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PERSONAL OPINION
The changing MB Church in Canada

John H. Redekop

We do well, periodically, to reflect on how our churches are changing. With the dissolution of the General (North American) Mennonite Brethren Conference in July and the shifting of additional responsibilities to the US and Canadian MB Conferences, this is a good time to take stock. In this column, I will identify four changes relating specifically to the teachings and operation of the churches. In a later column, I will address the major sociological changes. The columns will identify general trends. The situation obviously varies among our several hundred congregations. Moreover, perceptions would likely vary from one observer to another.

Theological Changes. At least three major theological shifts have occurred. First, there has been a widespread decline, especially in some larger urban congregations, in emphasizing our denominational theology. This trend has taken place at a time when our schools are increasing their Mennonite/ anabaptist teaching and at a time when other Christian groups are showing much interest in the Mennonite emphases on peace, mutual aid, covenant community, the necessity of combining faith and works, etc. This theological shift has facilitated easy and extensive attendance and membership transfers between MB churches and other evangelical churches. Second, there has been a major shift away from Christian fundamentalism to a more tolerant and more reflective Christian evangelicalism. Third, there has been a considerable shift in our eschatology, away from dispensationalism and towards a less rigid programming of the future. These theological changes present us with at least three challenges. We must more diligently explain the biblical basis and practical relevance of anabaptist theology as an encompassing lifestyle and ethical system; it is not mainly a response to military claims. We must demonstrate that anabaptist theology and biblical evangelicalism go together. We must not neglect teaching and preaching about “last things”. Changes concerning ethics. In earlier decades, many Mennonite Brethren churches emphasized a legalistic set of rules. That approach had its strengths and weaknesses. Today, to a considerable extent, we have abandoned legalism. Indeed, the pendulum seems to have swung too far. I see a swing towards ethical laxity. I have heard very little teaching or preaching about ethics, and in most congregations there seems to be very little or no church discipline, in any form, concerning what we used to call “worldly” values and activities. Only the most serious transgressions seem to be addressed. One result has been that the earlier emphasis on being “a people separated from the world” has largely fallen by the wayside. While at one time we may have been too restrictive, the danger now is that we become too permissive. We have something to learn from our past. Here, again, we need much more biblical teaching in our churches and especially in our homes. Changes concerning worship styles. In most of our congregations, the changes in music and worship styles have been substantial. In many instances, earlier generations would hardly recognize the churches they once knew. The widely acclaimed Mennonite hymnody is often neglected or even rejected. Much of the so-called “praise” music, despite its obvious strengths, is weak on discipleship and other anabaptist emphases. In some churches, a generation is growing up which knows nothing about the time-tested hymns of the church. Unfortunately, this shift has often been accompanied by tensions, partly generational, and at times even antagonism. What needs to be done? Younger as well as older people need to be more willing to learn a new musical language. Younger people should not assume that music which is new and which sounds more like the contemporary “Top 40” is necessarily better, and older people need to become more tolerant and more accepting of change. Perhaps the solution lies in having integrated styles in all of our worship services. Whatever the actual solutions might be, surely we can agree that our emphases on peacemaking, reconciliation and loving those who disagree with us should enable us to deal Christianly with this challenge. Changes concerning church polity. “Polity” is how churches organize themselves and what kind of governing structures they establish. In recent decades, most Mennonite Brethren congregations seem to have become less congregational in their decision-making. At the same time, the distinction between clergy and other members of the congregation has become greater, partly because leadership now tends to be evaluated more on the basis of training and less on the basis of being gifted. In any event, it seems accurate to say that, in general, clergy dominance has increased. In some instances, this tendency has been reinforced by the appointment of pastors who have had no anabaptist training or experience. The consequences of these shifts have been significant. Less membership participation in decision-making has, for many, produced less ownership of the outcome. Increased professionalization of the clergy seems to have produced less volunteering by members. In at least some instances, the congregation has become less of a brotherhood or peoplehood and more of an audience – and mere audience members, we know, tend to be more critical than brothers and sisters. On the positive side, we can say that pastors and small leadership groups have had more freedom to provide strong leadership to their churches. What needs to be done? As I see it, taking Jesus and Paul as models, our clergy must be trained to be servants, not CEOs. Many, of course, already model servant leadership very effectively. There should be greater emphasis given to biblical rather than societal leadership models. We must emphasize the importance of congregational input and involvement. Congregations, even while not putting leaders on a high pedestal, must consciously give leaders the freedom and the right to lead.

May God guide the Mennonite Brethren Conference as we seek to give correct and practical expression of our understanding of biblical truth.

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Last modified April 30, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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