wfn.org | Mission agencies enter transition

[BethAH@mbm.org]

November 1, 2000
Beth Hawn
Communications Coordinator
Mennonite Board of Missions
phone (219) 294-7523
fax (219) 294-8669
<www.MBM.org>

Mission agencies enter transition, launch executive search

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. – The joint boards/commissions for mission
structures in Canada and the USA unanimously adopted transition
plans Oct. 28 and initiated a wide-open search process for a new
executive director for the USA’s national mission center.

They appointed full-time transition project leaders in Canada and
the USA naming, respectively, Jack Suderman, current executive
secretary of the MC Canada Ministries Commission, and Erwin
Rempel, former executive secretary (now director of development
and church relations) for the Commission on Overseas Mission.
Transition leaders will work in collaboration with the chief
executives of the General Conference’s COM and Commission on Home
Ministries as well as Mennonite Board of Missions, Eastern
Mennonite Missions and Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions of
the Mennonite Church.

The boards and commissions called for transition leaders to
finalize a budget for the transition period, which can be adopted
by the Joint Mission Executive Committee no later than Dec. 1.

The actions signaled the beginning of separate tracks for Canada
and the USA as the bi-national mission transformation steering
committee was divided into two national committees, which will
meet in joint session as needed.  Assumptions for the transition
period include sustaining strong mission program, constituent
relations and staff support during the transition period.

Suderman and Rempel will oversee the work of a dozen inter-agency
staff project teams, which will develop detailed transition plans
in a variety of areas, including:
? A mission training program (binational)
? Strategic work groups/roundtables development (binational)
? International personnel support, benefits and policies
(binational)
? International/bi-national program development (binational)
? Networking and partnerships in a virtual system
? Mission identity
? Resource development

In addition to national project teams for legal/governance issues
and board member development, the boards/commissions approved a
search process for an executive director of the national mission
center in the USA.  (In Canada, where the new denomination was
formally launched following St. Louis 99, the choice of Suderman
as transition leader represented continued affirmation of his
leadership role.  Rempel’s assignment is expected to last six to
nine months, serving until the new USA mission executive is
installed.)

The search for the USA mission executive director began
immediately with a wide-open scope that will include both
internal and external candidates.  The seven-member committee
includes two members of the MCUSA Executive Board and five
members of mission boards and commissions.  Herman Bontrager, MBM
Board member, will serve as chair; Craig Maven, CHM member, as
vice chair.  Other members include Elizabeth Soto Albrecht and
Mathew Swora, COM members; Testfatsion Dalellew, MBM Board
member; and Susan Gingerich and Roy Williams, MCUSA Executive
Board members.

Between now and March 2001, the committee will refine the job
description and qualifications, widely advertise the position,
identify and screen potential candidates, interview top
candidates and coordinate assessment of final candidates before
discerning and selecting a final candidate for recommendation.
Each of the mission boards – CHM, COM and MBM – requires a
two-thirds majority for approval at the March 29-31, 2001,
meetings in Newton, Kan.  Their recommendation will go to the USA
Executive Board for final approval in April 2001.  The new USA
mission executive director could be announced at the Mennonite
Church USA assembly July 2-7 in Nashville, Tenn.

“In the process we expect to consult widely both about the role
description and in asking for candidates,” said Herman Bontrager,
search committee chair.

A list of skills for the new mission executive director includes
visionary and strategic skills, spiritual leadership, strong
capabilities in organizational development and executive
management, the ability to develop collaborative partnerships
with a wide range of groups as well as strong relational and
communications skills.  Candidates should have a “clear
commitment and passion for the vision, mission, theology, values
and long-range strategy of the new Mennonite Church (USA and
Canada) and its mission agencies.”  The search committee also is
looking for global awareness, cross-cultural and ethnic
sensitivity as well as innovation – a willingness to risk and try
new things.

The position requires executive management experience in
church-related organizations, recognized leadership and
credibility within the Mennonite Church and with mission
partners, strong expertise in mission, cross-cultural experience
as well as a master’s degree in a related field.

The new USA mission center executive director will:
? Provide strategic leadership in building the new Mennonite
Church mission system.
? Communicate the vision to constituents.
? Seek to create loyalty and support for the new mission
organization among individuals, congregations, conferences and
the denomination.
? Develop national and international collaborative relationships
and partnerships.
? Lead in the development of the mission organization, staff and
program infrastructure.

The executive director will be directly accountable to the USA
mission board with accountability for reporting to the MCUSA
Executive Board.

* * *
Tom Price