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The General MB Conference Board of Faith and Life will convene a consultation to finetune the proposed revisions to the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith Oct. 29-31 in Dalhousie MB Community Church in Calgary. Participation will be by invitation only, but expected to participate are North American, national and provincial/district Boards of Faith and Life. The consultation will begin with a prayer summit at 2 o'clock on Oct. 29.
Steady rain caused extensive flooding in Piura, Peru in March. The flooding closed roads, and several bridges collapsed, killing many. The floodwaters also caused a dike to break, inundating the town of Chato Chico, where MBMS International has planted a church. Most people there fled their homes and were cut off from relief support.
MBMS INTERNATIONAL
Christian News Ottawa, the city's first Christian newspaper, was distributed free to more than 200 churches in March. The first issue included stories about the Billy Graham Mission coming in June, a Christian perspective on the federal government's budget, a story about Bible study groups on Parliament Hill and a profile on a Presbyterian minister who is Cree. Most of the printing costs for the 12,000 copies that were distributed were met by advertising sold to Christian organizations and Christian business people. The publisher is Lloyd Mackey, who launched Canada's first Christian newspaper, B.C. Christian News, 15 years ago. (It is now the country's largest Christian newspaper, with a staff of six and a budget of about $315,000 a year.) There are nine similar newspapers across Canada, in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Victoria and St. John, N.B., and about 75 similar newspapers in the US. Mackey expects to publish three issues of Christian News Ottawa in the next few months, culminating with a special issue June 21 that will be devoted to the Billy Graham Mission. Most Christian newspapers in Canada are supported mainly by evangelical Protestants, but Mackey says that Ottawa has a larger proportion of Catholics than many Canadian cities and a newspaper there can survive only if it involves both Catholics and Protestants. CHRI, the city's Christian gospel music station, already involves both Catholics and Protestants.
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
A confession of faith national signature drive was launched late last year by about a dozen United Church of Canada clergy from the Ottawa area. The drive was launched after United Church moderator Bill Phipps told the Ottawa Citizen that he does not believe Jesus was God, nor that He rose from the dead. Signers of the confession agree that they "accept our Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour". By mid-February about 600 signatures were posted on a web site, and more had been faxed to numbers in Ottawa, Toronto, Burlington, Ont. and Fredericton, N.B. One United Church pastor said the confession is "a challenge to UCC leadership to remember the New Testament basis of our covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the [reason] for our existence and ministry." Another pastor said the confession "reminds people that there are leaders of the church who still believe, and that they shouldn't lose hope."
CHRISTIANWEEK
Homosexual couples in British Columbia have the same privileges and obligations as heterosexual couples for child support, custody and access, after the provincial government enacted changes to the Family Relations Act Feb. 4. If partners in a same-sex relationship break up, their children will be entitled to be with both parents and to receive support from both of them.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, CHRISTIANWEEK
Fresno Pacific University, a Mennonite Brethren school in Fresno, Calif., saved $3,413 US in 1997 by recycling 119,981 pounds of the 240,790 pounds of waste generated.
FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
A Faith and Media Conference will be held June 7-9 in Ottawa. Hosted by Carleton University School of Journalism, the conference is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Journalists, a wide range of faith groups, private and corporate donors and the Department of Canadian Heritage. The keynote speaker will be Peggy Wehmeyer, the first reporter assigned to a religion and spirituality beat for ABC World News Tonight. Conference organizer John Longhurst, a member of River East MB Church in Winnipeg, said that the conference is about bringing together journalists and faith groups to talk about the gap between the two groups, to propose solutions and to build contacts. Workshops will cover topics such as "Barriers to Faith Coverage", "Faith in the Newsroom" and "Covering the Hot Potatoes: abortion, sexuality and other hard-to-handle topics". Speakers and panelists at the conference include Hana Gartner, host of CBC TV's The National; William Thorsell, editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail; Bill Phipps, moderator of The United Church of Canada; Robert Lewis, editor of Maclean's; Reginald Bibby, professor at the University of Lethbridge and author of Fragmented Gods: Study of Faith in Canada; Brian Stiller, former president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; Reuben Bulka, an Ottawa rabbi and media critic; Jamal Badawi, a Muslim professor at St. Mary's University, Halifax; and John Stackhouse, professor of religion at the University of Manitoba. For more information, contact Harold Jantz, phone 204-667-1419, fax 204-654-9182 or e-mail, jantz@escape.ca, or check out the conference's web site at www.escape.ca~jclong.
EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF CANADA
Freedom Jubliee is a celebration for Mennonite refugees who came to Canada directly or via Paraguay from Russia after World War II. The celebration, in conjunction with the Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach, Man., is being planned for Aug. 15 in Steinbach and Aug. 16 in Winnipeg. People who sponsored Mennonites to come to Canada are also invited. The event will include food, fellowship and thanksgiving. Information is available from Henry Bergen, 384 McKay Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R2G 0N4, phone 204-663-6418.
FREEDOM JUBILEE COMMITTEE
The Chair in Mennonite Studies will host an international conference called "EnGendering the Past: Women and Men in Mennonite History" at the University of Winnipeg Oct. 16-17. The purpose of the conference will be to analyze the ways in which gender has influenced and been evident in Mennonite history. Papers will discuss Mennonite concepts of femininity and masculinity, female-male relations in Mennonite communities and gender analysis in Mennonite historiography. The conference will build on the 1995 Pensylvannia conference, "The Quiet in the Land? Women of Anabaptist Traditions in Historical Perspective", but will expanded to focus on both women and men. Scholars presenting papers will include Marion Kobelt-Groch from Germany, James Urry from New Zealand, Linda Boynton Arthur from Hawaii and Steven Boyd from Virginia. Author Katie Funk Wiebe will be the keynote speaker at a Saturday night banquet. For more information, phone 204-339-0959, e-mail: jedigr1@callisto.uwinnipeg.ca, or write Royden Loewen, Chair in Mennonite Studies, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3B 2E5.
CHAIR IN MENNONITE STUDIES
Ontario Bible College/Ontario Theological Seminary is changing its name to Tyndale College and Seminary, effective June 1. Reasons for the change are to have a name that: emphasizes a commitment to the Bible; describes a nationally recognized school, not limited to a particular region; allows the college to become a Christian university-college while leaving the Seminary to train pastors and missionaries; is easy to build an identity around; and highlights the school's new vision after its near-bankruptcy in 1995. William Tyndale's name was selected because of his work in translating the New Testament into English during the Protestant Reformation. Begun as Toronto Bible Training School in 1894, the school later changed its name to Toronto Bible College. In 1968 it merged with London College of Bible and Missions and became Ontario Bible College. The seminary was added in 1976.
TYNDALE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY
John G. Stackhouse, Jr., professor of religious studies at the University of Manitoba, has been appointed to the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Chair of Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, effective July 1. He will replace J.I. Packer, who is retiring. Regent College, a transdenominational school affiliated with the University of British Columbia, offers a one-year diploma, a two-year master's degree and a three-year M.Div. More than 400 full-time students attend the college.
CHRISTIANWEEK
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada released a paper last year entitled Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society: A Social Action Commission Paper on Pluralism in Canada. The paper argues that a pluralistic society does not have to be non-religious in order to guarantee equality and justice for its citizens. The paper also says that while christians must maintain their commitment to the Bible's authority and fundamental Christian beliefs, political compromise is necessary in a pluralistic society. It says Christians should listen to non-Christians and use persuasion to bring people to Christ. It also says Christians should seek justice for everyone, not only for Christians.
EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF CANADA
The Multilateral Agreement on Investment, which the Canadian government has been negotiating with other developed countries on international trade and investment since May, 1995, sets out strict rules for governments on how they may and may not act in relation to foreign companies operating in their countries. The agreement was signed this spring by the 29 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the world's richest countries), but other nations are now expected to abide by it. Critics claim the agreement is only designed to protect corporations from government regulations and will not allow countries to develop their economies in ways that will benefit their people.
MCC OTTAWA NOTEBOOK
The Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance, a member of the World Evangelical Fellowship, has been officially registered in Bulgaria, giving it legal status. Since neo-communists lost power in the 1997 elections, religious liberties have been increasing. Bulgaria seems to be trying to become more democratic in order to be accepted as a member of the European Economic Union. Prior to the BEA registration, only the Orthodox Church was recognized in Bulgaria--and some Orthodox supporters are now asking that it be given privileged status in the Bulgarian constitution.
COMPASS DIRECT
Colombia has 0.6% of the world's population but 2.3% of the world's 25 million displaced persons. As many as 1 million of Colombia's 37 million people are displaced. Three-quarters of the displaced persons say they were driven away by guerrillas, police, the army or deathsquads. Some 2,700 Colombians have taken shelter in a stadium in Turbo, living in makeshift shelters. Mennonite Central Committee has provided $22,000 worth of food and medicine for about 4,000 men, women and children in Turbo and in Boca del R<146>o Atrato.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Although 46% of Russians say they are non-believers, 83% were baptized as a child and 13% were baptized by choice when older. The poll, conducted by the Russian Centre for Public Opinion Research, showed that 45% consider themselves Orthodox Christians; 2% are Muslims; 31% have always believed in God; 26% have never believed in God; 13% once professed atheism, but now believe in God; 6% gave no answer; and 2% once believed in God, but now profess no faith.
WORLD PULSE
Fresno Pacific University's board approved in February a $20 million US budget for 1998-99 (a 7.5% increase from the current budget). Tuition and room and board costs will rise 5.3%. East Hall, a new $5.13 million building containing a residence, offices and classrooms, will be completed by fall. Fundraising is beginning for a new multi-purpose dining complex. The Board approved a new Christian Ministries major for the Center for Degree Completion program--designed for working adults who want to complete their college degrees and pursue a ministry career.
FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
The number of births in Latin America has dropped dramatically from three decades ago, when the average woman had six children. Now, the average is three.
WORLD PULSE
80% of Japanese older than 65 lived with their children in 1970; today, about 55% live with their children. In the US, 20% of those over 65 live with their children.
WORLD PULSE
Circles of Support offer high-risk sex offenders support when they are released from prison. The first circle was developed by Harry Nigh, pastor at Welcome Inn, a Mennonite congregation in Hamilton, Ont. With the help from Mennonite Central Committee, Nigh then developed a proposal for more circles. Corrections Canada accepted the proposal and has hired a full-time chaplain to run the program. There are now seven circles operating in Toronto and Hamilton. Requests for information have come from across Canada and the US. The released offender signs a covenant saying he will be accountable to the circle, while the volunteers who make up the circle offer support and counsel. Nigh says the concept is like creating a family for the released offenders as they try to rebuild their lives.
CANADIAN MENNONITE
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