Annual Church Gathering Live Stream
April 26 & 27, 2024

Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus, hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God when we meet together as a family of congregations.

Apr 26th, 2024 - Apr 27th, 2024Annual Church Gathering 2024

Fireflies in a jar advertisement for ACG

Inspired by Hope

April 26 & 27, 2024
UMEI Christian Highschool, Leamington, ON
614 Mersea Rd 6, Leamington, ON N8H 3V8

Be inspired by the hope we find in Jesus, hear stories of inspiration and experience the wonder and mystery of God when we meet together as a family of congregations.

We anticipate and celebrate full participation from congregations as delegate discussion and decision will be on both Friday evening and Saturday. Join us on Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and again on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. See schedule.

 

Highlights:

  • Doug Klassen, MC Canada executive minister, will encourage and inspire us in reflecting on our theme scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3.
  • David Martin and Brian Bauman, former MCEC staff, will return on Friday night to celebrate the impactful ministry made possible through the Legacy Initiatives Fund.
  • Welcome five new congregations to MCEC!
  • Catch the excitement as together we grow into the future.
  • Be inspired by the stories from our new strategic plan

Download Discernment Documents

For additional information, see the MCEC Annual Church Gathering page. 

Registration is now closed. Please check in at the registration desk in Leamington.

Each congregation can register delegates and non-delegate attendees. Delegates, as representatives of their congregation, vote on motions. Please note that there is important business on both Friday evening and Saturday. We ask that delegates please attend the full Annual Church Gathering. Floor privileges are extended to all attendees; voting privileges are extended to delegates.

  • Full Member Congregation: Register 3 delegates plus a youth delegate.
  • Provisional Congregation: Register 2 delegates plus a youth delegate.
  • If your congregation has more than 150 members, elect one additional delegate for each additional 50 members.

Yes, there are two special meetings. You can register for these meetings on the Annual Church Gathering registration form.

  1. April 17, 2004 Online Financial Meeting - Optional
    7 p.m. on Zoom
    Similar to last year, we invite you to attend an additional online financial meeting held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 7 p.m. Richard Steinmann, chair Audit and Finance Committe, Laurie Castello, MCEC's new operations and finance director, and John Head, interim operations and finance director, will present the internal financial statements. This online Zoom conversation provides an early opportunity to ask questions ahead of the Annual Church Gathering.
  2. June 13, 2004 Online Special Delegate VOTING Meeting - Mandatory for Delegates
    7 p.m. on Zoom
    This is a mandatory meeting for delegates as we will be voting. We will present the internal financial statements, as has been our practice, at the Annual Church Gathering on Friday, April 26, 2024. There will be the opportunity to discuss these statements at the ACG. However, the vote to accept the audited financial statements and the approval of the financial auditor will take place via Zoom during a special meeting of delegates on Thursday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. Please see Important Voting Information Regarding MCEC Audit for more information.

Yes, there is a special mandatory delegate voting meeting to vote on the Audited Financial Statements and the Approval of a Financial Auditor.

  • June 13, 2004 Online Special Delegate VOTING Meeting - Mandatory for Delegates
    7 p.m. on Zoom
    This is a mandatory meeting for delegates as we will be voting. We will present the internal financial statements, as has been our practice, at the Annual Church Gathering on Friday, April 26, 2024. There will be the opportunity to discuss these statements at the ACG. However, the vote to accept the audited financial statements and the approval of the financial auditor will take place via Zoom during a special meeting of delegates on Thursday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. Please see Important Voting Information Regarding MCEC Audit for more information.

There are a few things for you to remember to bring.

  1. Your discernment documents - either in printed form or on your device (cell phone, tablet, laptop). You may wish to download the documents to your device prior to ACG.
  2. Bible
  3. Device (cell phone, tablet, laptop) and headphones/earbuds to access language interpretation to French;
  4. Travel mug or container for coffee or drink

Yes, We value your attendance at ACG and recognize that many of you will be travelling on Friday.

There is an option to pay for a meal on Friday evening. This will be a $20 meal available from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. and will consist of make your own sandwich/wraps; raw vegetables; pie; coffee; tea; water. You have the opportunity to add this option on the payment screen.

This option will be available until April 12. Please register by then if you wish to purchase this meal.

Yes, we come together as a regional church to embody God's reconciling ministry for all creation. We continue to work toward greener MCEC events and gatherings.

  • Please bring a travel mug or container for coffee or drink.
  • Personnel will be available on-site to guide recycling protocols.
  • If you are local, consider biking to UMEI Christian Highschool where bicycle parking is available.
  • Consider carpooling.
  • Complete the environmental audit on the registration form if you are driving (drivers only).
  • We will be using glass communion cups as opposed to plastic.
  • In an effort to decrease our printing, we do not print discernment documents. Please download the documents to your device prior to our Gathering. WiFi will be available.
  • However, if you require a printed document, please indicate on the registration form and a printed document will be reserved for you at the registration table.

Yes. Interpretation to French will be provided online through Zoom. You will need to bring your own device (cell phone, laptop, tablet) and headphones/earbuds to access the service.

The Zoom link will be provided upon registration and made available at the Annual Church Gathering.

WiFi is available.

Yes. If you require lodging in Leamington, contact Days Inn (519 325-0260) or Best Western Leamington (519 326-8646) by April 2, 2024. A block of rooms have been reserved. Simply call them directly and indicate that you are there for the Mennonite Church Gathering/Mennonite Church Eastern Canada to receive a special rate.