4 PHOTO COLLAGE

Vidya Narimalla and Terrance Froese, representing the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and Ed Boschman of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (foreground, left-right), confer during the recent church summit held at the MCC office in Akron, Pa.

MCC Photo/Brenda Burkholder

AKRON, Pa. – The key stakeholders of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), meeting here Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, reached crucial structural agreements that support MCC’s worldwide ministry for the 21st century.

That work, in about 60 countries at present, will continue unabated, according to Arli Klassen, executive director of the binational MCC. “Supporters in Canada and the United States, along with global partners, will continue to be engaged with MCC’s ministry in the name of Christ, as they always have been,” Klassen said.

In his opening meditation to the summit of denominational and organizational representatives, Danisa Ndlovu, president of Mennonite World Conference and bishop of the Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church, called the gathering a unique opportunity to discern together what it means to be the church.

Nine of the 13 denominations that support the Canada, U.S. and binational MCCs; along with the 12 MCC agencies in Canada and the United States; and Mennonite World Conference; sent a total of 62 representatives.

The summit marked a major threshold in MCC’s New Wine/New Wineskins revisioning and restructuring process. Participants reached agreement on important aspects of governance and management for the new MCC system.

“We are forging a renewed partnership,” said Neil Janzen of Winnipeg, Man., chair of the MCC Canada board.

The agreements – on agency roles, program administration and accountability to the church – will be written into bylaws and covenants expected to be endorsed in 2011, along with recommendations for a streamlined structure that will be implemented in 2012.

The work of MCC around the world will be collaboratively led by both MCC Canada and MCC U.S. They take over the role from the current binational MCC, which will end as an organization. The anticipated timing of this transition is early 2012.

A standing committee of the Canada and U.S. boards will foster and facilitate collaboration between MCC Canada and MCC U.S.

The summit agreements strengthen MCC’s accountability to its supporting denominations through renewed board representation. At least two-thirds of the membership of each MCC board will be official representatives of Anabaptist denominations in Canada and the U.S.

Participants also spoke to MCC’s role in global witness and service. The Global Anabaptist Service Consultation convened by Mennonite World Conference in August 2010 first considered an MCC proposal to facilitate relationships between and among Anabaptist service agencies worldwide, but decided instead to appoint a task force to explore a new global network. The Akron summit endorsed MCC’s participation in the proposed new Global Anabaptist Service Network.

Herman Bontrager of Akron, Pa., chair of the binational MCC Board, said an important intent of MCC restructuring “is to continue and deepen the mutual accountability of the global family of faith.”

“For 90 years MCC has been an inter-Mennonite agency that brought Mennonite and Brethren-in-Christ people together in responding to human need and building peace. It has been a vital instrument in connecting Canadian and U.S. Mennonites and Brethren-in-Christ with our counterpart churches in the rest of the world,” said Bontrager.

MCC’s “New Wine/New Wineskins: Reshaping MCC for the 21st Century” process included listening to and consultation with more than 2,000 people from 50 countries.

MCC U.S. Board chair Ann Graber Hershberger, of Harrisonburg, Va., was impressed by the summit’s interchange and sees the ongoing value of MCC’s close relationship with other parts of the church. “It is a rare privilege to participate in a meeting where church leaders discern with each other and MCC about what we are called to do as a Christian community. We ask church leaders to continue to walk with MCC in our shared ministry.”

Cheryl Zehr Walker is director of communications for MCC and interim director of communications for MCC U.S.

English/Anglais
CX2010-0043-07
January 22, 2010
COMOX, BRITISH COLUMBIA

A CF-18 fighter jet from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron (409 Tac F Sqn) in Cold Lake, Alberta, flies past 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, with Powel River in the background, as he prepares to land and will be remaining at 19 Wing in support of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games' security known as Operation PODIUM.

Operation PODIUM is the Canadian Forces (CF) contribution to the overall security of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in support of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)-led Integrated Security Unit. The Air Force's contribution is two-fold: The Air Component Command of Joint Task Force Games, which provides airlift, medical evacuation and area surveillance for the RCMP; and NORAD, which will ensure airspace security.

In preparation for the Games, security and public safety agencies from all levels of government are working together to ensure they are prepared to respond to any potential emergency on land, sea or in the air. The scope and scale of these Games will make it the largest domestic security operation to date in Canadian history.

Photo credit: Sergeant Robert Bottrill, 19 Wing Comox Imaging

Francais/French
CX2010-0043-07
Le 22 janvier 2010
COMOX, COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE

Avec Powel River en arriere-plan, un chasseur a reaction CF-18 en provenance du 409e Escadron d’appui tactique (409 ETAC) de Cold Lake, Alberta, survole la 19e Escadre Comox, Colombie-Britannique, avant d’atterrir. L’aeronef et son equipage sejournera a cet endroit pour assurer l’appui a la securite au cours des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques d’hiver de 2010 a Vancouver sous l’egide de l’operation PODIUM.

L’operation PODIUM constitue la participation des Forces canadiennes (FC) a la securite globale des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques d’hiver de 2010 a Vancouver a l’appui de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC). La contribution de la Force aerienne comprend deux volets : le Commandement de la composante aerienne de la Force operationnelle interarmees des Jeux olympiques, qui assure le transport aerien, l’evacuation sanitaire et la surveillance de zone pour la GRC, et le NORAD qui assure la surete de l’espace aerien.

En vue des Jeux, des organismes de securite et de securite publique de tous les ordres du gouvernement collaborent afin de s’assurer qu’ils sont prets a repondre a tout type d’urgence sur terre, sur mer et dans les airs. Ces Jeux, en raison de leur portee et de leur ampleur, constitueront la plus vaste operation de securite interieure de l’histoire canadienne.

Photo : Sergent Robert Bottrill, Service d’imagerie, 19e Escadre Comox

v2010
vancouver 2010