1980-1988.
18 cm of textual records and 1 photograph.
Administrative history
In the mid 1970s Lloydminster was a booming town characterized by a sudden influx of labourers, tradesmen, professional and business people and their families. The Saskatchewan Conference identified a need for a Bible-centred fellowship and subsequently in 1978 hired Eric and Marg Penner as church planters. Initially a phone ministry and personal contact resulted in a home Bible study. By 1979 approximately 18 people used the rented facilities for a regular worship service. A team of students ran Day Camps throughout the summer.
In August 1980 a permanent church home was purchased. Since the Penners felt a sense of calling toward a lay ministry the church called a pastoral couple Herb and Betty Schmidt in September 1980. On November 16 the Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church was formally organized with Eric and Marg Penner, Vernon and Dorothy Jean Jantzen, and Herb and Betty Schmidt as charter members. A little later Gerald and Joyce Voth joined the leadership team as one of the first deacon couples. The group received impetus and encouragement from the Saskatchewan Conference Board of Church Ministries.
Lloydminster inhabitants were severely affected by the financial decline of the early 1980s and the former "boom-town" witnessed a great exodus. This had repercussions for the church as many of its leaders and other committed Christians left Lloydminster to seek employment wherever they could find it. In spite of this setback the church had a membership of 21 in 1985 with an average attendance of 40 persons. The church was sometimes named the Cornerstone MB Church after November 1988.
Ministers were Herb Schmidt (1980–1983), Lawrence Redekopp (1985–1986), and Ted Haas (1987–1990). The Colonial Park MB Church was closed by a decision of the Board of Church Extension in 1990 (see Yearbook of the Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches, 1991, p. 20).
Scope and content
This fonds consists of the following series: Sunday bulletins, reports and minutes, and correspondence.
Custodial history
The textual records came to the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in 1996 from the Bethany Bible School in Saskatchewan where they had been housed following closure in 1990.
Notes
- Volume 644.
- Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BF542.
Series description
Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church Sunday bulletins. – 1980–1987.
6 cm of textual records.
This series consists of a short church history and an incomplete set of weekly bulletins.
- Finding aid: Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church list 1–9.
Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church minutes and reports. – 1980–1988.
8 cm of textual records.
This series consists of minutes of ministerial associations, predominantly those of the Lloydminster and District Ministerial Association; minutes of congregational and Advisory Board meetings for 1986 and 1987 only. The Advisory Board appears to have functioned like a church council. Since Colonial Park was a mission church, reports to the Board of Church Ministries (which grew out of Saskatchewan MB Missions) are included as well as statistical reports to the conference. Also included are financial reports.
- Finding aid: Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church list 10–19.
Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church correspondence. – 1980–1987.
4 cm of textual records, 1 photograph.
This series consists of general correspondence filed chronologically. Also included is one file of correspondence with Helmut Schroeder, the director of the Board of Church Ministries.
- Finding aid: Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church list 20–24.
Textual file list
Volume 644
Series I: Sunday bulletins
1. History of the Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church. – 1985.
2. Weekly church bulletins. – 1980.
3. Weekly church bulletins. – 1981.
4. Weekly church bulletins. – 1982.
5. Weekly church bulletins. – 1983.
6. Weekly church bulletins. – 1984.
7. Weekly church bulletins. – 1985.
8. Weekly church bulletins. – 1986.
9. Weekly church bulletins. – 1987.
Series II: Minutes and reports.
10. Minutes of Mennonite Brethren Ministers' Fellowship. – 1980.
Minutes of Lloydminster and District Ministerial Association meetings. – 1980–1988.
11. Minutes of Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren congregational meetings and reports of committees. – 1986–1987.
12. Minutes of Advisory Board. – 1986–1987.
13. Minutes of meetings with the Conference Executive. – 1986.
14. Constitution for the Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church. – 1986.
Amendments to the Constitution.
Membership Guide. – Undated.
Board of Church Extension Personnel Policy Manual. – 1986.
15. Monthly reports to Board of Church Ministries. – 1980–1985.
16. Annual statistical reports. – 1986–1987.
17. Notes on Day Care. – 1987.
18. Property insurance policy for Colonial Park Fellowship Church. – 1988–1989.
19. Financial records. – 1983–1988.
19a. Book of financial records. – June 1987–1989.
Series III: Correspondence
20. Correspondence. – 1980.
21. Correspondence. – 1981.
22. Correspondence. – 1982–1983.
Photograph of the West Portal Ladies' Fellowship Group. – 1982.
23. Correspondence. – 1984–1987.
24. Correspondence with Helmut Schroeder. – 1980–1982.
