CMU adopts new board structure, mission statement

Canadian Mennonite University adopted a new board structure and a new mission statement at its board meetings October 24–25.

The old Board of Governors structure, which consisted of the boards of Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Concord College and Menno Simons College meeting together (complete with colour-coded voting ballots), met for the final time.

The next time they met, it was no longer as three boards meeting together but as the newly constituted CMU Council, whose first act was to elect an integrated CMU Board of Governors. Herta Janzen, Winnipeg, was elected chair; Kerry Enns, Gretna, vice-chair; Lois Coleman Neufeld, Winnipeg, secretary; Jake Thiessen, Altona, chair of finance.

The new smaller board is expected to significantly reduce administrative bureaucracy. The smaller group “allows us to work from a point of a view of a united board,” says new vice-chair Enns.

The full CMU Board of Governors prior to the shift to the new model. Seated are former chairs Jake Harms (CMBC), Herta Janzen (CC) and Jack Loepp (MSC).

“Previously we all sat in our college boards, which led us to defend our own interests a little bit. Now we have one board, and we’re looking after the interests of CMU.”

The board has representation from the ownership conferences – Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, who have appointees on the board, as well as the Evangelical Mennonite Conference and the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference.

The Board unanimously approved CMU’s new mission statement. It reads: “Canadian Mennonite University is an innovative Christian university, rooted in the Anabaptist faith, moved and transformed by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Through teaching, research and service CMU inspires and equips women and men for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.”

Program name change

In other CMU news, the School of Discipleship (SOD) has changed its name to “Outtatown.” Program director Wally Schmidt says the main reason is that cross-cultural interpretation of its old acronym SOD was causing difficulty. “While sod may be grass in North America, in Europe, South Africa and other countries, it’s slang for sodomy.”

Outtatown is a program of travel, study, service and spiritual quest for young people 17–22, with over 100 students enrolled in centers in Guatemala and South Africa. A new Thailand program is planned for 2004.

—Kevin Heinrichs, CMU Director of Communications