Mennonite Weekly Review

NEWTON, Kan. — An estimated $175,000 shortfall in revenue from the Mennonite Church USA assembly held in San Jose, Calif., in July was not unexpected, according to MC USA’s associate executive director.

Ron Byler attributed the deficit to lower attendance at this year’s convention. About 6,000 people attended the San Jose assembly, about 2,000 fewer than attended each of the denomination’s last three assemblies in Charlotte, N.C., in 2005, Atlanta, Ga., in 2003 and Nashville, Tenn., in 2001.

“The shortfall is a part of the ‘cost’ of holding the convention in the west, where we have fewer members who can drive to the event,” Byler said Oct. 25.

Byler noted that there were advantages to holding the assembly in California, yielding benefits that transcended financial considerations.

“Holding the convention on the West Coast has helped churches there better feel they are a part of Mennonite Church USA, that they have brothers and sisters who care about them,” Byler said.

Though the San Jose assembly ended in the red, Byler said higher revenues at past conventions absorbed the deficit.

“The additional cost is one we need to incur from time to time, because we want the convention to be accessible over the long haul to all of our congregations,” Byler said. “We have been fortunate that the last several conventions have had a positive bottom line, so we will be able to cover the additional expenses.”

Jorge Vallejos, director of convention planning for MC USA, said three cities were considered as finalists for hosting this year’s assembly — San Jose, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vallejos said all three had exemplary qualities that would have made for a good convention. Indianapolis, because of its central location, seemed sure to draw the most participants, he said.

However, because of the presence of Mennonite congregations on the West Coast, and because recent assemblies had been held farther east, the decision to go with San Jose was made.