PRESS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference
August 20, 2003
MWC General Council Issues Statement on Zimbabwe
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — On August 17, the final day of the 14th Mennonite World Conference Assembly, General Council members approved two official statements.
One statement responded to the situation in Zimbabwe. (See separate release for the text of the statement.)
The second statement was issued as a message from Assembly 14 to MWC member churches around the world. It is both a report on the assembly and a call to prayer for Zimbabwe, along with thanks to God “for the immeasurable blessings of Assembly 14.” The complete text of the message follows.
MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES
From Mennonite World Conference Assembly 14
Greetings from more than 6,200 sisters and brothers gathered in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe!
The theme for our gathering, the 14th Assembly of MWC was “Sharing gifts in suffering and in joy” based on Paul’s message to the Corinthians: “If one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part of the body is honored, every part rejoices with it” (I Cor. 12:26).
Everyone in attendance was overwhelmed by the “grace of hospitality” demonstrated by the host Brethren in Christ Church. In numerous acts of service, members of the church — including many young people — shared their faith, music, prayers, food, houses, and technical and organizing skills with more than 1,600 international guests and thousands of Zimbabwean attendees. The ethos of gratitude and the enthusiastic singing of “God is so good” in a conspicuously painful situation moved us.
People from one of five continents planned two worship services each day. Mornings featured Bible studies and evenings sermons on the conference theme by representatives from the churches on that continent. During the worship service on Africa Day, footwashing among Africans and African Americans (from North, Central and South America) demonstrated that the cross of Jesus Christ reunited in Bulawayo Africans who had been divided by colonial slavery. There were also stories, dramas, and much, much singing every day.
In these services we were made conscious of sharp contrasts in where we live. Some churches live amidst stunting poverty, pandemic diseases, disintegrating states, and eroding economies. Others live amidst distorted values, spiritual poverty, corrupting affluence and rampant militarism. Numerous churches struggle with social violence amidst religious plurality.
We were honored to receive greetings from 13 Christian world communions and international Christian organizations. Together these 13 represented more than three-fourths of the world’s two billion Christians.
The Mennonite World Conference in accord with the host Brethren in Christ Church released a public statement on the situation in Zimbabwe, expressing strong support for the current efforts to initiate dialogue between the various political parties in order to bring about change and reconciliation.
While the Assembly was celebrative, the General Council — with representatives from more than 90 national conferences in 54 countries — made a number of significant decisions. It welcomed five new member churches and five new associate members. The Council affirmed for study and reflection a Faith and Life Council statement of shared theological convictions based on statements from member churches. It heard the concerns of African women theologians for more involvement in church life. Representatives of the first Global Youth Summit reported on their interest in more inter-generational conversation in their congregations and with MWC. The Council received with enthusiasm Africa, the first volume of the Global Mennonite and Brethren in Christ History series. There was an extensive report from the Global Gift Sharing project. The Peace Council produced an enlightening document on a continuum of peacemaking activities, Biblical virtues that undergird peacemaking, and practices that form Christians as peacemakers. The Global Mission Fellowship, facilitated by Mennonite World Conference, was inaugurated at this Assembly.
The General Council also accepted the report of an International Planning Commission which recommended that Mennonite World Conference more deliberately understand itself as a “global Anabaptist-Mennonite and Brethren in Christ community of faith, growing in common identity and mutual accountability, with common core convictions and action.” One key element of this direction will be an emphasis on “sharing of gifts which create the oneness of the church.”
While it is difficult to communicate the thrill and joy of this Assembly, we were conscious this event did not belong to us alone. We were continually aware of those who prayed for months for the presence of God’s Spirit and for a tranquil situation. We are grateful to congregations who sent delegates to attend and contributed to the costs of this meeting. We thank God for the immeasurable blessings of Assembly 14.
We want you to be encouraged as we were when we walked among people who with conviction sang, “Be not afraid, I will be with you.” We invite you to join us in committing ourselves to support the Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church in its continuing witness. We urge you to continue to pray for a peaceful solution to the conflicts within Zimbabwe.
Join us in thanking God for the inspiration of this occasion. Listen carefully to those who attended for insight into the reality of the church in Africa. Invite facilitators from the Global Gift Sharing project to your region to explore the meaning of “sharing gifts in suffering and in joy” in your situation.
The Bulawayo Assembly was a timely recognition that more Brethren in Christ and Mennonites now live in Africa than on any other continent. The Assembly was an expression of unity, of solidarity between churches witnessing to God’s grace, peace and justice in remarkably different cultural, political, and economic circumstances. The Assembly was a sign, an announcement that this new era of church life calls for a re-ordering of relationships. It was a foretaste of the eternal kingdom when “nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it” (Rev. 21:24).
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
17 August 2003
