Ontario conference looks towards the future

All eyes were on Ontario moderator Vic Thiessen and conference minister Mark Johnson during the province’s annual convention Feb. 16–17 at Southridge Community Church in St. Catharines. In a tag team effort that occupied much of the convention’s plenary session time on both Friday and Saturday, the two leaders presented a document that will help guide and prioritize future conference decisions. This document is the first of its kind for the province and was the main topic of conversation over the weekend.

Convention theme banner.

The new mission statement and core values document summarize the conference’s vision. Core values include: 1. singleness of purpose (to bring glory to the Triune God); 2. incarnational living (by embracing Ontario neighbourhoods); 3. unconditional love (regardless of economic, social, or ethnic considerations); 4. cultural redemption; and 5. strategic cooperation (with other Christians, churches, and agencies).

“We want to permeate the world with the culture of God’s kingdom,” said Johnson. “We look outside ourselves and in the process, we’re transformed.”

Conference minister Mark Johnson(l) and moderator Vic Thiessen (r).

To help churches reach this goal, the leadership council sponsored an initiative called “Eyes Outward Proposal” during the past year. The council offered each congregation $750 to develop a project that would directly benefit and make a difference in their neighbourhoods. Eighteen churches responded with specific proposals, all of them unique.

During the weekend, Thiessen boldly challenged delegates 39 years and younger to help lead the conference into the future. “We want to hear your questions. . . . We need your enthusiasm to spark us,” he said. He then challenged those over 40 to support the younger generations. The fact that there were only some 20 delegates (of 207) under 40 years old made Thiessen’s statement more poignant.

Ontario worship leaders Drew Unruh and Tom Loewen.

Financial decisions

During the Saturday morning business session, delegates approved the sale of the Komoka Community Church property to Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The church ceased operating as an MB conference church in Sept. 2005. Discussions are underway about how the conference will distribute the $243,000 proceeds.

Delegates also passed a recommendation to “forgive” the debt for a $677,000 capital loan made to Tabor Manor Board in 1999 to build Valley View Manor, a senior’s housing project located in the Kitchener–Waterloo area. The money is now considered a non-repayable investment.

Some delegates questioned the reasons behind the recommendation and were concerned it might shortfall the conference budget. In the end, the proposal received 72 percent approval. Valley View reported that, until recently when all housing units were occupied, their budget had been running a deficit.

Delegates voted in favour of a $233,200 conference budget for 2007, with the suggested church levy remaining at $50 per member.

Board work

• The Board of Church Extension (BOCE) announced its newest church plant called 614 Thorncliffe Park, Toronto. The kick-off party will take place Apr. 21.
• The BOCE reported that director Terry Wiseman, absent from the convention, is recovering well after recent surgery for kidney cancer.
• The provincial Board of Faith and Life developed a credentialing policy and is encouraging search committees to use the credentialing questionnaire as part of the pastoral search process. They are also urging churches to invite the BFL to interview potential candidates before they’re hired. “In our zeal, sometimes we circumvent an important process,” said BFL chair John Wiebe. “This will help search committees find out what theologies a person holds to.”
• The BFL welcomed The Gathering Ottawa as the conference’s newest congregation, pastored by Chris Stevens.
• A new privacy policy, counselling policy, and sexual harassment policy are now in place for provincial churches.
• Delegates enthusiastically accepted the province’s new mission statement and core values.
• Delegates affirmed Vic Thiessen for another two-year term as moderator. The positions of assistant moderator and treasurer remain open.

Time to party

2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the Ontario conference. Celebration services are planned for June 16–17 in Waterloo and Niagara. Tony Campolo will be the guest speaker at the two events. For more information, check out the new conference website.

—Laura Kalmar