Alberta Conference growing in unity

This year’s Alberta MB convention, held at Dalhousie Community Church, Calgary, Mar. 19–20, was a comfortable, celebratory affair. The assembly areas were decorated with bouquets of brightly coloured balloons and delegates were treated to lots of good-news stories – from various congregations and from Camp Evergreen.

Although there were allusions to unresolved issues or church conflicts, the overall sense was, as one delegate put it, of “momentum building in the Alberta Conference.” One indication was a full slate of candidates for various Conference commissions. “This is historic, at least in my time,” said assistant moderator Harry Heidebrecht, who led the elections.

“There’s a growing sense of unity and family,” said moderator Len Fehr. “I’m excited about the future.”

Having a full-time Executive Minister has made a difference. Merv Boschman, with his wife Carol, took on the role last July. Since then, Boschman has been travelling throughout the province, building relationships with leaders and churches. Congregations are diverse and scattered, but several regional pastors’ “clusters” have formed. Program resources can be found in a book or on the Web, Boschman said, but this provides “relational resourcing.”

A trilogy of praise

The conference theme, “A Trilogy of Praise,” was developed through three messages. Boschman spoke on “To Him who is able to establish you” (Romans 16:23–27), reminding his audience that there was a time that each one present began their walk with God. Jim Holm, president of MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Cal., addressed “To Him who is able to do immeasurably more” (Ephesians 3:20–21). Quoting Paul’s “marvellous” Ephesians 3 prayer from memory, Holm reflected, “Imagine the ability of Jesus to bring all these diverse groups together – and He chose to do that through the church!”

“To Him who is able to keep you . . . and to present you before His glorious presence” (Jude 24,25) was addressed by Harry Heidebrecht, pastor of Highland MB Church, Calgary. God is able to take the “rang-a-tang group of churches in Alberta,” he said, protect and keep them, and present them to God “without fault.”

Church stories

Six churches shared their stories during the convention. Two were new church plants: The Gathering Place in Airdrie, led by Kelly Steffen, and Sema (which means “sign”) Community Church in Calgary, led by Lance Christie. The latter is not, technically speaking, a new congregation, but a satellite of Dalhousie Community Church, which is pursuing a model of multi-congregational church planting.

Ethiopian choir

Another model is represented by the All Sudanese Christian Church, which is in a partnership with the Church Extension Commission and the Highland MB Church. Both this church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church meet in the Highland building. The new pastor of the Sudanese church, Augusteno Freino, said that some 8000 Sudanese have moved to the greater Calgary area in recent years. The church has brought stability to this community, Freino said. One of its challenges is to bring reconciliation between people of the various tribes represented among the Sudanese.

Sudanese choir

Two churches – Foothills Community Church in Pincher Creek, where Ernie Bergen is pastor, and River West Christian Church, led by Kerry Dyck – used pictures to tell of their recently-completed building projects.

Linden MB Church is celebrating 75 years this spring. Pastors Konrad Loewen and Kevin Downey read a litany of thanks for God’s faithfulness in various aspects of Linden’s history, including the recent tragic deaths of two young athletes.

Camp Evergreen

Art Dueck and Rick Arkell

“We need to understand and believe Camp Evergreen is a missions outpost in Alberta,” said director Rick Arkell at the breakfast and presentation sponsored by the Camp on Saturday morning. “It really, really is.”

Arkell, praised by the camping commission chair Art Dueck as “a sparkplug” for the camp, related numerous instances of how God’s hand has been seen at work in campers and staff. All spring staff are in place, he said, and enrollments for campers are ahead of last year’s. A much-needed wash/bathroom complex has been completed. Sewer line upgrades are scheduled, as well as improvements such as new RV sites and minigolf. The year ended on budget, with no operating deficit, though the camp is carrying some $350,000 in debt. A 41st year anniversary and fundraising celebration is planned for June.

Program director Trevor Berg is moving on to pastoral ministry in Winnipeg and Vicky Berg will take his place.

Business

Delegates gave approval to recommendations of the Conference Executive: the establishment of a Leadership Development Fund, the 2004–5 budget, and a 2.5% cost of living adjustment to the salary grid of the Personnel Employees Plan.

Konrad Loewen and Merv Boschmann

A leadership development proposal is still being worked on, said Len Fehr, and is not ready for presentation. The Fund, however, is a way of beginning. Monies in this above-budget fund could be used for internships, for example. Other ideas include training centres, perhaps in connection with Bethany College, MBBS or other denominations, or the use of the Conflict Resolution program of Canadian Mennonite University.

Treasurer Paul Durksen reported that many churches do not like per member giving figures since they do not represent attendance. The Executive would prefer to move in the direction of churches giving a percentage of their budgets to the Conference, rather than setting a norm per member. Churches are currently giving about 2.5% of their church budgets to the Conference, said Len Fehr; “If they did 5% we could erase the Camp Evergreen debt and do [many more] church plants.”

“We are not overall a poor people,” Fehr added.

Delegates approved a budget of $213,500 for 2004–5. Giving was down the past year, but hope was expressed there would be a surplus this year. An amendment to the budget that a surplus be divided between Camp Evergreen and Church Extension ministries passed.

The Church Extension Commission’s recommendation that The Gathering Place and Sema be accepted into the Alberta Conference was postponed, as they were “not quite ready.” The new congregations were blessed in prayer Friday evening, however. Chair Murray Schmidt reported that two churches, New Hope Community Church and SaddleRidge Community Church, both of Calgary, have come off Conference subsidy this year. The four MB churches of Edmonton are discussing planting a church together in their city.

Jake and Esther Balzer were honoured with a painting in appreciation of his work and “faithful generous spirit” as consultant to Alberta church planting efforts the past few years. Many of his responsibilities will be picked up by Merv Boschman.

Three of the members of the Executive are new for the next year. Mark Jantzen (Dalhousie) will be moderator, Gary Giesbrecht (River West) will be assistant moderator, and Ralph Dickau (River West) will be secretary. Paul Durksen remains as treasurer.

—Dora Dueck