The Mennonite Church Canada General Board has unanimously approved the recommendation of the Christian Formation Council to proceed with the merger of Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) and Third Way Media, a ministry of Mennonite Mission Network.
 
The decision was made at the Board's November 12-13 meeting in Saskatoon.
 
"We are very excited about the possibilities for this entity to enable Mennonite Church Canada's mission as we move forward," said Lisa Carr-Pries, chair of the Christian Formation Council.
 
The General Board also expressed support for the Formation Council’s request that Canadians be involved in the staffing and operations of the new entity.
 
Ron Rempel, MPN executive director, and Phil Bontrager, MPN board chair, who both participated in the meeting, indicated that the merged organization is committed to continuing to be binational in governance and staffing, and will aim to serve the resource needs of both Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA.
 
Reflecting on the decision, Rempel says he is “pleased at the trust and confidence of the General Board in the persons working on the details of the merger plan.”
 
By combining the capabilities of MPN and Third Way Media, “we expect to be well equipped for both print and electronic distribution as we provide resources for both the formation and witness programs of our church,” he adds.
 
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Mennonite Publishing Network is the publishing ministry of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. Third Way Media is a ministry of Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA.