River East Church in Winnipeg formally suspended by the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba

River East Church in Winnipeg has been formally suspended by the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM). 

The suspension took effect on May 3.

It follows a notice of suspension sent to the church in March and follows a meeting between the MBCM board and River East leadership.

On May 10, MBCM sent a letter to all Mennonite Brethren churches in Manitoba announcing the suspension. The letter is below.

This letter is a follow-up to the March 1 2023 communication you received from us regarding River East Church.

The MBCM Board recognizes that LGBTQ+ persons, along with their friends and families, have experienced exclusion and rejection in churches. While this is not everyone’s story, we understand that it is the story of many. We are committed to a future where better stories are experienced. Each MBCM church is invited to join in this journey, where LGBTQ+ persons and their families experience inclusion and care.

As well, we recognize that some of the implications of working to include and care for LGBTQ+ persons can bump up against our convictions and practices. The MBCM board continues to affirm our shared confession, in all of its aspects.

The MBCM board is moving River East Church’s membership in MBCM to a status of suspended, as of May 3, 2023. This suspension involves a change in River East’s ability to serve and provide representation. 

Members of River East Church will be unable to hold a representative position within MBCM or CCMBC structures and affiliations while this suspension is active. This does not include REC members who are employed by institutions of said structures and affiliations. Additionally, River East Church members will be ineligible to vote on decisions or resolutions considered by the Assembly of MBCM churches.

As per the process outlined in MBCM’s constitution, the MBCM Provincial Faith and Life Team will conduct a review of the circumstances that have led to this suspension. They will report their findings to the MBCM board.

The desire of the MBCM board is to work toward the restoration of REC membership in MBCM. Should this intention find success, the board will then resolve to reinstate River East Church upon the board’s satisfaction that the concerns have been adequately rectified.

Should those efforts prove ineffective, the board will provide recommendation to the Assembly of MBCM churches for removal of membership.

We invite you to be in prayer for all involved as we journey through this process. May God work in and through us as we seek to be faithful in following him.

On behalf of the MBCM board, Dave Ens MBCM Board Moderator