From May 27-30, more than five hundred delegates from throughout Mennonite Church USA traveled to Kansas City, MO to worship, dialogue, and discern God’s future for our denomination. There were over 50 delegates from Mosaic Conference.
The assembly began Friday evening with worship, including the typical harmonious Mennonite singing in several languages and storytelling by three pastors.
Saturday morning’s worship included a sermon by Dr. Samuel Sarpiya, former Moderator of the Church of the Brethren, on the need for us to live with a spirit of unity in the midst of differences. After worship, the opening business session began with the approval of minutes and opportunities for delegates to get to know their assigned tablemates.
Delegates entered into a facilitated discussion of the “Clarification on Mennonite Church USA Polity and the Role of the Membership Guidelines of Mennonite Church USA” resolution. The purpose of this resolution was to retire the 2001 Membership Guidelines as the active polity of MC USA. Specifically, Section III of the guidelines says that credentialed pastors in MC USA may not perform same-sex covenant ceremonies. The facilitated discussion encouraged delegates around their tables to process how the membership guidelines have functioned in MC USA for good and for ill.
After lunch, there was a discussion and vote as to whether or not to process “A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation.” This resolution acknowledges and attempts to make right the harm suffered by LGBTQIA Mennonites due to MC USA actions and policies. The delegates voted 357-135 in favor of processing the resolution, so time to process and vote on the resolution was added to Sunday’s agenda.
On Saturday afternoon, four church leaders, including Mosaic Leadership Minister, Aldo Siahaan, of Philadelphia Praise Center, shared how they have navigated the challenges of ministry during the global pandemic.
Sunday morning’s sermon by Dr. Samuel Sarpiya exhorted the delegates to be peacemakers in their contexts. After a facilitated community-building exercise, floor discussion began of the resolution to retire the Membership Guidelines. Many delegates spoke and it was obvious that feelings run deep regarding the treatment of LGBTQIA persons within Mennonite Church USA. A vote was taken, and by a margin of 404-84, the resolution was approved and the Membership Guidelines were retired as polity for MC USA.
After lunch, a facilitated discussion began of “A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation.” The intent of the resolution is to acknowledge the harm done by the church to LGBTQIA persons in the church, to repent of that harm, and to take some remedial steps, including eliminating the Membership Guidelines and adding representation on the Constituency Leaders Council for LGBTQIA persons. After the facilitated discussion, floor discussion was held. Many delegates shared. Many spoke in support of it, while some said they felt like they were being asked to repent for things they had not done. An unsuccessful motion to table the resolution was made. Delegates then voted, 267-212, in favor of the resolution.
Monday morning’s worship acknowledged the mix of emotions delegates were feeling. There was a facilitated discussion on the “For Justice” resolution, which had been presented as a study resolution not requiring a vote. The MC USA Accessibility Resolution was passed with a show of hands. Some delegates expressed regret that consideration of issues of justice and accessibility were crowded into the end of the agenda and not considered more fully. The assembly concluded with singing, “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.”
The Mosaic Board will host post-Assembly listening sessions on June 6, 8, and 9 for further discussion. To register for the delegate listening sessions, please click here.
