|
The Missional Church Committee encourages our congregations to engage in global connections in some way. One opportunity currently being offered by Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is called Global Church Congregations (GCC). Members of the committee, Tim Lind and Ron Byler, helped to shape the initiative.
A key feature of the program will be the pairing of congregations from different parts of the world to work together: *to establish a congregational communication and prayer link with each other and with MWC; *to send a delegate from each congregation to MWC gatherings as possible; *to study one of the "Anabaptist Shelf" book selections; *to make an annual per-member contribution to MWC according to MWC's fair-share formula. MWC will administer the program by developing publicity, processing applications for participation, pairing successful applicants and providing special communications and informational support to congregations. GCC is seen as a natural continuation of MWC's emphasis on global gift sharing. While it is not intended to be primarily a "sister congregation" program, GCC will allow congregations from different cultures to discern together how they can both participate more fully in the work of the global community through the sharing of gifts. Every effort will be made to accept all qualified applicant congregations. However, the commitment to pair congregations cross-culturally may mean that some congregations from overrepresented areas will have longer wait for pairing and placement. MWC will encourage congregational pairs to develop their relationship over at least three years and include either an MWC Global Assembly or General Council meeting. Additional information and application forms are available by clicking the link to the left, at www.mwc-cmm.org or by email at globalchurchcongregationsmwc-cmm.org. |
 |