Friday the 24 of July, a surprising d...

Friday, the 24th of July was a day of surprises! – surprise when the International Ensemble performed JS Bach – surprise with Shantkumar S Kunjam’s engaging quotations like “Hoping to show the world an example of light under the lordship of Jesus Christ…”     He was our morning speaker from India who spoke about […]

Women Crossing Borders – Sat 15...

This active workshop is especially designed for women keen to build bridges and connections between different backgrounds and ages. The goal will be to listen, to share and exchange, to create more understanding, and then to replicate this activity in participants’ own neigborhoods, churches or communities. This low-key format to do outreach (such as local […]

“A holy moment”

Ordination blessing conferred at European women theologians meeting By Harriet Sider Bicksler What was intended as a forum for European women theologians to discuss how they can network with each other and others in the MWC family ended as a time of special blessing for one woman. The group was small. Only five women attended in […]

Autonomy and awakening

Assembly called to wrestle with independence and community By Tim Huber HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, USA – Each person is never alone. They must live in community. Yet each also craves independence and autonomy. Dutch Mennonite pastor and retreat centre host Wieteke van der Molen told Mennonite World Conference assembly attendees 24 July 2015 that since the […]

Iron sharpens iron

Faith and Life commission engages in ecumenical dialogue and discovers own convictions By Karla Braun Why is the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission spending time with Catholics? At the workshop “Beyond the Shared Convictions: The Work of the MWC Faith and Life Commission,” chair Alfred Neufeld explained the commission’s mandate: to promote theological […]

Creating a place to fellowship

Behind the scenes at the Global Church Village By Harriet Sider Bicksler A rooster on Skype. A grass hut and miles of Velcro. Baskets and the big five. How did all these seemingly unrelated things come together as part of the Global Church Village? First, the rooster. Vikal Rao from India has served as the […]

Calling the church to repentance and ...

Anabaptist Renewal Circles holds annual meeting By Jewel Showalter Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – More than 100 Anabaptist leaders from around the world gathered at Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Camp Hill, Pa., for the second annual meeting of the Anabaptist Renewal Circles (ARC) 21 July 2015, the day before the evening kick-off of Assembly 16. The […]

Stories of faithfulness for the 21st ...

Bearing Witness Stories Project carries on work of Martyr’s Mirror “Anabaptist witness in the face of suffering did not end in Europe in the 16th century,” explained John D. Roth, secretary of the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission and professor of history at Goshen College, during a workshop at PA 2015, the MWC […]

Stitching for global connections

Quilting and comforter activities link participants to MCC’s work By Byron Rempel-Burkholder Sushant Nand looks up from one of the Bernini sewing machines at the section of the hall devoted to quilt and comforter-making. A passerby is asking him if he is a tailor by trade. He smiles. “No, I just wanted to learn about […]

Confession and forgiveness are part o...

Speakers call church to a love that acts on behalf of others By Lil Goertzen Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA — “We are here today, celebrating our common Anabaptist faith and our position in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Deacons Commission representative Shantkumar S. Kunjam of India greeted the participants of PA 2015 in the morning plenary 24 […]