Saying it has invited Jubilee Mennonite Church to “join us in embracing a posture of commitment to the Confession of Faith,” the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM) has announced that if Jubilee “cannot respond to this invitation” it will “regretfully acknowledge” that it “has chosen a path that will end their affiliation with MBCM as of July 1, 2023.”
The resolution to be voted on at the March 3-4 annual assembly states:
“We, the Assembly of Congregations of the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, do resolve that, unless Jubilee Mennonite Church returns to an active embrace of MBCM member church expectations by June 30, 2023, Jubilee Mennonite Church’s official membership in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba will end effective July 1, 2023.”
In a separate announcement, MBCM told Mennonite Brethren churches in Manitoba that the MBCM board is following the constitutional process in arranging appropriate meetings and follow up with River East Church, which has also announced if affirms same-sex marriages.
In the coming weeks, MBCM
churches can expect to hear from the MBCM board in this regard.
The full letter from MBCM is below.
The Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM) recognizes the marginalization that LGBTQ+ persons and families have experienced in churches. We remain committed to our ongoing work to reduce marginalization and the resulting harm, while remaining committed to our Confession of Faith, in all of its aspects.
As a condition of their participation and membership in the MBCM, every MBCM congregation specifically commits to an “acceptance of the Confession of Faith of the Canadian Conference'' and to not “pass[ing] or accept[ing] resolutions or practices which are in conflict with this [MB] Confession of Faith.” In their sincere effort to offer welcome to LGBTQ+ persons, Jubilee Mennonite Church (JMC) has made a statement titled “Jubilee Mennonite Church Statement of Inclusion” that substantively is in conflict with the Confession of Faith (see Articles 10 & 11). In so doing, JMC has broken the constitutional commitment to not pass resolutions or practises which are in conflict with the Confession of Faith. While our MB Confession of Faith is an expression of what we believe to be truth discerned from Scripture and is therefore changeable by our national MB conference of churches, a local congregation cannot legitimately make changes on its own and then pursue practices in conflict with these nationally shared convictions.
The conclusion of the MBCM board, following consultation with the MBCM Provincial Faith and Life Team (PFLT), is that JMC is failing to uphold the commitment to the Confession of Faith.
We invite Jubilee Mennonite Church to join us in embracing a posture of commitment to the Confession of Faith. It is the desire of the MBCM leadership board that Jubilee Mennonite Church would join us as a conference of churches in this important and ongoing work of reducing marginalization and harm of LGBTQ+ persons. If Jubilee Mennonite Church cannot respond to this invitation, and actively return to the shared membership expectations of the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba by June 30, 2023, we regretfully acknowledge that Jubilee Mennonite Church has chosen a path that will end their affiliation with MBCM as of July 1, 2023.
Should this ending of affiliation become a reality as of July 1, 2023, MBCM will continue to extend an ongoing invitation for Jubilee Mennonite Church to re-apply for MBCM membership if, at that time, they are able to commit themselves to the theological and practical expectations involved in being an MBCM member church.
With this special resolution, the Assembly of Congregations of MBCM in no way preclude the agency of Jubilee Mennonite Church. Jubilee Mennonite Church has the option, at a time of their choosing before July 1, 2023, to withdraw from membership with MBCM.
Special Resolution
We, the Assembly of Congregations of the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, do resolve that, unless Jubilee Mennonite Church returns to an active embrace of MBCM member church expectations by June 30, 2023, Jubilee Mennonite Church’s official membership in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba will end effective July 1, 2023.
Should Jubilee Mennonite Church’s MBCM membership end as of July 1, 2023, MBCM extends an ongoing invitation for JMC to return to MBCM if they decide in the future to embrace and live in accordance with our shared member church expectations.
Conditions of return
Should JMC choose to return to an active embrace of MBCM member church expectations, here are the conditions they need to accomplish.
● Adjust their
inclusion statement to reflect our confessional and constitutional commitments
and understanding of marriage.
● State their intention to conduct their church life in harmony with MBCM and our shared Confession of Faith. Which includes, but is not limited to, a generous posture toward LGBTQ+ persons and a decision to wholly commit to our conviction that covenant marriage is between a man and a woman for life.
MBCM/Jubilee Mennonite Church Process Timeline
It’s important for delegates to orient themselves to the MBCM Constitution Article 3: Membership, with particular focus on Sections 1 & 2.
2020-2022.
Jason Dyck (Director of Church MInistries, MBCM) had 3 conversations (Oct 1, 2020, July 7, 2021, January 27, 2022) with Ken Warkentin (Interim Pastor at Jubilee Mennonite Church). The purpose of these conversations were to discuss Jubilee’s intention to have a conversation about how to welcome and include LGBTQ+ persons. Jason’s request was that, in recognition of the unique dual conference reality (JMC is a member of both Mennonite Church Manitoba and Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba), there might be MB voices (external to Jubilee) in this process.
February 15, 2022
Jason met with Jubilee leadership council and communicated MB realities in the ongoing work of addressing the marginalisation that many LGBTQ+ experience. During this meeting, Jason indicated appreciation for their work and communicated that efforts to progress in this regard do not necessarily, but have potential to bump up against the MB conviction that covenant marriage is between a man and a woman for life.
June 21, 2022
Letter from Jubilee received by MBCM leadership describing Jubilee’s discernment process and articulating their statement of inclusion.
June 22, 2022
Jason communicated with Ken W. via email expressing appreciation for work done towards inclusion, but indicating sharp disagreement with MB theology and practice. Jason offered for Jubilee leadership to meet with MBCM leadership, and requested that the statement of inclusion not be made public until after a conversation could happen. Jubilee agreed to this.
June 29, 2022
The Provincial Faith and Life Team was provided with an update of the circumstances regarding Jubilee.
June 30, 2022
Jason, Cam and Walter Fast (PFLT/NFLT) met with Jubilee Council to hear more about their process of discernment, and to share with them the response of the conference to their statement in step with our MBCM constitution. “The desired outcome, where possible, is for any such issues to be rectified in order for the congregation to remain in good standing with The Manitoba Conference.” (Article 3, section 3, 1.)
July 4-5, 2022
Chris Friesen
(Moderator, Jubilee) sent an email to Cam and Jason, outlining their
understanding of the moment and a draft of a letter to their church community
which described the response of the conference to their statement. During this
time, Cam met with Chris and Ken.
July 14, 2022
Jubilee communicated that their statement had been published on their website.
August 5, 2022
MBCM Board sent a letter to MBCM pastors and moderators communicating the recent statement produced by Jubilee, and scheduling a townhall meeting on Sept 14, 2022, for further discussion and information from the board. *Due to timing challenges, this townhall was later cancelled.
September 19, 2022
MBCM Board sent communication to Jubilee describing the investigation process, informing the church of suspension, and giving time for response (Oct. 3rd, 2022).
September 27, 2022
Jubilee responded to the MBCM board stating they had begun processing the implications of the Sept. 19th letter, but would not be completed processing before the Oct. 3 deadline.
October 3, 2022
MBCM Board decision to suspend Jubilee was formalized.
October 21, 2022
MBCM churches were
updated on the situation with Jubilee via the following communication: MBCM
Board communication to MBCM churches November 19, 2022 - At the Council of
Representatives (gathering of MBCM lead pastors and moderators) meeting Chris
Friesen (Jubilee Moderator) presented comments regarding the journey and
discernment process of Jubilee. Conversation among the representatives followed
Chris’s comments.
November 30, 2022
PFLT met to examine the circumstances of the suspension, as per constitution.
December 7, 2022
MBCM Board met with Jubilee leadership for dinner and conversation.
January 23, 2023
MBCM Board received
PFLT report regarding circumstances of the suspension of JMC, as per our
constitutional process.
February 2, 2023
Dave Ens (MBCM
moderator) and Cam Priebe met with JMC leaders to communicate the resolution
from the board to be brought to Assembly 2023.
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