April 29thMCEC Holds Virtual Annual Church Gathering April 25, 2020
We Are One Body Even When Physically Distanced By Global Pandemic
The 33rd Annual Church Gathering of MCEC, held in a different way this year, brought 165+ people together from their living rooms, dining rooms, offices and studies. Arli Klassen, moderator, said, “We gather, in whatever means possible, in order to remain accountable to each other within the MCEC community. We gather to hear the reports from trusted leaders, and to strengthen our bonds with each other, even in this minimal fashion. We gather because we are One Body, the Body of Christ.”
People connected on the Zoom screen as the clock approached 10:30 a.m., the start of the meeting. More and more screens appeared as people introduced themselves from St. Jacobs, Niagara, Hunta, Kitchener and Montreal. For at least ten minutes, MCEC’s geographical distances shrunk over a virtual network as people greeted each other.
Just as they were smoothly entering the Zoom room, easy entrance suddenly stopped. Emails began to arrive with notices that people could not enter the room because it had reached capacity. As people on screen realized this, some individuals left the meeting to make room for others to come in. We watched the ebb and flow of numbers as it dipped below 100 when people left and returned to 100 as new people joined. And, we waited to see if it would allow us to go above 100. The count rose to 101 and beyond and we cheered.
Bryan Moyer Suderman led “You Are Not Alone” – a fitting song for these times of physical distancing. “You’re not alone, we are one body”, thoughts further reflected by David Martin, Executive Minister as he encouraged us to continue to find ways to be One Body in Christ.
Small group discussion, easily facilitated by Zoom, allowed the large group to break into smaller groups of five to share how congregations are continuing to worship, pray, and connect with each other during the pandemic. Delegates approved minutes, slate and actions through the Zoom polling feature. Doug Klassen, Executive Minister Mennonite Church Canada, and Garry Janzen, Executive Minister Mennonite Church British Columbia both shared how God is moving in our nationwide community of faith.
We noted congregational and partner ministry milestones: Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church, Shalom Worship and Healing Centre, Hunta Mennonite Church, St. Catharines United Mennonite Church, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and Mennonite Central Committee. We marked congregations that have closed: Église évangelique mennonite de Joliette and Jane Finch Faith Community.
We shared in a litany of release for six congregations who have withdrawn their membership from MCEC: Calvary Church Ayr, Kingsfield Zurich & Clinton Mennonite Church, Living Water Community Christian Fellowship, Maple View Mennonite Church, Milverton Mennonite Fellowship, and River of Life Fellowship. With all microphones unmuted, we read the litany together in a cacophony of un-synced voices, reminding us that many parts make up one body in Christ. Members from the departing congregations were a part of the litany. “Now our paths have separated,” we said. “Parting includes both remembering and releasing. With gratitude for our journey together, we release you and bless you.” We reminded each other that God’s love and faithfulness endures forever.
New congregations were also welcomed or transitioned within our community of congregations. Grace New Life Mennonite Church in Hamilton moved into full membership within MCEC. We welcomed as provisional members: Goshen Mennonite Church (Ottawa), MDM Joliette (Joliette), Soul House (Scarborough) and Warden Underground (Scarborough).
Both the audited statements from 2019-20 and the budget for 2020-21 were approved by delegates.
In the review of the financial statements for fiscal year end January 31, 2020 it was noted that support to ministry partners and spending on MCEC’s direct ministry was largely in line with the budget. However, a deficit in top-line revenue of just under $80,000 tied to unbudgeted reductions in giving from individual MCEC constituents to Mennonite Church Canada and in support from congregations created a deficit of $40,937 above the budgeted deficit after all restricted fund draws permitted by policy. Executive council, on the recommendation from staff and Finance Council, approved covering this deficit through an additional draw from the Faithful Steward Fund. PwC did not note any issues during the audit.
In presenting the budget for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021 it was noted that the budget was prepared prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was not adjusted due to the inherent unpredictability of the financial reality that the pandemic will usher in. The main changes in approach from the 2019-20 budget included budgeting for a further reduction in giving from churches due to reduction experienced in the latter half of 2019 and due to congregations leaving MCEC; the recommendation to transfer interest earned on the Legacy Initiatives Fund into the Operating Fund to reflect staff time and resources spent on managing the LiF project files; maintaining support of partner ministry organizations at 2019-20 levels; a reduction in Executive Council spending due to the lack of an MC Canada delegate gathering; and some additional operating fund expenses due to the pending wind up of the Anabaptist Learning Workshop. The budget was presented as balanced after restricted fund draws, but it was noted that the pandemic will likely create variances. It was also noted that $0.80 of every dollar that MCEC spends is now staff salary and expenses, partner ministry support, church planting, and international ministry, so if revenue erosion continues, spending reductions will have to start coming from these categories.
Leah Ressor-Keller, MCEC new Executive Minister, concluded our time together. “God is doing new things in and through the Church,” she said, “I believe the key to leading the church through this time is growing our capacity to dream and imagine other ways of being. This is the work that I want to do alongside you here in the community of MCEC. You’ve started the journey of imagining what it looks like to infuse the peace of Jesus Christ into your congregations and communities. I want to continue supporting you to dream and create new ways of being church to each other and to our rapidly changing world.” Leah begins in fall 2020.
Our staff transitions reporting was incomplete. We are grateful for these wonderful staff who have served us well and for those who are beginning new roles. We appreciate your prayers for each of these individuals and for the entire MCEC staff team.
- Michel Monette, Mission Catalyzer for Ottawa and Quebec – Legacy Initiatives contract position beginning September 2019
- Norm Dyck, Mission Engagement Minister – Transitioned to Mission Minister November 2019
- Brian Bauman, Mission Minister – Retired December 2019
- Roberson Mbayamvula, Regional Ministry Associate – end of term January 2020
- Fanosie Legesse, Intercultural Mission Minister – Replaced Mission Engagement Minister beginning February 2020
- David Martin, Executive Minister – Retiring July 2020
- Matthew Baily-Dick, Anabaptist Learning Workshop Coordinator – Legacy Initiatives contract position expiring August 2020
- Leah Reesor-Keller, Executive Minister – beginning fall 2020
Microphones were unmuted once again as people waved or said goodbye before disconnecting. The many screens filled with video feeds from around the MCEC community slowly closed. The 33rd MCEC Annual Church Gathering is now an event in the records. However, the MCEC community of congregations continues to thrive and minister as the Body of Christ.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 14, 2020 - an in-person inspirational fall gathering, contingent upon Healthy Authority guidelines.