Mennonite World Conference
The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) began in 1925. It adopted new vision and mission statements in 2003, defining itself for the first time as a "communion" and "community" of churches.
Vision:
Mennonite World Conference is called to be a communion (Koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness.
Mission:
MWC exists to (1) be a global community of faith in the Anabaptist-tradition, (2) facilitate community between Anabaptist-related churches worldwide, and (3) relate to other Christian world communions and organizations.
Programme:
Bilateral theological dialogues, Faith and Life Council, Peace Council, Global Mission Fellowship, Global Youth Summit, Young Anabaptist-Mennonite Exchange Network, Global Gift Sharing, Global Church Sharing Fund, Global Mennonite and Brethren in Christ History Project, World Fellowship Sunday, Anabaptist-Mennonite Shelf of Literature. Through its programmes, MWC stands in solidarity with churches in situations of suffering, crises, or conflict.
Organization:
Member and associate churches appoint delegates to the general council that meets triennially and elects the executive committee. A global assembly convenes regularly. Assembly 14 met in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (August 2003). Assembly 15 will meet in Asuncion, Paraguay (July 2009). MWC maintains a general secretariat, currently based in Strasburg, France.
The Mennonite World Conference has 95 member churches, representing 1,051,806 Christians (baptized adults) in the world. Three Mennonite churches are members of the WCC, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany and The Netherlands.
Periodical: Courier/Correo/Courrier (quarterly)