Two sets of guests graced the board of faith and life (BFL) meetings, held June 11–12 at MBBS-ACTS in Langley, B.C. Tim Geddert, professor at MBBS in Fresno, Cal., and Ed Boschman, executive director of the USMB Conference, represented the U.S. BFL and were present to discuss revisions to the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU, originally accepted in 2002, will receive mutual contributions from both boards in relation to dealing with the Confession of Faith and how the boards will work together appropriately into the future.

Members of the BCMB Conference executive committee also attended the meetings. The BFL was grateful for the opportunity to respond in person to the committee’s concerns related to Study Conference 2009.

“This meeting was helpful in keeping our relationship [with the B.C. Conference executive] strong,” said David Wiebe, executive director of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. “We were able to gain a higher level of understanding…and there is a real sense of us building bridges together.”

As part of its work, the board accepted a two-part statement, submitted by Wiebe, on the subject of atonement. In addition to a review of the relevant parts of the Confession of Faith, the statement contains a number of reflections on the broader theme of atonement. The board will provide suggestions for adjustments and a final statement will be presented to delegates in July at Gathering 2010.

Hillside Community Church (Beechy, Sask.) sent a letter to the BFL earlier this year, questioning an article on evolution published in the MB Herald. The board has written to Hillside, assuring a formal response to the church’s theological questions by an assigned BFL member.