Renew our Vision Together
An Update from Anthony Siegrist Fall 2026

The Renew our Vision process was kicked off at our Annual Church Meeting in April. There congregational delegates took time to reflect both on the recent history and the future of our regional church. The key forward-looking question we grappled with in April was this:  

Where is the Holy Spirit stirring and leading MCEC - all our congregations together - in the next five years? 

In addition to the feedback from all delegates, we also received some individual responses. In an effort to deepen our listening to MCEC churches, I wrote each of your congregations in June asking you to take time to reflect on a similar question:  

What should our regional church (MCEC) prioritize as we seek to support congregations and our shared ministry?   

We heard from roughly 25% of MCEC member congregations in response to this question. Some congregations sent in input from their pastors or leadership teams, while others provided results from carefully facilitated congregational discussions. In addition to this written input, I have personally valued discussing these questions during the education hour in several additional congregations. Please know that your input in this discernment process is deeply appreciated. It is a statement of your care for your congregation’s wellbeing, but also for the broader church.  

Here are a few things we have observed:  

• There is a strong desire within MCEC congregations to collaborate, connect and to explore shared ministry. This desire was often tied to challenges faced by smaller (normal) sized congregations, but it also seems to represent a general hope for a future model of inter-congregational cooperation.  

• Many responses highlighted a continued need for help in seeking congregational renewal and navigating change. This was one of the most frequently mentioned themes in both sets of responses.  

• Congregations are looking for support in ministry with youth and young adults. This was also one of the most frequently mentioned priorities. 

• Responses also affirmed MCEC’s support for intercultural congregations and expressed gratitude for new congregations joining our regional church.   

• There is continued appreciation for MCEC’s work supporting congregational leaders, especially pastors, but there is also a desire for enhanced resourcing for other congregational leaders (board chairs, PCRC committees, etc.), including in the areas of policy and governance. 

• In the responses from ACG, support for congregational work in peace and justice ranked highly, though the more recent responses from congregations mentioned this less often.  

• Some responses also expressed a desire for greater clarity around the welcome of LGBTQ+ persons within MCEC, though this was mentioned less frequently in the congregational responses than in those from ACG. 

Across both sets of responses, there is a desire for MCEC’s work to be more visible in congregational settings, for continued enhancement of our communication with congregations and for increased MCEC staff presence.   

Outlining a vision for our shared ministry is more than just a process of receiving input. It also involves prayerful reflection. The entirety of the input collected will be provided to MCEC’s Executive Council, who will consider it carefully. It is my hope that we will be able to present a renewed description of our regional church, it’s purpose and priorities to delegates at our next Annual Church Gathering in April of 2027.