Executive board evaluates survey

The Executive Board met Jan. 28–29, following the final Council of Boards meeting, in Abbotsford. The board worked on assimilating the data from the strategic survey it conducted at the end of 2004.

The Governance Manual continues to be edited and improved, and will be posted on the Conference website when this work is completed. The constitution committee reported that they are working on the Incorporation Charter and Operating By-Laws, to prepare a constitution that reflects the governance model in time for Gathering 2006.

The board accepted a recommendation of the nominating committee that Jack Falk be approved to complete the term of Cal Bergen as chair of MBBS board. Bergen has stepped back from his work because of health concerns. Falk is currently the chair of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (MBBS) Regional Council as well as the vice-chair of the MBBS Board. He resigned his position as regional chair due to potential conflicts of interest.

Both of the strategic partners of the Canadian Conference – MBBS and MB Mission and Service International – reported to the board on highlights from their ministry. MBBS president Jim Holm said the Seminary is working at building partnerships with the church in Canada. Ike Bergen clarified the function of the new Lead Ministry Team within the MBMSI structure. Two members of that new team, Carlin Weinhauer and Selwyn Uittenbosch, had been presented to the Council of Boards meeting Friday.

Board members engaged in a good discussion about the need for the national body to align with the provincial bodies of the denomination. It was suggested that inter-provincially there be an opportunity to hear one another and plan for ways to dovetail resources and ministries for greater effectiveness. The goal is to resource churches for Kingdom building.

The next meeting of the executive board is April 22–23 in Winnipeg.

—from report by Marilyn Hiebert

Moderator’s message to our Conference

Willy Reimer

We believe that God is continuing to bless and guide our Canadian MB Conference as we refocus our national ministry.

In late fall, the Executive Board issued a strategic planning survey to all churches and members. We as a board are very grateful to everyone who participated in the survey. We were glad to hear from you – in fact, we received thousands of comments and opinions along with the answers to the questions. Our staff will be processing that information. As you read the report that follows, written by our MB Herald staff, note that this is a very brief summary of what we received.

From working on the new model and the survey, the board hopes to take the leadership of our conference to a new level of effectiveness. We want to make a real difference in the lives of Canadians and people around the world.

In order to do so, the people who work in conference ministries and agencies strive to create an environment of discipleship and a mindset among our churches that will enable us to make this difference. We are almost 150 years old as a conference; almost 500 years old as a movement of Anabaptists. It’s easy to lose focus and a clear grasp of the mission.

It is our goal to establish our purpose more and more clearly. Every department or agency must give evidence of working toward that purpose. All staff members need to know how they fit into the picture – how their effort can make the difference we believe God is calling us to make.

We will continue working toward this goal as Executive Board.

—Willy Reimer, moderator