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Abbotsford, B.C.
A functional structure


The B.C. MB Conference meets twice a year with pastors and moderators from its churches – in meetings called the Council of Church Leaders – in addition to its annual convention. Continuing a recent policy, the Conference took its fall COCL meeting on the road, holding regional gatherings Nov. 6 in Prince George, Nov. 7 in Kelowna, Nov. 8 in Nanaimo, Nov. 9 in Vancouver and Nov. 15 in Abbotsford.


Canadian MB Conference executive director Dave Wiebe led off each session with a presentation on “Functional Structures for your Church”; functional structures rank second lowest of the eight essential elements of a healthy church, based on Natural Church Development evaluations, in both B.C. and Canada.

The Executive Committee presented its expanded vision statement for the Conference:

Building a Healthy Church

By providing leadership and partnership in: Discerning and Nurturing Leaders Promoting Outreach and Church Development, and Training and Mentoring People for Service For Dynamic Impact on Evangelism and Discipleship.

The various boards and agencies of the Conference then reported under the appropriate clauses of the vision statement. By the end of October, Conference income from the churches for the 2001 budget had risen by about $20,000 over last year, but income is still $199,000 below budget, and the Conference currently has a $46,000 operating deficit.

The purpose of these sessions is sharing information and getting feedback from the churches. However, a few items of business were taken care of. Marilyn Hiebert was affirmed as Conference administrator, and Herb Friesen was elected to the Board of Management to fill the vacancy created when Hiebert was appointed administrator.

 – jc

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Last modified December 7, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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