Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CCMBC) is the conference of Mennonites in Canada. It is a member of the Mennonite World Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationAnabaptist
PolityCongregational
AssociationsInternational Community of Mennonite Brethren, Mennonite World Conference
RegionCanada
HeadquartersWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Origin1946
Congregations250
Members37,000[1]
Official websitewww.mennonitebrethren.ca

Offices of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches are located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Calgary, Alberta, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.

History

The Mennonite Brethren church began in Russia as a new expression of Mennonite faith in 1860 after Radical Pietism spread there.[2][1] The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CCMBC) "trace[s] [its] history to several villages in the Molotschna colony in Ukraine."[3]

The Canadian conference incorporated and adopted its current name in 1946.[1][4] It had previously been a constituent unit of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches of North America.[5] CCMBC is part of the worldwide community of Mennonite Brethren through its connection with the International Community of Mennonite Brethren.

The mid- to late twentieth century saw significant growth in the conference by means of evangelism.[6] The conference grew from 87 congregations and 14,185 members in 1960 to 125 congregations and 17,025 members by 1970.[7] In the 1980s, it had as many as 190 congregations and 27,277 members.[7] Today in Canada there are about 250 Mennonite Brethren churches where people continue to come together to be encouraged and to encourage a radical faith in Jesus.[8]

Structure

Every year, the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches hosts an annual general meeting that takes place in conjunction with Gathering (on even years) or study conference (on odd years). Gathering is the biennial national convention where MBs from across Canada gather for worship, fellowship. Study conference, held biennially, is hosted by the Board of Faith and Life and provides opportunities for MBs to interpret scripture and choose a direction together.

Provincial conferences

The CCMBC "is a national body which regulates the membership of area churches, which ... are known as provincial conferences."[9] Local congregations first join their respective provincial conferences, and by virtue of that, become part of the Canadian Conference. Both national and provincial bodies are committed to working together in serving congregations and helping them succeed in growth and mission and are involved in ongoing collaborative dialogue to achieve that. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec have separate conferences of MB churches.

MB Seminary

MB Seminary (Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary) is the national seminary for the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. MB Seminary exists to educate and equip men and women to help lead the church in reaching Canada and beyond with the Good News of Jesus Christ. MB Seminary is a Canadian ministry with an international reach, and a Mennonite Brethren ministry with multi-denominational relationships.

MB Seminary partners with multiple institutions in Canada to provide training that is accessible and collaborative. These partnerships include:

  • ACTS Seminaries (Langley, BC)
  • Canadian Mennonite University (Winnipeg, MB)
  • Tyndale Seminary (Toronto, ON)
  • Horizon College and Seminary (Saskatoon, SK)

Colleges and schools

The following schools and colleges are affiliated with the Canadian Conference of MB Churches:

  • Bethany College - Hepburn, Sask.
  • Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) – Winnipeg, Man.
  • Columbia Bible College (CBC) – Abbotsford, B.C.
  • École de théologie évangélique de Montréal (ÉTEM) – Montréal, Que.
  • Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) – Winnipeg, Man.
  • Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI) – Abbotsford, B.C.
  • Eden High School – St. Catharines, Ont.

MB Mission

MB Mission is the global mission agency for the MB Conferences in Canada and the US, working with MB churches in discipleship and church planting worldwide.

Camps

The following are Mennonite Brethren affiliated camps across Canada:

  • Campfire Ministries – Black Creek, BC
  • Camp Crossroads – Torrance, Ontario
  • Camp Evergreen – Sundre, Alberta
  • Camp Likely – Likely, BC
  • Camp Péniel – Wentworth-Nord, Quebec
  • Gardom Lake Bible Camp – Enderby, BC
  • Pines Bible Camp – Grand Forks, BC
  • Redberry Bible Camp – Waldheim, Saskatchewan
  • Simonhouse Bible Camp – Cranberry Portage, Manitoba
  • Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre – Lindell Beach, BC
  • West Bank Bible Camp – Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Faith and practice

Vision statement

CCMBC's vision is to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ through the development of godly character in every member and the mindset of multiplication in every congregation.

Three key departments and ministries support and resource local churches:

  1. Church planting
  2. Leadership development
  3. Financial ministries

Confession of faith

The Mennonite Brethren Church blends aspects of evangelicalism with its historic Anabaptist understanding of Christianity. Mennonite Brethren recognize the teachings and authority of the Bible, emphasize personal salvation, baptize confessed believers in Jesus Christ, and encourage community, discipleship, diversity, peacemaking, and reaching out.

The detailed Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith lists 18 articles of confession.[10]

In 2013, the Mennonite Brethren had approximately 250 congregations in Canada.[8] The Mennonite Brethren Herald is published monthly.[11] Le Lien and the Chinese Herald, magazines published bi-monthly, serve the francophone and Chinese communities. [12]

References

Footnotes
  1. Kraybill 2010, p. 132.
  2. Toews, John B. (1993). A Pilgrimage of Faith: The Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia and North America, 1860-1990. Kindred Productions. pp. 83–85. ISBN 9780921788171.
  3. Dueck 2012, p. 89.
  4. "Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches". Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  5. Hamm 1987, p. 147.
  6. J. B. Toews 1993, pp. 257–258.
  7. J. B. Toews 1993, p. 258.
  8. "MB History". Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  9. Dueck 2012, p. 90.
  10. "The MB Confession of Faith Detailed Edition". Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  11. Dueck 2012, p. 95.
  12. Jost & Faber 2002, p. 70.

Bibliography
Dueck, J. Alicia (2012). Negotiating Sexual Identities: Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Perspectives on Being Mennonite. Masters of Peace. 6. Münster, Germany: LIT Verlag. ISBN 978-3-643-90237-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Dyck, Cornelius J.; Martin, Dennis D., eds. (1990). The Mennonite encyclopedia: a comprehensive reference work on the Anabaptist-Mennonite movement. 5.
Friesen, Peter M. (1980). The Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia. Translated by Toews, J. B.; Friesen, Abraham; Klassen, Peter J.; Loewen, Harry (2nd ed.). Fresno, California: General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. OCLC 3996275. Retrieved April 14, 2018.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Hamm, Peter M. (1987). Continuity and Change among Canadian Mennonite Brethren. Religion and Identity: Social-Scientific Studies in Religion. 3. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. ISBN 978-0-88920-794-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Jost, Lynn; Faber, Connie (2002). Family Matters: Discovering the Mennonite Brethren. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Kindred Publications. ISBN 978-0-921788-74-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Kraybill, Donald B. (2010). Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-9911-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Toews, J. B. (1993). A Pilgrimage of Faith: The Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia and North America, 1860–1990. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Kindred Press. ISBN 978-0-921788-17-1.
Toews, John A. (1975). A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. Fresno, California: General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. National Council of Churches.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
Dueck, Abe J., ed. (2010). Celebrating 150 Years: The Mennonite Brethren Church around the World. Kitchener, Ontario: Pandora Press.
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