Mennonite Weekly Review

In a time when U.S. Christians generally don’t value denominations like they used to, it makes sense for Mennonite Church USA to consider reorganizing for more effective ministry.

And, after coming up with a plan to simplify and centralize, it also seems right for the denomination’s Executive Board to re-examine one of its key proposals.

The board decided in June to “defer” a plan that would dissolve the boards of its agencies and form one new leadership board to oversee them all.

While agreeing to take another look at its one-board proposal, the Executive Board appeared reluctant to rechart the course of change. The board “continues to believe this approach [one board for all agencies] would be the best option,” according to an MC USA news release.

Critics have raised enough concerns to justify rethinking that belief. Some agency leaders doubt that one board could effectively guide the diverse work of Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Mutual Aid, Mennonite Education Agency, Mennonite Publishing Network and The Mennonite. Some fear that combining these boards would centralize too much power.

Other parts of the Executive Board plan — such as creating a unified communications and funding system — are less controversial.

Whatever proposal emerges, delegates will have the final say at next summer’s convention in Columbus, Ohio.

These decisions about church structures involve more than the details of organizing a denomination. The issues at stake touch on trends of vital concern to all who hold a broad vision for the church’s role in the world.

One big question, chosen from many the Executive Board has heard, is this: “Do people believe the organization of the church beyond the congregation helps them become faithful followers of Jesus?” If people don’t believe that — and if a denomination doesn’t actually do that — the most well-structured denomination will slip into irrelevance. This is exactly where some observers see denominations heading.

How does the big question of denominational relevance connect with the small question of how to organize MC USA? One answer comes from watching how members support ministries beyond the congregation. People contribute more readily to a particular mission project than to mission work in general. All signs point to decentralization as today’s mindset. Moving in the opposite direction risks fighting a losing battle with the forces of individualism and choice.

The Executive Board wants people to hear “a unified voice about the vision of the church” rather than “voices competing for money and support.” But a bit of competition might be healthy. It might be an unavoidable part of the decentralization that helps people feel connected. We need efficiency, but the most efficient way might not always be most effective.

Even a perfect structure, if there were such a thing, couldn’t guarantee a faithful church. That is up to each of us who have committed to doing God’s work along with the body of believers we’ve chosen as our own.