GOVERNANCE

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) is made up of about 60 churches that work together to put what we believe into words and practice.

This work is done through the Conference Council and the EMC Ministerial, which meet twice a year and have representation from all churches.

Conference Council

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.

Ministerial

The 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.

General Board

The General Board is the legal governing board of the EMC. Besides the Moderator and Vice-Moderator, the board is made up of representatives from each region’s ministerial and each supporting board and committee.

The decisions and guidance of various bodies are further defined by four supporting boards and two committees, and carried out through EMC staff in the national office and around the world.

More details about our administrative structures are available in the Church Administration and Conference Administration sections of our constitution.