Leadership - Expectations of Members of the General Board

The church has one mission: to participate in God’s work in the world. To address this responsibility Mennonite Church Canada organizes its work into two program bodies: Christian Formation and Christian Witness. A third body provides Support Services to facilitate the work of the program areas. The General Board oversees all these programs on behalf of the Church at the direction of the Delegate Assembly.

“The General Board leads Mennonite Church Canada in developing and nurturing its identity and vision. It ensures that MC Canada fulfills its mission statement through directing and coordinating the work of the Councils, engaging in timely strategic planning, and fostering partnerships with and between its area conferences. It also partners with other church bodies both in Canada and internationally. The General Board is the legal representative of Mennonite Church Canada and acts on behalf of its members between the delegate assemblies to which it is accountable.”

The bylaw-mandated responsibilities of the General Board are to:

(a) act on behalf of MC Canada between delegate assemblies;
(b) act as the legal representative of MC Canada, authorize each of its officers to sign contracts, cheques and other documents on behalf of MC Canada as the General Board may consider advisable, and prescribe the limits, if any, of such authority;
(c) report to, and be accountable to, its members at delegate assemblies;
(d) between delegate assemblies, continue the process of discerning MC Canada’s participation in God’s work as reflected in the Mission Statement;
(e) lead MC Canada in developing its identity and vision;
(f) create forums for interaction among the leaders of the area conferences;
(g) direct and coordinate the work of the Councils;
(h) review financial statements and direct the preparation of budgets;
(i) make recommendations at regular delegate assemblies on the appointment of auditors for MC Canada;
(j) appoint the General Secretary;

(k) at its discretion, fill vacancies in elected positions that occur between regular delegate assemblies;
(l) process issues of membership in MC Canada and make recommendations thereon at regular or special delegate assemblies;
(m) foster relationships with other church bodies, including appointments as appropriate to:

(i) MC USA;
(ii) Mennonite World Conference;
(iii) other Mennonite church bodies;
(iv) Canadian Council of Churches; and
(v) Evangelical Fellowship of Canada;

(n) oversee the work of Canadian Mennonite Bible College within Canadian Mennonite University [until a new governance arrangement is implemented];
(o) in partnership with MC USA, oversee the work of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary; and
(p) do any other thing which is likely to support and promote the mission of MC Canada.

The General Board consists of 18 members, including the officers, the moderator or a designate of each area conference, the chair of the Christian Witness Council and one other named by the Council, the chair of the Christian Formation Council and one other named by the Council, the chair of the Support Services Council, and three members at large appointed by the General Board and confirmed by the delegate assembly (one of whom will be appointed by the General Board to the General Council of Mennonite World Conference).

Members at large are appointed for a period of 3 years, renewable for three consecutive terms, except for the member who is appointed to Mennonite World Conference, which is a six-year non-renewable term.

The General Board normally meets for three days in March, two days in April, one half day just prior to the annual Assembly and three days in November.