ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3 Ambrose University College. report Book

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1 Colossians 3:15-17 ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3 Ambrose University College report Book

2 Our Priorities To engage the world with the reconciling Gospel of Jesus Christ, with God s help we will: Form a people of God Become a global church Grow leaders for the church Mennonite Church Canada REPORT BOOK 2010 Volume 46 Sessions: June 29-July 3, 2010 Calgary, Alberta Editor: Dan Dyck Proofed: Lois Bergen Design & layout: Ryan Roth Bartel Logo design: Ryan Roth Bartel This Report Book is printed on recycled paper. 600 Shaftesbury Blvd Winnipeg MB R3P 0M4 Toll free: T: F: E: office@mennonitechurch.ca W: reclaiming gladly wear the name

3 GENERAL How to use this Report/Workbook 2 Assembly Purpose And Goals 2 Abbreviations 2 Words from the Moderator 3 Words from the General Secretary 4 Message from the Denominational Minister 7 Faith and Life Committee (FLC) 8 Assembly 2009 Actions and Follow-up 9 General Board Actions Mennonite World Conference (MWC) 12 Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) 13 Conference of Mennonites in Mexico (CMM) 14 Mennonite Church Alberta (MCA) 14 Mennonite Church British Columbia (MCBC) 16 Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) 16 Mennonite Church Manitoba (MCM) 17 Mennonite Church Saskatchewan (MC Sask) 19 Mennonite Church Canada Organizational Chart 20 FORMATION Christian Formation Council 21 Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) 26 Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) 27 Columbia Bible College (CBC) 28 Conrad Grebel University College (CGUC) 29 Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools (CAMS) 29 Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) 30 Mennonite Camping Association 31 Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN) 31 WITNESS Christian Witness Council 33 Mennonite Women Canada (MWC) 37 Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) 38 Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCCC) 39 Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) 40 Mennonite Men (MM) 41 Mennonite Voluntary Service Adventure (MVSA) 41 SUPPORT SERVICES Support Services Council 42 Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) 45 Canadian Mennonite (CM) 46 FINANCE (FINANCIAL POLICY & AUDIT COMMITTEE FPAC) Treasurer s Report 47 Chief Financial Officer Report 47 Budget Report 49 Auditor s Statement 54 DISCERNMENT Discernment Guide 77 Discernment Items 77 Councils and Committees 84 Nominees 85 Reporting back to my congregation 91 OTHER CONTENTS Bylaws 95 Assembly 2010 Agenda 112 Schedule 113 ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

4 HOW TO USE THIS REPORT/WORKBOOK This book contains the reporting materials reflecting our work of the past year. At the bottom corners of the right pages you will notice that sections are categorized, Those sections mirror how we are organized and indicate where you are in the report book. Please read through these discernment topics carefully and come prepared to participate. A basic schedule for the proceedings and an agenda can be found on the last several pages. The reports and stories in this report book represent the people and ministries in the Mennonite Church Canada family. Together, they tell the larger story of God at work in the world as we align ourselves with God s purpose. We hope that you find this report book to be a helpful way of visualizing relationships and growing in your awareness of the depth and breadth of oyur denomination. ASSEMBLY PURPOSES AND GOALS The primary purposes of the Mennonite Church Canada Annual Delegate Assembly are to: Provide opportunities for participants to build up and nurture the church by: Conduct the business of the organization as described in the Mennonite Church Canada bylaws 1 by: a. b. c. d. e. Forming faith and Christian identity from an Anabaptist Mennonite perspective, in children and adults. Learning about and discerning Mennonite Church Canada s participation in God s work. Debating issues facing the church and issuing statements as appropriate. Worshiping and building community with people from across the national church. Learning through seminars, displays and special events, which highlight available resources. a. b. c. d. e. f. Reviewing the work and ministry of Mennonite Church Canada. Accepting or rejecting the budgets and financial statements of Mennonite Church Canada. Appointing an auditor. Accepting, rejecting or removing area churches as members or as provisional members. Electing its officers, Boards, Councils, and Committees. Amending the bylaws of Mennonite Church Canada as needed and monitoring adherence to those bylaws. Approved by Support Services Council March 6, These are summary statements. See Part III, Section 8 of the Mennonite Church Canada bylaws for a full description of the duties and powers of voting delegates. ABBREVIATIONS ACOM...Area Church Only Membership AMBS...Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary AMIGOS...Mennonite World Conference Youth Committee CAMS...Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools CCC... Canadian Council of Churches CFC... Christian Formation Council CMU...Canadian Mennonite University COF... Confession of Faith CPT... Christian Peacemaker Teams CMM...Conference of Mennonites in Mexico CWC...Christian Witness Council EFC...Evangelical Fellowship of Canada FLC... Faith and Life Committee FPAC... Financial Policy and Audit Committee FYE...Fiscal Year End GB... General Board GMF... Global Mennonite Fellowship IMPaCT...International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together JEC...Joint Executive Council KPMG...Auditors for Mennonite Church Canada M/S/C/... Moved/Seconded/Carried MC... Mennonite Church MC SASK...Mennonite Church Saskatchewan MCA... Mennonite Church Alberta MCA... Mennonite Camping Association MCBC... Mennonite Church British Columbia MCC... Mennonite Central Committee MCCC...Mennonite Central Committee Canada MCEC... Mennonite Church Eastern Canada MCM... Mennonite Church Manitoba MDS... Mennonite Disaster Service MFC... Mennonite Foundation of Canada MSAM... Moderators, Secretaries & Area Church Ministers MPN... Mennonite Publishing Network MWC...Mennonite World Conference MWC...Mennonite Women Canada SSC... Support Services Council 2 reclaiming gladly wear the name

5 Welcome to the 11th annual delegate sessions of Mennonite Church Canada. As Colossians 3:12-18 reads, like Christ, as part of the people of God we are chosen (called), holy (set aside for the work of God) and beloved of God. We are invited to put on the Christ-like virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience and tie these together with love. This past winter, my son was engaging in a snow sport in what I thought was extremely cold weather. Later I asked him if he was warm enough. He said that he had put on layers and it kept him warm. It may be that being Christ-like means putting on not one but many layers. For example, we can put on kindness over compassion and then humility on top of this. We then put on patience and zip it all together with love. Each layer in itself is not enough. Being equipped with multiple layers equips us to be sent into the world clothed like Christ to carry on the work of Christ in a sometimes cold climate. As Mennonite Church Canada, we gather as 225 congregations in five Areas Churches with more than 25 related ministry partner organizations, to carry on God s kingdom work with the clothing of Christ. By coming together in these sessions, we reaffirm that we believe together, we live out our beliefs together based on the teachings of Jesus, and we discern together the movement of God s spirit in the church and in the world that God so dearly loves. We are fortunate to have many of the needed ingredients in place for discerning the movements of God. We have an inspired vision statement: Healing and Hope. Our purpose and identity statement called, equipped and sent and the Mennonite Church Canada priorities are building on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Our organizational structure or the way we work at issues and delegate authority for productive functioning is working well. I very much value having the area church moderators on the General Board and having the Witness Council and Formation Council around the same table. This model seems to minimize friction and maximizes Kingdom work. Jack Suderman is retiring from Mennonite Church Canada and church ministry after many years of dedicated service. The quality and quantity of Jack s contribution have been enormous. He would say that the church is worth it. Jack has modeled many of the Christ characteristics mentioned above and in doing so builds the church. He has had a much appreciated influence both in Canada and the broader church. It is our hope that Jack s many church-building gifts will continue to be used broadly. This past year, staff and the General Board have spent considerable time reflecting on and supporting the good work being done in the Mennonite Central Committee New Wine/ New Wineskins long-term planning efforts. We are pleased that Mennonite Central Committee has chosen to articulate its future as part of and supportive to the Anabaptist church. The General Board works at issues that strengthen the church both now and in the future. This year and in future years, we will continue to strengthen the capacity of our church to discern God s purposes and methods to build his Kingdom. At these delegate sessions we will be considering the Being a Faithful Church 2: Peace Church as Pacifist Church paper elsewhere in this Report Book. There are many signs of good spiritual and financial health in the Mennonite Church Canada system (the congregations, and the more than 25 specific ministries). There are, however, four trend lines that are worrisome. a) Mennonite Church Canada s donation support from constituent congregations has long been on a down-ward trend, thus weakening significantly our capacity to provide basic, centrally-planned, denominational ministry and services. b) Mennonite Church Canada General Board is concerned we are not appropriately compensating our staff in comparison to similar organizations. This has serious consequences for the system where there are long term imbalances. It appears that we have fallen behind approximately 9-10%. c) Past efforts to bring expenses, including staff compensation, in line with revenues has had the general effect of reducing Witness programs, including international ministries. The percentage of Mennonite Church Canada s centrally planned budget for substantially decreased (it now stands at 39%) in the last years. d) At the same time as these three trends are worsening, other parts of the Mennonite Church Canada system (related organization) are demonstrating signs of good financial health. Recent research on our behalf shows that the wider Mennonite Church Canada system (including related organizations) receives from donors more than $175 million in annual revenue, approximately $5.5 million of which is directed to the work of Mennonite Church Canada (central offices: ministries, services). The trend for the past years is that funds are increasing to the related ministries yet are declining to Mennonite Church Canada (central offices: ministries, services). The Area Churches moderators are voicing similar concerns about their Area Church centrally planned ministries. It is our hope to collaboratively work with the whole Mennonite Church Canada system to ensure financial strength for all parts of the church. Thank you for your generosity toward the work of Mennonite Church Canada. Each part of the church is needed to strengthen the whole church. Submitted by Andrew Reesor-McDowell Words from the Moderator Andrew Reesor-McDowell Moderator: Mennonite Church Canada July/2010 ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

6 Words from the General Secretary Robert J. Suderman Reclaiming Jesus: Gladly wear the Name (Colossians 3:15-17) And [let] the peace of Christ rule in your hearts into which you also have been called in one body; and be thankful (v.15); This key verse of our theme text presents some difficulties for translators and some challenges of understanding for 21 st century Canadians. First, there is the question of the heart. In Hebrew thought, the heart was not a warm fuzzy valentine that expressed feelings of romantic emotion and love to the other. It was, rather, the seat of the will, the locus of decision-making, the hub of commitment, the nucleus of reason and determination. Secondly, the imperative verb is rule/control. Some of our translations add words like let or may thus giving the sense that this is an optional or discretionary decision made by the follower of Jesus. In translation, we, at times, have the impression that it is saying: It sure would be nice if you would kindly decide to have the soothing peace of Christ in your heart. This is not the sense of the text. Rather, it is saying: Critical life-directions need to reflect the peace that Christ lived and taught as a non-negotiable mandate of the vocation that has been given to us as his Body. It is imperative, says this verse, that Christ s peace be the essence of our decision-making, our commitments, our reason, and our will as we engage the world. May it be so. Our Ministries: The ministry of Mennonite Church Canada is shaped by the priorities that have been set. There are three: That with God s help, we will: Form a people of God; Become a global church, Grow leaders for the church. Outcome statements are pictures that show us what success would look like. We have painted 12 such word-pictures: 1) We are a generous church, joyfully giving our talents, time, and financial resources as a response to God s generosity and to support the ministries of the church at all levels. 2) We understand worship as central to who we are as God s people. 3) We are a church strongly inspired by an imagination nurtured by God s coming reign that is already among us. 4) Our church has a strong commitment to engaging the world with the reconciling gospel of Jesus. We understand our most proper stance in ministry to be one of partnership. 5) Our church is unified on biblically-based core convictions of identity and faith. 6) We have a vibrant inter-generational church with harmony and understanding among the generations. 7) We are a multi-cultural church in which all cultures feel at home and embraced. 8) Our church is growing because the call to faith and the reconciliation of the gospel is bearing fruit. 9) There is a strongly-developed culture of call in our church in terms of discerning gifts of all people and our call for leadership. 10) We encourage and have a diversity of congregational and leadership models to respond to our diverse environments. 11) We have a strong and compelling identity as a global, Anabaptist, missional, peace church. 12) We have strong faith formation in our church from the cradle to the grave. Each of these Outcome pictures inspires - but also presents - us with worthy and daunting challenges. We are grateful for the energy, wisdom, and commitment that God gives to so many volunteers, staff, and workers who are dedicated to working at these priorities. It is a privilege and a blessing to work with so many to achieve the goals that God s Spirit sets before us. Overview, gratitude, program staff: We began the last fiscal year with apprehension, wondering how the economic challenges would impact our ministries. We are grateful for the support received. The final remittance from congregations in this fiscal year indicated that indeed there has been some negative impact. But we are very grateful for what has been possible and for the extra strong support from individual and corporate donors. We, on behalf of partners and ministries at home and around the world, thank you all for making this possible. 4 reclaiming gladly wear the name

7 Our ministries and the services we offer are going very well. There are some significant, but normal, transitions in International Ministry. Our Native Ministry folks are closely following the Truth and Reconciliation processes with the First Nations. Congregations are connecting to existing partnerships in ministry and initiating other ones. There is strategic conversation about the future of leadership development (especially pastoral leadership) in Mennonite Church Canada. Our Resource Centre has again more than doubled the activity and its usage. The Heritage Centre and Gallery continue to do excellent work. There are many initiatives in publishing, producing worship and educational materials. We continue to connect very closely with MC USA, the Canadian Council of Churches, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. We thank all of you for the support for Mennonite World Conference. All together, from we contributed over $88,000 above our fair share to MWC and over $40,000 for additional projects of MWC. Bert Lobe, MWC staff person, summarized their response with these simple words: How does one express adequate appreciation for this very strong support? Thank you. We have compiled an extensive report of Mennonite Church Canada delegates and others who participated in the MWC assembly in Paraguay/09. Much more information about ministries and services can be found in the Report book and on our website (cf. footnote 1). As indicated last year, we wanted to take some time to take a close look at how best to conduct our programs. The proposed by-law changes are fruit of this evaluation. We are very pleased that energetic and creative persons have agreed to lead these initiatives: 1) If the new Council and program re-tooling are approved, Norm Dyck, who has been our Director of Congregational Partnerships, will lead that Council and department. 2) Vic Thiessen has been hired as Executive Secretary of Support Services, but will then transition to Chief Operating Officer if the proposed changes are approved. We are very grateful for the excellent work that Louie Sawatzky has done for us as an interim Executive Secretary of Support Services Council. We thank him for stepping in so competently, graciously, and generously. Staff and workers: I suspect that our constituents are not really aware of the treasure they have in the staff and workers that serve and represent Mennonite Church Canada, at home and around the world. It is difficult to exaggerate the competence, commitment, creativity, passion, self-sacrifice, and attention to efficiency, effectiveness, and thrift that is the daily contribution of these folks. They work under pressure with persistently positive attitudes and a Christ-like spirit. I hope that you will acknowledge your gratitude to them in small ways as you interact with them. It is a pleasure and privilege to work with them. Re-tooling and By-law changes: It is normal that experience will point to areas that could be changed for the purpose of strength. So it is with Mennonite Church Canada. Ten years of experience have pointed us to the benefits of some slight organizational course-changes or re-tooling. The suggested by-law changes will re-tool us for more synergy, efficiency, and effectiveness in terms of engaging our constituents with information, ministry support, missional formation, creative initiatives, and financial support. It will also make our administrative processes more agile and flexible. This re-tooling is not expansion; nor is it a shift in direction or purpose. It is, rather, building strength upon existing strength, and creating additional organizational synergy in connecting with you, our constituents. In some ways, these adjustments will align with existing practice. At the heart of the suggested changes are the benefits of bringing congregational partnerships, missional formation, communication, and resource development together under one administration. These areas all have one common objective: to effectively communicate with and engage congregations and individuals. At the same time, these changes allow administrative functions to be dealt with more directly by administrative staff. The proposed shifts have been approved by each of our Councils and the General Board. We trust that you will support them as well. We are taking advantage of these changes to also update the language of the by-laws to reflect more adequately a few decisions that have already been made, such as a shift in language from Area Conference to Area Church. None of these changes reflect a fundamental shift in function or purpose. Discernment agenda: This year our delegate discernment sessions will again focus on the life of our church as it engages our context with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will highlight only a few of these: 1) Our theme text exhorts us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts as we are called into one body (Col. 3:15). One of our delegate discernment sessions will test a discernment tool first reviewed at Saskatoon in 2009, intended ways in which we can strengthen our capacity as a Body of Christ. As a test case, we will use this tool and test it on our commitment in terms of being a Peace Church. A tool/paper for discernment is in your Report Book (Being a Faithful Church 2).There is a Statement of Affirmation that delegates will be asked to respond to. We believe this discernment process guide will help every level of the church in holistic discernment on a variety of issues facing us. 2) We also will take a closer look at the health of our church, especially related to our inter-generational dynamics. This will be helpful and relevant to what we are experiencing. 3) There will be additional opportunity in the workshops to practice our vocation of discernment. Two of the challenges identified last year will be explored, namely issues of healthy sexuality in the church, and the profession of the Lordship of Jesus in a pluralistic world. We encourage you to take advantage of these training opportunities. ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

8 Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) New Wines: New Wineskins: The MCC New Wineskins task force completed its work in September/09, by approving important statements on: Identity, Purpose, Vision, Priorities, Approaches, and Values. In addition, it approved four key recommendations that are to be a framework for structural and organization re-design. Now these recommendations are in the hands of transition design teams. Further feed-back loops are available to us and we are energetically responding as best we can. MCC will continue to be a vital and creative ministry of Anabaptist churches responding to disaster relief, justice and peacebuilding initiatives, and sustainable community development. We thank God for this ministry. Personal reflections: This is my last report to you as General Secretary before my retirement in August/2010. It is an important, yes, also nostalgic, time of transition for me. My retirement will mark the completion of 42 years of continuous and important working/learning connections with the church and its related organizations in Canada. This journey began when Bill Kruger invited me to join the faculty at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate in Winnipeg in It continued with important, life-shaping experiences with AMBS, Rosthern Junior College, Commission on Overseas Mission (General Conference), the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, and more recently Mennonite Church Canada. Since 1996, I have served the national denomination as Executive Secretary of: the Resources Commission; the Ministries Commission; Mennonite Church Canada Witness; and now as General Secretary. It is a journey that has taken us, as a family, to live in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and Colombia. It has given me the privilege of developing significant relationships with our schools, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite World Conference, and with the churches throughout Latin America and Cuba. It has also allowed for significant exposure to the life of the church in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It has been very rich. Many have asked for some state of the union reflections. I will offer only a few here. 1) It may sound counter-intuitive, but I think the Church is stronger now than it was in This is true in most categories: total membership, numbers of congregations, urban presence, multicultural inclusion, strength of institutional ministries, financial reality and potential, engagement with our society, Anabaptist and missional identities, and the success of many of our efforts. 2) Our church has benefited from and ridden on the coat-tails of the demographically defined baby-boom generation in Canada. This sector has generated enormous energy, numbers, potential, creativity, and institutional power over the last six decades. This sector is now aging. We must resist the temptation to interpret this stage as decline in the church. It is not. We have ridden the wave of the impact and potential that this sector has given us, and we need to continue to celebrate as it now moves into another stage of our personal and organizational cycle. Even significant success will not fully restore the loss that we will experience, and we must not allow the losses now to over-shadow the legitimate levels of successes that are evident everywhere. Bluntly speaking, we can expect approximately 33% of our present church membership to die in the next 20 years. This is not decline in the sense of failure, lack of initiative, or vision. This is simply the natural outcome of a demographic cycle that has now reached this stage. Such a natural process need not impact our sense of self-worth and/or identity. We need to celebrate this cycle in gratitude, and look forward to what is to come. 3) The difficulties and challenges of being Christian and being the church in Canada in the 20 th -21st centuries have honed and pruned us, and forced us to face more squarely the essential vocation of being the church. This is strengthening us. We are less apologetic in pursuing our vocation. This does not mean that things are simple or easy. Indeed, it is my sense that the next years will be very tough, and the hard soil of our culture is another component that will make it so. 4) The signs and signals of our post-constantinian society are evident all around us. Processing this shift will, indeed, be some of the toughest and most important agenda for the Canadian church in the next decades. In many ways, this should be good news for Anabaptists. But we will need to gird up our loins for this shift because it will have the potential of disrupting and shaking some of our assumptions to the core. 5) In spite/because of the extensive shifts we are experiencing in our cultural attitudes toward religion, Christianity, and the church, there is much creative energy and joyful commitment released within and all around us. We have a core of excellent younger pastors; our related organizations, by and large, are doing effective work; we have many new congregations reflecting the ethnic diversity of Canada; young parents are intentional about providing their children with a Christian up-bringing; there are creative ways of communicating with our culture and society that were not available or used before; many persons are baptized in our churches; worship patterns are being strengthened and transformed; many congregations are growing. And there is amazing growth of the church in many areas of the world where our energies have been engaged. I want to encourage us all to not lose heart. God s vision for the church as a primary strategic initiative for the salvation and reconciliation of the world continues to be stellar. I am not aware of other strategic initiatives that make more holistic, integral, persistent, sustainable, inclusive, and compassionate sense. The key ingredient that makes our efforts joyful and hopeful is the realization that this is God s project, and we are invited to participate in it. This is a privilege, and we celebrate and worship God, the author and sustainer of this dream-becoming-reality, this future-becoming-present. May God continue to bless Mennonite Church Canada. Submitted by Robert J. Suderman, General Secretary, Mennonite Church Canada 6 reclaiming gladly wear the name

9 Message from the Denoninational Minister Karen Martens Zimmerly Prayer May we be filled with the knowledge of God s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to God, as we bear fruit in every good work and as we grow in the knowledge of God. May we be made strong with all the strength that comes from God s glorious power, and may we be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to God, who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. AMEN. (adapted from Colossians 1: 9 NRSV) Review of formation work of this past year Last year s Assembly theme focused on Colossians 3:12-14 and has had a ripple effect of worship, study and reflection at the area church and congregational level, with many congregations using the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly Sunday Worship Resource guide and Season of Prayer material. So how have we strengthened our ability to be a people of God through our encounter over the past year with these first few verses? What are the stories we can tell where the clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience have become more evident in our communities? Where have we taken the opportunity to grow in receiving and extending forgiveness? How is love becoming the dominating virtue that motivates our actions? Where do we still need to open ourselves to God s transformation? Ongoing priorities of Mennonite Church Canada a) Form a people of God: The church is living in a season of great muddiness, a time of restlessness and questioning the way we have known church. Some of our congregations are diving into the puddles and mud, exploring new ways of being the church. Some continue to function as traditional congregations but are asking the question, how are we being called to join God s mission in the world? and in the process are engaging their neighbourhoods and finding renewal. Yet there are also congregations bogged down in heavy mud. The familiar structure of committees and programs is crumbling but the way forward is not yet evident. This is clearly a time where we need the clothes of patience (verse 12) to discern Christ s wisdom for our times. b) Grow leaders for the church: In the thick of this muddiness, questions surrounding leadership and authority arise again. What kind of leadership do we need from pastors and congregational leaders to bring us into the next era? How can we best equip these leaders to lead when the surrounding terrain keeps changing? c) Become a global church: We live in a multi-cultural nation and some of the new churches that are joining the Mennonite Church Canada fold are from this rich rainbow of cultures and languages. Yet many of our worshipping communities continue to be mono-culture. How are we developing cross-cultural relationships so that our local congregations experience Micah s vision (Micah 4: 1, 2) of peoples and many nations streaming to God s house? Resources to help us find our way into God s future In this challenging context, the Assembly 2010 worship and study text continues to reflect on words written to the church at Colossae, which also existed at a time of cultural and religious diversity. Colossians 3:15-17 challenges us to claim and live by the resources God has made available to us: Christ s way of peace and the word of Christ that take root in the cultivated soil of thankfulness. These resources are accessible to each of our congregations. Congregational size, age, location or budgets are not hurdles to implementation. What difference would it make if for this next year each congregation doubled or tripled its commitment to studying Christ s way of peace and committed to practicing Christ s way of peace in congregational life? What would happen if we committed ourselves to a year of practicing thankfulness? Might God help us find our way out of the mud? Submitted by Karen Martens Zimmerly, Denominational Minister, Mennonite Church Canada ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

10 Faith and Life Committee (FLC) Rudy Baergen The mandate of the Faith and Life Committee is to assist Mennonite Church Canada in discerning the will of God in matters of theology, ethics, polity, and practice. The guiding question for the work of the Committee is always: What does it mean to be a faithful Mennonite Church in our Canadian context? In 2009 the Committee met face to face for meetings in March and November, and also several times through telephone conferences. Each year the November meetings of the Committee are held in conjunction with the Mennonite Church Canada s Fall leadership Assembly which gathers Mennonite Church Canada and Area Church Moderators, Secretaries, Ministers, and the General Board. These leaders, together with representatives from our academic institutions (this year, George Brunk AMBS; Tom Yoder Neufeld CGUC; Harry Huebner and Gerald Gerbrandt CMU; Gareth Brandt CBC ) make up the Reference Council with which the Faith and Life Committee consults annually. The Reference Council assists us in discerning which issues should receive the attention of the Committee and what particular focus would be most helpful for our congregations across Canada. Out of these times of consultation the Committee formulates recommendations to be brought to the General Board. Two issues have received attention in our thought, discussions and work this past year the important calling to confess Jesus in our religiously pluralistic society, and the need to strengthen the role of Scripture in our personal and communal lives. On the first issue, confessing Jesus in a pluralistic time, we continue to follow up on the Assembly 2009 presentation with questions like these: What is our experience and challenge with confessing Jesus in daily life and work? Where are the growing edges for us as individuals and for our Church communities? A series of articles in the Canadian Mennonite offered some theological and personal reflections from a cross section of individuals from our congregations. The second issue receiving attention is the matter of biblical hermeneutics, the ever important need to be aware of the lens through which we read Scripture. The Reference Council noted that a concern even more basic than hermeneutics is the need for us to rediscover the importance of Scripture. We need to renew our delight in Scripture, and this is the focus the Faith and Life Committee would like to pursue. What are the ways in which we are enjoying Scripture study in our congregations? How can we rediscover a love for Scripture? One of the workshops at the Assembly will encourage us to delight in Scripture. Another workshop will present a Bible Study around the question of confessing Jesus in our time. The Committee will also be looking for other ways we can contribute to the valuable work already being done on this topic of Scripture interpretation in our denomination. Each year the Committee receives new suggestions for discernment and discussion from which we must choose. We wonder whether we need more time at our Assemblies for theological discussion around some of these provocative topics! A faithful Church will cherish and enjoy discerning together and God will surely bless us when we dedicate ourselves to know God s heart and mind in the important matters of life. Members of the FLC this past year have been: Rudy Baergen (Chair), Betty Pries, Sharon Shultz, Karen Martens Zimmerly, and Karl Koop. Karl is finishing his time with the Committee. We appreciate very much his contribution to our work in the last five years. Submitted by Rudy Baergen Chair, Faith And Life Committee 8 reclaiming gladly wear the name

11 Motion #1 (Garth Ewert Fisher/Gord Peters) The delegate assembly adopts the minutes of the 9th Annual Session of Mennonite Church Canada as recorded and published in Minute Book 2008 issued by Mennonite Church Canada. Motion #2 (Garth Ewert Fisher/Allan Klassen) The delegate assembly approves the actions taken by the General Board of Mennonite Church Canada in the past year. Motion #3 (Gordon Peters/Ben Wert) That the financial statements be accepted as presented. Motion #4 (Gordon Peters/Peter Peters) That KPMG be appointed as financial auditors. Motion #5 (Jake Buhler/Garth Ewert Fisher) Framework: Being a witness for peace in the public square is the vocation of the entire Body of Christ, that includes the congregations and its members, Area Churches, related institutions and denominational ministries. Each part of Mennonite Church Canada is strongly urged to seek out and act on opportunities to be a peace witness in the public square on an ongoing basis. These opportunities include but are not limited to: an ongoing commitment to educating, nurturing, and living a spirit of non-violent peacemaking, and public peace advocacy in our own congregations. Given what is (and is not) viable, what is already being done, and what is needed, we make a simple proposal. We propose: that each part of the Body within Mennonite Church Canada commit to publicly engage one local (regional, national, international) peace issue per year for the next 4 years; that each part of the Body commit to provide the education and resourcing needed (within and beyond the Body) to articulate and explain the public engagement from a Peace Church perspective; that each part of the Body commit to provide a written report to Mennonite Church Canada, outlining its engagement and reflecting on the impact of its work; that Mennonite Church Canada staff commit to resource the educational needs of these initiatives; that Mennonite Church Canada commit to compile these engagements into an annual summary report, providing perspective and analysis as needed and helpful; Assembly 2009 Actions and Follow-up Follow-up: This motion has been worked at diligently throughout the year. We created a web-site (liveforpeace.org) which has been accessed very extensively. We encouraged all parts of the Body to initiate acts of peace, and have received many responses. Our web-site provides channels for reporting back. We are reporting to the delegate body in Assembly 2010 some of the many things that have happened. Motion #6 (Gordon Peters/Garth Ewert Fisher) Move that we accept the budget as presented. Motion #7 (Dave Feick/Garth Ewert Fisher) Motion that nominations be closed. General Board ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

12 General Board Actions General Board Meeting March 6-7, 2009 Consensus #1: The General Board (GB) accepts the GB minutes of November 14-15, 2008, with corrections as noted. Consensus #2: The GB agrees that the proceeds of the sale of the property in Thompson, MB, will be divided three ways: 2/3 to General Reserve funds; and the remaining 1/3 split, with 60% going to Capital Reserves and 40% to the New Initiatives Reserve fund. Consensus #3: The General Board declares its intention to comply with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines, to continue to seek information helpful to their interpretation, to communicate to congregations matters of compliance relevant to them, and that the Finance Policy and Audit Committee will take leadership in this matter. Consensus #4: The General Board agrees that the Executive Committee will respond to matters that arise out of the Mennonite Central Committee Inquiry Task Force meetings in March and June, Consensus #5: The General Board agrees that the letter drafted by the Faith and Life Committee (March, 2009 Docket, pages 15-16) be sent to the Muslim authors of A Common Word between Us and You. Consensus #6: The General Board agrees that Mennonite Church Canada should and will take leadership in the process of hermeneutical discernment. The immediate need is to strengthen our capacity to discern and to rediscover the joy of being the Church. This process will be leading us to a variety of difficult topics, including proclaiming Jesus as Lord in a pluralistic society, being a peace church, and human sexuality. We will ensure staff capacity to provide leadership in this. Consensus #7: The General Board agrees to keep the CPI rate at 3.4% 8. Motion: (Gordon Peters/Walter Wiebe) That the General Board present the budget as is, with donations of $3,553,605, expenses of $5,445,560, and a line inserted showing deferred expenses of $149,540, to give us a balanced budget. 9. Motion: (Gordon Peters/Lynell Bergen) To transfer from the General Treasury to Internally Restricted funds the following: 1) Witness Council: $32,117 to a Native Ministries Reserve (MWC Travel); 2) Formation Council: $967 to a Formation Reserve (unused funds received from MPN in support of the Resource Consortium); and to transfer from the Internally Restricted funds to the General Treasury approximately $139,462 to cover the FYE09 deficit. 10. Motion: (Renata Klassen/Gordon Peters) To accept the Assembly minutes of the July, 2008 Assembly. Consensus #11: The General Board agrees that the docket piece, 1000 Acts of Peace, with some modifications, be included in the 2009 Report Book. Consensus #12: The General Board recommends that the Pension Advisory Committee report to Support Services. Consensus #13: The General Board receives the Nominations slate, as it appears in the Docket (page 33), for recommendation to the delegates at the 2009 Assembly. General Board Meeting April 17, 2009 Consensus #1: The General Board (GB) accepts the GB minutes of March 6-7, 2009, with corrections as noted. 2. Motion: (Gordon Peters/Dan Rempel) That the General Board recommend the financial statements of Mennonite Church Canada (Year ended January 31, 2009) to the delegate assembly. 3. Motion: (Gordon Peters/Dan Rempel) That the General Board recommend using KPMG as our auditor for the next fiscal year. Consensus #4: That the councils be ready to choose priorities, and to act on short notice; that the General Board (GB) needs to deal with the level of anticipated shortfall; that the GB address the percentage figure in June; that the GB have a conference call in early fall to address FPAC s deliberations; and that executive staff do the preparation required between now and June. Consensus #5: The General Board (GB) authorizes the Faith and Life Committee to begin exploration of hermeneutics. 10 reclaiming gladly wear the name

13 General Board Meeting June 4-5, 2009 Consensus #1: The General Board (GB) accepts the GB minutes of April 17, Consensus #2: The General Board declares its intention to comply with Canada Revenue Agency guide-lines, and encourages staff to inform us of any complications in that regard. Consensus #3: The General Board decided to appoint Jerry Buhler, Sharon Shultz, Lois Siemens, and Henry Block to the Assembly Prayer Team; Melissa Miller (chair), Jerry Buhler, and Doug Klassen to the Assembly Listening Committee; Hilda Hildebrand (chair), Don Rempel Boschman, and Al Rempel to the Assembly Resolutions Committee; Lynell Bergen and Steve Plenert as Assistant Secretaries; and Ed Janzen as Parliamentarian. Consensus #4: The General Board decided to appoint Campbell Nisbet to the Christian Formation Council, to finish the term vacated by Erwin Tiessen. Consensus #5: The General Board affirms the document, A Pastoral Care Resource for Pastors Ministering to LGBT Individuals and their Families. Consensus #6: The General Board affirms Janet Plenert s nomination for Mennonite World Conference Vice President. General Board Meetings November 13-14, 2009 Consensus #1: The General Board (GB) accepts the GB minutes of June 4-5, Consensus #2: The GB accepts the minutes of the 2009 Assembly, for ratification at the delegate assembly in Consensus #3: The GB supports the four principles of the Mennonite Central Committee s New Wine/Wineskins Task Force; registers concerns about grassroots ownership, governance issues, and the USA-Canada relationship; and commits itself to share the joy and enthusiasm of the change underway. Consensus #4: The GB accepts the paper, Faithful Church 2, for presentation to the delegates at the 2010 Assembly. Consensus #5: The GB approves, in principle, the departmental restructuring proposal, and the hiring of an executive secretary of the Support Services Council, to become a Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the appropriate time. Consensus #6: The GB accepts the changes to the jury duty policy. Consensus #7: The GB supports the following recommendation: a) Whereas the respondents at Assembly 2009 clearly leaned in the direction of annual meetings; and b) whereas the reasons are more compelling to continue annual meetings because they deal with fundamental reasons for meeting (building community, unity, strengthening family); Therefore, Support Services Council recommends that Mennonite Church Canada continue with Assembly meeting on an annual basis with a recommendation that it be reviewed every five (5) years. Consensus #8: The GB supports, in principle, upon receipt of updated numbers for compensation packages (in March 2010) the updating of our salary scale, to be phased in over a three year period. Consensus #9: The GB agreed to re-appoint Betty Loewen and Donita Wiebe-Neufeld to the GB, and recommended that Andrew Reesor-McDowell and Hilda Hildebrand s names be forwarded to the Nominations Committee, for Moderator and GB Member-at-large, respectively. Consensus #10: The GB agrees that we draft an overarching Response to Crisis plan for review and approval. Consensus #11: The GB agreed to ask Support Services Council to review the question of inserting sabbatical time into Mennonite Church Canada s Professional Development policies. General Board ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

14 Mennonite World Conference (MWC) 5. At Assembly 15 Dr. Ishmael Noko, Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, spoke of his hope that Lutherans and Anabaptists might walk together on a path of healing and reconciliation. The July 2010 global Assembly of LWF will act on a recommendation to seek forgiveness for the persecution of Anabaptists. 6. Sumana Basumata from India will be the 5th MWC intern at the MCC United Nations office. 7. Financial Status: 7.1 Assembly 15 concluded with a positive Assembly Fund balance of $325, Income for 2009 amounted to $1,527,700 and expenses to $1,484,200. Robert J. Suderman and Paulus Widjaja (secretary of the Peace Commission). Photo by Wilhelm Unger This report updates progress towards our four stated purposes for the period : To be a global community of faith in the Anabaptist tradition persons have been selected as Global Anabaptist Deacons. 2. The Deacons Commission is in contact with four different member churches experiencing uncertainty/conflict. 3. An analysis of the frequency and location of assemblies is underway with an initial decision to be made by the Executive Committee in August 2010 and a final decision by the General Council in The new Deacons, Faith and Life, Mission, and Peace Commissions are up and running. 5. A book on the Stewardship of Creation, with a strong global south voice, is under consideration. 6. The remaining histories of Anabaptist Churches in Latin America, Asia and North America are scheduled for release in late : To facilitate relationships between Anabaptist churches worldwide. 1. Four new churches joined MWC bringing our membership to 98 groups. Two groups in North America are considering membership. 2. Networks of Women Theologians have formed in Africa and Latin America and need continued nurture and support. A network of Women Theologians is emerging in Asia. 3. A second Service Consultation will be held in Ethiopia in August The theme is diakonia among Anabaptist-related churches world wide. 4. The Global Church Sharing Fund: US $48,600 was disbursed to 6 different projects. The December 31/09 balance stands at $250,590. 3: To relate to other Christian world communions and organizations. 1. Dialogue with the Catholic Church on divergent perspectives and common concerns about Baptism is beginning. 2. Alfred Neufeld represented MWC at the World Council of Faith and Order in October in Crete. 4: Develop organizational capacity 1. Mutual Expectations and Fair Share Contributions are being discussed with MWC members. 2. The General Secretary Search is well under way with an announcement expected in May Training is underway to strengthen the capacity of the continental caucuses. 4. New MWC maps have been distributed to each MWC member congregation. 5. The leadership campaign ( ) was designed to provide longer term financial stability related to recurring administrative costs. To date this campaign has generated Can $163,000 and US $631,000. Challenges: Pray for us during this time of transition as we collectively, across 14,000 congregations, seek to be a faithful church, select our next General Secretary, strengthen the organizational capacity of MWC, develop increased awareness that MWC is more than an assembly every six years, and move towards MWC representation in each of the continents. Submitted by Albert C. Lobe, North America Representative, Mennonite World Conference 12 reclaiming gladly wear the name

15 Mennonite Church USA God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace, so that God s healing and hope flow through us to the world. Together with Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church USA shares this vision statement for our church to be a beacon of healing and hope in the world. As a church existing in North America in the 21st Century, we continue to seek meaningful and practical ways of joining the places God is at work. Following Jim Schrag s retirement and an interim role by Ron Byler, I took up the role as Executive Director for Mennonite Church USA on January 1, I am very grateful that Jack Suderman was able to participate and bring greetings from Mennonite Church Canada at my formal installation service on March 7. I hope to meet with Ervin R. Stutzman him in May of this year to draw from the wisdom he has gained in his role in your national church. Following a review of our church structure, we invited LaVern Yutzy to serve as a listener and consultant to our national church. We received his report in late January and will give attention to a number of his recommendations for better alignment among our various conferences and agencies. The whole purpose of this review is to be better followers of Jesus in the world. We continue to pursue God s call as expressed in the missional church. The following statement expresses our purpose: Joining in God s activity in the world, we develop and nurture missional Mennonite congregations of many cultures. We believe the missional church has many and varied expressions. In this vein, we are particularly grateful for our various partnerships with you, including joint programs in mission, theological training, and publishing. We desire to keep these partnerships strong. We continue to pursue the following priorities in our missional church vision: Witness. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is practiced and proclaimed through a seamless web of evangelism, justice and peace across the street and around the world. Antiracism. We will honor the dignity and value of all Racial/ Ethnic people in Mennonite Church USA, ensuring just and equitable access to church resources, positions and information as manifestations of the one new humanity in Christ. Leadership Development. Church members with leadership gifts are called, trained and nurtured in Anabaptist theology and practice in order to fulfill the church s missional vocation. Global Connections. Mennonite Church USA fosters fellowship and develops partnerships with Anabaptists and the broader body of Christ around the world. May God bless Mennonite Church Canada and its ministries, leaders, and congregations. You are a vital part of the global Anabaptist family, and we give thanks for the ways you serve God s Kingdom here on earth. Together in Christ, Submitted by Ervin R. Stutzman Executive Director, Mennonite Church USA ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

16 Conference of Mennonites in Mexico (CMM) The Conferencia Menonita de México, CMM was founded in 1990, and is now formed by four local churches, Blumenau (357 members), Burwalde (260), Steinreich (65) and La Salada, Ascencion, (36). The first three churches have grown out of the ministry of the missionaries from the former General Conference (GC), beginning in 1963, after the Hoffnungsauer Mennoniten Gemeinde in Cuauhtémoc was dissolved. CMM Activity Program for 2010: Formal Education, annual budget US $570,000; Bible School annual budget US $173,000; Together with Evangelical Mennonite Church (EMC) and Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church (EMMC) for mission among the Mexican people, our annual budget is US $95,000. Ministry goals and objectives: 1. Education: Since the very beginning in 1963 our newly formed congregations, together with the GC mission workers, were very much concerned about Christian Instruction and formal Education for their children, and they always tried to offer just that to their own congregation and to the Mennonites in the larger Mennonite area. One highlight last year was that in our Mission in Col. Reforma in Cd. Cuauhtemoc, a new large 880 square meter two story building has been built and just about finished. More than US $240,000 have been invested so far. Several Mennonite and non-mennonite corporations have donated about $100,000. Another $100,000 came from a state-wide organisation that helps NGOs all over the Chihuahua state; this NGO receives 10% of a state-salary tax and then re-distributes it to social welfare projects. With this new building our Mission in Col. Reforma will be able to increase the production in the woodworking shop, and be able to employ more handicapped people, and it will have room to begin with other branches of social work among the poorest people of the city. 2: Bible School. The former CMM Steinreich Bible School has been operated together with EMC and EMMC for more than six years, with studies during Jan. Feb. and March every year. Most of the 12 teachers come from the EMC and EMMC. There are more than 70 fulltime students and around 160 more that only take certain subjects. 3. Mission: The mission church in Colonia Reforma in Cuauhtemoc City pastored by Isaac and Maria Bergen is growing fast, with many children coming to our mission. There are two kitchens, one for many years already in Samachique in the mountains where aprox. 60 Tarahumara children have their meal before they go to school, and another kitchen right in Col. Reforma where 115 children receive a hot meal every day. Twenty-eight handicapped people are working every weekday in the workshop, and 15 persons are studying in the Spanish Bible School preparing themselves to work in the Church. Many people are coming to Isaac and Maria Bergen for spiritual counselling and conflict resolution. Submitted by Peter Rempel, Chairman of the Conferencia Menonita de México Mennonite Church Alberta (MCA) The Mennonite Church Alberta (MCA) Executive continues to explore its specific & unique role in the building of God s kingdom. That is, What is the purpose of MCA the Executive, the General Council, and the Committees apart from the churches? Some of the discussion is summarized here: The individual churches look after the needs of their congregants counselling, teaching, discipling, in addition to providing funds to the wider Church body(ies). The MCA Executive, General Council and Committees tend to those things that individual churches cannot do on their own Camp Valaqua, starting new Christian Communities, coordinating the work & activities of MCA churches, providing resources to the churches, interfacing with Mennonite Church Canada; in addition to raising funds beyond those provided by churches. All, so that together we fulfill Jesus mandate to his disciples cited in Matthew 28:19. In the coming year we, together with each of the MCA churches, will be developing and coming to agreement on some measurable objectives for each of our organizations. Lastly, some of us take suggestions from Mennonite Church Canada Annual Assemblies seriously. In December of 2009 MCA rented two 10 x 20 foot billboards near two busy Calgary streets along with 45 poster frames in Calgary Rapid Transit stations and in LRT trains to display its message of peace and reconciliation. It s quite an experience to go to work in the morning and come face-to-face with a display clearly identifying Mennonite Church Alberta with the Christian message (for more info go to 14 reclaiming gladly wear the name

17 From the Congregational Leadership Committee and our Area Church Pastor, Jim Shantz MCA changes have been most evident in leadership transitions. First Mennonite Church in Calgary continues its search for a senior pastor and will this summer begin its search for an associate pastor when Alissa Bender returns to her home province of Ontario. Rosemary Mennonite church has recently called Glenn Hobden to be the new senior pastor. Last November, Bergthal Mennonite Church installed Michael Nimz along with Cheryl his wife, as pastor. Most recently, Tofield Mennonite has begun its pastoral search process as Bob Crosland completed 9 years of service there. Calgary Chinese Mennonite Church in Calgary installed Joseph Liou on May 2nd as the senior pastor. Trinity Mennonite is in the midst of its search process as Marion and Erv Wiens begin an assignment in Korea with Mennonite Church Canada Witness. Tim and Donita Wiebe-Neufeld completed their 4 month sabbatical at the eight year mark of service at First Mennonite in Edmonton, and Doug Klassen, Senior Pastor at Foothills Mennonite is due for a three month sabbatical in A lot of changes for an Area Church of 15 churches. From the Camp Committee On June 13 & 14, 2009 MCA celebrated 50 years of camping ministry at Camp Valaqua. The theme of the celebration was on the shoulders of giants, as camp was built and continues to be supported by those that came before and had the giant dream and perseverance to start Camp Valaqua, and build it into what it is today. Many came for a weekend of entertainment, history, tours and worship. Saturday was spent riding the Sky Swing and enjoying the climbing wall, and listening to outdoor concert with performances by The Stubble Jumpers (Eli Schellenberg, Sasha Schellenberg, Niko Schellenberg and Tim McBain), Kim Thiessen & Darryl Neustaedter-Barg and Francis Leonard (Curt Wiebe). Summer-Camper numbers were down dramatically this year. Due to the schedule at Calgary Public schools, Valaqua had to run a shorter program this year featuring 6 weeks of camp rather than the usual 7 weeks. Numbers dropped by 21% from 423 campers in 2008 to 334 campers in 2009, well below capacity of 660. (MCA churches have approximately 450 kids of summer-camp age.) From the Missions Committee The MCA Missions Committee spent the year exploring the feasibility of establishing an intentional Anabaptist Student Community near one (or more) of the province s post-secondary schools (University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, University of Alberta, NAIT, SAIT) that is similar in function to the Menno Simons centre at UBC in Vancouver. Accommodation in Calgary is available in time to be operational in the fall of Who are the out-of-town students attending Alberta schools that would like to stay in such a community? Please express your interest via to info@mennonitechurch.ab.ca The Annual Church Planting Congress was held in Calgary in November of The plenary speaker was Stuart Murray, the chair of the Anabaptist Network in England. Nearly a dozen MCA people attended the timely, inspirational and informative sessions as MCA embarks on a journey of adding 1500 new Christ followers to its present fold of 1700 over the next seven years. Therefore, go and make (Anabaptist/ Mennonite) disciples of all the Albertans, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new Alberta disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. From the Community Building Committee The MCA churches in Alberta are spread throughout the province up to six hours of driving between them. Maintaining a sense of community is difficult it doesn t just happen, it takes work. Trinity Mennonite Church in south Calgary put a lot of time and effort into organizing and hosting MennoPalooza in September From the battle of the bands, to the ball games, horseshoes, Bible quiz, preach off and art show, a good time was had by all and the hospitality was outstanding! It was such a blessing. The 250 participants (and those who now wish they d been there) are looking forward to a second MCA fall festival in Sharing stories and news through the quarterly newsletter is another way that we build community within MC Alberta. The newsletter was given a new layout and graphic design this year, with the intent of drawing more people to read it and increasing inspiration to share more stories of where God is working in our communities. The newsletter is always available online, but generally hard copies are distributed as well. YES, that s us, YOUR HOSTS of the 2010 Mennonite Church Canada Annual Assembly. Submitted by Walter Wiebe, MCA Chair, Mennonite Church Alberta Area churches ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

18 Mennonite Church British Columbia (MCBC) Reflecting on how the theme of wearing Jesus name gladly connects with MCBC and more particularly with Evangelism and Church Development Committee (ECDC) leads me to another familiar wardrobe scripture found in Isaiah 61:10. I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God for he has clothed me in garments of salvation, he has arrayed me in a robe of righteousness. As I look around MCBC I see evidence of exactly these scriptures being lived out in practical ways. In Living Hope Christian Fellowship, a multiplication project is underway to develop a campus style congregation. Reading and hearing reports from this excites me as God leads the way into uncharted territory where folks are looking for opportunities to clothe themselves with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience for their neighbours to see. As the project moves forward into the intentional phase, the missional church is alive and active. In Abbotsford, a growing Vietnamese group meets at Emmanuel Mennonite Church, under the capable leadership of Nhien Pham. They have started a children s ministry, running parallel to their services, which are held on alternate Saturday evenings. ESL classes, with the help of members from the host church, precede these services. They are working on expanding their ministry to the youth, as the challenge arises of that generation no longer speaking the language of the service, Vietnamese. Meeting the needs of their community includes hosting larger events, such as a Christmas dinner and doing home visitation. At Living Hope (Surrey), the 11 am Sunday worship service has about 150 Karen attendees (including children). Translation is done through headsets. Transportation is key to getting to church and a bus ministry meets that need, picking up passengers at three locations. As refugees, they are in need of many basics and the church people continue to donate generously to this cause. Processing and distributing donated items can be time consuming, but opens the doors of missional outreach to all refugees living in the church s Cedar Hills neighbourhood. The Karen brothers and sisters are people with needs and people with a rich culture, warm and friendly personality and a faith in Jesus Christ that permeates their lives and enriches the church. They are eager to share their story of trial, perseverance, and faith. Churches planting churches continues to be our model in ECDC. We encourage churches to look into their neighbourhoods, seeing ways people there are at work reclaiming Jesus, giving evidence that they gladly wear the name in the community into which Christ has called them. November s Church Planting Canada Congress in Calgary challenged us to missional thinking. Allowing God to define our mission takes the very nature of God as the source; God is both sent and sending. Each of us is God s gift to our neighbourhood, where we look for the connecting points on how to reflect Christ there. To whom have we been sent and where will we meet them? What is God up to on sidewalks and at kitchen tables? Submitted by Lee Dyck, Chair, Evangelism and Church Development Committee Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) Extending the Peace of Jesus Christ: Growing Congregations Congregational growth was the focus for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada in Through continuing education, learning events, and discernment sessions, MCEC continues to seek God and experience growth in a number of ways. Four new congregations officially came into fellowship with the MCEC/Mennonite Church Canada community of congregations. The Church of the Living Word in Ottawa, Markham Christian Worship Centre, Rehoboth Evangelical Church (Toronto), and Chin Christian Church (Kitchener) were received and welcomed at the 2009 MCEC Annual Church Gathering. In a moving and sacred moment, a pastor or lead elder from each of the new congregations offered a prayer of blessing in their own language for the Area Church congregations. There are currently eight church plants who are also exploring relationships with MCEC/Mennonite Church Canada. With the addition of these new congregations, MCEC now worships in 13 different languages: Amharic (Ethiopian), Cantonese, Chin, English, French, German, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Spanish, Tamil, and Thai. We celebrated the Christian presence that two congregations have provided in their communities for many years as they both held their final worship services. Warden Woods Mennonite Church (Toronto) and Welcome Inn Church (Hamilton) officially closed their Prayer at the Fall Consultation doors after much discernment and prayer. May God be praised for the lives impacted and changed by the faithful ministry of the members of these congregations. The Annual Church Gathering focused on the Congregational Life Cycle. Led by Betty Pries, an Associates Resourcing the Church 16 reclaiming gladly wear the name

19 consultant, stories were shared of real life congregational transitions. We were reminded that prayer is essential in the face of these transitions and that discerning God s will involves discipline and time. In the fall, our Consultation on the Life of the Church moved us deeper into the practice of discernment within the church. Robert J. Suderman and Sue Steiner encouraged us to trust that God would indeed lead and guide us as we embrace the task of discernment. It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task [of discernment], Suderman challenged, but you are not free to desist from it! Healthy leadership is an essential component for growing and vital congregations. Twelve pastors were ordained in MCEC over the past year and a further seven licensed toward ordination. Seven interim pastors were involved in the important ministry of interim and transitional pastoring within congregations. The third year of the Transitioning into Ministry program began a mentoring program for beginning pastors and the congregations who have called them. Leadership development was also fostered through coaching. Two groups of youth workers/ministers met with a Youth Leadership Coach over the past year, providing support and encouragement to them in this important ministry area. As congregations extend the peace of Jesus Christ in Eastern Canada, we are challenged to grow and to be alert to discern how the Spirit of Christ is calling us to engage our communities and the wider world. God has blessed us and we continue to trust in God s faithfulness. Submitted by David Martin, MCEC Executive Minister Executive Council: Aldred Neufeldt (Moderator); Myrna Miller Dyck (Assistant Moderator); Linda Brnjas, Helen Eby, Marvin Friesen, Fred Kinsie, Bryce Kraeker, Russel Snyder-Penner, Tim Wagler MCEC Staff: David Martin (Executive Minister), Brian Bauman (Mission Minister), Muriel Bechtel (Conference Minister), Olivia Dyck (Administrative Assistant), Maurice Martin (Regional Minister), Marianne Mellinger (Coordinator of Leadership Formation), Ester Neufeldt (Operations Minister), Margret Oakey (Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant), Al Rempel (Regional Minister), Joan Schooley (Administrative Assistant), Jeff Steckley (Congregational Ministries Minister), Lisa Williams (Director of Communications) The theme for 2009 was Leadership in a menu driven culture. We reflected on the challenges of leadership in the context of today s culture. The focus of our theme is based on the story of Esther with particular reference to Esther 4:14a Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? The 2009 theme is the second part of a four year theme based on Genesis 12:1; Go to the land that I will show you. This report highlights the work of MCM s ministries carried out during 2009 on behalf of MCM congregations. Camping Ministry Pam Peters-Pries Camps with Meaning s summer program theme was Circle of God s People. A total of 273 staff challenged 1294 campers, including 89 day campers and Edgar Rempel 254 adults with disabilities, to become part of God s community of followers and to grow in that journey. Overall, we had 16 more campers than in 2008: 355 at Moose Lake, 676 at Assiniboia, and 263 at Koinonia. We welcomed new staff to the year-round camp teams this year: Art and Mary Anne Falk at Camp Moose Lake and Bill Klassen in maintenance at Camp Assiniboia. Matthew and Heather Heide have resigned at Camp Koinonia and will complete their ministry at the end of March At the end of October, we also said farewell to Bob Mennonite Church Manitoba (MCM) Wiebe after 18 years of faithful leadership as Director of Camping Ministries. An interim team is currently covering Bob s responsibilities: Kristy Letkeman is directing the summer program and retreats with Gabrielle Plenert s assistance; David Hogue (manager at Camp Assiniboia) is giving leadership to the site staff, and Pam Peters-Pries is acting as interim administrator. We are very thankful for the individuals and congregations who support the camping ministry in so many ways: whether it s using our facilities for your retreats, serving on the Camp Support Teams and Planning Committee, lending a hand at our fundraisers and work bees, giving of your financial resources, serving at summer camp, or praying for our ministry. All of you contribute to the life-transforming ministry of camp thank you! Evangelism and Service Ministries Norm Voth Evangelism and Service Ministries works in three primary areas; church planting, missional formation resources and service. Last year we saw the emergence of two new congregations, Winnipeg Liturgical Mennonite Church and Little Flowers Community. Each has their own challenges and celebrations. One of my primary roles is leadership development for church planting and both congregations participate in a regular coaching relationship with Brian Bauman, Mission Minister for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. Brian offers wisdom, encouragement and insight into the development of new congregations. In addition to these two groups there are other conversations that may result in the starting of other new congregations. Area churches ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,

20 This past year I worked with several congregations in missional formation. Sterling Mennonite Fellowship, Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, and Arnaud Mennonite Church are involved in intentional reflection, discernment and planning about how a missional paradigm shapes congregational life. The process is tailored to each congregation s needs, in terms of process, content and timeline. It is exciting to see congregations engage in reflection on how to engage their local community with the gospel. One place where missional formation meets service is in the Partnership Circle where northern and southern congregations work together to serve and learn. This past year the congregations in Matheson Island, Riverton, Pauingassi and Manigotagan hosted youth groups for DVBS and/or camp. The impact of those service opportunities and relationships have a transforming influence on youth and young adults who give a week or more of ministry in these communities. This past year Charleswood Mennonite Church committed to a partnership with Living Word Church in Cross Lake and both look forward to seeing that relationship grow and mature. This past fall also saw two women from Grunthal join a quilting group in Cross Lake for several days of quilting. Women from Cross Lake identified recipients for quilts and the group completed about 80 quilts in 3 days. The opportunities for participating in God s growing Kingdom are limited only by our willingness to risk new relationships and dreams. Leadership Ministries Henry Kliewer John 21.17: Do you love me? Then feed my sheep. In my role as Director of Leadership Ministries, I: Met with our 5 pastor clusters monthly or bi-monthly. This continues as priority Visited 25 congregations of the 49 MCM congregations, several more than once; 13 remain to be visited to complete my goal of contacting each church since I began May 08; Pastor transitions happened as follows: o 14 of MCM s 93 pastors ended their ministry (includes 6 youth pastors); o 14 pastors made a new ministry start (including 3 interim, 2 youth pastors); o 10 search processes (4 youth pastors) continue at the time of this writing; 3 ordinations took place; ½ time staff addition to Leadership Ministries happened with Kathy Giesbrecht coming on board, working especially with youth pastors and youth groups. I m sensing a personal settling into the spirit of MCM, experiencing God in the midst of MCM challenges (one of those being the structure), beginning to look at what is comprehensive ministry to MCM congregations, finding in the Faith and Life Male Choir a great opportunity for worship, fellowship and community building, and growing in appreciation for the unity among staff (thanks to a competent Executive Director). I m getting to know and appreciate the many good people in our congregations, the great desire to live as God s people, the sense of God s kingdom being built, even among the challenges regarding Activity A community of 50 congregations, together presenting Jesus Christ to the world. Our Vision To be a community of congregations unified in Jesus Christ, living a biblical Anabaptist faith, together presenting Jesus Christ to the world. Annual Budget $1,840,750 Board of Directors Hans Werner, Moderator; Directors Julie Derksen, Gordon Driedger, Tym Elias, Erin Morash, Dan Horne, Kathryn Reimer. Staff Edgar Rempel, Executive Director; Tom Seals, Treasurer; Alice Pound and Eva Loewen, Administrative Assistants; Henry Kliewer, Director of Leadership Ministries; Kathy Giesbrecht, Associate Director of Leadership Ministries; Norm Voth, Director of Evangelism and Service Ministries; Pam Peters-Pries, Interim Camping Ministries Administrator; Kristy Letkeman, Interim Camp Program Director; Darryl Neustaedter-Barg, Associate Director Media Ministries; Dorothea Rempel Kampen, Frohe Botschaft Producer; Camp Managers and Staff. declining memberships in many congregations, the changing shape of worship, the loosening ties of church membership, the growing biblical illiteracy, and the meaning of spirituality and discipleship. All of these challenge me to continue focusing on the Motivator of our MCM work: Jesus, who calls us to love him and do all that we do out of love for him. Church Community Building Ministry Edgar Rempel In the broader scope of work in MCM, two significant issues were in process. The board initiated a process in the latter part of 2008 that engaged the constituency in dialogue. This process seeks to redefine who MCM is and the ministries that we will do together as a community of congregations. In total 24 congregations were visited throughout This represents about two-thirds of the MCM membership. A report of What was Heard was presented at the Fall Delegate Session on November 16. At the February 2010 MCM Gathering the Board s New Directions report was adopted. This now sets in motion conversations on governance and direction for ministries. During 2009 the Camp Assiniboia Property Task Force continued work on its mandate of development of long term goals and objectives for Camp Assiniboia property in alignment with Christian care for creation 18 reclaiming gladly wear the name

21 and conservation initiatives in the area. The task force report and recommendation was considered at the February 2010 MCM Gathering. Delegates approved the establishment of a management and monitoring plan that commits MCM to long-term stewardship and careful management of the Camp Assiniboia forest. We look forward to 2010 as we embark on a time of discernment for new direction and the continuation of the many congregational and MCM ministries. May God grant wisdom and guidance as we seek to do God s will in MCM. As we look ahead to 2010, the theme Transformed to serve, seems particularly appropriate. Various transitions have occurred or been initiated in They call for new leadership and present opportunities for renewal and transformation as a community of congregations an extension of the church. Submitted by Edgar Rempel Executive Director, Mennonite Church Manitoba Mennonite Church Saskatchewan (MC Sask) Mennonite Church Saskatchewan continues to strive to be Christ Centered and Sent. At our Annual Delegate Assembly held in February, we launched a new focus for our next two years of life together. Our challenge is to voice the hope that we have in God. Alan Kreider launched us with a challenge to talk to God, and be alert to where God is at work in our world, to talk to each other about what God is doing, and to befriend others around us, so that we can also talk to them about how God is working in all our lives. At our assembly, we welcomed Breath of Life Mennonite Church into membership. This is a Saskatoon house church, which will also be acknowledged as a member at our Mennonite Church Canada sessions in Calgary. Also at our assembly, we celebrated twenty-five years of youth ministry in Saskatchewan under the leadership of Anna Rehan. Anna s leadership in youth programming continues to be appreciated by our congregations as she mentors youth in leadership through SMYO and the VBS troupe, supports youth pastors and plans retreats. She also works part time as Mennonite Church Canada s Youth Ministries Facilitator, leading the planning of the biennial national Youth Assembly. Mennonite Church Saskatchewan was privileged to experience IMPaCT* last fall. Pastors from Chili, Colombia, Mexico and the Philippines joined Saskatchewan pastors for two weeks of relationship building and sharing insights about ministry. There is growth and excitement in Saskatchewan Camps. Camp Elim is expanding its physical plant through the building of a lodge to accommodate staff and guests. Rosthern Youth Farm Bible Camp is excited and grateful that Eigenheim Mennonite Church has donated its old sanctuary to the camp. They are planning to move the building, once the new Eigenheim Church is completed. The church will serve as the camp chapel, with additional multi-purpose space in the basement. Camp Shekinah has a new initiative in becoming a green facility. August 23 to 27, they will be hosting a natural building school, during which they will be replacing some shanty tents with structures made of field stone, post and beam, straw bales, recycled tires, rammed earth and possibly recycled elevator wood. Interested participants will not only be enhancing Shekinah s infrastructure, but also learning a new set of skills. Kenton Lobe, instructor at CMU and Menno Simons College will lead the natural building school. MC Sask appreciates the work of our Peace and Justice Committee. During the past year, they have spoken on our behalf at the provincial hearings on uranium related issues, spearheaded letter writing and conversations with politicians, and organized a public peace service on Remembrance Day in a downtown park in Saskatoon. They are also strongly supporting congregational efforts in the Peace in the Public Square initiative. This is a year of celebration for MC Sask congregations. The following churches are celebrating their hundredth anniversaries: Aberdeen, Tiefengrund, Laird, Zoar Langham, and Zoar Waldheim. Carrot River Mennonite Church is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Jerry Buhler * IMPaCT - International Mennonite Pastors are Coming Together - a global church relationship builders project facilitated by Mennonite Church Canada. Submitted by Jerry Buhler Area Church Minister, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Area churches ASSEMBLY 2010 Calgary, Alberta June 29-July 3,