Mennonite World Conference
ClassificationEvangelicalism
OrientationAnabaptist, Mennonites
Region59 countries
HeadquartersKitchener, Ontario, Canada
Origin1925
Congregations10,300
Members1.47 million
Missionary organizationGlobal Mission Fellowship
Aid organizationGlobal Anabaptist Service Network (GASN)
Official websitemwc-cmm.org

The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is an international Mennonite Anabaptist Christian denomination. Its headquarters are in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

History

The first Mennonite World Conference was held in Basel in 1925.[1] Its main purpose was to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Anabaptism. An assembly is convened approximately every six or seven years.

Christian Neff (1863–1946), a Mennonite minister in Germany, is often called the "father" of the Mennonite World Conference. Neff, through the Conference of Mennonites in South Germany, issued the call for the first gathering in 1925, and was president of the following meetings in 1930 and 1936.[2]

The MWC prints a quarterly news publication in three languages—Spanish (as Correo), English (Courier), and French (Courrier.) This project began in 1986. The Mennonite World Conference considers that its mission is to (1) be a global community of faith in the Anabaptist-tradition, (2) facilitate relationships between Anabaptist-related churches worldwide, and (3) relate to other Christian world communions and organizations.[3]

The official repository of Mennonite World Conference is the Mennonite Church USA Archives.

According to a census published by the association in 2022, it would have 107 member denominations in 59 countries, and 1,47 million baptized members in 10,300 churches. [4]

Beliefs

The Conference has an Anabaptist confession of faith.[5]

Affiliated organizations

GMF

The Global Mission Fellowship (GMF) has 71 mission member organizations. [6]

GASN

The Global Anabaptist Service Network (GASN) supports humanitarian aid projects. [7]

Conferences

YearLocationConference Focus
1925Switzerland Basel, Switzerland400th anniversary of Anabaptism
1930Free City of Danzig Free City of DanzigMennonite Relief Efforts
1936Netherlands Amsterdam and Elspeet, Netherlands400th anniversary of Menno Simons' conversion
1948United States Goshen, Indiana, and North Newton, Kansas, United StatesRelief, Nonconformity to the World, Faith and Life, Missions, Young People's Work, A Young People's Program, the Peace Testimony, Colonization, Institutions and Mennonite Life, and Christian Education[8]
1952Switzerland Bettingen, SwitzerlandThe Church of Christ and Her Commission
1957West Germany Karlsruhe, West GermanyThe Gospel of Jesus Christ in the World
1962Canada Kitchener, Ontario, CanadaThe Lordship of Christ
1967Netherlands Amsterdam, NetherlandsThe Witness of the Holy Spirit
1972Brazil Curitiba, BrazilJesus Christ Reconciles
1978United States Wichita, Kansas, United StatesThe Kingdom of God in a Changing World
1984France Strasbourg, FranceGod's People Serve in Hope
1990Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaWitnessing to Christ in Today's World
1997India Calcutta, IndiaHear what the Spirit is Saying to the Churches
2003Zimbabwe Bulawayo, ZimbabweSharing Gifts in Suffering and in Joy
2009Paraguay Asunción, ParaguayCome together in the way of Jesus Christ[9]
2015United States Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United StatesWalking with God
2022Indonesia Salatiga, Jepara, Surakarta, Margokerto, Ungaran, Semarang, IndonesiaFollowing Jesus together across barriers[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 1859
  2. ↑ "Previous Assemblies". Mennonite World Conference. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Vision and Mission". Mennonite World Conference. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Mennonite World Conference, About MWC, mwc-cmm.org, Canada, retrieved November 5, 2022
  5. ↑ Mennonite World Conference, Shared convictions, mwc-cmm.org, Canada, accessed May 5, 2023
  6. ↑ Mennonite World Conference, Global Mission Fellowship, mwc-cmm.org, Canada, accessed May 5, 2023
  7. ↑ Mennonite World Conference, Global Anabaptist Service Network, mwc-cmm.org, Canada, accessed May 5, 2023
  8. ↑ Mennonite World Conference in Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
  9. ↑ "Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15 theme chosen". MWC. 2008-01-30. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  10. ↑ "Indonesia 2022" (PDF). Mennonite World Conference. Retrieved 31 October 2020.

References

  • Mennonite Encyclopedia, Harold S. Bender, Cornelius J. Dyck, Dennis D. Martin, et al., editors
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