Volume 5, number 11
June 4, 2001
Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada
Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba
Conference of Mennonites of Saskatchewan
Conference of Mennonites in Alberta
Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia
Preview of proposals for Abbotsford
For the first time, the assembly report book for Mennonite Church Canada is available online from www.mennonitechurch.ca.
Internet users can find reports from the ministries, programs and agencies supported by MC Canada, as well as proposals for the new church structures and bylaws. Users can also submit feedback via an online response form.
It is hoped that through the response form, which also comes with the hardcopy report book, proposals can be considered and fine-tuned before the assembly.
· Plan for Mennonite Church Canada. This plan speaks of using the structural shift to a two country model to build a new church with God's mission as its focus at the congregational level, and "with the goal of producing a flexible organization and a supportive struc-ture in which we can do what we have been called to do."
· Plan for Christian Witness. MC Canada's Christian Witness Council will incorporate the work of the current Ministries Commission, as well as parts of the Commission on Overseas Mission, the Commission on Home Ministries, and the Mennonite Board of Missions. The Council will organize this work into two clusters: International Mission Partnerships and Ministries, and National/Bi-national Ministries.
· Plan for Christian Formation. Christian Formation programs will aim to "lead, motivate and offer resources that share in God's work of forming people into God's character, in partnership with area conferences and their congregations." This describes the vision for MC Canada's Resources and Leadership commissions, the General Conference Commission on Education, the Mennonite Church's Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries, and Mennonite Publishing House. Other new activities will also be added.
The proposal groups programs into four "clusters of common activity," shows where current programs might be lodged, and proposes levels of staffing. The four clusters are Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Congregational and Minis-terial Leadership, Christian Education and Nurture, and Publishing and Resources.
A 10-person council elected by the delegate body will oversee Christian Formation programs and have authority to "modify its programs and adapt them to fit the changing needs of the church and the availability of resources. It may appoint committees and reference groups or establish round tables to give attention to particular programs."
Less formal than committees, round tables allow broader participation in program planning and would communicate primarily via the Internet.
· Plan for Support Services. Support Services will provide "the necessary administrative services that enable the programs of the church to do their work efficiently and effectively." This includes: Finance, Communication, Promotion and Development, Assembly Planning, Pension Plan, Human Resources Management, Information Technology and Property Management.
Support Services would also connect with Mennonite Foundation of Canada and Mennonite Publishing Service, which operates Canadian Mennonite. Currently these administrative tasks are done in various departments with program staff. Consolidating them into one unit is expected to "free our program staff and coordinate our resources into a more responsive and coordinated approach to the administrative needs of the whole body."
MennoFolk 2001 is for all ages
Another Ontario MennoFolk is approaching. This year's event takes place June 15 and 16 at Hidden Acres Camp near New Hamburg. This is an event for all ages. Performers this year include: The Rouge River Connection, 300 Degrees, The Eclectics, Five on the Floor, No Discernable Key, Slurry, Mariana Diez de Bonilla, Brian McBay, Byron Shantz, Joel Brubacher, Rebecca Nisbet, Dave Sararus, Heather Mercer and Heather Kropf.
Cost is $15 for the weekend, $10 for a day pass. Camping is available for $5 per night. For more information, or if you would like to perform, contact Mark Diller Harder at (519) 650-3806 or e-mail: markdh@mcec.on.ca.
Board and ministry directors meet
On May 12, the CMM Board and the Ministry Directors met to consider future directions for the conference. One important agenda item was to come to a fuller understanding of the vision for the conference.
The group also studied the new form of governance that is being adopted. A "policy governance" designed by John Carver is the model that is being used by other levels of conference.
"One key point in this model is that the board is there to set overall policy and direction but it will not be involved in administration at all," said Kliewer. "There is a clear division between policy making and administration."
It is in some ways a "liberating model," said Kliewer. "In the past the commissions designed and carried out programs and the directors were reponsible to the commissions. Now the reference groups will have significant input but the staff will be responsible for setting direction and carrying out the programs."
The meeting was also given to sorting out reference groups. "The Board has felt some urgency from delegates to move on this," said Kliewer. The reference groups will serve as advisory groups to the directors and be vehicles of communication between the congregations and conference ministries.
Applications welcome for scholarship
The Saskatchewan conference's Education Commission is receiving applications for the 2001 Mennonite Trust Scholarship. The scholarship is to be used at a post-secondary Mennonite institution and is open to all Saskatchewan high-school students entering Canadian Mennonite University, Conrad Grebel College or Columbia Bible College.
Mennonite Trust is also funnelling a similar scholarship through Rosthern Junior College for students there. The deadline for submitting appli-cations is July 31. For more information, contact your pastor.
Hillcrest holds installation service
Photo: Wendy Smith
Hillcrest Mennonite Church in Grande Prairie held an inspiring installation service on May 13 for Wendy Smith, the youth pastor. Wendy has been ministering with the youth for some time and it was felt that her ministry should be publicly acknowledged.
Wendy is also involved in the ministry of Hillcrest Centre, as well as at the school the church operates on site.
The worship team leading the service included a number of young people. There was a spirit of openness and joy as the service continued for almost two hours. The youth responded to the installation with a skit showing the many hats that Wendy wears. It was very humorous, yet tactful.
I had never been a part of an installation where the youth pastor was called from within the congregation. This added a special dimension to the service-the love between the youth, the leaders, the congregation and Wendy and her husband, Terry, was very evident. Youth and congregational members shared their appreciation of Wendy with deep feeling.
-From report by Ray Landis
More details on seniors' retreat
This year's German Seniors' Retreat at Camp Squeah is on June 26, with Jake Tilitzky as the speaker. Transportation for Vancouver seniors is available from the Sherbrooke Mennonite Church parking lot in Vancouver, and the Clearbrook Mennonite Church for Abbotsford seniors for $20.00 per person. Register with the retreat representative in your church or call Camp Squeah at 1-800-380-2267.
-Camp Squeah release
Unless otherwise credited, the articles in TheConferences pages were written by: Daniel Rempel (Mennonite Church Canada), Maurice Martin(Eastern Canada), Evelyn Rempel Petkau (Manitoba), Karin Fehderau (Saskatchewan), Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (Alberta), Angelika Dawson (B.C.). Go here for a list of contact information.
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