Addendum to 2008 Annual Report

Not every congregation in ACC or related agency and ministry are represented in our Annual Report book which is now available. Some parties were not able to submit reports in time for printing or for other reasons did not submit one. However there was one report that was submitted in time but was omitted due to ACC error (that would be me, Keith Wilson). I want to extend my apologies to Covenant Mennonite Church for this omission. Below is a link to their report, which I would invite you to read and perhaps print to keep with your report book as well. 

Covenant Mennonite Church & Pax Ministries 2008 Report to ACC

ACC/EDC Joint Spring Assembly

Below is Lois Ann Mast's article summarizing our day shared with Eastern District Conference at Hope Community Church. We have added a few photos and links to supplemental follow up documents of interest throughout the article. 

Saturday, April 18, was an historic event in the life of ACC because it was the first time that we joined with a sister conference in a joint assembly program!
About 160 persons enjoyed this gathering of worship, seminars, separate conference business meetings, and an inspiring message by keynote speaker Jeff Wright, Church Development Coordinator, who encouraged us to “stretch” as Mennonites. “If the Israelites after being in exile could rebuild their faith community, we too can experience healing of any shame, guilt, and fear of our past,” assured Jeff Wright.
“It is time to move forward with new visions and insight especially during this time when so many of our neighbors no longer know God.” We were challenged with the statistic that 78% of persons ages 16-31 are alienated with the way we “do church”—with our church practices and even our theology.
“We need to lengthen the cords in our churches—allow persons who disagree to ‘belong.’ Yes, it can be a challenging stretch to allow church attendees to ‘belong’ before they ‘believe,’ but this is what it now takes to fulfill God’s design for His church in our culture today,” said Wright.
Wright shared that persons around the world are saying that the Anabaptist Vision is what they need and what they want to learn more about, but we as Mennonites hide under a bushel, display a spiritual case of shyness, or even fear who we are as a Mennonite people.
“Church Planting is at the heart of how God is going to renew us Mennonites. We must allow ourselves to stretch and even make a mistake. God IS in our midst,” concluded Jeff Wright.

Here are a few additional items relating to Jeff Wright's sermon.

Highlighted points from Assembly minutes

Power Point Slides from Jeff's presentation

WELCOMING BLOSSOM HILL MENNONITE CHURCH TO ACC

ACC 2010-2012 Proposed Goals - Click Here to see collated ACC Goals feedback responses

On April 18, 2009, at Hope Community Church in Fleetwood, ACC gathered to discuss how to be more “Centered in Christ—Building Connections—Sharing God’s Love.”
The ACC Executive Committee met in February 2009 with other ACC leaders and compiled the following goals—goals that need to be created to help fulfill the mission of MC USA to develop leadership, eliminate racism, make a global connection, and witness to the healing and hope found in Christ.
The following areas of Conference work are proposed to receive priority over the next two years:

• Engage younger persons in the life and witness of the Conference.

• Increase electronic communication of Conference with congregations and ACC members.

• Review the role and function of delegates in the operation of Conference.

GOAL #1 - To develop additional ways to engage both younger persons and persons of racial ethnic origin in the operations and programs of the Conference.
Action A: Explore creating coffee-house type settings to discuss questions,
issues, and theology younger persons are faced with in the context of the 21st century.
Action B: Require that all Conference
Committees include younger persons and persons of racial diversity.
Action C: Develop electronic means to ineractively communicate with the
younger generation such as blogs, facebook, etc.
Action D: Collaboration among ACC Clusters and with other area con-
ferences to provide opportunities for younger and racial ethnic members.

GOAL #2 - To create an ACC task force to review the by-laws and to evaluate the role and function of delegates and moderator in ACC affairs and bring recommendations to the Executive Committee by January 2010. The review should take into consideration:
Action A: delegate responsiblities and expectations
Action B: orientations
Action C: timely information for delegates prior to conferences
Action D: electronic polling/communication; maintaining active up-to-date list
Action E: understanding of Conference by-laws and mission
These 2010-2012 ACC-proposed goals will be acted upon at the Fall 2009 session.

Revelation Seven Vision click here for collated Revelation 7 Vision responses

Graham Cyster shared the need to
address the lack of cultural understanding that leads to exclusion and may be perceived as
racism. Three steps were presented:
Step I: Awareness through Damascus Road and other experiences/study
Step II: Vision of an inclusive community
Step III: Collaboration in the new creation which is a gift from God
We were encouraged to create congregational partnerships with something meaningful to do together; encourage pulpit exchanges; expand ACC standing committees to include more persons from racial/ethnic groups; bring varied worship styles into conference assembly celebrations; and form prayer groups.

Church Development Coach click here for collated CDC proposal feedback responses

There is a need for a church development (church planting) coach to work with emerging congregations to empower them to meet the vision to which God is calling them. She/he will also equip and empower established congregations seeking new energy and vitality.
Discussion took place on this vision with input to be taken back to the Executive Committee for further study.
- Lois Ann Mast, Conestoga