Mennonite leaders from across Europe shared reports about their conferences and responses to the war in Ukraine on Oct. 13-15 during the annual European Leadership Mennonite Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
Host for the event was Anabautistas, Menonitas y Hermanos en Cristo – España (Anabaptists, Mennonites and Brethren in Christ – Spain).
Meetings were held at Residencia Salesiana Martí-Codolar, a Catholic retreat center and seminary facility that was once home to the city’s first zoo.
Representatives from conferences in Albania, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were joined by personnel from Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee to share country reports about activities from the past year. Representatives from Ukraine were absent due to turmoil in their homeland. Reports were followed by prayers for each country.
MWC gave an overview of plans for celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland. Dutch representatives gave an update on MERK 2026, the next gathering of the European Mennonite Regional Conference.
Next year’s gathering will be held in the United Kingdom with the support of Anabaptist Mennonite Network UK.
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