New structure proposed for Canadian MB Conference

Chris Douglas

“We cannot achieve through political means, that which can only happen by the Spirit,” said Chris Douglas, moderator of the B.C. Conference of MB Churches, in his devotional address to the Council of Boards semi-annual meeting, held in Winnipeg, Jan. 22–24. “If any movement of the Spirit is to come in our Conference, it will happen because leaders humble themselves before the Lord.”

Using the example of Hezekiah, Douglas encouraged board members to seek the things of the Lord first. “Then we have confidence that God will lead in the way we should go.”

The Council of Boards, which consists of the five boards of the Canadian MB Conference (Faith and Life, Evangelism, Discipleship, Management and Executive) and the boards of MB Mission and Service International and MB Biblical Seminary, functions as the conference in interim, but is also a preparatory time for the national convention happening in July.

Much of the time in the plenary sessions was taken up with an executive committee proposal for a new Conference governance structure. Moderator Jascha Boge gave a brief history of the organization of the Canadian MB Conference (prepared by John H. Redekop), beginning with the first church established in 1888 and the chartering of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference in 1945 as an entity separate from the US Conference.

A number of restructurings have happened since then, the latest precipitated by the dissolution of the North American MB Conference in 2002 and the need for the Canadian MB Conference to integrate some bi-national programs into its structure.

The “why”

Assistant moderator Willy Reimer explained the “why” of the proposal. Discussions of leadership development at the June 2003 meeting of the boards revealed, he said, that there is no existing structure to facilitate initiatives across all boards. The question was raised, how do we create a structure that best frees leaders to implement the three foci (leadership development, healthy churches, reaching our worlds) of the Conference? “This proposal is about what is best to be a missional people,” Reimer said.

Secretary Marilyn Hiebert then led board members through the proposed new governance model, developed together with a consultant, Les Stahlke, author of Goverance Matters.

The new structure is based on what Stahlke calls “the relationship model,” which seeks to “balance effectiveness and fulfillment by building working relationships according to God’s design.” Three kinds of authority were identified: spiritual/ moral authority, which would be the responsibility of the Board of Faith and Life; strategic/operational authority, the responsibility of the executive director together with the Executive Board; and legal/regulatory authority, the responsibility of the finance and audit departments, together with the Board of Faith and Life. The boards of MBMS International and MB Biblical Seminary would be incorporated into the structure in a more cohesive way than is now the case.

The new structure calls for the disbanding of all current boards with the exception of the Board of Faith and Life and the Executive Board, which would be expanded (to about 19 or 20 members).

Like a tree

The organizational chart was compared to a tree. The roots are the entire Canadian MB Conference membership. The membership, through its delegates, would elect the “trunk” or Executive Board, which in turn would appoint an executive director. The executive management team (director of discipleship ministries, director of evangelism and the chief financial officer) forms three branches and would be responsible to the executive director. Staff (the leaves) would report to their respective directors and be responsible for the working out of the various ministries to the churches, which is the fruit.

The Board of Faith and Life, also elected at convention, would be represented on the Executive Board but would also function independently, as a “spiritual audit” and theological and watch care over the Conference. An audit committee would do the same on the financial side.

Various questions were raised in the discussion that followed and in further discussions on the following day after boards had met separately and analyzed the model. Will this increase efficiency but lessen the contact with the constituency because of fewer board members? Have roles been clearly defined? How will spiritual and organizational functions be integrated?

Moderator Boge and other members of the Executive Board assured board members that, even though efficiency was one of the goals, contact with the churches would be maintained. Executive Board members would still be elected by the delegation at the bi-annual conventions, and other committees would be put in place to help the various ministries in their tasks. There would also be careful board development, they said.

This model, it was explained, provides governance through setting policies, which will be set down in a manual to guide staff, rather than through management decisions. Agencies and ministries will continue to report to the convention.

There will be less territorial thinking in this model, said assistant moderator Reimer. The new Executive Board will be able to think strategically, “what’s best for Canada,” rather than defending the interests of individual boards. Ministry can be quickly directed to areas of opportunity and need, he said, rather than just where the MB churches are located. The Executive Board will be a visioning board, giving birth to new programs and initiatives that will further enhance the working out of the three foci of our Conference.

Regionalism?

Concerns were raised about the geographic makeup of the two remaining boards: the Executive Board and the Board of Faith and Life. The answer was that, although there will no longer be enforced regional representation on either board (which is already the case in the current Board of Discipleship Ministries), good representation will be vital; geography, gender, gifts and a willingness to serve will determine who sits on the boards.

At one point in the discussion, Willy Reimer requested that “the questions behind the regional concerns” be articulated, so the executive committee could understand what the “real” and perhaps “emotional” issues were. A brief but frank discussion followed. It was acknowledged that it is very easy for regions or provinces to become parochial and that feelings of “alienation” may exist. The diversity that exists within regions as well as many shared values country-wide were also emphasized.

Support to proceed

Other questions included, “Where is the Conference really itching? Is this the best place to scratch?” One person wondered if the next generation will want to return to the way things are being done now.

Concerns about a perception of power concentrated in a few people as well as “buy-in” by the grassroots of the Conference were also raised. These were addressed with reminders of the checks and balances provided for in the structure, as well as the possibilities offered for even stronger connectedness with the churches.

When the discussion wound up, there was strong, though not unanimous, support for the Executive Board to proceed with the new governance proposal. A final draft will be prepared, taking the questions and suggestions in these meetings into consideration. It will be brought to Gathering 2004 for a decision.

Discipleship Ministries

Last year at this time, the Board of Discipleship Ministries (BDM) was searching for an executive director. Chair Laura Kalmar said they were “excited to be presenting” this year and to see the fruit of having found this person, Cam Rowland. The various staff and ministries of the BDM are working hard to become a team, she said, and several new initiatives have resulted.

No new recommendations will be coming to Gathering 2004, but Kalmar highlighted a number of issues BDM faces, including finding an editor for the French paper Le Lien, decisions relating to the editorship of the MB Herald (currently held by an interim appointment), and evaluating the role of the Centre for MB Studies. Heinrich Loewen has resigned as director.

She also noted highlights. Just off the press was the new Description of a Growing Disciple brochure. “Refresh” retreats will be held at several upcoming provincial conference conventions and plans for the next youth conference, to be held in Toronto, are well underway. The Mennonitsche Rundschau, which serves German readers, celebrated its 125th anniversary this year.

Faith and Life

Chair Walter Unger reported on eight issues the Board of Faith and Life has addressed this year.

This Board has produced a large number of pamphlets on a wide variety of issues affecting our churches. The one with the widest circulation, some 25,000 copies, is on homosexuality. The Board has revised this pamphlet and it will be re-issued.

The Board will likely do a pamphlet on same sex marriage. The MB Conference belongs to the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, which is speaking to the secular press on the issue; our role, he said, is “to do a better job of teaching.”

Unger reported that BFL had had a lengthy meeting with MCC executives in which “all our concerns were discussed and commitments made.” A joint press release, issued after the meeting, was published in the December 26 MB Herald. “This is a very important issue,” he said; a fuller report will be given to the convention.

A statement developed by the Board from the deliberations at the May study conference on baptism and church membership will also come to the convention. It recognizes “a growing diversity of practice,” urges “caution” on separating baptism and membership, and calls on MB churches to “revisit, reconsider and recommit” to the Confession of Faith’s teaching on believer’s baptism.

The BFL is adding a statement to the Conference’s current policy on divorce and leadership, about cases in which the re-marriage of a divorced leader might be allowed. It has also produced a new pastoral covenant document.

The Board’s statement on spiritual warfare brought to the last convention had been critiqued as not adequately addressing the reality of the spirit world, Unger said. He read an additional statement covering this topic.

All of these statements will be published in advance of the July convention. As to the women in leadership issue brought to BFL by a Manitoba convention resolution, the BFL is planning provincial hermeneutic conferences. “We don’t feel we can decide this on our own.”

Evangelism

Paul Loewen, chair of the Board of Evangelism, reported it will recommend Vancouver as its fourth key city. To the question whether it would not be better to defer resources to Montreal than work in a province with a large MB population, Loewen replied that the B.C. conference would pick up “the lion’s share” of costs and resources while heavy financial aid continues to Montreal. “But we want to keep the key city initiatives going,” he said.

Patrice Nagant gave an update on Evangelism Canada’s current Key City initiative: Montreal. Three churches have been started. The challenge, he said, is to find church planters who know the French language and culture. A plan to identify and train potential church planters is underway.

Nagant invited people to come to Montreal after Gathering 2004 to help with an outreach event there called Festival 2004.

The Seminary

Cal Bergen, chair of the MB Biblical Seminary board, reported that 2005 is the Seminary’s golden anniversary and “we want to spend next year celebrating.”

The largest issue this Board has faced is governance, Bergen said. The divestiture of the North American MB Conference as it related to the Seminary was outlined in a memorandum of understanding, but actually working out the new relationships revealed “the locus of initiative” needs clarification.

Seminary president Jim Holm was in attendance and spoke a few words. He joked that two important positions had been recently filled in California: the governor’s and the MBBS presidency. “But I got the better job,” he said, “to help give leadership to a place that has trained people for leadership.” He reported that the number of Canadian MBs in the seminary program is growing.

MB Mission and Service International

Chair Ike Bergen said that the Board will be bringing two recommendations to the convention, one concerning a new funding formula and one on visions and goals. MBMS International is also looking for a new director. Financial support, he reported, has been encouraging and strong.

Current director Harold Ens explained the rationale behind MBMS International’s new direction. Should the mission agency be directive or facilitative? “Essentially,” he said, “we want to be in the middle.” The catalyst model, expressed in the new mission statement, focusses on the role of the local MB congregation in global mission.

The funding model encourages churches to continue undesignated giving at about 25% but the rest would be part of a “relational giving model,” which means churches will support specific missionaries and projects.

Board of Management

Herb Suderman, chair of the Board of Management, framed his summary as a report card. To Canadian Conference finances, he said he’d give a “B.” The Conference will be operating at a slight deficit this year, he said, some $50,000 but “nothing serious.” To Christian Press, which has realized a profit of about $100,000 in “a very tough market,” he gave an “A.” The Stewardship department, where total funds are up, with $75.9 million under management, he gave an “A+” and the Pension Fund, with returns of about 11.5%, an “A.”

“Overall,” Suderman said, “finances are in good shape.” Still, his challenge was, “are we giving as we should?”

Suderman and John Wiebe, Conference treasurer, fielded a number of questions relating to the building of a new MB ministry centre as well as the distribution of funds generated by investments. They emphasized that the new building is part of the investment portfolio of Stewardship Ministries and no monies from the operational budget will be used. Christian Press and the Canadian and Manitoba conference ministries will be tenants.

As to the location of Canadian Conference offices, the recommendation to keep the Canadian Conference offices in Manitoba was made by a task force composed of the provincial moderators. Other locations were studied, but Winnipeg was considered the best location for the Conference as a whole. This decision, Reimer had reminded the group earlier, was a “unified” one.

Gathering 2004

Executive director David Wiebe reported to the Council of Boards about the upcoming convention in Toronto. “I’d like to encourage and enthuse you,” he said. The convention will meet July 7–10, under a new name, “Gathering.” The event will open with a worship concert with Brian Doerksen and message by Randy Friesen. Other speakers include Reggie McNeal and Jacqueline Dugas, and incoming moderator Willy Reimer will speak at the final session.

Business and board reports will be grouped under the three Conference foci and any recommendation that has to be voted on will include breakout options.

—Susan Brandt and Dora Dueck