Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA sign covenant

Mennonite Church Canada/Mennonite Church USA joint release
April 27, 2007
- J. Ron Byler

Chicago — When the Joint Executive Committee of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA met here on April 10-11, they confirmed what their two boards had already approved – a partnership covenant that recognizes that the two distinct national denominations have a strong and intentional partnership in areas of mutual interest.

Foundational documents – including the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective and Vision: Healing & Hope – continue to reflect a unified body of believers. “We move forward in ministry, exploring and defining new ways of relating, sharing and serving, even as each national body continues to mature in its separate identity and mission,” states the covenant.

Roy Williams, moderator of Mennonite Church USA and pastor of College Hill Mennonite Church, Tampa, Fla. and Henry Krause, moderator of Mennonite Church Canada and pastor of Langley Mennonite Fellowship, Langley, BC, celebrated the signing of the covenant.

Current partnership ministries include Mennonite Publishing Network and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Leaders from the two national churches continue to intersect at many programmatic levels. In its meeting, the Joint Executive Committee approved a gathering for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA leaders and constituents in Winnipeg, July 8-10, 2008 on the theme of living faithfully as a contrast community in our global reality.