Stewardship funds grow; hermeneutics on study horizon

Canadian Conference ministries update

John Wiebe

“Can accountants be excited?” John Wiebe, treasurer of the Canadian Conference, answers his own question by saying, “If we are allowed to express this emotion, we certainly have been experiencing this in our ministry.”

Funds under management by the stewardship department have increased dramatically in the past two years, from $50 million to over $70 million. This program, in which RRSPs and savings accounts are managed on behalf of investors, has contributed over $600,000 to various Conference ministries the past year.

This increase is only one factor in a “very encouraging turn-around” in the overall financial picture of the Conference. The other two factors, Wiebe says, are that Canadian churches are demonstrating a commitment to Conference ministries in their giving and the various Boards have worked hard to reduce costs.

Other work underway by the Board and treasurer’s staff includes expansion of payroll service, and management of a program linked to the Board of Evangelism whereby land will be purchased and held until the church is mature enough to take it over. A more detailed news release about this fund will follow, since policies are still being developed and will be discussed at upcoming Board of Evangelism and Board of Management meetings.

The Board of Management is also launching a Student Savings Plan that will help parents and grandparents save money for their children’s education

A piece of property was recently purchased at 1330 Taylor Avenue, Winnipeg, for construction of a new building for Canadian Conference offices. Re-location is scheduled for late 2004. The move was precipitated by the move of Concord College from the current premises some years ago. This provided an opportunity to re-configure the site to provide more room for the adjacent Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute. The new site will address the long-term needs of the Canadian Conference, especially for ministries like the Centre for MB Studies and Christian Press. Mennonite Brethren ministries in Abbotsford, B.C., Wiebe says, are also looking for a new location.

Board of Faith and Life

Conference executive director David Wiebe reports that the Board of Faith and Life (BFL) met in October. The Board is still developing a statement on the findings of the study conference on baptism and church membership held in May. This will be sent to the provincial boards of Faith and Life for feedback and discussion.

Responding to the request of the Manitoba MB Conference that the restriction on women in senior/ordained church leadership be re-considered, the BFL spent “a very good day together” discussing the history of Conference decisions on the issue, reviewing the interpretive task (hermeneutics) involved, and studying the relevant Bible passages. Doug Heidebrecht, professor at Bethany College, led the Board through this study. The Board proposes to conduct a series of similar study days on hermeneutics in each province.

As far as pastoral staff goes, Wiebe reports that the situation across the country is positive, with relatively few vacancies to fill. “We have staff,” he says; “good staff.”

Board of Evangelism Canada

Following the Third Canadian National Church Planting Congress in Vancouver Nov. 19–21, the MB Board of Evangelism will meet to hear updates from its Key Cities Initiative. It will also consider the invitation it received from the B.C. MB Conference to make Vancouver its fourth key city. This invitation, if accepted by the Board, would then go to Gathering 2004 for approval.

The Key Cities Initiative, launched in 1998, has seen its first project, Mission Calgary, completed. With seven new churches and one satellite congregation in Calgary, and a new church in Edmonton, Mission Calgary is now the responsibility of the Alberta MB Conference. It has been appropriately re-named Mission Alberta.

Board of Evangelism director Ewald Unruh says that the Board of Evangelism will review minimum standards and procedures for new churches. Broad goals include further development of church planting leaders and growing a “multiplying mindset” within Canadian MB churches.

Board of Discipleship Ministries

The Board of Discipleship Ministries (BDM), the new board formed at the 2002 convention, comprises a wide range of ministries, including the Centre for MB Studies (CMBS), the Conference periodicals, Kindred Productions, and age-level ministries, several of which have recently undergone transitions in personnel. (The position of Le Lien editor is still vacant.)

Heinrich Loewen, new director of CMBS, says his goals include making history “more touchable and applicable for today’s church.” He hopes to build bridges with churches and institutions in order to discover the needs of congregations and introduce CMBS.

Plans for the National Youth Convention, slated for the end of 2004, are beginning in earnest, under the direction of Sherryl Koop. Koop, Bruce Elwood (Children’s Ministry) and Sharon Johnson (Adult Ministries) will also be involved in resource days connected to the provincial conventions next spring.

Cam Rowland, who recently began as BDM director, sees team-building as his first priority. The BDM met for a staff retreat in September. “We want to be intentional about becoming a team,” he says, “to better serve our constituency.”

—Dora Dueck

Board of Discipleship Ministries staff: (l–r) Brigitte Penner (Mennonitische Rundschau), Bruce Elwood (Children’s Ministries), Dora Dueck (MB Herald), Marilyn Hudson (Kindred Productions), Sherryl Koop (Youth Ministries), Cam Rowland (BDM director), Sharon Johnson (Adult Ministries), Marianne Dulder (Mennonische Rundschau), Susan Brandt (MB Herald), Heinrich Loewen (Centre for MB Studies). Missing: Joseph Kwan (Chinese Herald).