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Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church – Steinbach, MB

Proper Title

Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1925–2019

Physical Description

116 cm of textual records, 1 microfilm reel, 2 photographs, and digital bulletins

Administrative History

In 1927, 45 people decided to separate from the Evangelical MB Church and form their own Mennonite Brethren church. They met in the EMB church and then purchased and remodeled an old school. The lot was purchased in 1942, but the new church could not be built because of World War II. The new sanctuary was completed in 1947. There were five affiliate groups from this church (Burwalde, Rosengard, Grunthal, Bergthal, Halbstadt). They met as a joint group four times a year. In 1957 and 1970, the building was enlarged. In 1978, the adjacent lot was bought for possible expansion and parking.

The church initiated a study about future directions in the late 1970s, but their report was ultimately rejected by the membership. As a result, about two dozen people decided to leave and form another separate independent congregation in 1983, the Community Fellowship Church, which later evolved to become Southland Church.

Not many years later, SMBC completed a new sanctuary building project (1987). A badly needed Christian education wing, multi-functional gym, library, and office area was begun in 2003.

The leaders of the church included: George Unruh (1927–1933), Abr. A. Regehr (1934–1942), Jacob H. Epp (1943–1952), H. A. Regehr (1953–1964), Peter Martens (1965–1966), John D. Reimer (1967–1974), Jake Falk (1975–1984), F. W. (Bill) Lehman (1985–1989), John Block (1991–1995), Keith Poysti, Interim (1996), Norm Neufeld (1998–2000), Walter Reimer, Interim (2000), Abe Klassen (2000–2008), Walter Fast (2009– ).

The language of worship is English.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of historical information, directories, bulletins, constitutions, membership and family records, annual reports and financial statements, minutes from the congregational, council, board of Christian education, youth and music committee meetings.

Custodial History

Some of the records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.  In 2009 Olga Oberik sent marriage and membership registers from 1925–2009 to the archives for photocopying, the originals were returned to the church for keeping.

Notes

  • Volumes 436–438, 1283.
  • Digital files stored on CMBS server @ ... Electronic Collections/Provinces/Manitoba.
  • Description updated by Conrad Stoesz October 9, 2003; updated by Tamara Dyck October 8, 2010 and January 7, 2011; updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander October 5, 2011. Updated by Kate Woltmann July 18, 2013. Updated by Emma Sorensen May 30, 2018.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BC515.
  • Finding aid consists of series description and a file list.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: R86, pp 351–2328; R87, pp 1–562; R93, pp1818–1912.
  • Acc. nos. 1999-068; 2009-035; 2011-01.
  • No restrictions on access.
  • Language: German and English.
  • Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.

Series Descriptions

I. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church history.
1977–2010.
5 cm of textual records and 56 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of information for a historical sketch, historical narratives, pictorial church directories (1980, 1985–1996, 1998, 2009), and two pictures of the church.
  • Finding aid: Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, Vols. 436–438,  Flds. 1–3.
  • microfilm R86, 351–407.

II. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions.
undated.
9 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of constitutions and committee guidelines.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R86, pp 408–417.

III. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins.
1968–2019.
29 cm of textual records and digital files.

  • This series consists of weekly bulletins.
  • Finding aid: Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, Vols. 436–438,  Flds. 4a–31, 51–55, 59–62; Vol. 1283, Flds. 8-14
  • See digital files.

IV. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church membership and family records.
1925–2010.
24 cm of textual records and 385 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of family and church membership registers (ca. 1925–1979), a marriage register (1958–1978), and membership transfers (1926–1959).
  • Finding aid: Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church file, Vols. 436–438,  Flds. 1–7.
  • microfilm R86, pp 418–803.

V. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church annual reports and financial statements.
1966–1998.
5 cm of textual records and 268 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the church’s annual reports, and financial statements/reports.
  • Finding aid: Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 45–47.
  • microfilm R86,, pp 1733–2001.

VI. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church congregational meetings.
1927–1979.
928 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the congregational meetings minutes.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R86, pp 804–1732.

VII. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church council meetings.
1927–1978.
688 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the church council meeting minutes.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R86, 2002–2328; R87, 1–269; R93, 1818–1912.

VIII. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church board of Christian Education.
1969–1979.
218 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the minute of the board of Christian education, the Christian service Brigade and Pioneer Girls committee (1972–1976), and the Young People’s committee (executive) meetings (1968–1979).
  • Finding aid: microfilm R87, 270–369, 442–562.

IX. Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church Music Committee.
1955–1961, 1968–1979.
71 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the minutes from the music committee.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R87, pp 370–441.

File List

Volumes 436–438

  1. History. -- 1977, 1985.
  2. Steinbach MB Church Directories. -- 1980, 1985–1996, 2009.
  3. Steinbach MB Church Pictorial Directories. -- 1986, 1993, 1998, 2009.
  4. Bulletins. -- 1968, 1969, 1970.
  5. Bulletins. -- 1971.
  6. Bulletins. -- 1972.
  7. Bulletins. -- 1973.
  8. Bulletins. -- 1974.
  9. Bulletins. -- 1975.
  10. Bulletins. -- 1976.
  11. Bulletins. -- 1977.
  12. Bulletins. -- 1978.
  13. Bulletins. -- 1979.
  14. Bulletins. -- 1980.
  15. Bulletins. -- 1981, 1982.
  16. Bulletins. -- 1983.
  17. Bulletins. -- 1984.
  18. Bulletins. -- 1985.
  19. Bulletins. -- 1986.
  20. Bulletins. -- 1987.
  21. Bulletins. -- 1988.
  22. Bulletins. -- 1989.
  23. Bulletins. -- 1990.
  24. Bulletins. -- 1991.
  25. Bulletins. -- 1992.
  26. Bulletins. -- 1993.
  27. Bulletins. -- 1994.
  28. Bulletins. -- 1995.
  29. Bulletins. -- 1996.
  30. Bulletins. -- 1997.
  31. Bulletins. -- 1998, 1999.
  32. Membership Transfers. -- 1924–1925.
  33. Membership Transfers. -- 1926.
  34. Membership Transfers. -- 1927.
  35. Membership Transfers. -- 1928.
  36. Membership Transfers. -- 1929–1930.
  37. Membership Transfers. -- 1931–1934.
  38. Membership Transfers. -- 1935–1937.
  39. Membership Transfers. -- 1938–1940.
  40. Membership Transfers. -- 1941–1943.
  41. Membership Transfers. -- 1944–1946.
  42. Membership Transfers. -- 1947–1950.
  43. Membership Transfers. -- 1951–1953.
  44. Membership Transfers. -- 1953–1959.
  45. Annual Reports. -- 1979–1990.
  46. Annual Reports. -- 1990–1999, 2000, 2002, 2003.
  47. Financial Reports. -- 1979–2003.
  48. Cookbook: Homespun Favourites.
  49. Membership Directory. -- 1999, 2005.
  50. Mobilizing for action, volunteer of church, church growth and community. -- [198-].
  51. Bulletins. -- 2000.
  52. Bulletins. -- 2001.
  53. Bulletins. -- 2002.
  54. Bulletins. --- 2005.
  55. Bulletins. -- 2006.
  56. Membership directory. -- 2006.
  57. Annual reports. -- 2006–2007.
  58. Financial Statement and Budget Report. -- 2006–2007.
  59. Bulletins. -- 2007.
  60. Bulletins. -- 2008.
  61. Bulletins. -- 2009.
  62. Bulletins. -- 2010.

Volume 1283

1.  Reproduction of Family and Church Membership Registers. -- ca. 1925–1955.
2.  Marriage Register. Oversize Register. Located beside volume 1283. -- 1958–1978.
3.  Reproduction of  Marriage Register. -- 1996–2008.
4.  Reproduction of  Family and Church Membership Register. -- 1987–2000.
5.  Family and Church Membership Registers.  Book Number 4. -- 1938–2010.
6.  Family and Church Membership Registers.  Book Number 3. Oversize Register. Located beside volume 1283. -- 1925–1955.
7.  Membership list and summary. -- 2010.
8. Bulletins. -- 2011.
9. Bulletins. -- 2012.
10. Bulletins. -- 2013.
11. Bulletins. -- 2014.
12. Bulletins; Praise and Prayer Bulletin. -- 2015.
13. Bulletins; baptism photo. -- 2016.
14. Bulletins; baptism photo. -- 2017.
15. Commission service for Kelby Friesen with photo. -- 2018.

Digital Files

  • Bulletins. -- 2017.
  • Bulletins. -- 2018.
  • Bulletins. -- 2019.

Microfilm file list

Reel 86

  • Historical Data, summaries of anniversary celebration and pictorial church directory (Book I). – ca.1927–1977. – pp. 351–407.
  • Constitutions and Committee Guidelines (Book II). – undated. – pp. 408–417.
  • Family and Church Membership Registers (Book III). – ca.1925–1955. – pp. 418–662.
  • Family and Church Membership Registers (Book IV). – ca.1938–1979. – pp. 663–773.
  • Marriage Register (Book V). – 1958–May 1978. – pp. 774–803.
  • Annual Reports and Financial Statements (Book X). – 1966–1978. – pp. 1733–2001.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VI). – May 1927–July 1949. – pp. 804–1066.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VII). – Dec.1949–Nov.1964. – pp. 1067–1361.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VIII). – Dec.1964–June 1972. – pp. 1362–1592.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IX). – Sept.1972–Apr.1979. – pp. 1593–1732.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XI). – May 1927–May 1965. – pp. 2002–2328.

Reel 87

  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XII). – June 1965–Dec.1969. – pp. 1–164.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XII). – June 1973–Dec.1978. – pp. 165–269.
  • Board of Christian Education Minutes (Book XIII). – Jan.1969–Mar.1979. – pp. 270–369.
  • Christian Service Brigade and Pioneer Girls Committee Minutes (Book XV). – Jan.1972–Jan.1976. – pp. 442–484.
  • Young People’s Committee/Executive Minutes (Book XVI). – Feb.1968–Mar.1979. – pp. 485–562.
  • Music Committee Meeting Minutes (Book XIV). – Jan.1955–Nov.1961. – pp. 370–396.
  • Music Committee Meeting Minutes (Book XIV). – Dec.1968–Apr.1979. – pp. 397–441.

Reel 93

  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XII). – Feb.1970–May 1973. – pp. 1818–1912.
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