“What to do about River East:” Report about the January 20 Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba special session

 

(Note: I was not allowed to attend the January 20 special session as a reporter. The following was written from notes taken by some at the event.) 

The resolution to remove River East from membership in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (MBCM)—unless it “returns to an active embrace of MBCM member church expectations by May 30, 2024”—was approved at a special MBCM session on January 20. 

The vote in favour of the resolution was 261 for and 52 against (83.3%). 

The resolution went on to extend an invitation for River East to “return to MBCM if they choose to embrace and live in accordance with our shared member church expectations.” 

The vote was held at the Westwood Community Church in Winnipeg. 

A “healthy and relational” process 

The special session began with a reminder from assistant moderator Terry Dueck that every church that is part of MBCM commits to following the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith (COF) and to submit itself to the “wisdom and guidance” of the Conference. 

During a lengthy process and review, he said, it was concluded that River East had broken that commitment to the COF and declined to accept the Conference’s wisdom and guidance—which included an option to voluntarily leave, something the church had “rejected.” 

That decision put the “burden” of deciding what to do about River East on the Conference, he added. 

Dueck acknowledged that, for some in the Conference, the process of dealing with River East had taken too long, while others felt it had not gone on long enough. 

He also acknowledged that, through the process, they didn’t always get it right, but felt it had been a “healthy and relational” discernment. 

He went on to urge delegates not to see River East as an enemy, or to participate in “the enemy-making machine.” 

River East decision “result of 20 years of discussion, study and practice” 

Reynold Redekopp, Chair of the River East Leadership Commission, spoke next. He echoed Dueck’s sentiment, acknowledging “the amazing way that MBCM leadership” had entered into open and honest conversation with River East. 

He then read the River East inclusivity statement, noting that is why “River East is here today.” 

That statement, Redekopp said, “was the result of a lengthy, deliberate process. We were aware that working at the statement, and adopting it, would challenge and change us, and that we were undergoing this work as a discipleship journey, led by God’s spirit, word, and people.” 

The Statement, he said, “is the result of around 20 years of discussion, study, prayer and practice.” 

As a result of that discussion, the church decided it needed to “welcome people with integrity. We can’t welcome people if there are limitations attached.” 

When it comes to how people serve at River East, “we don’t ask about gender identity or ethnicity or income or family status. We look for a love of and commitment to Jesus and an ability that suits the task.” 

This position is “difficult for many to accept,” he acknowledged. But it flows out of “desire to show the love of Christ. We think that love shouldn’t be limited as we are all on the journey of discipleship.” 

He emphasized that River East “did not set out to change the Confession of Faith.” Instead, the church hoped “we could work within these guidelines” through the Borderland Proposal, where the church could remain in MBCM while taking five years to work out the implications and realities of its statement. 

“We have deep ties to the MB Conference that we do not dismiss lightly,” Redekopp said. 

He added that River East appreciates that the Conference “is taking steps to be less hurtful to LGBTQ+ persons, but being ‘less hurtful’ is still hurtful. Strict adherence to the Confession of Faith has failed to protect the marginalized and the vulnerable among us . . . the Confession of Faith as it is currently used is not a document of peace and unity, and, as we are seeing today, it is a document of division.” 

At River East, Redekopp concluded, “we embrace inclusivity as a gift and call of Christ. From the outset, the River East community resolved that our welcome must be an invitation to participate; not merely an invitation to observe. In accepting that invitation people are entitled to the same privileges and responsibilities as any other people on the journey.” 

River East had “open posture” 

Jason Dyck, MBCM Director of Church Ministries followed, recognizing River East’s “open posture” by publicly sharing its story to inclusion and its biblical and theological foundations for inclusion. 

He went on to provide a brief overview of what has happened in other provincial Mennonite Brethren Conferences, with two churches in B.C. leaving or being removed because of LGBTQ+ welcome and inclusion (Artisan and Cedar Park) and two removed from membership in Ontario (Southridge and Free Church). 

Goal and guidelines for the special session 

Moderator Dave Ens then provided guidelines for the session itself, noting it was not open to the public or the media—except for the MB Herald. 

The session also was not made available online, except for members of two northern churches. 

Delegates were given two minutes each to speak, with only two members of each church allowed to speak. If time permitted, more could be permitted to speak. 

Ens reiterated the goal of the special session was not to decide if River East had broken its commitment to the Conference. “That has already been determined,” he said. 

The goal was “what to do about River East” in light of that broken commitment, he said. 

Motion to table and the vote 

What followed was a time for delegates to speak to the motion. Thirty-one people spoke. The majority who spoke supported the resolution about the future of River East’s membership. 

The third person to speak asked for the resolution to be tabled to permit more time for discussion. That motion was ruled out of order. 

The final person to speak was a delegate from North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, who called for the vote to be taken. 

The vote to proceed directly to the vote on the resolution passed by a margin of 267 to 28. The vote on the resolution was taken immediately after that. 

Goodbyes and blessings after the vote 

After the vote was announced, MBCM Provincial Director Cam Priebe noted there were many reasons for the way people voted—for theological reasons, because they trusted the process undertaken by the Conference in dealing with River East, or because they didn’t want to see a break in the unity of the denomination. 

In the future, there will be more need for “listening and understanding” on this topic, he added. 

He expressed his thankfulness to River East leadership for their participation with the Conference in the process. Although the church officially won’t be removed until May 31, he agreed with the church’s leaders that the result of the vote “feels like the end.” 

For that reason, it was appropriate to share goodbyes and blessings, he said, noting the “significant investment” River East had made in the Conference over its 60 years of history. 

He then invited people from River East to share with the delegates. 

River East pastor Mary Anne Isaak began by noting the church had been nurtured by the Conference for six decades, and that it had participated in joint ministry with other churches in Manitoba and across Canada during that time. 

She went on to say the church has now “heard God calling us to move in a new direction,” adding “as we part ways, we acknowledge the many blessings” received during the church’s history. 

River East Leadership Commission Chair Reynold Redekop added he was grateful for the “careful process” undertaken by MCBM. 

The church concluded by saying they prayed MBCM would experience “abundant grace” in the future and that God would strengthen and renew it. 

In response, Jason Dyck said “it should not be easy” to part ways with a member church, and this experience wasn’t easy. 

He went on to say that he didn’t “begrudge” River East not voluntarily leaving, and praised the gathered delegates for “fulfilling your responsibility” through the vote. 

“We may not be able to walk the way we walked for the last 60 years,” Dyck said of the relationship between River East and MBCM, but he prayed the church “would continue to walk the way of Jesus . . . keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters, and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.”