Grief and race relations mark Mennonite Church conventions

Lingering grief over Mennonite Church Canada’s recent financial crisis marked the annual assembly of Mennonite Church Canada in St. Catharines, Ont., according to reports about the July 9–13 gathering.

(An error in planning that translated into a $500,000 revenue shortfall had been revealed last December. Significant reductions to programs and staff followed in spring.)

Delegates in St. Catharines approved a revised budget projecting some $1.7 million less revenue ($5,112,747) and $1.9 million less expenses ($5,168,747) than the budget accepted at last year’s celebrative assembly in Saskatoon, with the deficit to be covered by transfers from reserves.

Budget reports were “thorough and precise”, and there were expressions of support for the “courage, hard work, and transparency” of the General Board and MC Canada staff during the crisis. There did not seem to be enough time, however, to process the human toll of what happened.

Responding to this need, the Listening Committee prepared a “Litany in a time of distress”, read during the closing session. It named and spoke to those whose positions had been terminated or reduced, as well to as the MC leadership and administration. It expressed a commitment to “forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewed trust.”

The theme of the assembly, developed in morning and evening worship, was “What if . . .?” Moderator Henry Krause opened with “What if . . . grace prevailed?” Peter Stuckey of Colombia spoke on “What if . . . peace prevailed?” and April Yamasaki of Abbotsford, B.C. on “What if . . . love prevailed?” Worship sessions included evidence of how multicultural MC Canada has become, with Chinese, Lao, Korean, Hispanic and French African representatives participating.

Workshops generated a great deal of discussion. The General Board hosted a workshop on changes in MC Canada ministries, in which delegates discussed and challenged national conference priorities. A resolution, presented by a task force working to restore “options for service” after the cancellation of Service Ministries in March, called on MC Canada to “reaffirm its commitment to an ethic of service”. It passed.

A workshop with staff from Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) also elicited lively discussion. Support was stronger for CCC’s “forum” model (members “own” the organization and choose issues to support) than EFC’s “affiliate member” model (doctrinal requirements, ownership is by board which speaks for members). The proposal to join CCC and EFC was postponed for another year because time to discuss it ran out in the general session.

A “poorly-worded” resolution on same-sex marriage calling on the General Board to communicate to the federal government MC Canada’s understanding of marriage passed narrowly, by one vote.

Two workshops focused on homosexuality. One described the discernment process two churches (Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg and Toronto United Mennonite Church) had undertaken, and the other, led by Jim Reimer, presented the concept of forbearance as preferable for the church over tolerance or exclusion.

The visibility of gay members of MC Canada, who wore distinctive blue T-shirts, created “intense anxiety” for some delegates as well as “poignant encounters” for others.

The parallel Youth Assembly drew 495 youth. Their program included worship events with music and speakers Gareth Brandt and Kathy Giesbrecht as well as service projects, recreation, and workshops.

Mennonite Church Canada has 35,000 members, in 235 congregations. Complete reports can be read at Canadian Mennonite.

Mennonite Church USA also met this summer, in the inaugural convention of the newly formed denomination (the merger of the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church). Nearly 8,000 Mennonites gathered in Atlanta July 3–8, 5,043 in the youth convention and 2,459 in the adult convention. “God’s Table: Y’All Come” was the theme of the adult convention. Former president Jimmy Carter spoke at the opening worship.

One subject that rose repeatedly was race relations, and the contention that not all were welcome yet at the Mennonite Church “table”. Atlanta 2003 celebrated those who participated in the Civil Rights movement and included a “reconciliation walk” through downtown Atlanta.

In convention business, delegates approved three denominational statements: opposing abortion, encouraging congregational response to health care issues, and criticizing U.S. “mistreatment of immigrants”. The issue of homosexuality, prominent at recent conventions, was noticeably absent.

—from reports in Canadian Mennonite and The Mennonite