Lancaster.

• At its annual meeting 22 May 2021, GAMEO approved the addition of the D.F. Plett Historical Research Foundation as the seventh organizational partner. Aileen Friesen, assistant professor of history at the University of Winnipeg and executive director of the Plett Foundation will join the board. The Global Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO) is an online encyclopedia of more than 16,000 articles related to the Anabaptist movement of the sixteenth century, and to Mennonite, Hutterite, Amish, and Brethren in Christ groups descended from the Anabaptists. GAMEO has an official relationship with MWC through the Faith and Life Commission.

• Peace Sunday materials have been released. “Finding hope and healing in Crisis” is the theme of this year’s worship resource for observing International Day of Peace. Click here to download.