Information and Action Sheet Regarding Women and Leadership in the M

In 1993 the General Conference (Canada and the U.S.) voted against a resolution "to allow for diversity of conviction and practice in the appointment of women to pastoral leadership in ways that are consistent with the governance patterns of the local congregation." (GCY 1993, p 35) The resolution was intended to acknowledge the diversity of interpretation of Scripture and opinion and to leave the decision up to individual congregations. With the defeat of this recommendation, an indefinite moratorium was placed on discussions, effectively barring discussion from the MB Herald or conference floors.

In February 2003, at the 94^th convention of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Manitoba the discussion on leadership and gender resulted in a resolution (passed by 79%) being forwarded to the Canadian Board of Faith and Life (BFL) for their consideration. Part of the resolution reads: “We call the MB Church of Manitoba to be increasingly alert to the gifts of women and men and to become more active in calling and blessing them to minister in all areas of church life.” The Manitoba conference forwarded their decision to the BFL and asked them to take up the issue expecting it to be raised for discussion at the 2004 Canadian Conference.

In the fall of 2003 the BFL invited Doug Heidebrecht to resource them on the conversation, and significant time was spent on this issue. As a result, BFL is planning not to bring the discussion to the 2004 Conference but to hold a series of one-day discussions in each of the English-speaking provinces regarding the question of women in leadership ministries. It is planned that a recommendation will be brought to the Canadian Convention in 2006.

Some other Facts

• The BFL is composed of 14 men from all the provinces

• The BFL discussion on the role of women in the church was held without even one woman present

• The BFL has not been able to reach a decision among themselves on this issue

• Manitoba will participate in one of the provincial sessions, even though it has already made a decision on the issue.

What can you do?

1. Write a letter to your provincial moderator or to any of the contacts noted below expressing the following concerns along with any others you might have:

• Request that a major and positive exploration of the topic of “women in senior leadership” be included at the 2004 Canadian Conference, even if a vote is not taken. This might take the form of workshops, teaching, presentations, round tables, or other formats that encourage cross-provincial dialogue, promote change and celebrate leadership without regard to gender.

• Request that Conference planners ensure that women are well represented in the Conference program and that at least half of the addresses are given by women.

• Request that BFL make their position very clear so that the conference and delegates at the 2004 Conference know exactly what conference leaders believe and advocate.

• Request that there be female representation on the BFL board of at least 3 members.

• Request that the conference try to obtain better balance on all boards in terms of age, gender and ethnic background.

• Request that articles be published in the MB Herald and put on the conference website http://www.mbconf.ca/index.en.html that promote the celebration of all God-given gifts without restriction based on gender or ethnicity.

• Request gender balance at each of the provincial regional one-day discussion sessions.

2. Submit names to your provincial moderator of women who are willing to serve on boards (please ask for permission from your nominee and include her email and phone number).

3. Participate in the MB web forum at http://www.mbforum.ca

4. Send a letter to the MB Herald or write an article. Susan Brandt, Editor. sbrandt@mbconf.ca

5. Discuss this issue with your friends, relatives, Sunday school classes and/or Bible study group. You can find some interesting discussion articles at:

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles/free_articles.shtml

http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?341 written in 1980 based on a lecture given in 1973
http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?340 written in 1980

http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?636 written in 1989
http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?680 written in 1990 http://www.mennolink.org/doc/cof/art.6.html

6. Participate in your upcoming provincial regional one-day discussions. Find out when your provincial discussion will be held from David Wiebe at dwiebe@mbconf.ca Tel: (204) 654-5771

7. Circulate this information page to others. You can obtain it in email format from Lori Matties at lmatties@shaw.ca

8. Contact Lori Matties with other ideas: lmatties@shaw.ca Send her your email address if you wish to be kept informed on this issue.

Addresses:

Canadian conference Moderator: Jascha Boge 131 Burnett Ave, Wpg, R2G 1C2 langreen@sympatico.ca

Executive Director: David Wiebe, 169 Riverton Ave, Wpg, R2L 2E5 dwiebe@mbconf.ca

BFL chair: Walter Unger, 2940 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford, BC walter.unger@columbiabc.edu

Manitoba Conference Minister: Herb Kopp, 169 Riverton Ave, Wpg, R2L 2E5 hkopp@mbconf.ca

Manitoba Moderator: Don Petker, 109 Toronto Ave, Selkirk, MB, R1A O91 sccmb@mts.net

“For I am quite convinced that truth does not die in the church, even though it be oppressed by one council, but is wonderfully preserved by the Lord so that it may rise up and triumph again in its own time. But I deny it to be always the case that an interpretation of Scripture adopted by vote of a council is true and certain.” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 2, p. 1177.

“I am glad to see that men are getting their rights, but I want women to get theirs, and while the water is stirring I will step into the pool.” Sojourner Truth, American Abolitionist, 1797-1883