College federation postponed

WINNIPEG, MAN.

At the April 24 Mennonite college federation committee meeting, Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC) came with a recommendation to slow the time line by one year. The other partners, Concord College and Menno Simons College, were surprised by the way CMBC announced its intentions. CMBC had sent a press release with this message to four Mennonite periodicals on April 23.

After much explanation and an apology from CMBC, the three colleges renewed their commitment to work together, and agreed to extend the process by one year. CMBC said it would revise the press release and ask editors to retract the original.

The new press release reported on a special meeting of CMBC's board, held April 18-19. According to the release, "The board strongly affirmed its commitment to federation even as it moved to slow down the time line by one year." Under the new time line, CMBC will ask its owners, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC), for final approval at annual delegate sessions in summer, 1998 instead of this summer.

"An extended time line [to inform and consult with the CMC constituency] is needed to ensure ultimate success," said CMBC president John H. Neufeld in the release. How the delay will affect negotiations with the Manitoba government was not discussed.

A Concord member asked if there were other things about college federation that they needed to know from CMBC. "What pieces need to be in place . . . so we can know for next time?"

The press release said, "Also contributing to this decision were some outstanding issues regarding governance and finances that could not be resolved in time for the July, 1997 annual [CMC convention]." For example, CMBC is expected to put $1.25 million towards the acquisition of a new site adjacent to the CMBC campus (which would primarily be occupied by Concord). CMBC has a plan for how to finance this, but the plan has not been secured. CMBC plans to send information to its supporting churches in the next few weeks; it will give a progress report and allow time for discussion at the annual CMC convention this summer in Winnipeg (July 3-6).

"I do feel the process could have been a little more consultative," said a Concord member. Concerned about the risk of losing support from the provincial government, he said, "The window of opportunity is not open eternally."

The committee talked briefly about Concord going ahead with acquiring the new site as a step toward federation but left that for future consideration. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at Concord College.

Aiden Schlichting Enns, Manitoba provincial editor for Mennonite Reporter

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