Manitoba MBs assemble in Winnipeg to “Burst the Christian Bubble”

It was “the best in years,” said some delegates. Encouraging reports, a night of coffeehouse jazz, and a full day of pre-conference workshops energized delegates at the 99th convention of Manitoba MB churches held at Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg, Feb. 29–Mar. 1.

What’s your bubble?

Ken Reddig doing what he does best – storytelling.

The spirit of the event was encapsulated Friday morning by master storyteller Ken Reddig. “I absolutely refuse to sit on any committee where I can’t get involved in ministry directly,” he said. Known mostly for his work at the Centre for MB Studies and as past director of MCC Manitoba, Reddig surprised his audience with the plethora of gang members, inmates, and street people he’s come to know over the years, mostly through his method of unassuming humility, patience, and confident Christianity.

After reading the works of Tolstoy, he was intrigued by a Jesus who cared about people’s needs, and started visiting the places “just one mile away” which were nevertheless a world apart. “You don’t have to be like them to get along – just walk among them.”

The diverse groups of the inner city don’t want people of empty action. They test whether you’re into relationship or just talk and “can sniff out a self-centred Christian better than any police dog.” He was frank, challenging delegates to step outside their comfort zones and asking them about their own “bubble” experiences.

Diverse communities

Kindred Productions manager Mario Buscio and Zita Somokoko, both of Église Communautaire de la Rivière Rouge.

“It would mean a lot for the wider community to embrace us,” responded Tesfa Chutta, pastor of Bethel Evangelical (Ethiopian) Christian Assembly in Winnipeg, and one of a growing number of immigrant MB churches. Others include International Revival – a Rwandan community, Slavic Evangelical meeting out of Portage Avenue Church, and a Chinese church that plans to do a mission trip to immigrants in Brandon.

A spry George Schroeder added that thousands of old-guard German MB immigrants “with whom we have nothing in common” have come to Steinbach and Morden recently and he’d like to see the conference embrace them.

In some ways, focus on the inner city represented coming full-circle – many MB churches in Winnipeg had their start there. The convention was built on the church extension vision presented two years ago: DREAM Manitoba, which emphasized an embrace of diversity, affirming creativity, and making a difference in community.

Friday night, church extension director Russ Toews highlighted the conference’s partnership with the School of Urban Leadership (SOUL), an inner-city Bible school, some of whose students were living on the streets a few years ago.

Rachel Twigg Boyce shares her passion.

Rachel Twigg Boyce was introduced as the new director of Hope Winnipeg, an MB-intitiated ministry to reach “with and among,” rather than “to,” urban poor people.

Conference minister Keith Poysti also introduced Dale Warkentin and his wife Marge as the new pastor of Friends Community Church in Carman, Man. It’s not quite the TV show, Dale assured, but instead of pews, the group meets around tables.

Later during a time of communion, Fort Garry pastor John Unger held a moment of silence for the unsettling number of 13 pastors in Manitoba who have resigned in the last year, including eight since January.

Another resignation was remembered, this time in honour of Delbert Enns, who led Family Life Network (FLN) in 13 years of visionary leadership. It was his last day in the office, and is a major turning point for the newly incorporated organization.

Rounding out the evening was Canadian Mennonite University’s (CMU) Wholly Jazz band during coffee house style fellowship.

Community hermeneutic?

George Schroeder (Steinbach) and Jonathan Toews (McIvor Ave.) chat during a break.

By popular request the weekend was packed with workshops ranging from how to reach Muslims, a look at prison ministries, immigrant communities, aboriginal culture, film-watching, and mental illness.

George Klassen of SOUL and Noel Hudson of Elm Creek MB led a group discussing the “inevitable” new world order of emerging churches, and the need to embrace a combination of liturgical, Pentecostal, conservative evangelical, and social justice ways of doing church – much as the Vineyard movement does.

Later, church business was streamlined to a couple hours of presentations about which there was minimal floor debate.

Finance director Ken Wiebe reported surpluses in all major areas of income, and noted that an increase in funding will be given to DREAM Manitoba projects in the next year.

Delegates voted overwhelmingly to restructure their governance, pairing down three boards and an executive with 24 members to one leadership board of 10–12 assembly-elected members. The governance board will direct seven standing committees, from finance to conflict resolution.

It’s an effort to address “jurisdictional clarity,” said moderator Barry Dyck, especially since the incorporation of CMU, MB Collegiate Institute (MBCI), and FLN. “The needs of the conference have changed. Another issue is the diminishing sense of denominationalism.”

Dyck said congregations are more independent today than they were before and more involved in their local communities. “There is also a consumerist mindset when we started asking ‘what is the conference doing for us,’ instead of ‘how can we partner along with the conference?’ We believe that a discussion of the vision and mission statement is necessary,” said Dyck.

The new structure diminishes grassroots voices, but increases efficiency. Gordon Matties, faculty at CMU, was concerned that committees simply report to the leadership board and don’t inform vision or provide recommendations. John Unger of Fort Garry asked how the board was to remain open and “infused by the Spirit.” “Perhaps we need to give prayerful consideration to what the churches are thinking,” he said.

The tension over vision and identity was captured by Cornelius Buller, who asked whether the conference should change its name as a way of “bursting the bubble” and reaching out to the community.

—AS