The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board (EB) met July 4, ahead of the denomination’s convention in Orlando, Florida. In a three-hour meeting, the board processed a resolution, developed in consultation with the Future Church Summit Design Team (FCS), to be presented at the final delegate session on July 8. The resolution will affirm the work of FCS participants and commend the FCS Theme Team’s report to the Executive Board, congregations, area conferences and denomination-wide agencies as the direction for MC USA.

Samuel Voth Schrag brought a recommendation from the resolutions committee to present the resolution in the final delegate session, which immediately follows the FCS, a visioning process for MC USA delegates and additional participants. The FCS is inviting participants to reflect together on the question, “How will we follow Jesus as Anabaptists in the 21st century?”

The board discussed the proposed resolution and made a few wording changes. They may continue to tweak and develop the resolution’s language in response to FCS conversations.

EB chair and moderator Patricia Shelly pointed out that the process will continue to unfold after convention.

In other business, the EB named Cal Zehr, Tiskilwa, Illinois, as chair of the Leadership Discernment Committee, the denomination-wide committee responsible for vetting and suggesting appointments for agency boards and committees.

Yvonne Diaz reported that Iglesia Menonita Hispana, which met July 3-4 in Orlando, appointed Margie Mejia Caraballo as its representative to the EB, replacing Diaz, whose term is ending.

Stutzman reported that much has been accomplished in this biennium, despite reductions in MC USA staff.

He also reported on a meeting with 22 former workers at Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, in which he apologized on behalf of MC USA for how the church handled a crisis in publishing in 2001-2003. He said the people who initiated the conversation said they were pleased with the meeting.

Janie Beck Kreider, director of the communications team for MC USA, reported that a crisis communication plan is in place for the convention. Approximately 3,200 people are registered for convention.