Mennonite World Conference has decided not to appoint a Mennonite Church USA conference minister to a representative role after three MWC member denominations raised concerns.

The unease stems from an LGBTQ-affirming resolution that MC USA delegates passed in 2022 and the possibility that an MC USA person would “represent MC USA theological positions,” according to a letter from MWC.

Stanley Green, executive conference minister of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference, “was due to be appointed” as MWC’s regional representative for North America, according to a Nov. 13 letter from MC USA moderator Marty Lehman on behalf of the denomination’s Executive Board.

However, “questions were raised as to whether he would — inadvertently or by request of his church — carry or represent MC USA views in his MWC relationships,” wrote Janet Plenert, MWC regional representative coordinator, in an Oct. 2 letter to MC USA executive director Glen Guyton and leaders of other North American MWC members.

“The key issue of concern is not that MC USA holds a different theological view of human sexuality, but that churches outside of MC USA have read their 2022 statement as judgmental of churches with different views, and they see that MC USA persons are expected to represent the MC USA theological positions in their broader engagements.

“This makes it difficult for other churches in the U.S. to feel comfortable having an MWC representative who is a member of MC USA.”

Representatives from three of MWC’s five member denominations in the United States “raised concerns, while not vetoing the appointment,” according to MC USA’s letter.

MWC declined to specify which three groups raised concerns. The five MWC member churches in the U.S. are MC USA, Brethren in Christ U.S., LMC (formerly Lancaster Mennonite Conference), Rosedale Network of Churches (formerly Conservative Mennonite Conference) and the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

In her letter, Lehman expressed disappointment with MWC’s decision.

“MC USA’s 2022 Resolution for Repentance and Transformation invites a process of repentance,” she wrote. “It does not pass judgment. It offers confessions made by MC USA that take responsibility for harmful attitudes and actions of MC USA. We believe it is possible for us to ‘take the log out of our own eye’ without passing judgment on others who discern these matters differently.

“As a national body, we do not use theological differences beyond [MWC’s] Shared Convictions as a basis for expressing distrust in other leaders or as a litmus test for MWC appointments. Yet in this instance, MC USA’s discerned positions seem to be used as justification for excluding a gifted leader who would benefit the global Anabaptist witness — simply because he is a member of MC USA.

“The hard reality is, LGBTQIA+ persons have experienced the church’s rejection for decades. The MC USA delegate body has chosen to stand with them. It is a sad reality that, as a result, some will view our denomination with concern and suspicion. Sometimes, this is what solidarity means.

“Choosing to chart a path towards transformation and healing with those whom the church has harmed is not only a theological challenge, but a relational one. We are committed to working with MWC on that relational challenge, and we hope and pray that our Mennonite World Conference siblings will not treat our theological differences as a justification for further dividing the global Anabaptist community but will instead continue to trust in the Spirit’s presence in our communities.”

Regional representatives function as two-way ambassadors for member churches and MWC, helping with information sharing and communication both to the churches from MWC and to MWC from the churches. MWC’s previous North American regional representative was Gerald Hildebrand, a member of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, who served from 2018 until retiring in June.

Green is a former executive director of Mennonite Mission Network. Born and reared in South Africa, he was part of the student movement that helped dismantle the apartheid system, and has served as pastor, conference minister and mission executive in South Africa, Jamaica and the U.S.

Plenert wrote: “It was clear that those who know Stanley affirmed his personal integrity and leadership. . . . We continue to believe that Stanley has much to offer in this role and to MWC, but it appears that it may be a stumbling block for some to engage with MWC fully.”

Green told AW in an open letter the MWC decision to disinvite him “seems to indulge a confounding misconstruction that reduces MC USA members to [a] single-issue agenda,” and this is “unfortunate and unfair.” He said he was saddened “that we allow ourselves to accommodate attempts to create a global fellowship” that “insist[s] on uniformity of interpretation and conviction beyond the essentials which [we] affirm in [MWC’s] Shared Convictions.”

César García, MWC executive secretary, told AW the matter was a staff decision, and “it is important for the regional representatives to have strong affirmation from all the churches they represent. Conversations to facilitate relationship building between leaders of North American MWC members continue, including at a scheduled in-person gathering for U.S. member church leaders in January 2026.”

MC USA’s Repentance and Transformation resolution confesses harm to LGBTQ+ people, affirms their spiritual gifts and commits to inclusive actions at the denominational level. The resolution’s commitments conclude by stating “when MC USA partners with other denominations or faith groups, its input into the process will advocate for this theology” [that honors LGBTQIA people]. It does not mandate individual, congregational or conference action.