Mennonite Creation Care Network was an important part of the “environment” for many venues of the bi-annual Mennonite Church USA Assembly in San Jose, California, July 3-6, 2007. This church-wide event involving around 6,200 youth and adults provided a great opportunity for MCCN to make contact with every segment of MC USA.

MCCN representatives delivered a major joint-presentation entitled Creation Care and Sustainable Actions during a delegate session, offered new insights during seminars and hosted a late evening forum for networking with other conference attendees interested in creation care. In the exhibition hall, a new display banner attracted assembly participants to the MCCN booth for personal contacts.

The San Jose ’07 delegate session on July 3 was the setting for a major presentation on Creation Care and Sustainable Actions by  Anita Amstutz, Pastor, Albuquerque Mennonite Church (NM) and Luke Gascho, Executive Director, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College (IN).  This 20-minute joint presentation was planned as a follow-up to the concerns about the environment shared during the 2005 denominational event in Charlotte, NC.  Delegates received printed suggestions for table conversation following the presentation. To read the presentation, see the Amstutz-Gascho Presentation under the RESOURCE tab.

MCCN presence and leadership was front and center during two learning track opportunities for youth and adults at San Jose ‘07.  Luke Gascho offered two courses for Assembly attendees to learn about the importance of creation care from a faith perspective.  The titles of the seminars were A Christian’s Call to Earth Care and Building ‘Green’ is a Faith Statement.  Each workshop demonstrated MCCN’s potential as a resource for the broader church, i.e., offering a theological foundation for creation care, giving practical lifestyle choices, and sharing the expertise of those with hands-on experience.

MCCN sponsored a late evening event for persons interested in discussing ways to engage in creation care. Creation Care Council member David Hockman-Wert (OR), led the discussion time. The group consisted of about 20 participants with a wide range of ages, interests, involvement with environmental issues and lifestyle choices.

The MCCN exhibit booth was located near a major flow of pedestrian traffic in the San Jose ’07 Exhibition Hall. The booth was also adjacent to a display featuring Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College and across the aisle from MMA’s interactive exhibit for youth. This location helped to consolidate a focus on creation care and gave opportunity to refer to the partnership and support provided by Merry Lea and MMA.  The exhibit provided a chance for people to learn about MCCN, engage in conversation about environmental concerns, and join the creation care network. Several delegates stopped at the MCCN booth to expressed appreciation for the presentation to delegates and the renewed focus on a relevant issue for the denomination. Others offered suggestions for planning the future MCCN “Nonference.” Still others purchased the book “Creation & the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World.”

San Jose ’07 was a good opportunity for MCCN to become a greater presence in and resource for the Mennonite Church USA. It provided a way for Mennonite people with a desire to “live the call” to find opportunities to network with other creation caregivers.  - Jim Smith


Additional information on the convention can be found at www.sanjose2007.org.