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Executive board grapples with critical issues
Five Questions
CMU confers hope, and degrees
Bethany College confers 127 degrees, certificates, diplomas
MEDA casts wider net to save lives in Tanzania
Coming Soon
____________________________________________________________________
Executive board grapples with critical issues
Conference unity, our MB identity, and seminary education were several critical issues the executive board of the Canadian MB conference addressed at their April 17-18 meetings in Winnipeg.
The issue of unity emerged from concerns raised by one of the conference churches about the denomination’s theological direction. After considerable discussion, the board agreed to continue the informal dialogue already begun with the congregation’s leaders, and then assess the matter further.
Concerning identity, the board had asked executive director David Wiebe at its January meeting to articulate in the strategic plan a clearer sense of “who we are” (the “being” alongside the “doing” of our identity). The board discussed and accepted the addition of “virtues” or conviction statements as part of the document’s mission, vision, and values.
The MB Biblical Seminary has initiated a task force to address “what is the face of seminary in Canada.” MBBS chair Jack Falk posed a series of questions for the executive board as a “straw poll,” and received strong affirmation that “we value MB-distinctive graduate theological education.” The board appointed Herb Suderman to serve as its representative on the task force.
In its governance role, the board received reports from executive conference staff and took several steps to ensure more accountability to the constituency.
The Regenerate 21-01 program initiatives are going well, said David Wiebe. He further presented a first draft of the Key Cities/Communities Initiative (KCI) evaluation. The board appointed two members to review and complete the evaluation. Results will be released at Gathering 2010, to show how learnings from KCI are being applied to Regenerate 21-01.
The board also appointed a “measures committee” to develop appropriate measuring tools of effectiveness – in both qualitative and quantitative aspects – for Regenerate 21-01 and other conference programs.
Chief financial officer John Wiebe reported to the board that the overall financial picture is stable, with revenues keeping pace with expenses. Two notable cost overruns were reported. The blending of Christian Press and conference payrolls resulted in a one-time additional tax ruling by the government, he said, and Kindred Productions experienced significant losses in the third quarter. Changes have been implemented to address this shortfall.
“It was a good meeting,” David Wiebe reported. “We could really ‘dig in’ as a board and the meeting felt balanced. We did planning and governance and grappled with
some significant issues.”
____________________________________________________________________
Five Questions
Church name: Thompson Christian Centre Fellowship
Pastor: Ted Goossen
Location: Thompson, Man.
What is your mission statement?
Share – Care – Prepare: Leading people from casual to full knowledge of Jesus through friendship evangelism and small group ministry. Matthew 5:16.
How would you describe your congregation?
We are 35 members, with an average attendance of 50 for Sunday worship service.
We’re a generous church with capable and gifted people from a variety of denominational backgrounds. We have a good balance of children, youth, young adult, middle age, and some seniors. We enjoy exercising hospitality and finding an excuse to get together to share a meal. This is our 30th year of ministry in Thompson.
What makes your church unique?
Our church is a “melting pot” of people from a variety of denominational backgrounds, attracted by our commitment to care and to core biblical truths.
Within 5 years of chartering, the congregation acquired a 2-storey apartment block in 1984 and renovated it to form the sanctuary, Sunday school and nursery meeting rooms, retaining 3 apartments to provide low rent housing. The project gave new life and excitement to the congregation, and we paid off the mortgage in relatively short time.
We collaborate with First Baptist: our youth attend their youth program and we provide housing for their pastor couple.
We have enjoyed the partnership of a sister church, McIvor Avenue MB in Winnipeg, on many projects.
What is the significance of your church’s name?
Thompson Christian Centre Fellowship is an outgrowth of the Manitoba MB Missions & Church Extension church planting effort in the 1970s and early 1980s in northern Manitoba. At the time, all church plants in northern communities were identified as Christian Centre Fellowships to create an immediate connection for people moving from one community to another in the highly mobile North.
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
To reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ with a desire to have our talk match our walk. We are concerned for those often marginalized in society. Last year, we became very involved with sponsoring an ex-convict under early release from Stony Mountain Penitentiary.
____________________________________________________________________
CMU confers hope, and degrees
80 BA students; 92 Outtatown participants
“You face a different world than graduates did a year ago,” Dr. Nettie Wiebe told graduates of Canadian Mennonite University Apr. 26. She warned of a failing economy, job losses, a widening gap between rich and poor, and the harsh impact of climate change on the planet’s most
vulnerable populations.
Organic farmer, environmental activist, co-founder of Via Campesina, and professor at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatchewan, Wiebe said, “but I want to persuade you that the most important gift you can bring is hope…Real hope is grounded in faith and kept alive by loving action.”
This was CMU’s largest-ever graduating class, with 80 students (photo, below).
The university’s off-campus 8-month discipleship program, Outtatown Discipleship School, held graduation ceremonies Apr. 19 for 92 graduates. Participants spent their first semester at camps and retreat centres across Western Canada. After Christmas, they learned through adventure, travel, and service in Guatemala or South Africa. Led by Jason Attema (inset photo), they entered the auditorium singing in Zulu, Sotho, Spanish, and English.
“I invite you to continue learning about the world in all its complexity and pain,” CMU president Gerald Gerbrandt told them. “And I invite you to continue being part of community – and not just any community, but community shaped by God.” —KB, from CMU releases
____________________________________________________________________
Bethany College confers 127 degrees, certificates, diplomas
The Bethany College community gathered at Bethany Place, Apr. 26 to confer 55 certificates to participants of the ExCiTe (Experiencing Christ Together) one-year program, 7 TESOL certificates, 34 diplomas of biblical studies (two-year program), 16 bachelor of Christian studies (three-year program), and 15 bachelor of arts (four- year program). Student Levi Adams reflected on his three years of study. Greg Klassen, student council president, gave the challenge to the graduates. “[T]ime and time again, [God] is faithful and he will carry me through when I feel like I simply can’t,” he said. The service included performances from both ministry arts tour teams, Point of Impact and The Bethany Players.
____________________________________________________________________
MEDA casts wider net to save lives in Tanzania
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is on the front lines of a new $21 million project in Tanzania to get young children sleeping under life-protecting malaria nets over the next two years. Working with Tanzania’s ministry of health and social welfare and the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, MEDA will coordinate distribution of 7.2 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) nationwide at no cost over the next year. With an estimated 6 lives spared for every 1,000 nets sold, Hati Punguzo (voucher program) and MEDA have already saved more than 27,000 lives, and are protecting countless more.
____________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon
2009
June 21 — 75th anniversary of Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, Sask.
July 13–17 — Attack volleyball camp, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
July 14–19 — Mennonite World Conference, Asunción, Paraguay.
July 20–24 — Above the Rim basketball camp, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Oct. 15–17 — BFL Study Conference, Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.
Five Questions
CMU confers hope, and degrees
Bethany College confers 127 degrees, certificates, diplomas
MEDA casts wider net to save lives in Tanzania
Coming Soon
____________________________________________________________________
Executive board grapples with critical issues
Conference unity, our MB identity, and seminary education were several critical issues the executive board of the Canadian MB conference addressed at their April 17-18 meetings in Winnipeg.
The issue of unity emerged from concerns raised by one of the conference churches about the denomination’s theological direction. After considerable discussion, the board agreed to continue the informal dialogue already begun with the congregation’s leaders, and then assess the matter further.
Concerning identity, the board had asked executive director David Wiebe at its January meeting to articulate in the strategic plan a clearer sense of “who we are” (the “being” alongside the “doing” of our identity). The board discussed and accepted the addition of “virtues” or conviction statements as part of the document’s mission, vision, and values.
The MB Biblical Seminary has initiated a task force to address “what is the face of seminary in Canada.” MBBS chair Jack Falk posed a series of questions for the executive board as a “straw poll,” and received strong affirmation that “we value MB-distinctive graduate theological education.” The board appointed Herb Suderman to serve as its representative on the task force.In its governance role, the board received reports from executive conference staff and took several steps to ensure more accountability to the constituency.
The Regenerate 21-01 program initiatives are going well, said David Wiebe. He further presented a first draft of the Key Cities/Communities Initiative (KCI) evaluation. The board appointed two members to review and complete the evaluation. Results will be released at Gathering 2010, to show how learnings from KCI are being applied to Regenerate 21-01.
The board also appointed a “measures committee” to develop appropriate measuring tools of effectiveness – in both qualitative and quantitative aspects – for Regenerate 21-01 and other conference programs.
Chief financial officer John Wiebe reported to the board that the overall financial picture is stable, with revenues keeping pace with expenses. Two notable cost overruns were reported. The blending of Christian Press and conference payrolls resulted in a one-time additional tax ruling by the government, he said, and Kindred Productions experienced significant losses in the third quarter. Changes have been implemented to address this shortfall.“It was a good meeting,” David Wiebe reported. “We could really ‘dig in’ as a board and the meeting felt balanced. We did planning and governance and grappled with
some significant issues.”
____________________________________________________________________
Five Questions
Church name: Thompson Christian Centre FellowshipPastor: Ted Goossen
Location: Thompson, Man.
What is your mission statement?
Share – Care – Prepare: Leading people from casual to full knowledge of Jesus through friendship evangelism and small group ministry. Matthew 5:16.
How would you describe your congregation?
We are 35 members, with an average attendance of 50 for Sunday worship service. We’re a generous church with capable and gifted people from a variety of denominational backgrounds. We have a good balance of children, youth, young adult, middle age, and some seniors. We enjoy exercising hospitality and finding an excuse to get together to share a meal. This is our 30th year of ministry in Thompson.
What makes your church unique?
Our church is a “melting pot” of people from a variety of denominational backgrounds, attracted by our commitment to care and to core biblical truths.
Within 5 years of chartering, the congregation acquired a 2-storey apartment block in 1984 and renovated it to form the sanctuary, Sunday school and nursery meeting rooms, retaining 3 apartments to provide low rent housing. The project gave new life and excitement to the congregation, and we paid off the mortgage in relatively short time.
We collaborate with First Baptist: our youth attend their youth program and we provide housing for their pastor couple.
We have enjoyed the partnership of a sister church, McIvor Avenue MB in Winnipeg, on many projects.
What is the significance of your church’s name?
Thompson Christian Centre Fellowship is an outgrowth of the Manitoba MB Missions & Church Extension church planting effort in the 1970s and early 1980s in northern Manitoba. At the time, all church plants in northern communities were identified as Christian Centre Fellowships to create an immediate connection for people moving from one community to another in the highly mobile North.
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
To reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ with a desire to have our talk match our walk. We are concerned for those often marginalized in society. Last year, we became very involved with sponsoring an ex-convict under early release from Stony Mountain Penitentiary.
____________________________________________________________________
CMU confers hope, and degrees
80 BA students; 92 Outtatown participants
“You face a different world than graduates did a year ago,” Dr. Nettie Wiebe told graduates of Canadian Mennonite University Apr. 26. She warned of a failing economy, job losses, a widening gap between rich and poor, and the harsh impact of climate change on the planet’s most
vulnerable populations.
Organic farmer, environmental activist, co-founder of Via Campesina, and professor at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatchewan, Wiebe said, “but I want to persuade you that the most important gift you can bring is hope…Real hope is grounded in faith and kept alive by loving action.”
This was CMU’s largest-ever graduating class, with 80 students (photo, below).
The university’s off-campus 8-month discipleship program, Outtatown Discipleship School, held graduation ceremonies Apr. 19 for 92 graduates. Participants spent their first semester at camps and retreat centres across Western Canada. After Christmas, they learned through adventure, travel, and service in Guatemala or South Africa. Led by Jason Attema (inset photo), they entered the auditorium singing in Zulu, Sotho, Spanish, and English.
“I invite you to continue learning about the world in all its complexity and pain,” CMU president Gerald Gerbrandt told them. “And I invite you to continue being part of community – and not just any community, but community shaped by God.” —KB, from CMU releases
____________________________________________________________________
Bethany College confers 127 degrees, certificates, diplomas
The Bethany College community gathered at Bethany Place, Apr. 26 to confer 55 certificates to participants of the ExCiTe (Experiencing Christ Together) one-year program, 7 TESOL certificates, 34 diplomas of biblical studies (two-year program), 16 bachelor of Christian studies (three-year program), and 15 bachelor of arts (four- year program). Student Levi Adams reflected on his three years of study. Greg Klassen, student council president, gave the challenge to the graduates. “[T]ime and time again, [God] is faithful and he will carry me through when I feel like I simply can’t,” he said. The service included performances from both ministry arts tour teams, Point of Impact and The Bethany Players.
____________________________________________________________________
MEDA casts wider net to save lives in Tanzania
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is on the front lines of a new $21 million project in Tanzania to get young children sleeping under life-protecting malaria nets over the next two years. Working with Tanzania’s ministry of health and social welfare and the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, MEDA will coordinate distribution of 7.2 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) nationwide at no cost over the next year. With an estimated 6 lives spared for every 1,000 nets sold, Hati Punguzo (voucher program) and MEDA have already saved more than 27,000 lives, and are protecting countless more.
____________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon
2009
June 21 — 75th anniversary of Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, Sask.
July 13–17 — Attack volleyball camp, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
July 14–19 — Mennonite World Conference, Asunción, Paraguay.
July 20–24 — Above the Rim basketball camp, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Oct. 15–17 — BFL Study Conference, Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.
