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Previous | Next United States Mennonite Brethren district conventions
Conference shows strength in Omaha; multiculturalism growing
Central District Conference
Delegates pass increased budget; support church planting
Huron, S.D.
Central District Conference convention delegates gave an affirmative vote to an increased budget at the annual convention October 27-29 in Huron, S.D. While the district received $168,499 US from revenues in 1999-00, the conference proposed a 2001 budget of $206,545 – a 19% increase from last year’s budget.
That increase would make it possible for Rolling Hills Church, a three-year-old church plant in Papillion, Neb., to begin construction on a multipurpose worship facility. The church has already purchased a prime piece of real estate in this growing suburb. By accepting this project, the CDC would not only be guaranteeing a loan of $700,000 (through MB Foundation), but would also be narrowing the focus of its church planting dollars.
Other budgetary items discussed were adding funds for pastoral training in the area of church renewal and increasing the budgeted half-time salary of the new district minister.
CDC minister Clinton E. Grenz retired December 31, 2000 after serving for 10 years. He and his wife Carol were recognized for their years of service to the district.
The church planting committee reported that Lincoln Hills Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. has been designated a Mission USA Target Church. Mission USA (MUSA) is the church planting and renewal ministry for the US MB Conference. Lincoln Hills Church will be hiring an additional staff member to work with small groups and assimilation.
Church planting committee chair Phil Glanzer recognized the leadership of Tom and Amy Cartney in their church planting efforts in Apple Valley, Minn.; that ministry was discontinued in January 2000.
Other church planting efforts in the Omaha, Neb. area dominated the convention. Rod Anderson, pastor of Rolling Hills Church, outlined the congregation’s vision to plant another church in three to five years using a core group of 80 to 100 from the church. Paul Rowenhorst, associate pastor, was recently added to the pastoral staff as the next church planter.
Walter and Amalia Preza, pastor couple of Iglesia “Agua Viva” in Omaha, told how their congregation of 100 was able, with help from the CDC, to purchase a church building offered for sale by an evangelical congregation hoping to relocate. The building, located in Omaha’s Hispanic community, has allowed the Hispanic congregation to begin holding Sunday school.
While delegates were energized by reports from the Omaha churches, they were reminded that many churches in this predominately rural district have limited growth potential.
The convention, hosted by Bethesda Church in Huron, which at 300 members is the district’s largest congregation, brought together 185 people – 90 of whom were delegates – from 23 out of the 25 churches that make up the district. While the CDC consists of churches in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska, only half of the congregations are located in urban areas. A 1999-2000 statistical report showed that nine out of 22 reporting churches had a net decease in membership and that the district as a whole continued to decline numerically.
In an effort to reach the unsaved with the gospel, the CDC has targeted urban areas, including Omaha, over the next decade for church planting and renewal projects. Thanks to these efforts, today the Mennonite Brethren church is the fastest growing denomination in Omaha. Currently, there are four MB churches in the area: Faith Bible Church, an inner-city congregation that gave birth to Millard Bible Church, which in turn has helped plant Rolling Hills Church. The fourth church, Iglesia “Agua Viva”, targets 60,000 Hispanics living in Omaha.
Other reports came from the faith and life committee, district minister, youth committee and CDC treasurer.
Convention speaker John Oros, from Missions without Borders, challenged delegates to spend more time in prayer and recognize the value of suffering. Oros, who grew up in Romania, shared many stories of Romanian Christians who were persecuted because of their faith. He told his audience to view the current “anything-but-Christianity” religious situation in the US as an opportunity for growth. – from reports in The Christian Leader
Pacific District Conference
West Coast delegates celebrate multiculturalism, unity in Christ
Salem, Ore.
A multicultural atmosphere permeated the 88th annual Pacific District Conference convention November 10-11 in Salem, Ore. Delegates representing MB churches in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Utah gathered under the theme, “The Gospel for all people”.
The theme was apt for this convention. Of the 12 new churches the PDC officially accepted, five were Slavic, one was Ethiopian, one was Korean, two were Spanish and three were English-speaking. The roll call of delegates was read in Spanish and English. It was unusual if a session went by without at least one translator on stage. Yet conference leaders stressed the unity of a diverse body of believers.
“How many churches are represented here tonight?” asked keynote speaker Fred Leonard, pastor of Mountain View Community Church in Clovis, Calif., at the Friday night multicultural celebration and worship service. “One church,” he replied, “the church of Jesus Christ.”
“God didn’t make exceptions for any race,” associate district minister Jose Elizondo reminded delegates the next day. “He included everybody.”
Ethiopian pastor Berhanu Waldermarian – his words translated into Russian – noted a similarity between Slavic and Ethiopian experiences in recent history.
District chair Gary Wall, pastor of Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, Calif., noted that the ethnic diversity presents a challenge for the district and its leadership. He acknowledged that leaders will make mistakes as they attempt to unify a diverse district. Last year, delegates strongly urged leadership to reconsider a recommendation to change bylaws that would have based conventions voting rights on church contributions to the PDC. Some delegates perceived the recommendation as paternalistic and designed to separate along economic lines. Wall reiterated that this was not the intent and apologized. That proposal was withdrawn by unanimous vote of the district’s Executive Board.
Two other sets of bylaws were under scrutiny at this convention. This time the recommendations were a result of changes at the national level. The first set of bylaw recommendations came as a result of the dissolution of the North American General Conference of MB Churches. Bylaws focusing on church membership and property ownership already in effect at the binational level were incorporated at the US Conference level in July 2000. The second set of bylaw recommendations would incorporate into the bylaws a district resolution in effect since 1959 stating that any church receiving grants from the district conference has a “reversion clause” recorded in its deed. This would be the first time the resolution is stated in the bylaws.
PDC ministries are working with a 9% reduction in their budgets this year. The reductions are a result of several years of reduced income. While boards actually came in under budget last year, lower income levels from church giving – 7.5% or $20,000 US less than expected – offset the savings.
Last year’s deficit was covered by withdrawing additional funds from the Church Planting Fund, a fund which provides monies for grants to new churches. The district withdrew $19,000 instead of the $15,000 originally budgeted as income earnings. This reduced the fund’s net income by $15,000. It was noted that district funding for home missions dropped from $124,400 to $114,400, and district leaders acknowledged that this was not a good trend.
District treasurer Jim Enns emphasized that the PDC could only work with what it receives from churches. He noted that the new budget still anticipated an increase in church giving though last year’s giving was down.
“This was not a fun budget to put together,” added Wall, reporting that each board was asked to “share the pain” and reduce the budget by 9%.
The 2000-2001 budget, with its reductions, was passed unanimously.
The Home Missions Board reported that in addition to the 12 new churches accepted into membership, the ministry was working with 16 emerging churches and several special projects, including ministries to international students, Ethiopians, Koreans and Slavics.
Associate District minister Jose Elizondo reminded delegates about the importance of church planting. “Church planting and evangelism go hand in hand,” he said.
Ed Boschman, executive director of Mission USA, announced that Mike and Ruth Harrison of Fresno, Calif., were the church planters for a new church to be planted in Phoenix, Ariz. in partnership with MUSA and the PDC starting in January 2001.
An offering taken at the Home Missions luncheon on Saturday raised approximately $14,000.
District minister Henry Dick announced his retirement, effective December 2001. Dick has served in full-time ministry for 50 years.
Other reports were given on various district ministries, including the Board of Faith and Life, youth ministries, Christian education and the Hispanic council.
Harold Haak, the newly appointed president of Fresno Pacific University, reported that the MB University’s budget is “in the black”. Haak also announced a new scholarship for incoming MB students next year, guaranteeing to cover 50% of tuition expenses if students meet requirements, in an effort to help maintain a strong MB presence on campus. Delegates warmly accepted the announcement.
Keynote speaker Fred Leonard spoke about how the benefits outweigh the costs for reaching the lost with the good news. Those costs include time, energy, rights, privileges, money and sometimes persecution. He encouraged delegates to rethink their commitment to Jesus and look to see how God is motivating their hearts. “We want to be the light of the world that shines and leads to life,” he said, adding that how we live, act and speak will reflect that light. – from reports in The Christian Leader
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Last modified January 31, 2001.
© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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