USMB involved in C2C, MB Mission merger discussions

C2C Network/MB Mission task force holds first meeting

CCMBC press release with Christian Leader files

Photo: Randy Friesen, MB Mission general director, and Gord Fleming, C2C Network executive director, spoke briefly about the merger of their two agencies at the USMB 2016 National Convention. Both are ex officio members of the merger task force.

U.S. Mennonite Brethren are represented on a task force formed by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches (CCMBC) to explore merger options for the Canadian church planting ministry, C2C Network, and MB Mission, the North American MB agency that plants churches that transform communities among the least reached.

Don Morris, USMB national director, and Gary Wall, the Pacific District Conference minister, are serving on the task force. 

U.S. Mennonite Brethren first learned of the formation of this task force at the July 2016 USMB National Convention in Denver. The CCMBC also held its biennial convention in July 2016 and at that time delegates made two decisions that will potentially  impact USMB ministries, specifically church planting.

In addition to forming a task force to investigate options for C2C Network and MB Mission to work together to plant churches locally, nationally and globally, CCMBC delegates authorized C2C, in collaboration with MB Mission, “to assist the USMB Conference as invited by the leadership of the USMB and be allowed to function interdenominationally in the USA without any negative impact on Canadian church planting ministries and budget.”

The C2C/MB Mission task force met in September and released the following report of the meeting.

Delegates at Gathering 2016 approved the creation of a task force to create and monitor accountability structures for the C2C Network’s operations to be sustainable over the long-term and to explore governance options and implications of a potential merger of C2C with MB Mission.

The CCMBC task force on C2C and MB Mission met Sept. 6–7, 2016. Members (listed below) became acquainted with each other and the mandate they hold. Over the next year, the task force will meet regularly.

“The task force will provide accountability for C2C’s operations and develop appropriate metrics to measure ongoing effectiveness,” says co-chair Michael Dick.

Though C2C has many interdenominational partnerships, “we view C2C as wholly owned and operationally accountable to the Canadian MB Conference,” says Dick. The possible merger with MB Mission does not affect those pre-existing agreements. “This is a governance and organizational matter for us to resolve.”

Task force members:

Appointed by the CCMBC executive board:

Co-chair: Jim Barkman, attends South Abbotsford Church, Abbotsford, BC; serves on the national C2C advisory committee

Co-chair: Michael Dick, attends Bakerview Church, Abbotsford, B.C.; CCMBC executive board member-at-large; served on task force that oversaw expansion of Church Planting BC into the national C2C Network

Secretary: Marilyn Hiebert, attends Central Heights Church, Abbotsford, B.C.; CCMBC executive board secretary, retired BC conference administrator

Howie Wall, attends Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, Sask.;  CCMBC executive board finance committee chair

Karen West, pastor at Waterloo MB Church, Waterloo, Ont.; CCMBC executive board Ontario representative

Appointed by MB Mission:

Rick Reimer, attends Willingdon Church, Burnaby, BC; MB Mission board member

Appointed by the U.S. Mennonite Brethren Conference:

Gary Wall, attends Neighborhood MB, Visalia, Calif.; USMB Pacific District Conference minister

Ex officio members:

Willy Reimer, attends Sunwest Christian Fellowship, Calgary, Alta.; CCMBC executive director

Gord Fleming, attends North Langley Community Church, Langley, BC; C2C Network executive director

Randy Friesen, attends Central Heights Church, Abbotsford, BC; MB Mission general director

Don Morris, attends Cross Timbers Church in Edmond, Okla.; USMB executive director