Key Takeaways
- MCUSA is proactively re‑imagining its structures to faithfully serve congregations, conferences and emerging communities by 2040.
- The Structure Review Committee blends foresight, stakeholder engagement and theological grounding to explore multiple plausible futures.
- Scenarios range from a “Quiet, Localized Oasis” to a “Strong Wind, Rising Tide,” highlighting both decentralized vitality and expansive mission impact.
- Central questions focus on what should be held nationally, what belongs locally, and how leadership, communication and loose networks can advance the Anabaptist witness.
- The process will culminate in preparation for the 2027 Delegate Assembly, inviting continual prayer, listening and collaboration across the denomination.
Executive Direction
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, outlines how recent Structure Review Committee meetings feed into the broader “Reimagining MC USA” initiative. The conversation centers on a forward‑looking question: what will the world we serve look like in 2040? This inquiry is meant not to produce quick answers but to foster listening, learning and collective discernment about how MC USA’s shared structures can better support its calling to worship, witness and reconciliation. The executive’s role is to steward this reflective process while keeping the denomination’s mission grounded in Christ‑centered purpose.
The Foresight Question
Participants are encouraged to move beyond immediate concerns and imagine how the denomination can faithfully engage an evolving world over the next fifteen years. The foresight approach does not predict a single destiny; instead, it invites exploration of multiple scenarios—such as a smaller, more locally rooted church or a dispersed Anabaptist network flourishing through digital connectivity. By asking faithful questions, leaders aim to uncover tensions between tradition and innovation, centralized authority and decentralized ministry, and social justice aspirations with spiritual formation. These questions serve as a compass for future decision‑making.
Committee Purpose and Scope The Structure Review Committee was formed to examine MC USA’s membership model, funding mechanisms and governance practices with the goals of greater transparency, effectiveness and unity. The group engages a wide cross‑section of stakeholders, reviews bylaws, and commissions experts in organizational development, finance, missiology and governance. This work is intentionally collaborative, seeking input from congregations, area conferences and specialized agencies. By aligning structural reforms with the denomination’s theological commitments, the committee hopes to create systems that are both resilient and adaptable to emerging needs.
Future Scenarios Explored
Workshops with the University of Houston Foresight team produced vivid scenarios for 2040. One envisions MC USA as a “Quiet, Localized Oasis,” thriving through intercultural competency, mutual aid and deep community ties. Another paints a picture of a “Strong Wind, Rising Tide,” where the denomination’s impact expands through far‑reaching faith, conflict resolution and shared wisdom across diverse contexts. These imagined futures are not predictions but provocations that help leaders confront existing tensions and consider alternative pathways for growth and relevance.
Emerging Themes and Needs
Several recurring themes have surfaced throughout the consultation process. First, there is a clear need for systems that enable congregations and conferences to adapt to a changing cultural landscape; participants asked what congregations require, what the national body should discontinue, and which ministries are best suited to each level. Second, leadership formation emerged as critical: cultivating leaders who can bridge generations, navigate polarization and embody Anabaptist values in diverse settings. Finally, there is a call for streamlined communication and connection tools that help stories of faithfulness travel more freely, fostering unity while welcoming newcomers drawn to Anabaptist spirituality.
Leadership Development
If MC USA is to thrive in 2040, it must invest in leaders equipped for complex, polarized environments. This includes training that blends theological depth with practical skills for cultural humility, intergenerational dialogue and conflict mediation. The denomination may need to realign resources among congregations, conferences, schools, camps and specialized agencies to ensure that leadership pipelines are cohesive and mutually supportive. By clarifying where national, regional and local responsibilities lie, MC USA can empower leaders to act with confidence and clarity in service of the broader mission.
Communication and Connection
A recurring concern is how to build digital infrastructure that connects people across the denomination. Leaders envision platforms that help individuals discover MC USA, enable congregations to find partners, and amplify stories of faithful practice. Recent workshops highlighted the importance of both internal communication—linking existing members—and external outreach—providing clear pathways for those outside traditional structures who are attracted to Anabaptist values. Strengthening these connections will nurture a sense of belonging while expanding the denomination’s influence in new contexts.
Loose Ties and Distributed Influence
Participants are beginning to view fragmentation not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for broader Anabaptist witness. History shows that many ministries and movements originally birthed within institutional frameworks later flourish independently, spreading values beyond their original homes. This suggests that “loose ties” can become a faithful network—connected enough to share identity, flexible enough to respond locally, and strong enough to mobilize when called upon. In this view, a more distributed structure may actually increase overall capacity to do good, allowing the church to multiply its impact without sacrificing core convictions.
Structure Aligned with Mission
The overarching principle emerging from the process is that structure must serve mission, not the other way around. Leaders are asked to discern what should be held centrally, what can be strengthened regionally, what belongs to local congregations, and what can be shared through partnerships. This shift moves the conversation from questions of authority to inquiries about who is best equipped to meet specific needs and how resources, trust and capacity can be moved closer to the front lines of ministry. By clarifying these distinctions, MC USA can create a leaner, more responsive framework that empowers rather than hinders its witness.
Preparing for 2027 Delegate Assembly and Ongoing Process
The reimagining journey is deliberately participatory, with plans for continual communication, feedback loops and review by leadership bodies leading up to the 2027 Delegate Assembly. While the timeline may evolve, the commitment to transparent progress reporting remains steadfast. In that assembly, final outcomes and updates on structural changes will be shared, ensuring that the discernment process remains accountable to the wider church. Until then, congregations, area conferences and agencies are encouraged to stay engaged, offering insights and praying for wisdom as the discernment unfolds.
Invitation to Continue Discernment
As the process moves forward, MC USA invites all members to keep praying, listening and imagining together. Core questions persist: What will the world we serve look like in 2040? What kind of church will be needed? Which structures, decisions and behaviors must we shape now to remain faithful, connected and ready for God’s healing work? By staying attentive to these invitations, the denomination can navigate change with humility, courage and hope, ensuring that its structures continue to point toward the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
Through intentional foresight, stakeholder collaboration and theological reflection, Mennonite Church USA is crafting a vision for a resilient and mission‑oriented structure by 2040. The journey underscores the importance of flexible yet purposeful governance, leadership development, and communication that bridges diverse communities. While the path forward may involve releasing cherished traditions and embracing new forms of partnership, the ultimate aim remains clear: to align every organizational decision with the mission of sharing God’s love and participating in God’s work of restoration throughout the world.