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1. This was a good convention. The irony is that just when the General Conference finally got it right, we voted to begin the process of possibly dissolving the Conference--and it was a pity that so few people were there to see it.
2. The worship, the preaching and the opportunity for personal and corporate spiritual renewal meant that many delegates left the convention more encouraged and empowered than when they came. This was not an inspiration-only conference, but it demonstrates that we could run one of those if we chose.
3. There was ample time given to discuss, reflect on and process the main business item of the convention. Four separate sessions were devoted to conference restructuring, and very little of that time was given to hearing reports, arguments or explanations from the platform. As moderator Ed Boschman suggested,-"We have done business."
4. This was the first General MB Conference convention geared to baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). This was evident in a number of ways. Even though we sang many "hymns", the music style was boomer--and it was well received. Ed Boschman's moderating style was relaxed, informal, personal and flexible, more concerned with substance than form. It was indicative that when the schedule became tight on Friday afternoon, it was the workshops rather than the coffee break that was shortened.
A whole older generation, for whom convention attendance was an integral part of life, seemed to be largely absent. The "older" generation present seemed to be the soon-to-be-retired or the recently retired. Baby boomers and the soon-to-be-retired seemed to be present in about equal numbers. The other generation that was absent was the baby busters (those born after 1964). Many of the changes proposed and/or made were for them, but it remains to be seen whether they will now "pick up the baton" and take ownership of the Conference. It also remains to be seen whether boomers, having finally achieved power, will readily pass it on to the buster generation.
5. While delegates repeatedly praised "internationalization", it is not clear that we are really ready to hand power over to an international partnership. One delegate observed after the convention that there were no translation services. French-Canadians, Hispanic Americans, Afro-Americans and Chinese Canadians make up significant portions of the North American MB churches, but few of their representatives were present in Waterloo. The only non-English language spoken was the German of Nicolai Dueckman of the Soviet Union, and, judging by the laughter before his remarks were translated, many of the delegates understood German. The Menonite Brethren Church is an international and multiracial body. General Conference business conventions are still largely dominated by people from a European Mennonite background. If we can't even find ways to include the ethnic diversity within our own North American churches, how can we possibly pass power to a truly international structure?
6. Although commitment and consensus are important, running the church as a direct democracy is not necessarily the only way to achieve these. Many delegates urged that the "grassroots" be consulted on the conference restructuring proposal. Yet this was another convention largely dominated by church "professionals" (pastors, conference workers and board members). I am not convinced that the grassroots either understands or cares about conference structures. There are indications that they care about missions, trained pastors, music resources, fellowship with Christians from other places, etc. I don't think they care particularly about what structures deliver those things. If they had been, I suspect more of them would have been at this convention. Perhaps it is more important that the conference structures provide what the church needs than what "the people" say they want.
7. The General Conference has strong programs which are not necessarily dependent on the General Conference's existence for survival. Even among the "professional" delegates present, there seemed to be some confusion about what the General Conference actually controls. For instance, MB Biblical Seminary is supported and funded through an agreement between the US and Canadian Conferences, not the General Conference alone. MB Missions/Services does not receive money from the General Conference, but is supported by voluntary giving from churches and individuals. Even the rest of the General Conference budget is collected by the national conferences, the General Conference Board of Trustees already having passed on most of its responsibilities to the national boards of management.
8. The word "dissolution" caused more concern and fear than it should have. No one is proposing that the main General Conference ministries be dissolved, and they would most likely still be run by boards containing members from both Canada and the US. What is envisaged, I think, is more an amalgamation of the General and national conferences, although this was not clearly spelled out in the proposals.
9. Not all issues are "spiritual" issues. Structures can be just or unjust. They can be be teaching tools and embody certain values (such as inclusion or community). Yet, sometimes structures can be changed simply in the interests of efficiency. I suspect that the restructuring being proposed would improve coordination and cooperation between the ministries of the General Conference and the national conferences, and that the change could increase support for MB Missions/Services, for instance, by bringing it closer to the constituency. Many of the delegates at Waterloo will miss the fellowship of binational conventions, but many of these "professional" delegates will still be on binational boards and find other occasions to meet. The fact that fewer and fewer of the grassroots are attending may indicate that biennial business conventions are not the best means of fostering binational and international fellowship at the grassroots level.
10. This is not the end. There will be at least one more General Conference convention, and, judging from past experience, Mennonite Brethren will still find many reasons to get together. As my Baptist mother observed shortly after I joined the MB Church, "Mennonite Brethren certainly have a lot of conferences."
I could say more, but these are my top 10 observations.
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