Observations
We conferences created MCC and some of the forerunners.   I think we are still the owners of MCC - we created this arm/agency of the church and now the agency is asking for some help and direction. 

New Wineskins are needed.   Many things have changed.   Needs in the world have changed.   We have begun to learn about root causes of hunger and poverty.

MCC (international program level) has become much more conscious of working with partners in other countries;  it seems there is less interest (at that program/staff level) in working with churches and congregations here. 

As conferences and congregations we work more and more in isolation from each other. 

Many structures have changed, in MCC and in conferences.  It has become almost impossible at provincial meetings to discuss or impact national or international MCC activities. 

We as conferences and congregations have needs.   Churches and other groups, in Canada, and in many parts of the world have needs.  In its simplest form, MCC could be our agency, an agency of the churches, to make connections and channels.  

Identity and Needs - Evaluate what and who MCC is.   Evaluate what we congregations and conferences have, what we need in order to be disciples of Jesus, to be the church of Christ. 

MCC used to be an agency of the church.   MCC used to be an agency for service, education, adventure. . .MCC was the agency for alternative service for many young people (probably this would not work today). 

In Canada, MCC used to be agency for service programs, and used to be a forum and a voice for debating, even arguing about peace and social issues.   MCC used to be one of our identities, an “icon,” sounding the trumpet, our trumpet, for peace and service. I suspect that now a young adult in Altona would say that MCC is the local thrift store.

MCC may be a house divided - torn apart?  I have been in every provincial and regional office in Canada and the US and these offices, these levels of staffing, are trying hard to connect with churches.   And yet, there is little more than nothing at provincial meetings about national or international programs, and at this point that is the only forum where there is even any chance at all to talk about what “we” are  doing.   More energy is spent on “accords” and forwarding money than on the actual content and direction of programs. 

As conferences and congregations we are more isolated than we used to be. Somehow MCC did not want to move, did not want to flex, and now we (conferences, schools. . . .) have been busy, in isolation, reinventing service and mission programs, giving our young people some interesting notions of service and mission.   Some of the “voluntourism”  has good value, but to call some of this mission or service is sad, or funny. 

Is there a Mennonite/Anabaptist voice for peace and justice in Canada?  We do not agree on all things, but many things we could say together.  Yes there is an MCC office in Ottawa - so?   Are we dealing with the questions of today and tomorrow?  Suppose there are individuals or groups across a province, across congregations and conferences, who want to or need to get together to talk about the relation between international debt, economic restructuring and hunger, or to discuss and discern some of the ethical questions about the possibilities brought to our doorstep by modern medical and science technology.   There used to be at least a small forum or meeting place for things like this at annual MCC provincial meetings.   I think this has fallen away. 

These and others are huge questions, but we are not voiceless, we are not powerless.  There is a huge need for the peace from God, for the peace of God, in our time. 

We as conferences need to work together on such issues, we used to do at least some of this together.  If MCC no longer serves this need for us, another forum needs to be created.   In such discussions or arguments, we grew, we got to know each other - even at congregational levels.   

If MCC continues to move away from this part of our need and identity, either pull it back or build a sidewalk around it.   Unfortunately this would not be the first time that ‘our’ agency has not served the congregations. 

If this frittering away of our voice, our identity, had been deliberate, it would have been a good strategy for weakening our presence and contribution in Canada.

In any case, regardless of the preceding or following sections and suggestions:

Rejuvenate and Separate MCC Identities - one in the US and one in Canada.   Dismantle MCC bi-national.   Each conference should instruct board members at provincial and national levels to work toward this ASAP - 3 to 5 years max.  Most church groups by now have separated identities   Let there be a central committee, or a coordinating council, but NOT a central staff. 

Does anyone still seriously think Canada and the US are the same?

I thought one of the reasons MWC was set for Paraguay was US security legislation and practice.   Canada is not quite that way yet.   Is the rest of the world not supposed to be aware of such differences?   Even if churches in other places could believe that we are all one, how about the governments that grant or withhold visas, or that allow or do not allow certain projects? 

I have heard that MCC, through Canada, will begin to connect with Cuba.   Where have we been for decades?   Look at the Cuban record on health, education and on international service.   We should have been partnering with them, learning from them decades ago.   And there are many other examples of where MCC has been hampered by having to work through an office/staff in the US. 

We seem to have been unable, somewhere in our (MCC) staff and boards, to let go of our myth of one united church and structure.   There has been discontent, at least on the Canadian side, with this central structure and central staff for a long time already. 

Adjust the Tone and Content of News Releases and Reporting - by reading MCC material, one could easily get the impression that everything is under control - See how well our projects are doing, (after all we are proud to be good administrators).  Is there more need?  Are there other needs? - not sure, but we are doing good.   just trust us and continue your support please. 

Years ago there was concern about a pornography of poverty (or hunger or. . . . ), for example, using dramatic images of hungry children to raise funds, but the pendulum has swung way too far.   Now we think that there are no needs beyond our stories.   We need not only grace but also truth, both within the glory of God. 

Some Restructuring Within MCC - let the main desks be water, health, food, peace or whatever,   Such a reformatting would make it easier to say who MCC is, what it does (or, who we are in MCC, what we do).  The current geographical designation of desks/positions offers no information. 
 
Conclusion/Summary - NEW CONCEPTS and NEW VISIONS ARE NEEDED. 

For conferences - look at who we are, what we need.   Assert our needs, act on them, with or through MCC or in other ways.

For MCC (and that is also us) - look at identity of MCC.   Be creative in  the task of working both with founding partners and new partners.    

We need a watchman to keep us awake or else we slumber in our comfort and our pension funds.

Removing one layer of staffing (bi-national) could simplify reporting and accountability and connecting with the pew.   Reorganizing by need area, rather than by continent, would give more clarity and focus to programs and identity - water, health, food. 
 
I wish you well.
Ray Hamm