How the EMC is governed
The Evangelical Mennonite Conference is made up of about 60 churches that work together to put what we believe into words and our words into action.
This work is done through the Conference Council and the EMC Ministerial, both of which meet twice per year and have representation from all churches.
The Conference Council is made up of pastors and delegates from each church, as well as EMC board members. The council’s work is to elect the Conference Moderator and Vice-Moderator, as well as members of the supporting boards. Conference Council receives board reports, oversees the budget and approves all major initiatives. The Conference Moderator and Vice-Moderator lead the meetings of the Conference Council as well as the General Board, which is the legal governing board of the EMC and acts as the executive of the Conference Council.
The EMC Ministerial is made up of ministerial members of all the churches, with some voting restricted to EMC-credentialed ministers. The ministerial gives direction to the EMC on theology, Christian living, and ministry issues, it credentials and holds ministers accountable and makes decisions regarding theology, morality and church practices.
The General Board is the legal governing board of the EMC and, besides the Moderator and Vice-Moderator, is made up of representatives of each region’s ministerial and each supporting board and committee.
The decisions and guidance of the above bodies are further defined by four supporting boards and two committees, and carried out through EMC staff in the office and around the world.
More details about our administrative structures are available in the Church Administration and Conference Administration sections of our constitution. Or see what we focused on and accomplished in the previous year through our annual report.
