June 22, 2009 issue
MCC’s ‘new wine’
With revised vision and structure, agency seeks closer partnerships with churches around the world
By Paul Schrag Mennonite Weekly ReviewHILLSBORO, Kan. — During Mennonite Central Committee’s most extensive review in 30 years, leaders asked big questions, such as “Who is the keeper of the MCC soul?”
Ron Flaming, MCC director of international program: “The conversations have led us to a clearer sense of the church being front and center” for MCC. — Photo by Paul Schrag/MWR
To find the answers, they convened 60 meetings, involving more than 2,000 people from 50 countries over 18 months.
The result was a plan for change in an agency that elder historian and former MCC worker Robert Kreider on June 6 called “one of the most beloved of all programs that our people have.”
The changes — approved by the MCC binational board, which met June 5-6 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church — aim to clarify MCC’s vision, simplify its structure and make it a closer partner with Anabaptist churches around the world.
The meeting brought near to an end a process MCC called “New Wine, New Wineskins.” The review sought to prescribe a structure (“wineskin”) and define a vision (“wine”) for a future of emerging global equality rather than North American domination.
The plan calls for restructuring MCC into a system of interdependent national or multinational agencies. It redefines MCC as “a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches.” This expands upon MCC’s longtime definition as a ministry of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Canada and the United States.
“We have worldwide program, but we don’t have worldwide ownership,” said John Stoesz, executive director of MCC Central States. “This opens up those possibilities.”
Participants used words such as “momentous” and “historic” to describe the board’s approval of the “New Wine, New Wineskins” document. It had been finalized the day before at a summit of 96 people representing MCC boards and supporting denominations.
‘There is no center’
The plan calls for ending MCC binational, the part of MCC that administers a $36.7 million budget for ministries in 65 countries. International programs would be transferred to MCC U.S., MCC Canada and Anabaptist service agencies in other countries.
Comments
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A group of our Seniors just got back from Wichita's UNION GOSPEL MISSION, which some of you are acquainted with. We were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with the mission's total services to needy MEN only. There was NO reluctance to tie the Gospel, lodging, food, vocational guidance, and some other services, together to round out the WHOLE person. Some of these men will not make much of a change when they leave, but ALL of them are presented with the Gospel and many become Believers, in spite of their broken lives.
Now, MCC is PRIMARILY providing food, clothing, and other assistance in the name of Christ, but seem to 'Pass' on being proactive in the evangelism of these souls. It may almost sound cruel, but if people aren't proactively presented with the Gospel at a traumatic and most opportune time, live longer, propagate, and have even more lives go to a Christ-less eternity, what good has ALL this humanitarian help done?
We understand that, initially, MCC was helping our BELIEVING BROTHERS & SISTERS, and much emotion continued on such loving help. The scriptures direct us to aid others, ESPECIALLY those of the 'Household of Faith'. Could MCC do that which other humanitarian agencies DON'T do? Make Believers of them and provide ETERNAL LIFE for them. Other agencies don't do this. So, let's be about our FATHER'S MAIN BUSINESS.
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