Quebec conference welcomes new leaders

Delegates from Quebec churches gathered April 14 at St.Eustache Church for the annual convention of the Association des Églises des Frères mennonites du Québec (AEFMQ), signalling a change from the conference’s usual fall meeting time.

Quebec convention delegates meet at St. Eustache Church.

Some 50 people met to take stock of the conference’s ministries. The day began with a word of welcome from Julius Beauchamp, leader at St. Eustache. Then Bruno Synnott, youth pastor at St. Eustache, presented a devotional on the necessity of developing family values within the church.

Jean Raymond Théorêt and conference president Charles Martin.

Charles Martin, president (moderator) of the AEFMQ, presented the executive committee report and highlighted Ginette Rolland’s key role as Quebec representative on the Canadian conference’s executive board. Reports from other ministries followed: Patrice Nagant for development, Richard Gervais for Camp Péniel, Éric Wingender for the Evangelical Theological School of Montreal (ETEM) and the Board of Faith and Life, Jean Biéri for Le Lien magazine, Gérard Basque for the Protestant Partnership on Education, and Roger Deschênes for finances. Deschênes presented the 2007 budget, which was unanimously adopted.

Delegates affirmed the following for leadership: Charles Martin, provincial conference president; Ginette Rolland, vice-president of external affairs (with the Canadian conference); Robert Dagenais, vice-president of internal affairs; Alain Desprès, advisor; Roger Deschênes, treasurer; Gérard Basque, liaison to the Protestant Partnership on Education.

The convention was punctuated by strong moments of affirmation and praise:

• Thanks to Guy Rolland and the executive committee, and in particular to members Jean Raymond Théorêt and Robert Dagenais, for their support of St. Jérôme Church’s leadership council. They knew how to give guidance and support during difficult times within the council, as well as during the church’s pastoral search process.
• The executive committee bid farewell to long-time member and advisor Jean Raymond Théorêt, who passed the baton to Alain Desprès. Théorêt encouraged the committee to persevere with confidence and humility, and assured them that his heart will remain with them.

The convention closed with a sense of unity, positive spirit, and confidence in divine grace for the future work of the conference.

—Ginette Rolland, translated by Laura Kalmar