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Highlights of the Mennonite Church General Assemblies, 1971-1999
by J. Ron Byler
The following actions and highlights of the fifteen Mennonite Church General Assemblies were given as the Mennonite Church General Board Staff Report to the delegates of St. Louis 99. In 1971 the Mennonite Church General Assembly replaced the former organization known as Mennonite General Conference, which was founded in 1898. At St. Louis 99 the final session of the Mennonite Church General Assembly was held, making way for the new Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada.
These actions and highlights were largely excerpted from the introductions of the Assembly Proceedings booklets. They are offered not as an attempt to include every action and activity of the General Assembly, but simply as a way to help us remember the flavor of our work together and the commitment of this body to follow the way of Jesus.
Kitchener, Ontario (1971). The 74-year-old Mennonite General Conference met for its last session in August 1971 at Rockway Mennonite School. A constitutional assembly adopted new bylaws and the first meeting of the Mennonite Church General Assembly immediately followed. Five regions and five program boards were established and the General Board was asked to arrange for the Board of Congregational Ministries, the Historical Committee and the Council on Faith, Life and Strategy to organize and begin their work.
Harrisonburg, Virginia (1973). At Assembly 73 at Eastern Mennonite College, delegates worked to understand their role in seeking consensus on the decisions and issues facing the church. Major blocks of time were spent discussing two issues -- "Amnesty" and "the Role of Women in the Church." The assembly heard a message and findings from a cross-cultural theological consultation. The centrality of the congregation and the mission thrust of the Mennonite Church were affirmed.
Eureka, Illinois (1975). Attendance at Assembly 75 exceeded expectations and severely taxed the facilities at Eureka College. After vigorous discussion, summary statements on "Abortion," on "Biblical Understandings of Women and Men in the Church," and on "Amnesty" were adopted. A Jubilee Fund was established to liquidate the debt of the General Board and the Board of Congregational Ministries.
Estes Park, Colorado (1977). The churchwide gathering in Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies was a combination of the biennial session of General Assembly delegates, an inspirational convention meeting, and a youth convention. Two statements on "the life of the church" were adopted by the Assembly - one on "the Holy Spirit," and a second on "Biblical Interpretation." Two ad hoc reports on urban concerns and social justice were approved by this Assembly.
Waterloo, Ontario (1979). The Mennonite Church General Assembly gathered for Waterloo 79 at Conrad Grebel College on the campus of the University of Waterloo. The Assembly adopted a resolution on urban concerns. Statements, one on "Affirming Our Faith in Word and Deed" and the second on "Militarism and Conscription," were also adopted. A "Message to Sister Churches Overseas" asked for prayer "that we may resist the many temptations to compromise our witness through materialism, accommodation to militarism, and conformity to the world's standards."
Bowling Green, Ohio (1981). During Assembly 81 at Bowling Green State University, delegates appointed a committee to conduct a ten-year review of the new Mennonite Church organization. Two statements - one on "Leadership and Authority in the Life of the Church, and a second on "The Use of the Law" - were passed by delegates. A "Resolution Concerning Security and the Current World Arms Race" was also approved. Assembly 81 concluded with a reaffirmation of "our desire to continue in and witness to the nonresistant and simple faith in Christ, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1983). Bethlehem 83 on the campus of Lehigh University was a time to celebrate 300 years of Mennonite life and witness in North America. It was also a time for the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church to become better acquainted through joint worship and fellowship, though delegates met for business separately. MC delegates approved a statement on "Inter-Mennonite cooperation in North America" and a second on "Justice and the Christian Witness." A "Vision for Witness" statement was affirmed, as was a resolution on "Central America," and another on "Mennonite Tricentennial." A "Call to Faithful Stewardship" was adopted for study for the next biennium.
Ames, Iowa (1985). Iowa State University was the site for the 1985 General Assembly. Ten year goals were adopted, goals that later became known as Vision 95. The goals gave specific encouragement for growth of the church in number, witness and giving. A committee to work with the General Conference on a new confession of faith was approved. A resolution in response to the farm crisis was also approved, as was a proposal to give priority to the allocation of budget funds for minority education. The "Central America" resolution of the previous Assembly was reaffirmed.
West Lafayette, Indiana (1987). Purdue 87, held on the campus of Purdue University, has become closely linked with what we now call the Purdue statement: "A Call to Affirmation, Confession, and Covenant Regarding Human Sexuality." The 1987 Assembly also passed a "Resolution on South Africa" and adopted a statement on "Growing in Stewardship and Mission in a Militaristic World." Many area conferences enthusiastically reported progress toward the Vision 95 goals.
Normal, Illinois (1989). The children, youth and adults attending the Normal 89 gathering of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church were a living demonstration of the convention theme, "Many Peoples Becoming God's People." Three resolutions, the first on military tax withholding, the second on confronting racism, and the third on environment and faith issues, were passed by delegates. A recommendation on "Exploring MC/GC Integration" was adopted. "We must pursue the work of God," concluded the incoming moderator. He urged delegates "to learn from the past but to yearn for the future."
Eugene, Oregon (1991). At Oregon 91, in the Eugene fairgrounds and convention center, United Native Ministries Council was recognized as an associate group of the Mennonite Church. Delegates also asked the General Board to discern how the Mennonite Church can give priority to peace leadership. A resolution "On Observing 1992" was passed. Delegates spent time discussing four issues - lifestyles for Christian disciples, a congregational peace education initiative, unity and diversity, and priorities for the future. Churchwide agencies, conferences and congregations were asked to mark progress toward the Normal 89 statement on racism.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1993). For Philadelphia 93, we gathered for the first time in the downtown of a major city. We adopted resolutions on "Health Care in the United States" and on "Male Violence Against Women." The statements, "Peace in Our Time" and "A Commitment to Christ's Way of Peace," were approved for study and discussion in our congregations and conferences, and a "Call for a Peacemaking Task Force" was approved.
Wichita, Kansas (1995). Wichita 95 was the third joint gathering of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church. A "commitment to move toward integration" captured much time and attention. Just as significant was the adoption of a new "Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective" and the forward-looking "Vision: Healing & Hope" statement with six accompanying priorities. The statement, "Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love," was commended for use in decision-making and in managing conflicts among us.
Orlando, Florida (1997). In the introduction to the Orlando proceedings, I comment that the actions of this assembly "have the effect of looking back at the 'historic' actions of Wichita 95 and looking forward to what promise to be substantive changes in the structure and integration of the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church." In Orlando, delegates overwhelmingly approved integration votes on name, time frame and periodicals. In other activity, delegates adopted the Mennonite statement on violence, "And No One Shall Make Them Afraid," as well as resolutions on global mission, congregational youth ministry and immigration.
To complete the summary of assemblies, the following comments from St. Louis are added.
St. Louis, Missouri (1999). We thank God for the Mennonite Church General Assembly during these past 28 years.
Five strong program boards and four able associate groups have given faithful witness to God in word and deed. 21 area conferences have nurtured and encouraged our congregations, and have generously supported the work of the denomination.
The Mennonite Church General Board and this General Assembly body have helped lead the church in its mission and witness. But we are changing once more and we are eager to see what God will do among us as a new Mennonite Church.
We invite your reflection and counsel as we move forward together with our General Conference brothers and sisters.
J. Ron Byler is associate general secretary of the Executive Board of the Mennonite Church USA, and is a member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana.
Mennonite Historical Bulletin, April 2000