Healthcare leaders plan international summit July 2015

Bogota, Colombia and Goshen, Indiana, USA – Leaders of Anabaptist/Mennonite healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals will hold a conjoint international meeting during an international leadership summit 20-21 July 2015, under the sponsorship of Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Health Services.

The summit’s sponsors state that leaders from Anabaptist/Mennonite-affiliated healthcare institutions have not gathered in this way before, and other health professionals have seldom participated in similar inter-disciplinary meetings. Meeting participants will address topics such Anabaptist theology and health, women's health, health technology, end-of-life health care, Anabaptist vision for global health, sustainability, and the culture of peace, church and hospital partnership in Zambia. They will also discuss a vision for creating a Mennonite World Conference-based global health network.

Today more than 150 Anabaptist-affiliated health and human service institutions serve others around the world as a truly global witness. Some of these organizations are large, mature, and complex. Others are small and less institutional. But all share a common commitment to expressing the love of Christ in caring service. 

The 2015 summit will build on conversations begun in 2003 at the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Approximately 60 persons attended with representation from countries throughout the world, with most participants being physicians.

César García, General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference, said, “Come join us. Let’s walk together on the road of healthcare. Let’s stand in an interdependent and cross-cultural way with those who are sick and suffering. Let’s enjoy the hope that brings together a compassionate, global community to support those who need to be touched by God’s healing."

Rick Stiffney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mennonite Health Services, said, “The witness of the broad Anabaptist/Mennonite community of faith is a witness that cares for the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. The church, wherever it has flourished, has developed healthcare ministries, schools, and other expressions of justice and peace.”

Stiffney added, “In era when many religious communities are fracturing, healthcare ministry – the loving care for others – can draw us together in common cause. Common cause can offer us opportunities to reach out to others for encouragement, prayer, sharing best practices, and building relationships for peer learning.” 

Stiffney concluded, “This leadership summit will afford participants an excellent opportunity to build a network of deeply committed healthcare leaders and professionals who know that we stand stronger together than when we stand alone.” 

 

César García Photo

 

Rick Stiffney Photo

 

You may also be interested in:

GAHN

Health network issues global call

哥倫比亞波哥大 — 門諾會與弟兄會來自全世界的健康照顧事工的領袖們正促成網絡的成立,以互相支持相關的各個組織。浮現中的「全球重洗派健康網絡」(Global Anabaptist Health Network, GAHN)乃是一個門諾會世界大會所支持的群體,其領袖開始進行問卷調查,並發出呼籲,... 閱讀全文