In 2003, a small group of healthcare leaders gathered in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in conjunction with Mennonite World Conference General Assembly to discuss the possibility of developing a Global Anabaptist Health Network. The focus was on Anabaptist related health institutions. The results of this gathering remained without long term impact due to a lack of institutional ownership. In July 2015, another gathering was organized in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania still in conjunction with Mennonite World Conference World Assembly. Two major differences for 2015 summit. First, the gathering was organized by Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship with strong ownership of the process and follow up. Second, the summit was intended for both interested healthcare institutions and Anabaptist health professionals.

Clearly there was a strong interest among the participants to lean into some new kinds of connections. Participants shared a deep commitment to engaging in health ministries in a way that is shaped by an Anabaptist Christian perspective. The group was aware that the development of any effective network among professionals or between organizations must be built on relationships of mutuality and healthy inter-dependence. A coordinating group representing the diversity of Mennonite World Conference was suggested to take the energy and ideas generated through the Summit and advance the effort over the next three years. The development of a data based, facilitating of some peer-peer exchanges, and ground work on a second leadership summit is also anticipated. This document is developed to move the process beyond the summit and the initial framework developed for the summit in July 2015 in Harrisburg, PA.