Québec Conference of MB Churches / L’Association des Églises des Frères Mennonites du Québec
Proper Title
Québec Conference of MB Churches fonds / L’Association des Églises des Frères Mennonites du Québec fonds
Dates of Creation
[1959?]–1995
Physical Description
38 cm of textual records
Administrative History
The Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches was founded in 1983. There had been extensive preparation and work done since the late 1950s when missionary candidates studied the French language in Quebec. Then in the 1960s when the mission work in the Congo was interrupted by conflict, some of these French speaking families settled in Québec to begin church planting work there.
The work begun in the 1960s was in the greater Montréal area. The concentration was on literature distribution and Bible study groups. There was a close association with other evangelical groups especially at the Bethel Bible Institute. The first congregation was organized in St.-Jérôme in 1964. By 1970 there were three congregations organized around the Montréal area. Until the mid-1970s the leadership was trained at the Bethel Bible Institute. Then in 1976 they formed their own Bible institute at Ste.-Rose which was then named Institut Biblique Laval.
Four congregations were organized in the 1970s. These were all in the greater Montréal area except for one in the Eastern Townships. They also purchased a camp in the Argenteuil area, north west of Montréal. By the end of the decade, most of the leadership was coming from the local membership in the congregations but there were tensions among them and also with the non-local leaders sent and supported financially by the Canadian conference. The financial support for the conference and its activities still came largely from Canadian conference based in western Canada. Most of the Bible institute faculty continued to come from western Canada during the 1970s.
Three congregations were organized in the 1980s. All congregations in Québec joined to form the provincial Mennonite Brethren conference. This provincial conference then joined the Canadian conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in 1985. The Bible institute also became affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Bible College. Financial constraints caused some contraction in provincial conference activities. Le Lien was started as a provincial conference periodical publication. From 1980 until 1982 it was a French supplement to the MB Herald and then in September of 1982 it became a separate periodical, Le Lien. There was a greater emphasis on strengthening the congregations during this decade.
In 1990 the Institut Biblique Laval negotiated an affiliation with the Université de Montréal which would accredit some work done toward a bachelor degree. This relationship was strengthened during the next decade.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of directories (1977–1985), confession of faith (1976–1979), annual reports (1977–1978), study papers ([1959?]–1985), brief history (1966–1992), statistics (1965–1995), correspondence (1966–1987), minutes (1976–1987), financial records (1976–1987), reports (1976–1987), incorporation and constitutional material (1976–1983), study papers (1979–1985), programmes (1976), educational material (1978–1987), and promotional material (1967–1979) which pertain to the founding and development of the Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (L’Association des Églises des Frères Mennonites du Québec). It documents the leaders and participants in the conference.
Custodial History
Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba on a regular basis.
Notes
- Volume 305.
- Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list is available.
- Finding aid: The records are classified under the Québec Conference of MB Churches inventory.
- Described by Bert Friesen 15 July 2002.
- No restrictions on access.
- Language: Mostly in French.
- Related materials, see MCC fond volume 800 file 10.
Series Descriptions
I. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches directories.
1977-1985.
2 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of conference directories (1977, 1983, 1985) and evangelism committee directory (1985).
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 1, 11, 20.
II. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches confession of faith.
1976-1977.
1 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of confessions of faith of the MB conference.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 1, 13.
III. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches reports and minutes.
1976-1987.
25 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of annual reports (1977–1978), constitution committee report, staff reports, various committee and board meeting minutes, and convention minutes.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 2, 5–19, (reports), 5–19 (minutes).
IV. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches study papers and history.
[1959?]-1992.
15 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of a vision paper, survey paper, newspaper clippings, history paper, ordination paper, education philosophy paper, and historical sketches.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 3, 5, 6, 18 (papers), 3, 6, 19, 20.
V. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches statistics and financial records.
1965-1995.
- This series consists of summary statistics and financial records, financial statements, budgets for both the conference and the Institut Biblique Laval.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 4, 16 (statistics), 5, 7–11, 13–19.
VI. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches incorporation and constitution material.
- This series consists of letters patent and constitutions.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 5, 11, 13, 14.
VII. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches promotional and educational material.
- This series consists of programmes, assorted brochures and newspaper clippings (1967–1979), and educational material connected with the Institut Biblique Laval.
- This series is located in Vol. 305, files 13-20.
File List
Volume 305
1. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches directories (1983, 1985), confession of faith (1979). –1979-1985.
2. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches yearbook (annual reports). –1977.
3. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches history paper (1971), survey paper ([1959?]), newspaper clippings (1961, 1964), schematic history pamphlet (1992). –1961-1992.
4. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches statistics (1965–1966), correspondence (1966), summary statistics (1995). –1965-1995.
5. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches organizing committee meeting minutes, conference financial records, organizational structure proposal, constitution committee report, act of incorporation (letters patent) (1983), reports, general board meeting minutes, vision paper, proposal for the relationship between the Québec conference and the Canadian conference, convention minutes. –1979-1983.
6. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches general board meetings, reports, ordination paper (1984), correspondence, convention minutes, Institute Laval consultation, a brief history of the conference (1970–1980), evangelization committee meeting minutes. –1984-1987.
7. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches reports, financial statements, correspondence, finance committee meeting minutes (1980–1981), management/trustees committee meeting minutes (1982–1983). –1980-1983.
8. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches management/trustees committee meeting minutes, correspondence, financial statements, reports, budgets. –1984-1985.
9. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches management/trustees committee meeting minutes, budgets, correspondence, reports, financial statements. –1986-1987.
10. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches evangelism committee meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, strategic plans, budgets. –1980-1984.
11. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches evangelism committee meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets, reports, strategic plans, committee directory, financial statements, constitutional amendment proposals. –1985-1987.
12. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches general board meeting minute (1976), annual reports (1978). –1976-1978.
13. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval financial statements, executive committee meeting minutes, administrative committee meeting minutes, dedication programme (1976), correspondence, confession of faith, congregational constitution, budgets, institute calendar, reports. –1976-1977.
14. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval reports, administration committee meeting minutes, Institute board meeting minutes, goals and objectives, financial records, executive committee meeting minutes, constitution (1978), responsibilities of staff, students, curriculum, correspondence. –1978-1979.
15. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval executive committee meeting minutes, curriculum, construction committee meeting minutes, reports, administration committee meeting minutes, survey materials, responsibilities of staff, financial records, residence committee meeting minutes. –1980-1981.
16. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval financial records, administration committee meeting minutes, correspondence, executive committee meeting minutes, future plans discussion materials, reports, statistics. –1982-1983.
17. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval correspondence, administration committee meeting minutes, reports, executive committee meeting minutes, financial records, syllabus, responsibilities of staff. –1983-1984.
18. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval executive committee meeting minutes, financial records, reports, administration committee meeting minutes, position paper on the philosophy of education at IBL. –1985.
19. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Institut Biblique Laval correspondence, financial records, administration committee meeting minutes, reports, ad hoc committee concerning relocation meeting minutes, joint meeting minutes of ad hoc committee and administration committee of Sainte-Rose congregation, affiliation with MBBC materials, executive committee meeting minutes, responsibilities of staff, a brief history and projection for future (1986), syllabus. –1985-1987.
20. Québec Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches brief history (1966), assorted brochures and newspaper clippings (1967–1979), directory (1977). –1966-1977.