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The meeting was the last one before November 1997 when MCC Canada will shrink, and the provincial MCCs will grow. In fact, under an agreement made last year, the national organization will cut $336,000 from total constituency contributions of $2.03 million. This enables provinces to retain more of constituency donations. The 37 board members spent most of their time studying data collected on audience research. They also considered their "five-year plan" put forth by the executive committee. The plan is to start in September 1997 and proposes to make several budget cuts. Canadian programs will shrink 38 percent, from $533,000 to $330,000. Human resources will be cut 26 percent, shrinking from $378,000 to $280,000.
Most of the discussion about the budget centred around MCC Canada's Native Concerns program, which currently has two full-time staff. Some, like Margo Fieguth of Mississauga, Ont., felt that the program has built trust with Natives, and that this is not the time to cut from their budget.
The executive committee plans to spend three full days on the five-year plan before presenting it for adoption to the board next November.
Board members adopted a revision of their "Memorandum of Understanding" with MCC Binational and MCC US. New is the creation of an "Inter-MCC Round Table". Senior staff from each of the 12 MCCs will meet annually to coordinate their efforts. The new memorandum also increases the number of representatives from MCC Canada to MCC Binational from 8 to 10.
Good news from treasurer Abe Wiebe of Winkler, Man. was that MCC Canada's income was better than expected. They budgeted $6.5 million and got $7.36 million in contributions from the constituency. Bad news is that Ten Thousand Villages only earned 74 percent of its budget. It suffered a $635,000 shortfall, due in part to the acquisition of MCC Ontario's operation, re-assessing current inventory, reducing prices to clear dead stock, and the collapse of the Ontario market. They let some staff go, and will continue to monitor operations, said Wiebe.
The board passed a budget of $20 million for 1997, down slightly from last year. Salaries for some MCC Canada staff are being reduced with the aim of bringing more equality with the provincial MCCs. Among elections at the meeting, Marv Frey's term was extended to December, 1999.
A motion was passed asking MCC Canada to recognize that young people are not being drawn into MCC programs in large numbers and to plan and implement initiatives that will engage younger constituents in MCC issues and programs. "The 55-plus group is willing to be stretched a bit," said a board member who is a member of that age group. "We have to draw the younger people. Otherwise we can't hold it (MCC) together."
from a Meetinghouse article by Aiden Schlichting Enns
Researchers found Mennonites shared a number of common values. For example, 80 percent agreed we should share with the poor, believe in God, do volunteer work, and spend less on self to give more to others.
The research showed that MCC supporters tended to fall into three distinct groups: 38 percent are against capital punishment, jails are not the best way to rehabilitate non-violent criminals, and aboriginal people have been treated unfairly. These supporters are more likely to vote Liberal or NDP, are equally male and female, urban and rural, and most likely to have post-secondary education, lived outside of Canada, and do volunteer work.
A second group, about 40 percent, agrees more severe punishment for criminals is a way to reduce crime, Canada is letting in too many immigrants and refugees, and helping others is a sign of faith. This group is least likely to agree that aboriginal people have been treated unjustly. This group is more likely than average to vote Reform or Conservative, to be female and rural, and not have post-secondary education.
The third group of 22 percent is least likely to agree that capital punishment is wrong, gun control is good, free health care is a basic human right, and that Canada should spend less on the military and more on foreign aid. They are more likely than average to vote Reform, be male and live in a rural area.
Research showed that 33 percent of the general public shares many values with the Mennonites surveyed. For example, 80 percent of this group agrees that belief in God is important, people should do volunteer work to help others, foreign aid helps poor countries, spending more on inner city youth reduces crime, war is always wrong, and aboriginal people in Canada have been treated unjustly.
John Longhurst, director of media relations for MCC Canada, said there are many people who have high regard for MCC, but "we do not provide these people with an opportunity to give to us."
Fifty-four percent of the general public has heard of MCC, and 37 percent of the general public agreed they held a positive view of it. Nine percent said they would support it this year.
from a Meetinghouse article by Ron Rempel
"We need more than a short dialogue," said the native pastor of a Winnipeg church. "There is a real need to develop a relationship between you and me. We're in an era now where you have to do more than listen--you also have to hear. There is a gap between us that needs to be bridged."
Referring to the long history of Mennonites ministering in the native community, he said, "You've done a lot of good stuff, but you've got to do more. We've got to do it together."
Participants in the dialogue sat in a circle. Each person, in turn, shared stories. Many of the native participants talked of anger and bitterness they felt at the stereotyping and humiliation they experienced simply because they are aboriginal. Some talked of their abusive upbringing and the despair they saw among their family and friends.
Some non-natives spoke of overcoming stereotypes. "My relationship with natives has changed almost day-to-day," said one man. He has come "to love and respect natives" and to enjoy the special features of the culture.
Despite the frankness there was also a sense the cultures were talking past each other, said Marv Frey, executive director of MCC Canada.
"That meeting exposed the awkwardness in even beginning a dialogue," said Frey in an interview after the meetings. "It seemed we were coming from totally different perspectives. "They (native church leaders) were saying `Enter into our pain and then we can decide how to move forward'. We (non-natives) didn't acknowledge that pain and help bring healing to it. We seemed more interested in moving on with our meeting agenda."
Henry Dueck, moderator of the EMMC Conference said that despite some uncomfortable moments, the meeting "was an eye-opener. We could hear native Christians expressing their hopes, fears and aspirations". Dueck said he's not sure what will come of the meeting. He pointed out the moderator's council is more an information-sharing body than an action group.
MCC release
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