‘Be ready to get engaged’

Willard Metzger began his post as Mennonite Church Canada’s new general secretary on Nov. 1, taking over from the retiring Robert J. Suderman. Metzger has felt called to national ministry for many years, and brings many experiences to the table, including 18 years as a pastor, 10 years as chair of MC Canada Witness, and as the director of church relations for World Vision Canada. He spoke with Rachel Bergen, Canadian Mennonite’s national correspondent, in October.

CM: What are your views on MC Canada’s past?

Metzger: I remember as we were doing the amalgamation and integration into new entities, there was a lot of excitement as well as a sense of opportunity. A new page was beginning.

We have had financial strains that we have had to navigate through. That has taken some of the wind out of the sails, but there has still been a great deal of excitement, enthusiasm and commitment to have a national church that is strong, vibrant and healthy.

I am looking forward to being able to add strength to that as well. I don’t approach this post thinking that I’m stepping in to a church in trouble. I see that I’m stepping into a church that is strong, that has a lot of opportunity. From my perspective, I’ll be adding on to an already good thing that’s going on.

CM: I understand you will continue to live in Ontario. What will you do to ease into this new position?

Metzger: I want to get a good understanding of the staff in Winnipeg. I want to try and understand their vision and their hope for not only their role, but the church, and to see if we can do some dreaming together.

I also want to take time to understand our histories, both from the General Conference history and the Conference of Mennonites in Canada history. That makes us who we are and the culmination of the two is our new identity.

I’ve got lots of excitement! I’m eager to start having some input, but I want to also make sure that I listen well.

CM: You have a great deal of pastoring and church relations experience. What leadership qualities do you possess that will help you in this position ?

Metzger: I think I’m going to bring an entrepreneurial spirit. This has been affirmed in my time at World Vision, and, looking ahead, MC Canada folks have been articulating this as well. My time at World Vision has given me a different kind of experience base that I wouldn’t have if I had just come from a background of pastoring. I can’t wait to see how [my leadership qualities] will apply in this perspective. I hope they will spark new approaches.

CM: What are your goals for MC Canada?

Metzger: The primary goal immediately is to see if we can become financially strong. We are a visionary people. My time in the general board and Witness council showed me that we want to be more and more visionary, but . . . you are only able to be as visionary as the finances you have.

I also want to strengthen that sense of call in our youth and young adults [that] the church is worth investing your life in. I want to generate enthusiasm in being involved with the church. I would like to mainstream Anabaptism more. I really think that the Anabaptist principles have a real relevance now. There’s an appetite for that in our Canadian culture.

CM: What are your plans for the future of MC Canada?

Metzger: Nothing yet, concretely. That will come after I have been able to consult well with our existing staff, to see what visions, hope and aspirations they have.

CM: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the MC Canada constituency?

Metzger: I am very much approaching this in a sense of joyful obedience. I want to call forth our gifts. God has given gifts across Canada and across the area churches. We have all the gifts we need to fulfill God’s dream. I want to encourage people to call forth their gifts into action across the constituency: Be ready to get engaged!