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Hampton, VA
MCC’s new plan focuses on Mennonites outside North America


On Feb. 18, the Mennonite Central Committee annual meeting celebrated the 50th anniversary of the International Visitor Exchange Program (IVEP), which brings young people from around the globe to spend a year in North America.

The MCC Board, which met Feb. 18-19 at Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va., unanimously approved a new exchange program that organizers hope will have the same effect as IVEP in broadening participant’s world – an anabaptist world that no longer has to revolve around the US and Canada. The program, which would be a joint effort with Mennonite World Conference, now waits for MWC General Council approval this summer.

Lamar Fretz, longtime MCC volunteer and former board member from Dunnville, Ont., examines plans and a model of the proposed orientation and meeting centre on the campus of MCC headquarters in Akron, Pa.

Tentatively called Global Exchange, the program will focus on placing young people from outside the US and Canada in one-year service and learning assignments in locations other than the two North American countries. Less than 10 per cent of participants and placements would be North American. Participants would preferably be Mennonite or Brethren in Christ and come from and be placed in countries with MWC member churches or MCC involvement.

The number of program participants and placements would be based on each continent’s church membership, except for North America and Europe. About 55 per cent of the world’s Mennonite and BIC live outside those traditional enclaves.

In recent years, young people from overseas have requested an exchange program that bypasses the US and Canada, said Ana Zorilla, director of MCC’s Visitor Exchange Programs. MCC initially would provide staff and funding, although Zorilla said she hopes MWC would eventually contribute financially to Global Exchanges. Regardless, MWC would give the program an international structure and ownership. “If it comes from MCC, it will be seen as a US-Canadian program,” she said.

The proposal sets up Global Exchanges for five years, starting Nov. 1. Five exchanges are scheduled for 2001, with five more exchanges each year after that, reaching 20 in 2004. Budget for the five-year period is $322,652 US. Participants and their sending communities would be responsible for 50 per cent of the participant’s monthly stipend, although scholarship assistance would be available.

Separate entities

The MCC Board also took steps to spin off existing efforts. Board members approved a resolution to separate Ten Thousand Villages from MCC as a nonprofit corporation, effective April 1. Long an MCC job-creation program, the operation has begun retail stores in vicinities without heavy Mennonite concentrations. This lack of Mennonites makes it difficult for the store to hire employees who meet all of MCC’s employment screens, such as beliefs compatible with the Mennonite faith. As a separate corporation, TTV will be able to develop modified screens.

“One of the thoughts that underlies the structuring is staffing . . . flexibility,” said Bruce McCrae, director of administration and resources.

That prompted concerns that hiring practices could undermine TTV’s religious foundations. “This is a Christian organization in the anabaptist tradition,” McCrae responded. “[Employees] need to have a deep respect for that position, even if they don’t agree with it in all particulars.”

Further, such latitude would not be extended to people “determining policy and planning”, such as executives and board members, said Yvonne Martin, chair of TTV management committee. Such positions would need to be filled based on MCC screens.

According to the memorandum of understanding between MCC and TTV, MCC must approve any TTV bylaw changes and the appointment of the organization’s executive director.

The MCC Board also cut its last formal ties with Mennonite Disaster Service, eliminating the provision that MCC approve changes to the MDS bylaws. That requirement had remained since MDS became a separate entity from MCC in 1993. MCC US and MCC Canada still appoint members to the MDS Board. The change is not expected to have any effect on the work of MDS, which will remain a fraternal organization of MCC.

Record-breaking year

Last year was a record-breaker on both sides of the ledger for MCC, largely because of its response to the destruction left by Hurricane Mitch in Latin America and fighting in the Balkans.

For its international work, MCC received $21.4 million US in financial contributions and $14.3 million in material resources, contributing to a total income of $39.2 million – all records. International expenses also set an all-time high with $37.5 million.

MCC international activities in 1998 posted $28.7 million in income and $25.9 million in expenses.

MCC spent $2.5 million in Honduras and $760,000 in Nicaragua for Hurricane Mitch recovery efforts. The storm prompted 14,000 new donors for MCC. In the Balkans, MCC had expenses of $1.2 million. 55,000 refugee kits were also collected for the Balkans, 3,000 more than were received for victims of Mitch.

Last fiscal year’s international, US and Canadian activities generated records of $69.4 million in income and $66.9 million in expenses.

 – Rich Preheim for Meetinghouse

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Last modified May 4, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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