IMC Leaders Participate in First CLC of the Biennium

Kansas City, MO – Michael Danner, Anne Munley, and Don Rheinheimer represented Illinois Mennonite Conference at the first Constituency Leaders Council meeting of the biennium (two year period between delegate assemblies).

Michael, Anne, and Don were a part of a group of 60 leaders from area conferences, constituency groups and agencies that met Oct. 19-21 at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

The primary emphasis of the gathering was providing feedback to the Executive Board of MC USA concerning the Journey Forward – a two-year process of putting the learnings of the Future Church Summit into action.

“It is always good to connect with various leaders across the church,” said Michael Danner, IMC conference minister. “What remains to be seen is if the journey forward initiative can, indeed, move us forward as a church.”

Danner said, “In my view, [MC USA] has always had a clear vision of what we are trying to be together – A Jesus-centered, community of reconciliation and peacemaking. We struggle when we hold different ideas on how to live that out. Recently around issues like same-gender marriage and church leadership. In the past around issues of women in ministry and divorce.  It is my hope that this process will help us learn to approach discernment and disagreement in more helpful ways.”

You can read a full report of the CLC meeting by clicking the button below.

Click Here for a full report from The Mennonite

Engaged in the wider church

I am writing this after a long day of good meetings at the Constituency Leadership Council (CLC) of Mennonite Church USA on the campus of AMBS in Elkhart, IN.  The CLC is a group of leaders that function as elders of MC USA and consists of conference ministers, conference moderators, at large conference participants and representatives from various constituencies of MC USA.

As a conference, IMC is committed to MC USA and the covenant commitments we have made to participate in the wider church. Part of that commitment is to engage in the leadership processes of the denomination. Myself, Ann Munley (Church Life Team), and Don Rheinheimer (moderator) are representing Illinois Mennonite Conference.

We began our time together in worship and communion, confirming our common faith in Jesus and our commitments to one another. Then we gathered in table groups and engaged in various exercises and discussions where we were asked to help define the future vision of MC USA.

 

This is a rich time of making new relationships and affirming old ones.  It is also a time where we help give voice to challenges facing the church.

Please continue in prayer for this gathering, which concludes on Saturday, March 18.