Staff and Board Update

We said a big thank you and farewell to board members Ruth Schellenberg and Harold Froese, who have both been long-time board members with MBCM while also carrying a variety of other roles in representing us on CCMBC boards. Their board participation came to an end at our Assembly in March.

Leadership Development

We are currently working on gathering a team of people that will work together to hear from our churches and begin putting together some ways forward. I look forward to hosting conversations among us that can determine how we could best meet church leadership training and development needs.

We continue to seek out ways of resourcing leaders in spiritual formation. I anticipate the leadership team to be able to help shape the academic and non-academic requirements for the Mennonite Brethren track through our affiliation with CMU’s Graduate School of Theology and Ministry. We desire to continue building our awareness of our MB history and convictions; our understanding of spiritual formation and Christian character; and our knowledge and skill for studying the Bible together in community.

Organizational Health

At our most recent Assembly we reviewed and accepted updates and changes to our constitution. Much of this work was done to bring us into alignment with the updated CCMBC bylaws and the collaborative model. In the year ahead we have been planning for
the MBCM board to review and approve some important policies. These include Church staff salary and compensation draft, MBCM Pastoral Staff Employment policy, and a New Adult Abuse Response and Prevention Policy.

Missions

We are thankful to have good working relationships with our Central Canada Multiply Missions Staff. This spring they, together with our local churches, are hosting training Modules. The missional content has been developed for our family of churches to explore how to effectively proclaim and practice the Gospel of Jesus locally and globally. As Simonhouse Bible Camp continues to be a significant missions opportunity to love and serve the people in northern communities, we as MBCM can support this missions project by continuing to provide ongoing partnership resources, sending workers (camp staff, volunteer staff, etc.), and praying for Darrell and the ministry he provides.

Spiritual Health and Theology

After a two-year journey of attempting to host the Posture Shift conference, it happened on Sept. 28 & 29. There were 164 total registrations with about 75 people who met in person. Our pastoral equipping events continue to engage frontline ministry challenges, polarization in the church, care and inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the emotional health of pastors. We look forward to the work ahead of seeking to live out our calling as churches, and faithfully loving and serving our churches in establishing vision and clarity around healthy discipleship practices.

– Cam Priebe, Provincial Director