Mennonite World Conference’s Executive Committee accepted churches from Tanzania and Ukraine as new members and approved funding for theological education during meetings April 8-11 in Curitiba, Brazil.

Membership applications were accepted from the Evangelical Church of Tanzania and the Association of Christian Mennonite Brethren Churches of Ukraine. This brings MWC to more than 1.5 million baptized members in 110 member churches with more than 10,000 congregations in 60 countries.

The Theological Education Fund will offer scholarships for pastors and church leaders where Anabaptist theological education is difficult to find, specifically in the Global South.

“Now that the majority of our Anabaptist membership is in the Global South, we have a huge need to do theology, forming an Anabaptist identity in each context,” said MWC general secretary César García. “We need to develop strong Anabaptist identities, focused on the centrality of Christ.”

The committee also approved a Carbon Tax Small Grant Fund, available to member churches in the Global South for creation care projects that reduce carbon emissions. Since 2010, MWC has set aside a carbon tax surcharge on all organizational air travel.

Preparing for Anabaptism’s 500th anniversary, the committee approved a joint statement with the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Theologians from each communion drafted a statement of confession, gratitude and commitment to be presented May 29, 2025, at a celebration in Zurich, Switzerland.