People & events

Where’s the beef? Pork, not beef, will be packaged during Mennonite Central Committee’s canning season in Winkler, Man. Nov. 27–29, because of current issues over mad cow disease. MCC is looking for donations of pork to replace the 75 head of beef volunteers would have canned. The MCC portable meat canner has been processing meat for shipping to displaced persons overseas since 1946; 2002 was its first visit to Manitoba.

—MCC Canada

“Bible Answer Man” Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute (CRI), faced questions about financial matters in CRI after a group of employees went to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) with concerns. CRI cooperated with the audit and made “significant reimbursement”. Hanegraaff, who gave up his Lexus that was paid with ministry funds, said he is guilty only of careless bookkeeping but admits his image is tarnished.

—Evangelical Press Association

A “Bonhoeffer: Life and Legacy” tour of sites important in the life of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) is planned for May 2004 by University of Waterloo professors James Reimer and Peter Frick. It will visit his birthplace, boyhood home, universities he attended, pastorates, concentration camps and the prison where he was executed. Further information is available from Reimer at 519-885-0220 or Frick at 519-885-1465.

—news release

Calgary Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (CMCN) celebrated its 15th anniversary in June. CMCN was organized by Calgary Mennonites to assist refugees from Central America in the late 1980s and has grown into a major settlement service agency, with a staff of over 50 and a $2 million budget. With some 10,000 new immigrants coming to Calgary each year, there is continuing need for CMCN’s programs in Employment, English as a Second Language, and Community Development.

—CMCN release

Against violence, but dependent on police protection: this ambiguity in how Anabaptists view law will be explored in informal meetings hosted by the Institute of Peace and Conflict studies and the MCC Ontario Peacebuilders program. Police officers affiliated with Anabaptist faith groups are invited to a day of dialogue Nov. 29 about how they integrate their profession and their faith. Further information is available at 519-745-8458.

—Grebel Media release

The Ikea catalog has surpassed the Bible as the most widely distributed book in the world, according to claims by the Swedish furniture megastore. It will print and distribute 130 million catalogs in 28 languages to 36 countries. United Bible Societies says 60 million Bibles and 130 million New Testaments were distributed worldwide in 2002.

—Evangelical Press News

More than three-quarters of Canadian university students surveyed by the Canadian Islamic Congress feel neutral toward Muslims; only 5% held negative opinions. More than half felt poorly informed about Islam. The president of the Congress says the results of the poll, conducted among 1441 students, shows organizations like CIC must do much more to reach out to Canadians, especially youth.

—CIC Media release

Developing a discipleship culture within children’s ministry is the focus of the fourth annual national conference of the Canadian Children’s Ministry of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, to be held this fall in three locations: Winnipeg; Langley, B.C.; and Guelph, Ont. Resource speakers include Linda Unruh and key leaders at KidzChurch of The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, where some 300 volunteers serve over 700 children. Further information is at CLMN.ca.

—Canadian MB Children’s Ministry

Mel Gibson’s movie take on Jesus’ life, The Passion, is generating controversy months before its proposed Easter 2004 release for its violence, use of the Latin and Aramaic languages, and alleged anti-Semitism. Gibson is a devout Catholic who claims that everyone working on the movie was changed by it and hopes “the film has the power to evangelize”. Actor James Caviezel, who plays Jesus, is also a practicing Catholic.

—ChristianWeek, Time

Radio HCJB’s German department is celebrating 50 years of ministry this year. HCJB, the world’s first missionary broadcast organization, was founded in 1931. Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services supported the department 1953–1989, with David and Annie Nightingale, Sally Schroeder, Peter and Marie Huebert, and Corny and Elfrieda Balzer. The work carries on with free will gifts; it now includes many Latin American stations.

—Mennoblatt

What “caring” looks like in today’s healthcare climate is the focus of Concordia Hospital’s 75th anniversary symposium and Canadian Mennonite Health Assembly (CHMA) annual conference, Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, in Winnipeg. Sessions will include Dr. David Kuhl, author of What Dying People Want: Practical Wisdom for the End-of-Life, and Dr. Anita Unruh on her work on pain in children, and gender differences and pain. Further information is available through email.

—CMHA

Mennonite Church British Columbia (MCBC) will consider its relationship with the national MC body in a series of discernment meetings this fall. One church has voted to withdraw from MCBC over concerns with the national body, and another has sent a letter of protest over MC Canada’s close vote on response to the government about same-sex marriage at the national assembly this summer. Moderator Doug Epp says the relationship needs to be resolved before the provincial body can move forward effectively.

—Canadian Mennonite

Langley, B.C.–ACTS seminaries of Trinity Western University (TWU) has reached a milestone as classes begin this fall for a first-ever doctoral program. The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) with emphasis in Leadership and Spiritual Formation is a 4-year degree that can be completed mostly online, though the program will be based in two locations (B.C. this fall, Ontario in May 2004 pending approval from the Ontario government).

—TWU release

More than 80,000 Canadians participated in prayer rallies Sept. 7, organized by the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC), to pray for political leaders and protection of the sanctity of marriage. Some 1000 clergy provided leadership and 220 electoral ridings had officially organized rallies.

—CFAC release