September 28thDear Siblings in Christ
As I leave the role of Executive Minister...
Dear Siblings in Christ,
After careful prayer and discernment, I believe the time is right for me to leave the role of executive minister. It has been an honour to serve in this role through many joyful and challenging experiences over the past two years. I give thanks to God for this opportunity to learn, serve and grow alongside many faithful and gifted leaders within MCEC and MC Canada. I’m so proud of the significant work that we’ve done as the whole MCEC family of faith to discern how God is calling us as a regional church body going forward. It is messy work, and it is not linear.
"Though I am finishing my leg of the race and passing along the baton of leadership, I continue to believe deeply in the Church."
In my installation address in the fall of 2020 I shared this vision for MCEC as a movement:
We are the people of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, of Mennonite Church Canada, of the global Anabaptist family of Mennonite World Conference, and part of the body of God’s Church through the ages. We are not here to be an institution; we are a spiritual movement together, seeking to follow Jesus in life and put our faith into action. We are a movement that builds up communities of healing and hope, sharing God’s love out in a hurting world. We are a movement that is rooted in the deep joy and love that comes from knowing that we, and all human beings, are created good, in God’s image. We are a movement that says we must seek out and care for the vulnerable among us. We welcome strangers, we lift up the lowly, and we live in hope for God’s Great Shalom, where there is wholeness, justice and peace for all. We are a movement that is both ancient and new, drawing on Scripture and seeking to follow the Spirit’s leading in our lives today.
"I have confidence that the Spirit is up to something among us."
I see so many ways that God is at work amidst the MCEC movement. Though I am finishing my leg of the race and passing along the baton of leadership, I continue to believe deeply in the Church and in the gifted and passionate leaders on MCEC’s Executive Council and staff. I have confidence that the Spirit is up to something among us, moving in visible and invisible ways. Though I am ending my time as MCEC executive minister, I will continue to be part of our community of faith as a member of my congregation, Erb Street Mennonite Church.
Thank you to each one of you who is pushing this movement forward in your own faith community, and within our regional and nationwide church. My life, and my faith, are richer because of serving alongside you.
With gratitude,
Leah Reesor-Keller
Read release from MCEC Executive Council: Leah Reesor-Keller Resigns as MCEC Executive Minister