MCBC Annual Meeting - February 21, 2009

OLD COAT-NEW CLOTH: FASHIONING THE FUTURE FOR MCBC

(I have to give credit to Amy Dueckman, our MCBC writer for the Canadian Mennonite, for much of this article.  She gave me permission to use excerpts from her article in the MCBC News 'n Notes.  In fact, you could just go to the Jan./Feb./March 2009 News 'n Notes on the MCBC website for the full version of her article - and photos.)

I would say that we had one of our best Mennonite Church BC annual meetings in a while.  I would also say that a key reason for this is the new level of commitment and trust that our re-covenanting has given us.  While we are a diverse body of congregations, and we wouldn't all want to live completely in each other's skin, we are in a place where we prepared to be the church together and get on with the mission to which God is calling us.  

A feeling of unity and moving forward pervaded the MCBC annual meeting at Cedar Valley Mennonite Church on Feb. 21st.  Delegates witnessed Level Ground Mennonite Church signing the MCBC covenant.  This is the new congregation formed as a result of the coming together of the West Abbotsford Mennonite Church and Wellspring Christian Fellowship.  

Delegates also witnesed the appointment of Rob Tiessen as Executive Director of Camp Squeah, after having served as Interim Executive Director for the past two years.  Camp Squeah reported on the building project of two new buildings scheduled for completion later this spring. It was reported that $1.3 million has been raised with $600,000 left to be raised.  Delegates were challenged to engage their congregations with energy to raise what is left.

The delegates came through with an amazing affirmation of what it means to be in a covenant relationship with each other.  First Mennonite Church Burns Lake has gone through two rounds of difficulties that has caused the congregation significant loss of membership over the past years. They are now a small congregation, yet with a unity in purpose unseen for some time.  The delegates committed to assist the congregation with up to $27,000 annually for 3 years (as needed) in order for them to have a fulltime pastor who will lead them back to good health.