The following was shared with churches in the ONMB conference and with this blog.
On behalf of our Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (ONMB) board, we wanted to provide a report to follow up from our 2023 Convention. We were grateful for all our pastors and leaders, from member churches, associate churches, agencies, and partners, who gathered in Wellesley, Ont.
On Friday evening
we shared a powerful time of worship, celebrating God’s faithfulness in our
brokenness and struggles in song, scripture, teaching and communion. Dan Chook
Reid, Bytown Community Church pastor and planter, gave a testimony of God’s
transforming work in the midst of his cancer journey. You can view a recording
of this service [here].
Saturday’s time
together included a variety of breakout sessions, a time for equipping and
learning from various ministries in some of our churches and agencies. We then
finished with a time of important decision making, including elections,
approval of our annual budget and financial statements, and approval of updates
to the Camp Crossroads general operating bylaw.
Finally, our
members also voted on two significant decisions regarding our suspended member churches.
Motions were brought for the removal of FreeChurch Toronto and Southridge
Community Church from membership in the ONMB conference.
Two breakout
sessions were held prior to the motions, one online and one in person, in which
extensive questions and concerns were engaged. There was also significant
discussion on the conference floor as the motions were presented to the
delegates.
The motion
regarding removal from membership of FreeChurch Toronto passed with a 96% vote
in favour and the motion regarding Southridge Community Church passed with an 85% vote in
favour.
Our board
recognizes the weightiness and complexity of these decisions and the difficult
task we asked of our members and delegates. We were deeply grateful for the
posture of many participants, the open and honest dialogue, the respect
modelled even in a space of disagreement and pain. We understand that for many
of us, these decisions come with grief and sadness, and we continue to pray for
our ONMB community.
Our session on
Saturday closed with a laying of hands and prayer for the congregations of
FreeChurch and Southridge, as we released them from membership. We invite your
ongoing prayers for ONMB and for the congregations of FreeChurch and
Southridge. Although we are no longer bound together in this formal way, many
opportunities remain to connect and serve together as brothers and sisters in
the broader body of Christ and His Church.
These decisions
by our members reflect our commitment as ONMB to our Canadian MB Confession of
Faith, as our best articulation of scripture and the redemptive work of Jesus
and as a guide for our discipleship. It
is these convictions and beliefs that are to guide us in how we can best live
out the ways of Jesus as his disciples, and to be an expression of His Kingdom.
In light of these
decisions, we also recognize there remains much learning and growth ahead for
us as ONMB. In the coming season, our board, staff, and Faith & Life Team
are committed to providing this discipleship, equipping and resourcing for our
churches.
We agree with
Jesus’ call to his church to love, welcome, invite, or embrace ALL people,
including 2SLGBTQ+ individuals
We also recognize
there are definitely times when the Christian Church, including the Mennonite
Brethren, have not loved people well who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. For that,
we need to walk in repentance, to ask their forgiveness, and recognize that we
need to do better. As we interact with and serve all of our neighbours, including the 2SLGBTQ+ community, we want to model the posture of Jesus, walking with grace and
speaking truth in love.
Thank you for continuing to walk this road together.
We always welcome your questions and feedback and conversation. As we navigate
these challenging times, may we seek Christ together in a spirit of humility
and obedience, trusting that God is fully able and perfectly faithful. Again,
In our brokenness, Jesus shines.
With prayer,
Michelle Knowles & Ryan Jantzi,
On behalf of the ONMB Board
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