For 52 years, the Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite Church conferences in B.C. have cooperated to operate Columbia Bible College (CBC). Is that collaboration now about to come apart over LGBTQ+?
That's the concern among some in that province. Word is that some MB churches in B.C. have said they won’t recommend the school to their students in the future because of LGBTQ+.
It’s nothing the school has done. It’s because MCBC is part of Mennonite Church Canada, and that national denomination gives its congregations freedom to decide about whether or not to include, welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ people. Some congregations have done that.
Apparently, these MB pastors are uncomfortable with CBC's connection with MC Canada through MCBC over this topic—even though MCBC is one of the more conservative of MC Canada’s provincial conferences when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion, welcome and affirmation.
The MB pastors brought their concern to the school in fall, according to reports. That prompted some to worry CBC's association with MCBC/MC Canada has the potential to hurt the school financially—if those churches follow through on their threats.
This news comes on the heels of a summary of a recent report by a U.S. consultant about BCMB that recommends it re-evaluate the role of CBC in the conference. No additional details about that were provided.
A request for comment about the situation was made to Rob Thiessen, Conference Minister of BCMB. To date, no reply has been received.
I find all of this very painful to read, but I guess when a denomination continues to refer to themselves with a male-gendered name, this isn’t a surprise. It hurts the heart to hear how LGBT inclusion and equality are treated as so sinful. I don’t know how the people (men?) in charge can sleep at night. They are destroying lives.
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