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MISSION

MWC exists to help Anabaptist-related churches worldwide work together on common projects, communicate across national boundaries, and achieve greater international communion in order to advance the work of the church in all places.

OBJECTIVES (O), GOALS (G), ACTIONS (A)

O1. Increase global communion between Anabaptist-related churches
G1. Provide opportunity for church members from the entire world to meet face to-face for fellowship and learning
A1. Organize world assembly "gathered" and "scattered" in 2003 (Africa)

G2. Provide ways for member and associate member church representatives to meet for fellowship, study and decision-making

A1. Organize General Council meetings in 2000 (Central America) and 2003 (Africa)

G3. Promote international mission vision and joint ventures

A1. Organize Global Anabaptist Missions Consultation in 2000 (Guatemala), in cooperation with the Council of International Ministries
A2. Establish permanent forum for all contemporary Anabaptists engaged in cross-cultural or international mission, 2003

G4. Develop consensus statement on contemporary core of Anabaptist convictions

A1. Organize study and discussion beginning with a Faith and Life Council meeting in 2000, continuing in member churches from 2000 to 2003, culminating in Faith and Life Council meeting in 2003

G5. Develop consensus statement on basic peace convictions and practice

A1. Organize study and discussion beginning with a Peace Council meeting in 2000, continuing in member churches from 2000 to 2003, culminating in a Peace Council meeting in 2003

G6. Provide support, encouragement and counsel to member and associate member churches — especially churches in situations of suffering or crisis

A1. Visits by MWC representatives to churches in Canada, Central America, Colombia, Congo, USA, and Zimbabwe in 2000; other countries in 2001-2003
A2. Regular correspondence with all member and associate member churches
A3. Special communication with and on behalf of churches under duress

G7. Provide regular occasion for celebration of and intercession for the worldwide family of faith

A1. Sponsor World Fellowship Sunday (WFS); annually produce and distribute WFS materials — print and electronic versions — to congregations worldwide

G8. Offer opportunities for youth to experience the global church and to meet each other, face-to-face and electronically

A1. Invite project proposals from youth worldwide, 2001
A2. Select one or more proposals for implementation, 2002
A3. Seek funding and assign volunteer staff, 2002
A4. Implement program, 2003

O2. Increase global communication between Anabaptist-related churches and with other churches

G1. Enable continuous communication and virtual meeting of MWC churches
A1. Commission assessment of needs and possibilities, 2000
A2. Establish joint venture with other organizations to provide needed electronic services to MWC churches, and to house and maintain MWC database server and web site, 2001

G2. Increase number of news stories, features, profiles issued annually

A1. Assign communications assistant in Strasbourg office, 2000
A2. Upgrade communications equipment, 2000

G3. Improve management and production of Courier/Correo

A1. Appoint volunteer assistant editor, 2000
A2. Provide electronic versions of the publications from 2001

G4. Provide French language information services

A1. Publish French edition of Courier beginning in 2001

G5. Provide address and statistical information on all Anabaptist churches

A1. Publish print version of Mennonite and BIC World Directory in 2000, electronic version bi-annually thereafter

G6. Improve home page

A1. Increase volunteer web staff time by 2001
A2. Update frequently, increase content and vary visual presentation by 2001

G7. Increase availability of speakers

A1. Create list of speakers and solicit speaking/interacting opportunities for key MWC people, beginning in 2001

G8. Develop a shelf of Anabaptist-Mennonite articles/booklets/books in various languages

A1. Publish From Anabaptist Seed in French and German in 2000 (already available in English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese)
A2. Determine a "Shelf Selection of the Year," publicize the selection, and encourage the various language groups to make that selection available in their language, from 2001

G9. Further develop exchange with other world churches and Christian organizations

A1. Continue annual international Vatican/MWC meetings, culminating with joint official report in 2002
A2. Continue cooperation with Baptist World Alliance, including co-sponsorship of a BWA/MWC conference on "Evangelism and Peace Witness," Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA, September 2001
A3. Attend annual meetings of General Secretaries of Christian World Communions
A4. Attend World Evangelical Fellowship assembly, 2002
A5. Maintain contacts with World Council of Churches, particularly Decade to Overcome Violence program

O3. Facilitate or sponsor common projects and joint ventures among Anabaptist-Related churches

G1. Manage the Global Church Sharing Fund
A1. Evaluate first phase of distribution, 2000
A2. Implement second phase of distribution of money designated for member churches, 2000/01
A3. Develop plan for use of undesignated money and future of fund, for approval by Executive Committee, 2001

G2. Implement the Global Gifts Sharing Project

A1. Complete gifts inventory of Africa, 2000
A2. Complete gifts inventory of Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, 2001
A3. Encourage use of inventories and gifts sharing by national churches and agencies as well as local congregations worldwide, 2001-2003

G3. Oversee the Global Mennonite History Project

A1. Prepare Latin America volume for publication in 2003
A2. Prepare Africa volume for publication in 2003
A3. Prepare Asia volume for publication in 2004
A4. Determine need for and feasibility of Europe and North America volumes and, if approved, appoint writers, 2001
A5. Complete fund raising for all volumes, 2001-2003

G4. Facilitate Global Anabaptist Peace and Justice Network

A1. Encourage national church and local congregational support for this Colombian initiative
A2. Seek and appoint volunteer administrator of network, 2000

G5. Co-sponsor Global Anabaptist Missions Consultation (GAMCo)

A1. Staff and organize GAMCo together with the Council of International Ministries

G6. Service Connecting Theological Educators on Five Continents network

A1. Continue occasional publication of CTEFC Link, 2000-2003, and provide electronic edition of the publication, 2001
A2. Appoint volunteer administrator of network, 2001
A3. Seek additional ways to facilitate cross-fertilization of theological education efforts in MWC member churches, 2001-2003

G7. Co-sponsor with MCC one or more "Jerusalem Seminars" for Bible teachers, primarily from Africa, Asia, and Latin America

A1. Develop plan with MCC staff, 2000
A2. Receive and process applications, 2000
A3. Hold next seminar, mid-2000

G8. Establish joint MWC/MCC Global (Young Adult) Exchanges program

A1. Assist MCC staff in preparation of project proposal for approval by MWC General Council, 2000
A2. Assist MCC staff in implement of program, beginning 2001

G9. Establish joint MWC/MRN (Mennonite Resources Network) Leadership Sabbatical Exchanges program

A1. Run pilot project (Pennsylvania/Indonesia), 2000
A2. Run regular program, 2001-2003

G10. Cooperate with educational institutions in assessing the need for a Global Educational Resource (GER) as a joint venture to share educational resources more equitably within the Anabaptist-Mennonite family worldwide

A1. Assist in developing proposal and seeking subsidy, 2000
A2. Appoint MWC representative to advisory committee, 2000
A3. Receive report and determine MWC role in GER if established, 2001 or 2002

G11. Facilitate development with others of a "Mennonite/BIC Seminary-Level Education Worldwide" program

A1. Appoint volunteer administrative coordinator, 2001 or 2002
A2. Organize pilot project in Asia or Africa, 2002 or 2003
A3. Develop plan for continuing program, 2003

G12. Promote and service the "Francophone network" of French-speaking Anabaptist churches worldwide

A1. Convene regular meetings of representatives of Francophone national churches and agencies for development of partnerships and exchanges, 2000-2003

G13. Encourage and assist the development of business/professional organizations or networks in and serving the global church

A1. Formulate with interested organizations statements of mutual expectations and possible cooperative initiatives, 2000/01
A2. Implement agreements, 2001-2003


O4. Organizational operation and resourcing

G1. Determine future direction, organization and program of MWC
A1. Appoint an international commission to oversee development of a long range strategic plan, including mission, vision, goals, action, and methods for monitoring progress as well as evaluating results, 2000
A2. In the context of the commission, visit member churches, associate member churches and related agencies working internationally, inviting each one to develop a statement of "mutual expectations" with MWC, 2001-2003
A3. Determine and design new project proposals based on strategic plan and statements of mutual expectations, 2003

G2. Increase organizational efficiency

A1. Seek advice from organizational consultant, 2000

G3. Upgrade office technology, 2000

A1. Implement "MWC Technology Systems Report" recommendations

G4. Increase financial support for core operations and special projects

A1. Appoint financial development staff (possibly volunteer), 2000
A2. Establish comprehensive financial plan, 2000
A3. Raise money needed for development and implementation of strategic plan for the future, 2000
A4. Encourage member and associate churches to pay fair-share of core budget and negotiated share of special projects or services, 2000-2003
A5. Seek non-cash resources (e.g. services, volunteers, hospitality) from member and associate churches, agencies, institutions, and individuals, 2000-2003
A6. Charge appropriate meeting registration fees and joint project management fees, 2000-2003
A7. Increase number of individual and institutional donors, 2000-2003
A8. Develop "Friends of the Global Church" network, 2000-2003
A9. Welcome and implement new ideas for generating resources (e.g. Frequent Flyer Miles bank), 2000-2003
A10. Create a "Global Community" endowment fund enabling all churches worldwide to be fairly represented at global and continental gatherings, 2000-2003

G5. Increase visibility of MWC and global church

A1. Develop and implement comprehensive communications plan, from 2001