Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico—Delegates from the six national church conferences that form Iglesia Anabautista Menonita Unida de México (IAMUM, United Anabaptist Mennonite Church of Mexico) gathered here August 2–5 for their third assembly. The meeting drew nearly 120 participants from around Mexico as well as from Colombia, the U.S. and Canada.

Ricardo Esquivia, a Mennonite peace leader from Colombia, provided biblical teaching and reflection on the theme ”Be and Act as a Church that Works for Justice and Peace.”

Much of the teaching was focused on the church’s call within contexts of violence. “If we do nothing against violence, we are responsible for the violence that exists,” said Esquivia, whose work has put his own life in danger.

Delegates committed themselves to two goals: working together toward having an official, united voice both inside the church and in relation to the broader Mexican government and society; and developing ways to support victims of violence and help prevent violence.

The IAMUM delegates also recognized a need for a deeper understanding of their own history and Anabaptist theology as essential for the living of one’s faith.

From IAMUM reports