REGIONAL CONFERENCES

Mennonite Church of Normal belongs to two regional conferences: Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC) and Central District Conference (CDC). Our pastors participate in a regional cluster of Mennonite pastors.

MENNONITE CHURCH USA
http://www.mennoniteusa.org

Mennonite Church USA is an Anabaptist Christian denomination with more than 109,000 members in 44 states. A total of 21 area conferences serve as regional offices or districts for our 939 congregations. Together all parts of MCUSA strive to bring Christ’s healing and hope to others by identifying and joining God’s work in the world. MCUSA was the result of the formal merger in 1999 of the two former primary North American Mennonite denominations: the General Conference (GC) Mennonite Church and the Mennonite Church (MC or "Old" Mennonites).

Mennonite Church USA is one of nearly 20 formally organized groups of Mennonites in North America that vary in lifestyle and religious practice but all stem from the Anabaptist movement. Though their streams of faith may differ, Mennonite groups hold common beliefs: Jesus Christ is central to worship and to everyday living. Behavior is to follow Christ's example. The Bible is considered the inspired word of God. Membership continues to be voluntary, with adult baptism upon declaration of faith.

Mennonites are known for their peace stand, taken because they believe Jesus Christ taught the way of peace. Many members choose not to participate in military service. Some take their belief further by objecting to government military expenditure; a few choose not to pay the percentage of their annual income tax that would go for military purposes.

Mennonites are also known for their strong commitment to community; interest in social issues; voluntary service to those who have experienced hardship and loss in floods, tornadoes and other disasters; and mission outreach.

MENNONITE WORLD CONFERENCE
http://www.mwc-cmm.org/

Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is a global community of Christian churches rooted in the 16th-century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement. Today, more than 1,600,000 believers belong to this faith family; more than 60 percent are African, Asian, or Latin American.

MWC represents 99 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national churches from 56 countries on six continents.

Vision
Mennonite World Conference is called to be a communion (Koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness.

Mission
MWC exists to (1) be a global community of faith in the Anabaptist-tradition, (2) facilitate relationships between Anabaptist-related churches worldwide, and (3) relate to other Christian world communions and organizations.