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The executive board provides overall direction, governance, and fiduciary oversight to the Canadian MB Conference. We want to put “a face” to the current board by introducing its members. We began last month, and continue this month with another 5 of its 20 members.—Eds.
Herb Suderman began on the board of management 7 or 8 years ago, then transitioned to the newly formed executive board in 2004. The Winnipeg lawyer and member at McIvor Avenue MB Church serves as a member at large. Herb and Karin have 3 married daughters and 9 grandchildren. “I enjoy the detail work of being on the constitution and finance committees, wrestling with problems and coming up with solutions,” he says. “It’s God’s kingdom, so we want to be diligent in our efforts.”
Jascha Boge chairs the executive board in his role as moderator of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, which he has held since 2006, and from 2000–2004. He works with his oldest son as an engineer and partner in a construction company operating in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Jascha and Hildi have 6 married children and 12 grandchildren, and worship at McIvor Avenue MB Church. They enjoy motorcycle trips in summer and skiing in the winter. “We are entering a new era in our conference history,” he says, “where we will work ever more closely with each other using the gifts God has given all of us to strengthen our denominational family, and have a positive impact on our Canadian society and abroad, all while building his kingdom here on earth.”
Len Penner, member at large, has been on the board for 5 years. His career in the agriculture and food sector, where he is currently president of Cargill Limited, has offered varied experiences in a dynamic business environment. Len and Carol have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. They worship at Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg. “Although the executive board is a large group to make decisions with,” he says, “I have observed that the diversity in walks of life, in skills, and in experiences individuals bring to the table generates much better and stronger conclusions.”
Frank Wiens is in his second year on the board as moderator of the Ontario conference. The Scott Street MB Church member works in sales and marketing at a custom cabinet manufacturer and lives in St. Catharines, Ont. He and Erica have 3 children, 2 of them married, and 1 grandson. “It’s a real joy and privilege to sit around the table with fellow believers who desire to see Christ magnified in their participation both at the local, provincial, and national levels,” he says. “There’s a healthy spirit of dialogue and collaboration, which is good for kingdom building.”
Vidya Narimalla comes to the executive board as one of two members of the national board of faith and life. The pastorate is a second career for the Hyderabad, India,-native whose academic background in management and finance prepared him for jobs in school administration and banking before entering full-time ministry in 1992. Vidya has pastored at Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church for 7 years and long been involved with MCC and Ten Thousand Villages. He and Gwen have 2 adult children. “Sometimes I joke that had I known I would move to Canada and become a pastor of an MB church, I would have changed my name to Victor Thiessen, or something like that,” he says. “However, I prefer my name because it adds to the growing richness and diversity of the larger faith family we call the MBs.”____________________________________________________________________
MB Biblical Seminary board appoints 8th president
Fresno, Cal.
The board of directors of MB Biblical Seminary announced the appointment of Franklyn “Lynn” Jost as 8th president of the seminary, for a 2-year period, effective June 1, 2009.Jost has served as acting president since September 2008. “Lynn is a proven and much-appreciated churchman and Bible teacher,” said Ed Boschman, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
Jost will lead the seminary through the work of reshaping itself, exploring partnership with other institutions with the goal of strengthening the seminary’s mission while simplifying operations and expanding access to students. Talks have taken place between the seminary and denominational undergraduate schools (Fresno Pacific University, and Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kans.), and partnership options are being discussed with Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Cal.
Jost holds an MDiv from MB Biblical Seminary and a PhD in preaching and Old Testament from Vanderbilt Divinity School. He, with his wife Donna, served for a decade as pastor in California and in Kansas. From 1990–2006, Jost was professor of biblical studies at Tabor College. He has contributed to the life of the MB denomination through work on national and global boards.
“I am glad to lead a seminary that is strongly evangelical….I am pleased to lead a seminary that is also thoroughly Anabaptist,” says Jost.
“We are glad to have Dr. Jost’s leadership in this mission and ask for the strong support, faithful prayer, and generous giving of those the seminary serves to vigorously engage this mission,” said Jack Falk, MBBS board chair. A public inaugural event is planned for November 2009.
—MBBS
____________________________________________________________________ICOMB meetings focus on mission
The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) met in Asuncion prior to the Mennonite World Conference Assembly, with only Uruguay and Angola representatives missing.
Major time was spent with MBMS International on “mission capacity building.” In each country where Mennonite Brethren live, there are mission opportunities. For example, 4,000 people groups in India have never seen a Christian. Many parts of Europe have left faith behind.
MBMSI will seek to “help release energy and capacity to bring the gospel to the least reached people close to us” in cooperation with ICOMB. They intend to come alongside MB conferences as they set up their mission agencies. The central worldwide mission coordinating agency will not be MBMSI, but the Global Mission Alliance.
The delegation rejoiced to see the successful completion of the ICOMB Confession of Faith study guide in English, Spanish, and German. French and Russian translations will be completed this fall. The India conference is publishing in Telugu. ICOMB’s vision is for people to study the Confession in small groups to reinforce the confessional values.
ICOMB has also completed a collected history of our movement worldwide, ready for publishing in English, French, Spanish, and German.
Dalton Reimer reported on a groundbreaking consultation on education in May 2009 in Kinshasa, DR Congo. (See “Historic consultation,” August MB Herald.) ICOMB members voted to invite Mennonite World Conference to continue as a partner to implement the 10 proposed actions. They also voted to endorse the “Mennonite Global Learning Network,” a ministry started by Reimer to engage long-term with this project.
ICOMB further voted to affirm the second global higher education consultation in 2011, as follow-up to a 2007 event.
The 150th anniversary celebrations of the MB movement are taking shape for 2010. The official ICOMB meeting will be held in Germany May 21, with a trip to Switzerland and Ukraine to view the location of the origins of Anabaptism and the Mennonite Brethren. A second celebration event will take place in B.C., July 12-18, 2010.
Member conference conflict continues to be a concern. The delegates discussed how ICOMB might become involved in conflicted areas.
The financial report revealed good health in ICOMB’s budget. Conferences are contributing. The annual cost of meeting and of the executive secretary’s office is $60,000.
—David Wiebe, ICOMB secretary
____________________________________________________________________Columbia graduation marks 73rd year
Columbia Bible College graduated 118 students April 18, 2009, at Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C. Graduates represent the fulfillment of the college mission in “preparing people for a life of discipleship, service, and ministry leadership.” Forty-five students graduated with a 1-year certificate, mostly with a focus on discipleship. Twenty-nine graduated with a 2-year diploma, generally aimed to assist in Christian ministries alongside another career. Forty-four graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (4-year program) with a focus on a vocational ministry career. Keynote speaker Dr. Myron Penner challenged the graduates to “continually be renewed by the transforming of the mind” (Romans 12:1–2), and valedictorian Cheyla Reader encouraged her peers to follow Jesus with all of their hearts, to trust him throughout life.
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Coming Soon
2009
Sept. 8 — Classes begin, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Sept. 8 — Classes begin, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C.
Sept. 10 — Classes begin, Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg.
Sept. 25–26 — MCC relief sale, Keystone Centre, Brandon, Man.
Oct. 10–11 — Ottawa Mennonite Church 50th anniversary, Ottawa.
Oct. 15–17 — BFL Study Conference, Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.
Oct. 30 — MDS fundraising dessert evening with Jerry Klassen, Crosshill Mennonite Church, Millbank, Ont.
Oct. 31 — The Great Emergence with Phyllis Tickle, Booth College, Winnipeg.
Nov. 5–8 — “New frontiers: new solutions,” MEDA Business as a Calling 2009 convention, San Jose, Cal.
2010
Feb. 6 — Nurturing Healthy Sexuality conference, Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg.
Mar. 5–6 — MB Church of Manitoba assembly, Portage Avenue Church, Winnipeg.
