← Back to Institutional Records

Conventions / Gatherings / National Assemblies (1910– )

Proper Title

Canadian Conference of MB Churches Conventions/Gatherings/National Assemblies series

Dates of Creation

1910–

Physical Description

2.93 m of textual records

Administrative History

The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches was founded by Act of Incorporation in 1945. As an association of congregations, it was founded at its first convention in 1910 as the Northern District Conference of the North American Mennonite Brethren (MB) Churches after the North American congregations were divided into districts in 1909. It functioned as the Northern District until its incorporation as a Canadian entity and met in convention in 1946 as the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. It met annually in convention except for 1940 as the Northern District and then as the Canadian Conference beginning in 1946. When Mennonite Central Committee Canada was founded in 1963 as an amalgamation of a number of relief and peace agencies and organizations, the Canadian Conference was a founding member.

The convention was attended by representatives of the congregations, mostly leaders, in the Northern District era. As the delegate representation expanded to other individuals a separate ministers and deacons convention was held. The conference convention served both as a decision-making body as well as a fellowship and worship time together. The emphasis has shifted back and forth between these two foci.

In 2014, the conference were re-framed as "services" and reorganized around four headings: Building Community, Multiplying Churches, Developing Leaders, and Financial Ministries (renamed Resourcing Ministry in 2016). Gatherings fit in the Building Community service.

See (click here) 2016 video describing CCMBC's four services model.

In 2018, CCMBC launched a vision for the collaborative model where the Provincial church conferences worked together to shape and direct the vision and delivery of services across Canada. While delegate Gatherings are discontinued, the annual National Assembly, which includes provincial representatives, takes its place.

See (click here) 2018 video describing CCMBC's vision for a collaborative model.

To view copies of the convention yearbooks, now published every two years, click here.

Scope and Content

This series contains three sub-series.

The Conference Yearbooks follow and give the information presented and reflect the issues dealt with during the annual conventions, which were held across the country. Information such as member churches and addresses, church leaders and delegates attending the events, financial information, program reports, minutes of the event with resolutions and motions recorded. It became the official record of the Conference.

These textual records pertain to the founding and development of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, especially as it met in convention.

Custodial History

Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba on a regular basis.

Notes

  • Volume 39, 53, 1311, 1375-A, 1412.
  • Accession No's: 1998-073, 1999-043, 2003-028, 2004-030, 2005-005, 2005-030, 2014-22, 2015-02.
  • Audio Visual location MDV-3-29
  • Finding aid consists of a file list.
  • Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory B100 and B210. – Note: The yearbooks are held in the reading room are and not with the archival materials.
  • Described by Bert Friesen June 10, 2002; updated by Conrad Stoesz July 31, 2006; Yvonne Snider-Nighswander January 29, 2013; updated by Kate Regier 2015; updated by Phil Enns 2015.
  • Related material: NMV-80-1: Convention '96, Le Lien.
  • No restrictions on access.

Series Descriptions

I. The Canadian Conference Act of Incorporation and related documents (1945).
II. Constitution and bylaws (1945–1982).
III. Convention material including programmes, minutes, reports, news releases, correspondence, delegate packages, conference statistics (1939–2014).

File List

 Volume 39

  1. Canadian Conference Act of Incorporation. Original document with parliamentary seal. -- 1945.
  2. Canadian Conference bylaws. Typed first edition. -- [1945?].
  3. Glaubensbekenntnis (1902), the first widely-accepted Confession of Faith of Mennonite Brethren, see introduction (translation found in Abe J. Dueck, Moving Beyond Secession [Kindred, 1997]); Glaubensbekenntnis (1929), the Krimmer MB Confession; Scriptural principles for the Christian life (in German) ([1957?]); Published charter and bylaws (1945); Constitution and bylaws (1970); proposed constitutional amendments ([197-?]); Constitution reports (1982); Canadian Conference ministers and deacons conference minutes (in German) (1958). -- 1945–1982.
  4. Canadian Conference convention programmes. -- 1956, 1961, 1963.
  5. Canadian Conference convention report books (1964, 1965), MCC (Canada) constitution (1963), MCC (Canada) report (1964). -- 1964–1965.
  6. Canadian Conference Faith and life conference programme (1966, 1968), convention report book (1968). -- 1966–1968.
  7. Canadian Conference convention programme (1969), MB Herald, Vol.8, no.12, 13 June 1969), statistics, principles, and policies report by the Board of Missions (General Conference) (1969), proposed structural reorganization (1969), report book. -- 1969.
  8. Canadian Conference convention programme, report book, Saskatoon Homecoming booklet. -- 1970.
  9. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1971.
  10. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1973.
  11. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1974.
  12. Canadian Conference convention programme, convention MB Herald insert. -- 1975.
  13. Canadian Conference convention programme, convention MB Herald insert, statistical report. -- 1976.
  14. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports, MB Herald insert. -- 1977.
  15. Canadian Conference conference board reports, correspondence. -- 1978.
  16. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1979.
  17. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1980.
  18. Canadian Conference convention programme, convention notes, statistical report, articles of affirmation and denial, conference board reports. -- 1981.
  19. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports. -- 1982.
  20. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports, vision statement for MBBC, statistical report. -- 1983.
  21. Canadian Conference leadership congress and convention programme, leadership and conference board reports, vision statement for MBBC, correspondence, Québec conference report, honour roll. -- 1984.
  22. Canadian Conference convention programme, conference board reports, statistical report. -- 1985.
  23. Canadian Conference convention programme, statistical report, MB Herald convention insert, Waterloo Region magazine, Revival fires in Manitoba (1957), conference board reports, Christian Peacemaker Teams proposal, college bulletin, Modern Reasons programme, study paper on Anabaptist history. -- 1986.
  24. Canadian Conference Convention 1987 report booklets, correspondence and J.J. Riediger appreciation evening program. -- 1987.
  25. Canadian Conference Convention 1987 delegates package and program. -- 1987.
  26. Canadian Conference Convention 1988 delegates package and report booklets. -- 1988.
  27. Canadian Conference Convention 1989 delegates package and report booklets. -- 1989.
  28. Canadian Conference Convention 1991 delegates package and report booklets. *Contains one restricted file*. -- 1991.
  29. Canadian Conference Convention 1992 delegates package and report booklets. -- 1992.
  30. Canadian Conference Convention 1994 delegates package and report booklets. -- 1994.
  31. Canadian Conference Convention 1996 delegates package and report books. -- 1996.
  32. Canadian Conference Convention 1998 delegates package and report books. -- 1998.
  33. Canadian Conference Convention 2000 delegates package and report books. -- 2000.
  34. Canadian Conference Convention hosting committee of Manitoba meeting minutes, correspondence, and reports. -- 1969.

Volume 53

  1. Gathering 2004 Delegate pack. -- 2004.
  2. Gathering 2006 Delegate pack. -- 2006.
  3. Gathering event book. -- 2012.
  4. Gathering event book. -- 2014.
  5. Gathering event book. -- 2008.
  6. Convention 2002 Delegates Package and report book. -- 2002.
  7. Study Conference 2013 Event book. -- 2013.
  8. Study Conference 2007 Event book. -- 2007.
  9. CCMBC Annual General Meeting Convention/Event Minutes. -- 2002–2014.
  10. CCMBC Annual General Meeting booklet. -- 2015.
  11. CCMBC Gathering 2014 event/report book. -- 2014.
  12. CCMBC Gathering 2016 event book and ministry report book. -- 2016.
  13. CCMBC miscellaneous documents. National Office Review, history of the Mennonite Brethren pamphlet, Vision 2020 donor strategy, Vision Group plan, Designer Frames major donor development, Ministry Advantage enrolment forms. -- [198-?]–[201-].
  14. CCMBC correspondence, event planning. -- 2010–2013.

Volume 1311

  1. Conference Vision Statement. -- 1989–1990.
  2. Convention 1992 registration form and reports. -- 1992.
  3.  Convention 1996 Committee minutes, reports, and correspondence. -- 1995–1996.
  4.  Issues and concerns (in society and the church). Reports and correspondence. -- 1990.
  5. "Resolution on divorce and remarriage." -- n.d.
  6. Response to General Conference Vision Statement. -- 1991.
  7. 1998 MB Convention Reports. -- 1998.
  8. Convention 1998, "Master FLight Plan" organization, correspondence, and workshop booklet. -- 1998.
  9. MB Convention 2000 Committee minutes and correspondence. -- 1998–2000.

Volume 1375-A

  1. Convention 2000 promotion planning and correspondence. -- 1999-2000.
  2. Convention 2000 preparation correspondence, reports and schedules. -- 1999-2000.
  3. Convention 2002 planning minutes, budgets and promotion. -- 2001-2002.
  4. Convention 2002 board minutes (various). -- 2002.
  5. Convention 2002 speaker correspondence and presentations. -- 2002.
  6. Convention Handbook. -- [2002].
  7. Gathering Handbook. -- 2003.
  8. Gathering 2004 promotion and evaluation. -- 2003-2004.
  9. Gathering 2004 planning correspondence, organization, presentations and programming. -- 2004.
  10. Gathering 2004 Planning Team minutes, budget and correspondence. -- 2002-2004.
  11. Gathering 2004 Urban Plunge. -- 2004.
  12. Gathering 2004 debrief and statistics. -- 2004.
  13. Gathering 2006 promotion planning and materials. -- 2005-2006.
  14. Gathering 2006 Executive staff and Planning Committee minutes and correspondence. -- 2004-2006.
  15. Gathering 2006 schedules and presentation/workshop overviews. -- 2006.
  16. Gathering 2006 Leadership Development video and CCMBC presentations. -- 2006.
  17. Gathering 2006 statistics and evaluation. -- 2006.
  18. Gathering 2008 Pre-Conference event correspondence and promotion. -- 2008.
  19. Gathering 2008 promotion and staff schedule; ReGenerate 21-01 introduction letter. -- 2008.
  20. Gathering Handbook. -- 2008.
  21. "Women in Ministry Leadership" on-floor discussion notes (by Dora Dueck, MB Herald correspondent). -- 2006.

Volume 1412

  1. Convention 1981. Minutes and correspondence. -- 1980.
  2. Convention 1982 minutes. -- 1981.
  3. Convention Planner Manual. -- 1984.
  4. Board of Spiritual and Social Concerns: Disciplemaking '85 planning minutes, correspondence. -- 1985.
  5. Disciplemaking '85 Event. Minutes and correspondence (cross reference to Board of Christian Education). -- 1984–1985.
  6. Convention 1988 minutes. -- 1987–1988.
  7. Disciplemaking '88 Event. Minutes and correspondence (cross reference to Board of Christian Education). -- 1986–1988.
  8. Disciplemaking '88. Minutes and correspondence. -- 1988.
  9. Convention 1994. Minutes and reports. -- 1993–1994.
  10. Convention 1996. Minutes, reports, and correspondence. -- 1995–1996.
  11. Convention 1998. Reports and correspondence. -- 1997–1998.
  12. Convention 2000. Minutes and correspondence. -- 1999–2000.
  13. Celebration 2002 Event. Minutes, reports, and correspondence. -- 2000–2002.

Audio Visual File List

MDV-3-29: Gathering 2006, "Let Your Kingdom Come...," Invitational Video. -- 2006. -- DVD. -- 4 mins.

← Back to Institutional Records