Being a Faithful Church: Guidelines for Upholding Agreement with MCM's Confession of Faith
Mennonite Church Manitoba
PREAMBLE
One of the criteria for congregational membership and ministerial credentials with Mennonite
Church Manitoba is “substantial agreement with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite
Perspective.” Our substantial agreement with the Confession of Faith bonds us together for
worship, fellowship and ministry. While being unified in this substantial agreement with the
Confession of Faith, we recognize that our agreement will never be absolute due to our limits as
communities and individuals in understanding God's nature and will. Our differences over
specific points remind us that faithfulness and unity require constant m mutual monitoring and
shared discerning.
Sometimes the discernment of congregations and/or ministers on a specific tenet in MCM's
Confession of Faith leads to them re-affirm that tenet. Sometimes it leads to a position at
variance to a tenet in the Confession of Faith; and thereby prompting the question of whether
they are still “in substantial agreement” with it.
In accordance with our denominational polity and area church constitution Mennonite Church
Manitoba is mandated to address cases of member congregations and/or credentialed ministers
taking positions which raise the question of “substantial agreement” with the Confession of
Faith, constitution or resolutions. Currently there are congregations which, after conducting their
own internal discernment process, have taken or are seriously considering accepting same-sex
marriage which could raise the question of whether the congregation is still in substantial
agreement with the Confession of Faith. points on which congregations and/or ministers have
taken a position which could raise the same question.
These guidelines are intended to clarify for all member congregations and credentialed ministers
of Mennonite Church Manitoba how it will attempt to address such cases so as to uphold the
faithfulness and unity of our area church. Though these guidelines are formulated in response to
the current issue over which there are differences and are intended to conform to the Being a
Faithful Church process and timeline adopted by Mennonite Church Canada and its area
churches, for discernment and resolution, they could form the basis for addressing other issues.
Our hope is that these guidelines will contribute to the fellowship of MCM, building each other
up, and resourcing each other for ministry in our particular circumstances. We strive to live the
words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Colossae: “Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND POLITY
1.
The vision of MCM is: “to be a community of congregations unified in Jesus Christ,
living a biblical Anabaptist faith, together presenting Jesus Christ to the world”
2.
The mission of MCM is: “to resource and empower each other, and to facilitate spiritual
growth, service and evangelism;”
3.
Eligibility for membership within MCM is defined in our constitution as follows: “A
congregation in or near the province of Manitoba that is in substantial agreement with
the Confession of Faith and each tenet therein, and that is in agreement with this
Constitution and General Operating Bylaw, including all appendices hereto, is eligible
for membership in Mennonite Church Manitoba.”
4.
The polity of MCM regarding Congregational - Conference Relationships is stated as
follows in our constitution:
a.
“ The local congregation is the body of Christ and is organized to represent
Christ in worship, fellowship, service and education. Individual congregations
shall retain full privileges of self- determination in their own programs. However,
membership in Mennonite Church Manitoba requires the congregation’s
responsible support of resolutions and ministries developed by the congregational
members working together as Mennonite Church Manitoba.
b.
Mennonite Church Manitoba is the body of Christ. Its function is to administer the
ministries assigned to it by its member congregations. In fulfilling this mission
Mennonite Church Manitoba seeks to serve and strengthen the local
congregations, not to control them. The member congregations, on the other
hand, have the responsibility of supporting Mennonite Church Manitoba in
fulfilling its assigned tasks.
SPECIFIC BACKGROUND
1.
MCM and many of its member congregations, along with their sister area churches and
congregations in Canada have decided to participate in the Being a Faithful Church
discernment process coordinated by Mennonite Church Canada as we formulate our
position about same-sex marriage as a denomination.
2.
The BFC Task Force has gleaned the following trends in the responses to the process to
date (BFC 5:1 & 6):
a. responses stated a deep desire for unity and that challenges of same-sex relations
should not cause divisions at congregational, area, or national church levels
b. a significant majority of responses reflect the historical affirmations as implied in
the Resolution on Sexuality (1986 & 1987) or Article 19 of the Confession of
Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995)
c. responses express a desire to be more compassionate and welcoming of those
individuals who are same-sex attracted.
d. two contrasting set of significantly smaller numbers: a) that oppose any visiting of
the historical understandings of biblical sexuality and b) that call for more
inclusion of persons in same-sex relationships, including welcoming them as
members, leaders, and as committed same-sex partners
e. responses have revealed significant differences of understanding of the will of
God relating to same-sex relationships even while Scripture has been the
foundation
f. In BFC 6 member congregations have been asked to:
i. reflect on how we shall maintain our unity in Christ as congregations, area
church/national church while understanding matters of same-sex
relationships differently,
ii. describe what our congregations would look like as they live out Christ's
love in the area of human sexuality,
iii. offer counsel for the area/national church.
3.
Congregations and ministers are arriving at different answers to these questions, some at
re-affirming this point in the Confession of Faith, and other accepting same-sex-marriage
as they discern God's will in this matter.
4.
Congregations are also divided within themselves on this issue.
5.
Congregations and ministers, regardless of their position on same-sex marriage, are
called to express Christ's desire for the unity of the church as well as God's love for
persons who are same-sex attracted.
6.
The outcome of the BFC process might be a re-affirmation of the current tenet on
marriage in the Confession of Faith, or revision of that tenet or an agreement to exercise
forebearance toward differing positions.
7.
Concluding the BFC process will require time and discernment at least until the
Mennonite Church Canada assembly in mid-2016.
COMMENDATIONS TO MCM CONREGATIONS, LEADERS AND MINISTERS
It is recommended that:
1.
Congregations, leaders, and ministers continue to seek the unity of MCM and its member
congregations.
2.
Congregations, leaders and ministers demonstrate their desire to be understanding and
welcoming of individuals who are same-sex attracted.
3.
Congregations, leaders, and ministers continue to adhere to its congregational polity and
guidelines for credentialing ministers.
4.
Congregations participate in the Being a Faithful Church process to its conclusion
before taking a definitive policy or action regarding same-sex marriage at variance to the
Confession of Faith and/or regarding their membership in MCM.
5.
Congregations and credentialed ministers remain in substantial agreement with the
Confession of Faith when considering their position on same-sex marriage.
6.
Congregations which are considering accepting same-sex marriage formulate their tenet
on marriage to be consistent with the other tenets about marriage in the Confession of
Faith.
7.
Congregations which have already decided to accept same-sex marriage, refrain from
requesting credentials for a minister in a same-sex marriage and advise their MCM
credentialed minister(s) to refrain from officiating same-sex marriages at least until the
BFC process is concluded.
8.
Congregations which are considering accepting same-sex marriage inform MCM leaders
about their process, reasons, and decisions as well as their understanding of their
relationship to the area church and to the Confession of Faith before taking this position.
9.
Ministers serving in an MCM congregation who are considering officiating a same-sex
marriage inform the MCM Ministerial Leadership Commission of her/his reasons as well
as her/his understanding of her/his relationship to the congregation, to MCM and the
Confession of Faith.
Revised June 2015