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MENNONITE BRETHREN (MB) are marking two major milestones this summer, and have
chosen B.C. as the place to do it.
Celebration 2010, to be held July 12 – 18, marks both the 150th anniversary of the denomination and the 100th
anniversary of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Mennonites originated in central Europe in the 1500s, as a persecuted sect
emphasizing community, discipleship, pacifism and believer’s baptism.
The MB denomination was founded in 1860 in Mennonite colonies in southern
Russia. Influenced by both Lutheran Pietists and German Baptists, the
denomination began as a renewal movement which broke away from the Mennonite
church. This beginning accounts for MBs having a dual identity as both
Mennonite and evangelical.
MBs began immigrating from Russia to North America in the 1870s, with further
waves coming after the First and Second World Wars. The first MB congregation
was established in Manitoba in 1888, and the forerunner of the Canadian
Conference was established in 1909.
MBs now have some 250 congregations spread across Canada.
More than 100 of those are in B.C., where the denomination has become well known
for its innovative church planting and multi-ethnic congregations.
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Many of their churches have become very large, including Willingdon, in Burnaby, and
Northview, in Abbotsford.
Celebration 2010 will contain a number of components.
First will be a study conference July 12 – 14, dedicated to ‘Renewing Identity and Mission,’ at ACTS Seminaries in Langley.
A celebration service will take place July 14 at Chandos Pattison Auditorium.
This will be followed July 15 – 16 by Gathering 2010, the biennial convention of the Canadian Conference of MB
Churches, in North Langley Community Church; and by the U.S. MB Conference
convention in Gracepoint Community Church in Surrey.
The celebrations will be rounded off with an Urban Experience event and closing
rally in Vancouver July 17; and celebrations in various MB churches in British
Columbia and Washington state, July 18. – DFD
July 2010
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