Mennonite Church Canada

Mennonite Church Eastern Canada

Mennonite Church Manitoba

Mennonite Church Saskatchewan

Conference of Mennonites in Alberta

Mennonite Church British Columbia

Mennonite Church Canada

Mennonite Church Canada has appointed two new staff to work at "congregational partnerships and missional education," positions of central importance to the missional church vision.

Marilyn Houser Hamm will serve half-time as director of congregational partnership and mission education for MC Canada, effective December 1. Norm Voth has been appointed as half-time congregational partnership and mission education facilitator focusing on Mennonite Church Manitoba, starting February 1.

The missional church vision offers opportunities for congregations to be centres for mission. This is a major cultural shift for churches, said Suderman. While present staff have done what they can to meet the high demand for workshops on the missional theme, only interim work has been possible, said Suderman.

Congregations have requested both workshops and help in partnering with churches overseas.

"A simple thing like a congregation connecting with a congregation overseas changes the culture of the congregation at both ends," said Suderman. "When you want to effect cultural change, that has to be careful and reflective."

In order to equip congregations eager to explore new ways of doing mission, MC Canada plans to fund one staff position in each area conference.

"This is a major new thrust," said Jack Suderman, executive secretary for Christian Witness. Mennonite Board of Missions has done some such work in the U.S.

Voth is currently director of evangelism and service ministries for MC Manitoba, and will continue that work half time. He has 12 years pastoral experience at Sterling Mennonite Fellowship and pastored at Steinbach Mennonite Church for one year.

Houser Hamm has also been appointed director of worship and spiritual formation, beginning February 1. She leaves behind the peace ministries portfolio, which will be expanded to a full-time position.

"The last two and a half years in the peace and justice portfolio have been a tremendous learning for me and I will bring the heart and spirit of that leaning into this position," said Houser Hamm. "I believe that our commitment to being agents of Christ's peace and reconciliation is foundational for missional church activity."

Native Ministries has four new staff ready to to take on two of its programs.

John and Pat Pankratz assumed the roles of itinerant ministers on November 1. They take on work that Henry and Elna Neufeld have continued since officially retiring from it several years ago, said Walter Franz, Native Ministries director.

The Pankratz's look forward to week-long visits in northern Manitoba communities offering Vacation Bible School and support for local congregations and leaders. Prior to this, they were active in the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church and both taught high school in Winkler. In the early seventies they served for two years at the Hopi mission school in Arizona.

Vic and Norma Funk assumed leadership of the Native Ministries program at Manigotagan, Manitoba, on November 25. They replace John and Mary Zacharias, who retired in June after nearly 10 years of service there. The couple said they have always had an interest in the work of Native Ministries, and worked for the ministry at Pauingassi from 1970-75.

Retired farmers, they also bring skills as a diesel mechanic and music instructor that they are open to sharing with the community.

This year's prayer week resource from Mennonite Church Canada focuses on "Shalom: the healing work of God." It is a five-session worship and study guide on the healing ministry of the church.

Written by Henry Paetkau, denominational minister, this booklet looks at the ministry of healing through the Old and New Testaments and the author's own experiences.

Unlike past prayer week resources, this one offers not only outlines for group study but also pointers for sermons and more in-depth congregational study.

Paetkau starts with the story of his daughter, diagnosed with leukemia at age three. This set the family on a journey during which Paetkau learned that healing meant much more than being cured of a condition-illness impacts the sufferer and those close to her in spiritual and emotional ways beyond the reach of conventional medical practice.

This topic is important because there is a lot of debate in the public forum about health and health care, said Paetkau. "There's a preoccupation and even obsession with health and longevity, and so it is important for Christians and the church to understand what the Bible has to say about health, about health care, about the meaning of life and of death."

The booklet offers healing rituals and ceremonies that can be adapted to many worship styles, and a listing of further resources. Each MC Canada congregation will receive a copy in the November Equipping. Additional copies can be ordered from MC Canada.

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Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada

October 19-20 saw a gathering of northern Ontario pastors from Hunta, Monetville and Sudbury at a Catholic retreat centre in North Bay. Sam Shantz of Hunta reminded us that this was really a southern retreat: Hunta is as far north of North Bay as North Bay is from Kitchener!

The retreat was a refreshing time for pastors and spouses to take some time apart, to share personal stories and visions, and to reflect on how God has been guiding our lives. David Brubacher and Muriel Bechtel joined us, sharing Paul's words of encouragement to Timothy, as well as issues from the broader church.

It was good to reconnect with other northern leaders who don't get together often because of the distances. We also enjoyed the company of Lindsay Mollins-Koene from the northern Mennonite Central Committee Ontario office in Timmins. We got to know Lloyd and Jean Steeves in their new ministry at Monetville on the weekend of Lloyd's ordination, and to see the Lord at work in the two congregations in Monetville.

During the retreat, several of us explored the ancient prayer discipline of the labyrinth. During my prayer walk, I was reminded that our path in life often takes unexpected turns. We find ourselves sometimes turning toward the "centre" and at other times turning out to face the world. Local situations and world events can leave us confused if we are not anchored in God's plan and walking with Jesus.

Our retreat was a helpful reminder to remain centred on the Lord, and to "fan into flame the gift of God."-Dave Nicol, pastor at Waters Mennonite, Sudbury

Amzie Brubacher began a two-thirds time pastoral assignment at the Erie View Mennonite Church on November 12, after having completed his ministry at Preston Mennonite Church in August.

Julie Ellison White will begin a part-time pastoral assignment at Wellesley Mennonite Church in January. Her previous ministry was at the Tavistock Mennonite Church.

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What a fun time! The 20th annual Manitoba Mennonite Youth Organization volleyball tournament held November 10 was once again amazing. Approximately 500 youth and sponsors represented 26 of a possible 49 churches.

Every year since junior youth, I have played on my church's team (Sargent Ave. Mennonite, Winnipeg). Every year, we play our best and have a great time.

This year, the tournament was held in Winkler. We left Winnipeg at7:30 a.m. By the time we arrived at Grace Mennonite Church, there was little room left. The Canadian Mennonite University worship band led in worship and we were encouraged to remember our role in peacemaking.

After the service, all teams received maps and headed to their gyms. People came from all over Manitoba to the tournament. Even former camp staff participated.

Volleyball is a Mennonite youth tradition. It is an enjoyable opportunity to meet with hundreds of other youth from around the province.

-Tim Dyck

On December 2, First Mennonite Church of Winnipeg asked Mennonite Church Manitoba churches to rejoice with them as they celebrate 75 years of service and worship in their community, and to pray with them for God's leading as they look to the future.

On December 9, Manitoba churches are praying for Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church as they strive to grow in being a church in mission.

Final numbers are in from the 2001 summer program at the three Mennonite Church Manitoba camps.

"Attendance at our camps was nearly up to last year's record," reported Sandy W. Plett, director of Summer Camp Ministries.

MCM congregations sent 370 campers, or 35 percent of the total. This was up from 32 percent last year. The grand total of campers was 1,235 compared to 1,270 last year. These campers represented a variety of church backgrounds, as well as non-church background. A total of 248 staff served at Camp Koinonia, Camp Assiniboia and Camp Moose Lake this summer; 205 of these came from MCM churches.

"The summer's end carried with it for me a deep sense of God's abundant grace and presence in the work of Camps with Meaning. I am in complete awe of the work God enables an apparently random collection of people both young and old to do when they work together in Christ's name," said Plett.

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Conference of Mennonites of Saskatchewan

The General Council of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan recently approved the Ministerial Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure. The paper originated with Mennonite Church Canada in the mid-1990s. Legal work was done on the policy by MC Canada staff and then the paper was sent to each province to be ratified.

Each province is responsible for its own pastors and the policy needed to be amended to suit the area conferences. "The word 'reconciliation' is not in there," noted Armin Krahn, conference moderator. "That's the disappointing part." He added, however, that it must be that way because of legal requirements.

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Conference of Mennonites in Alberta

Bergthal Mennonite Church in Didsbury is excited to announce that it has found a pastor. Elwin Garland, from Bluevale, Ontario, will begin in the position next spring.

The General Council of the conference met at Camp Valaqua November 23-24. Committees discussed plans for the next year and prepared for the March 1-2 annual sessions.

The Camp Valaqua facilities continue to be well used during the winter season. Other than a few December weekends, and one in March, all weekends are fully booked into next September.

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Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia

Mennonite Church B.C.'s Finance Committee is looking for ways to encourage an attitude of stewardship and joyful giving, rather than simply reminding congregations to meet their conference obligations and keep an eye on purse strings.

Several congregations have offered suggestions, ranging from providing stewardship materials to installing "Interac" machines in churches. Although the latter seems a surprising suggestion, one congregation is already doing this.

The Finance Committee continues to solicit creative suggestions. Some of the questions the committee is asking include: What resources would be useful to your congregation? What resources would interest you personally? Reading material? Access to confidential financial counselling?

The committee is also soliciting stories of God's faithful response in financial matters. People are asked to send suggestions and stories to mcbc@uniserve.com or mail them to the conference office.

Unless otherwise credited, the articles in TheConferences pages were written by: Daniel Rempel (Mennonite Church Canada), Maurice Martin (Eastern Canada), Evelyn Rempel Petkau (Manitoba), Karin Fehderau (Saskatchewan), Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (Alberta), Angelika Dawson (B.C.). See page 2 for contact information.

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Unless otherwise credited, the articles in TheConferences pages were written by: Daniel Rempel (Mennonite Church Canada), Maurice Martin(Eastern Canada), Evelyn Rempel Petkau (Manitoba), Karin Fehderau (Saskatchewan), Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (Alberta), Angelika Dawson (B.C.). Go here for a list of contact information.