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Do I need to be a member of a Mennonite, or Brethren in Christ Church?
No, MCC includes many Christians who are not Mennonite or Brethren in Christ. Some assignments require the worker to represent the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ constituency and then a Mennonite or Brethren in Christ member is required; if that is important, it is noted in the open assignment description.
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Does MCC have lifestyle expectations of its workers?
Yes. If a person is invited to an assignment and before they commit themselves to serve with MCC, they are required to read the detailed MCC Policy Handbook, noting particularly MCC policies on tobacco, non-medicinal drug and alcohol use, celibacy outside of heterosexual marriage, and racial and sexual harassment. Criminal record/background checks may also be required for certain positions. Before beginning an assignment, every person is required to sign a record of agreement confirming that they intend to comply with all policies as outlined in the MCC Policy Handbook.
Additional lifestyle expectations
Request a copy of the MCC Policy Handbook
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How much education or experience do I need?
For many three-year assignments volunteers are required to have a bachelor's degree, and increasingly partner organizations are also requesting volunteers with master's or doctoral degrees in areas such as teaching, economic development, agriculture or peace and reconciliation. Other assignments — including one-year Serving and Learning Together (SALT) placements for young adults, as well as some agriculture, office support and community development assignments — do not require a college degree.
People who serve with MCC come with a variety of educational backgrounds. Language study is extremely helpful for workers serving abroad, as well as for many workers in North America. Other areas of study that may be beneficial include, but are not limited to: communication, business and economics, agriculture, education, health and nutrition and peace and reconciliation.
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Can MCC accommodate workers with families?
MCC has assignments for singles, married couples and families with children. In international assignments school options (home schooling or local or private school) are agreed upon with Program Directors. Some assignments are better suited for singles or couples without children (often due to program budgets, available transportation and living space, and school options for children of workers).
Parents with dependents under the age of 19 receive an allowance for each dependent. Financial assistant is also available for families with dependents under the age 24 who attend college.
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Do I need to be from North America to work with MCC?
Workers serving with MCC come from many countries, but most are citizens of the United States and Canada. MCC's SALT program requires applicants to be citizens of Canada or the United States.
Inquirers from countries other than the United States and Canada are considered only if recommended by an in-country representative from MCC or a Mennonite or Brethren in Christ church.
Board-appointed service workers within International Program Department country programs will not be placed in their home country or country of origin, but may serve in other countries.
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Does MCC provide orientation or training?
MCC provides orientations throughout the year for new workers at MCC offices in Akron, Pennsylvania. These orientations include introductions to MCC mission and program, and topics such as Christian faith, personal and cultural adjustment and peace and justice issues. When workers arrive in their assignment location, they receive an orientation to local MCC program goals and objectives, and an introduction to the location, its culture and its people.
Language study is provided if necessary for the assignment.
Specific assignment-related training is generally not available unless otherwise stated on an assignment description.
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How are MCC service workers supported?
All overseas and many North America assignments are volunteer positions. MCC provides necessary living support for service workers plus a small monthly stipend of $66 U.S. per adult in the United States and internationally, and $90 Cdn. in Canada. Travel to and from assignment locations is covered. Full medical coverage, including dental and optical, is provided to all service workers. Vacation and resettlement allowances also accrue during one's assignment.
For those service workers with dependent children, MCC assumes financial responsibility for educating children of service workers through high school. MCC expects children of service workers in North America to be educated within the public education system. For international assignments, the education arrangements vary according to location and are determined in consultation with the relevant MCC representative. MCC also helps cover, in a limited way, the financial costs of education for dependant children of service workers studying at the undergraduate level after high school.
Note that in Canada and the United States, MCC's contribution to the cost of post high school, undergraduate education depends on the budget of the relevant MCC and/or the ability of the agency the service worker serves with, to pay the cost.
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How are short term service workers supported?
MCC occasionally makes arrangements for adults seeking short assignments (less than one year) and then typically asks applicants to cover their own travel costs and medical insurance, with MCC providing in-country living support.
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Are any of MCC's workers paid a salary?
MCC has offices in the United States and Canada which employ workers on a salaried basis. Many of the people in these assignments serve for periods longer than 2 or 3 years, and thus provide continuity to MCC's work.
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Does MCC help pay educational/student loan payments?
MCC loan assistance will be given to first-term workers according to the schedule of the workers' loan repayment plan up to $2,500 U.S./$2,500 Cdn. annually, not to exceed, in any given year, 25 percent of the original loan amount upon completion of studies. For first-term workers who are not eligible for government loans because they are military draft non-registrants, MCC loan assistance will be given up to $3,000 U.S./$3,000 Cdn., subject to the restrictions above. For worker's extending for a second-term, loan assistance increases to $3,000 U.S./$3,000 Cdn., annually.
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Where do I send my completed application form?
Canadian applicants send form to appropriate provincial office:
Canadian applicants east of Ontario:
United States applicants:
European applicants:
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