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Winnipeg, Man.
CMU Grand Opening


A huge tent erected on the south lawn of the Canadian Mennonite University campus held about 1000 people who came Sunday afternoon, September 24 to mark the grand opening of the new university.

This event culminated a weekend of celebrating. Canadian Mennonite University is a federation of the three Mennonite colleges in Winnipeg: Concord College, Canadian Mennonite Bible College and Menno Simons College.

Friday evening about 500 young people from Mennonite churches in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba attended an evening of fun and introduction to the new campus. Ultimate frisbie and a scavenger hunt had the youth touring the campus quite informally.

Saturday featured sports events, kids’ activities, tours of the campus, alumni volleyball games and the launch of a $30 million fundraising campaign for campus development. About 700 people, including public officials, church leaders and representatives from the business community, helped kick off the “Coming Together – Shaping a Dream”. The college presidents together lit a flame to symbolize the coming together of the three colleges and officially launch the campaign. Charles Loewen, a member of the honourary campaign cabinet, announced that over $6 million has already been committed toward the campaign.

The three presidents: (l-r) George Richert (MSC), John Unger (Concord), Gerald Gerbrandt (CMBC).

The Sunday afternoon celebration included songs by the university choir, under the direction of Rudy Schellenberg and Mark Bartel, a performance which belied the only two weeks of practice since the beginning of school. Herta Janzen, chair of Concord College, stated that even though music was an important part of education at CMU, they don’t have three tenors. However, they do have three presidents. Presidents John Unger (Concord), Gerald Gerbrandt (CMBC) and George Richert (MSC) shared the hosting responsibilities.

Guest speaker Myron Augsburger

Myron Augsburger, long-time pastor, writer and educator was the guest speaker. His topic, “Twenty-first Century Education in the Mennonite Continuum” emphasized that there are three foci of a liberal Christian education which will lead students beyond parochialism to a broader understanding of the Bible and the world. He stated that a Christian liberal arts university 1) must have a solid Christology as a centre for faith and life, ethics and salvation. 2) It must have a hermeneutical discipline which accepts the authority of Scripture. No one comes to the Scriptures without a perspective. The Bible is not a flat book and must be read through the culture in which it was written as well as today’s culture. 3) It must emphasize peace and reconciliation as an essential element of the gospel.

These three foci must then also be applied to education. A Christian Anabaptist liberal arts university needs 1) to reaffirm the deeper meaning of a believers’ church based on faith. This faith is further based on evidence. Augsburger stated, “If you have doubt, then look for evidence.” 2) It needs to do hermeneutics in community. Students and faculty must be held accountable to be the best possible, to study Scripture with integrity. 3) An Anabaptist university must also motivate students to reengage in conversational evangelism. “You can’t be an authentic Anabaptist and not be an evangelist,” stated Augsburger. The continuum of education began with the early Anabaptists who were well educated and continues through to the present. He challenged students to quality living, combining the evangelistic and social dimensions of the gospel.

Herta Janzen, in her remarks, stated, “If we build, they will come. We aren’t finished building, and they have come.” There are 1110 students enrolled through CMU. Of these 254 are full-time and 79 are part-time at the new campus, 61 are in the School of Discipleship, 33 are seminary students and 683 are at the Menno Simons College located at the University of Winnipeg.

Representatives from assorted groups presented challenges to the new university. Paul Wartman, pastor of The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, told students, “God, the I Am, will be there, but never quite in the way you think or desire.” He challenged CMU to make a difference in the world.

 – sbb

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Last modified December 3, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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