Quebec MBs hold annual convention

Jean Raymond Théorêt discusses the leadership development program.

September is traditionally the month when the Mennonite Brethren churches of Quebec gather for their annual convention. On September 11, delegates met in Ste-Thérèse MB Church. The meetings began with breakfast and much laughter as delegates renewed friendships and introduced themselves to new members.

Robert Dagenais, pastor of Ste-Thérèse, brought the opening devotion. He shared from 1 Corinthians 13 about excellence in love and our association with one another as brothers and sisters in the church, challenging the group to make the choice of orienting themselves toward love for one another and the benefit of the community.

Outgoing moderator Jean Théorêt greeted representatives of the Canadian MB Conference David Wiebe, Ewald Unruh, Cam Rowland and Sharon Johnson, along with Youth Mission International representative, Philip Serez. Théorêt quipped, “I was about to say, ‘I hope you enjoy the show.’ But I want to say we welcome you and hope you enjoy your weekend with us.”

Evangelism Committee

Patrice Nagant describes the progress in church planting.

Director of Evangelism and Development Patrice Nagant showed a video that highlighted the partnership of MBMSI, Evangelism Canada and the Quebec Conference in the work of church planting around the world. In Quebec, partnerships are being forged with two new church planting couples and dialogue is underway with an Hispanic church that is considering joining the Conference (planted in the 1970s by Miguel Forero who currently works with MBMSI in Latin America). Nagant also announced the grand opening, Sept. 26, of The Westside Gathering, one of two English church plants with the Rendez-vous Montreal project.

Philip Serez shared about the partnership between the Quebec Conference and Youth Mission International, bringing a presentation on behalf of the SOAR program. YMI will run a SOAR program in Montreal next summer, June 30 to July 12, with a French component.

Camp Péniel

Board member Gilles Dextraze and camp director Richard Gervais reported on activities at Camp Péniel, owned by the Quebec Conference. The camp is in its fourth year of positive growth under Gervais’s leadership. It has been utilized by many youth and scouting groups as well as churches this past year.

École de Théologie Évangélique de Montréal (ETEM)

President Éric Wingender reported that the budget of ETEM (the Evangelical Theological School of Montreal) is a challenge. At this time the school is dependent on external subsidies. The desire to become self-supporting has led Wingender and the board to explore options for capital raising ventures and partnerships with other Christian educational institutions. The recent sale of dormitory buildings at the site of the old campus (north of Montreal) has provided ETEM with seed money to purchase a building that will house the school and provide dormitory and revenue property. Presently ETEM is renting office and classroom space from St. Laurent Church.

The desire is to find a suitable location closer to the campus of Université de Montréal in order to maximize the partnership between ETEM and the University. This is their 12th year of a collaboration that enables ETEM to offer a fully accredited bachelor’s degree and students to study university-level courses from an evangelical perspective. As well, students are eligible for provincial government programs such as student loans and can obtain their degrees from the Université.

Discipleship Ministries

Since retiring from his work at ETEM a year ago, Jean Théorêt has been wearing several hats. One of these is director of leadership development. He has developed a leadership training program for members of the Quebec MB churches that begins this fall. Churches have been asked to identify persons with leadership potential and recommend them for training.

Administration

A proposal was submitted for a 1% increase in norms from each church. These funds are used for both internal budget items (Quebec Conference salaries and general operations) and external budget items (giving to MBMSI and MCC). Accountant France Joly received enthusiastic applause in appreciation for her six years of voluntary service. The budget passed unanimously, along with the proposal for the increase in norms.

Le Lien

Cam Rowland, executive director of Discipleship Ministries, brought forward the qualifications of Jean Baptiste Biere, who will be the next editor of Le Lien magazine. Biere has been teaching at the European Bible Institute in Lamorlaye, France.

All-church rally

The second day of the annual convention, September 12, was dedicated to a mass rally of Quebec MB church members in Deux-Montagnes. Almost 500 people attended. Ste-Rose Church was responsible for worship and St-Laurent Church for Sunday school. St-Jérôme Church took care of the logistics and lunch.

Pierre Pellerin, pastor of the Charlesbourg church, located near Quebec City, led in a reflection on the parable of the two sons from Matthew 21:28–30, and the new church planters for the Rendez-vous Montreal project were introduced. The weekend concluded with an informal community lunch, where all could meet and renew friendships as Quebec Mennonite Brethren.

—Heidi Gray, co-pastor of Journey Fellowship of Montreal