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Manitoba MB Conference Convention • Feb. 22-23
Winnipeg, Man.
Leadership by all

Moderator Neil Janzen

The theme of the Manitoba MB Conference convention, February 22-23, was “Leadership: In the pulpit, the pew and the workplace”. Servant leadership was well modelled when Conference moderator Neil Janzen welcomed everyone at the registration table and handed the convention packets to the delegates. The convention was held in Eastview Community Church, Winnipeg, and was preceded by an all-day seminar on “Servant Leadership, Where we work, live and play”. (See Servant Leadership: Where we work, live and play)

Worship

John Krahn

The Friday evening session was given over to worship and communion. Ray Bystrom, associate professor of pastoral ministries at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., spoke on “Knowing God as worker”. He stated that Christianity differs from every other religion in that the “God of the Bible is pre-eminently a worker, a God who neither slumbers nor sleeps.” He quoted George MacDonald, from the book The Genius of Willie MacMichael, saying that if God stopped working, everything, even loving, would stop. The character Willie concludes “Then if God works like that all day long, it must be a fine thing to work.” Bystrom continued with two lessons: 1) God is no stranger to work, and 2) If we bypass the world of work, we miss one of the must fruitful points of contact with those who work. “We should all be able to say, ‘My work is God’s work,’” stated Bystrom, and we should not rate some work as more reflective of God’s work than others.

Saturday morning, Bystrom used the illustration of William Wilberforce, the British statesman, who, when he came to faith, was about to abandon politics and enter ministry. John Newton persuaded him to stick to politics. “The Lord has raised you up for the good of the nation,” Wilberforce was told. Wilberforce concluded, “God was calling me to champion the cause of the oppressed – in Parliament. My business is in the world,” he stated. And, of course, Wilberforce went on to achieve the abolition of slavery, after nearly 50 years in the British Parliament. “God draws people into jobs outside of the pulpit because He needs people in every area of life,” Bystrom concluded.

Bystrom ended the convention with his third meditation, in which he suggested that, while most spiritual disciplines require us to leave the workplace, what is needed is a form of spirituality which we can practise in the workplace; which does not interfere with our work and which we can practise without anyone knowing.

Business

Moderator Neil Janzen opened the business session by stating that at the 2000 convention a decision was made to change the structure of the Conference. This was affirmed at the 2001 convention, and the program elements decided upon (resourcing the congregations, developing leaders, initiating mission) were shaped during the past 12 months. Finding leaders is one of the major concerns of most provincial conferences. Manitoba alone will need about 57 new pastors over the next decade. Leaders will be needed in many other areas as well. The Leadership Seminar with Ray Bystrom was designed to speak to this need. Janzen then asked, “Are we headed in the right direction?” Janzen stated that a Canadian Conference Open Space event held in March 2001 affirmed that more women are needed in places of leadership. “We need to take the lead to work toward gender balance, to be proactive,” he stated. “Men are biased, satisfied with the status quo. Just having women there is not enough. They have to be listened to.”

Each of the Manitoba Conference agencies was given an opportunity to highlight its ministries in the main sessions, as well as during InfoExchange Sessions (workshops). The agencies were then invited to report back to the full delegation on the elements discussed in the InfoExchange Sessions.

Concord College

The delegates were invited to make two major decisions regarding Concord College/Canadian Mennonite University. Chair of the Concord College Board Hertha Janzen presented a recommendation that one president be appointed for Canadian Mennonite University. CMU has been operating with three presidents (one for each of its three colleges) since its inception. In the meantime, programs and administration have been integrated, and it was deemed more efficient to go to a one-president model sooner than originally planned. The Manitoba MB Conference Council of Representatives (which includes representatives of all the churches), meeting as conference-in-interim, had already processed this recommendation, but the decision was not be implemented until the Assembly of Congregations (that is, this convention) had opportunity to speak to and vote on the issue. This was passed without discussion.

The second item for decision was a governance task force. Because the CMU Joint Board (the combined boards of Concord College, Menno Simons College and Canadian Mennonite Bible College) is a large body, decision-making is cumbersome. It was recommended that a CMU Governance Task Force be formed. This Task Force would include a representative from each sponsoring conference, one board member from each college and the president of each college. The representative from the Manitoba MB Conference would be appointed by the Executive Committee. This Task Force would then develop a proposal for a new board structure for the University. This recommendation also passed.

Budget

John Krahn, chair of the Board of Management, presented a budget of $1,180,117. This is a decrease from the 2001 budget of $1,187,747, but more than the $1,047,918 that was received in 2001. The per member amount requested from the churches (“the norm”) remains at $181 (constant since 1994).

At the 2001 convention, a recommendation was approved that would allow congregations flexibility in their support of mission agencies. This “Support Option” proposal was refined to now recommend, that beginning with the 2005 convention year, each congregation would continue to contribute the full amount of $181 per member, with the understanding that the first $89 be designated for support of Conference services (Conference pastor, Missions and Church Extension, the administrative offices) and the remaining $92 be allocated, according to the preferences of the individual congregation, to the support of mission agencies (Family Life Network; MB Collegiate Institute; Concord College, including the School of Discipleship). Some discussion ensued, including a suggestion to look at other provinces which had changed their method of funding their ministries and how this had impacted them. It was suggested that the method of funding be looked at and that Conference support could be based on a percentage of each church’s budget rather than a per member levy. It was also stated that churches were requested to give a two-year notice of any shift from the current allocation of the $92. Although there was opposition, this motion, too, was passed.

Church Ministry Internship Program

In response to the need for leaders in the churches, the Board of Church Ministries recommended a Church Ministry Internship Program be established. To begin, BCM anticipates two interns in the summer of 2002, with an additional position each year until there would 4-6 interns each summer. Costs would be equally shared by the congregation and the Conference. Eventually the program would move beyond the summer time schedule and be applicable at any time of the year.

Other decisions and announcements:

Revised policies on child and adult sexual abuse, and the revised employment policy were received as working documents to be given final approval by the Executive Committee in April.

Notice of Motion was given that the Manitoba representative to the Canadian MB Conference Board of Communications no longer automatically be a member of the Board of Family Life Network.

Missions and Church Extension director Ray Klassen announced that MCE would like to plant a church in Winnipeg this year, and that assessment would begin in March.

Neil Janzen thanking outgoing chair of the Personnel Committee Anne Friesen for her work.

The Conference executive for the coming year was affirmed, with Neil Janzen remaining as moderator, former secretary Don Petker assuming the assistant moderator position and Jane Woelk being acclaimed as the new secretary.

Outgoing assistant moderator Vic Neufeld closed the convention in prayer.

 – sbb

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Last modified April 15, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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