MCC Low German program structure shifts but commitment unchanged
WINNIPEG
Mennonite Central Committee Canada’s work with Low German speaking Mennonite communities in Mexico will continue despite recent structural and administrative changes within MCC Canada’s program department.
The program, which has been operated as an MCC Canada domestic program, is now being administered as an MCC Mexico international program. This change became effective Apr. 1, 2013.
“MCC’s commitment to work with the Low German Mennonite communities in northern Mexico has not changed,” said Pam Peters-Pries, associate program director, MCC Canada. “These changes are being made to fit the models and procedures of all MCC programs outside of Canada and the U.S.”
Under the old structure, MCC-supported programs were supervised from the Winnipeg office. Now programs are developed by local organizations and supported by MCC through financial assistance and service workers.
This decision, Peters-Pries said, was made in consultation with Servicios Integrales Menonitas (SIM), a non-profit organization started by MCC in Mexico in 2009. SIM has been the legal umbrella organization for MCC’s work in northern Mexico.
James Schellenberg
MCC’s provincial programs with Low German Mennonites in Canada are unaffected by this change. MCC Canada’s support for its German-language newspaper, Die Mennonitishe Post, also remains unchanged. And MCC Canada’s Low German Program coordinator will continue to support programs in the provinces, Mexico and Bolivia. James Schellenberg of Winnipeg was appointed to this position on May 21, succeeding John Janzen, also of Winnipeg.
Over the years, MCC Canada has developed and supported resource centres in Cuauhtémoc, Casas Grandes, Durango, and La Honda. These centres provide a variety of services, including lending libraries, literacy classes and distribution of MCC’s German-language publications, Die Mennonitishe Post and Das Blatt fuer Kinder und Jugend.
SIM will gradually assume full responsibility of these resource centres. “This transition process will unfold gradually over the next couple of years,” said Peters-Pries.
MCC Canada will also continue to support the work of the rehabilitation centre–Centro de Rehabilitacion, Luz en mi Camino (Light on my way), Steinreich Bible College, Blumenau Secondary School and others.
MCC Mexico has invited an MCC service worker, Sandra Kienitz, from Brazil, to the position of MCC Mexico Northern Coordinator in order to accompany partner organizations, including SIM, with the transition process. Her work will be in addition to the support provided by MCC Mexico Representatives based in Mexico City.
To prepare the way, Mary Friesen, MCC Canada’s Low German Program coordinator 2002-2008, worked with SIM and MCC from February to May to identify and address major transition issues.
“They are excited about the new possibilities but they are also anxious about the new responsibilities,” said Friesen who visited the Low German communities in April and May.
A notable change during the past six years, she said, is the comfort level of leaders of different churches in working together. This desire to work as a team, she added, will help SIM and other local organizations make the adjustment to working with MCC under a new structure.
Gladys Terichow is a freelance writer.
