U.S. MBs accept relational funding model, adopt new governance structure

The 25th U.S. Mennonite Brethren convention, held July 23–25 in Draper, Utah, like its Canadian counterpart earlier in July, accepted proposals for MB Mission and Service International’s new vision statement and funding model and adopted a new governance structure.

Delegates at the U.S. convention enjoyed breaks in the parking lot of South Mountain Community Church with the Wasatch mountain range in the background.

Delegates spent more time discussing the relational funding model than originally scheduled. Questions dealt with the changing expectations of missionaries. What if a good missionary wasn’t a good fundraiser? Would fundraising divert missionaries from their main tasks? Would the missionary, sending church, or the agency select service locations?

Board chair Dennis Fast and MBMSI staff answered. Support teams will be in place, they said, to raise funds on the missionary’s behalf. The missionaries have been consulted; they don’t think it will involve more time. MBMSI will continue to identify where workers will serve.

When the allotted discussion time on Friday was up, delegates were evenly split on whether or not to continue. Since moderator Rolando Mireles wanted the delegates to “leave in unity,” he announced discussion would resume Saturday.

On Saturday, delegates talked about the importance of MB churches viewing MBMSI as their mission agency, advocated for undesignated giving, and probed for further clarification of the process. A delegate’s comment near the end of the discussion seemed to sum up the feeling of many when he said, “It helps to talk. Even though I don’t like [the shift to relational funding], I support it.” The recommendation passed by 92 percent.

Delegates also discussed and eventually approved the Board of Church Ministries’ recommendation to “provisionally” adopt a new governance structure that is staff rather than board driven and comprised of a single rather than multiple boards. Reassurances were given to questions about ongoing grassroots connection and accountability. The recommendation passed with no dissenting votes.

The convention affirmed the international MB Confession of Faith. They also heard a presentation on Mission USA, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Don Morris was introduced as the new MUSA director and commissioned for service. The business sessions had a gracious tone, perhaps because of Mireles’s request that delegates “stop reports on the hour to pray.”

Convention speaker was Leith Anderson, pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn. and optimistic spokesperson for the future of the U.S. evangelical church. The official theme of the convention was “Living the Call,” but Anderson’s challenge to “make God look good” emerged as the unofficial theme.

Delegates were reminded throughout the weekend that the very fact that the convention was hosted by a thriving MB congregation located in an area dominated by the Mormon church brings glory to God. Meetings were held in South Mountain Community Church, a 20,000 square-foot warehouse turned church building.

Flanking both sides of the convention were two first-ever events for the U.S. Conference: a national pastors’ conference and a 55-Plus gathering.

—from reports by Connie Faber and Nadine Friesen in Christian Leader.