Fall 2024 · Vol. 53 No. 2 · pp. 124–125
From the Editor: Fire & Ashes
For many years, the Board of Faith and Life—now the National Faith and Life Team (NFLT)—of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CCMBC) has been sponsoring biannual study conferences to address key issues (e.g., discipleship, sexuality, hermeneutics) within the MB church family in Canada. Since 2017, these gatherings have been called “Equip Study Conferences” or simply “Equip.” The event held in October 2023, Abbotsford, BC, focused on topics related to ecclesiology under the title “Fire & Ashes: Why Church? Why MB?” Pastors and congregants explored why the local church still mattered, why MB denominational identity still mattered, and why MB local churches should care about various neglected elements in church life, such as biblical anthropology, creation care, evangelism, and community. Attendees also met in discussion groups responding to new NFLT resources concerning Canadian MB Confession of Faith articles 6 (Nature of the Church) and 7 (Mission of the Church) and the definition of a “healthy church.” On the significance of the conference title, see the first page of Ken Esau’s article in this issue.
The 2023 Fire & Ashes conference was a response to documented changes in North American culture. That the worldwide COVID pandemic has resulted in decreased church attendance across denominational lines is well known. Given less attention has been the increase in expressive individualism and in distrust of external authority in general. Some of this increase can be accounted for by publicized scandals involving religious leaders and other prominent persons. Only slightly less known are failures of institutions, religious and otherwise, to protect the vulnerable and to hold perpetrators responsible for abuses of various kinds. The Equip conference was conceived to increase awareness of these factors, to define the challenges of the cultural moment, and to help chart a path forward, for MB congregations specifically and for the denomination more generally.
The essays by Esau, Toews, Reimer, Faw, and Simpson in this issue of Direction are slightly revised versions of important presentations at the 2023 conference. Ken Esau takes up the fundamental ecclesiological question, “Why church?” Freely acknowledging the challenges of church, personally and culture-wide, he explores several less-than-satisfying answers before making the case that the church participates in God’s mission of salvation, both cosmic and personal. Pastor Kristal Toews asks more specifically “Why MB?” while looking through both the lens of the biblical text—especially Hebrews 10:19-25—and the lens of Mennonite Brethren history. She challenges accountability to confessional convictions and a commitment to mission. Sociologist Sam Reimer reports from {125} his research into Canadian culture, demonstrating unhealthy shifts that impact the church and its attempts at outreach. Reimer finds indication that people understand themselves as autonomous (their own authority), emphasize their individual rights, create their own individual identity, and make finding their authentic self the ultimate goal. As a result, religion becomes a form of self-spirituality. Chris Clements invites us to view God’s world through the lens of curation. Suggesting Jesus as model curator, he offers insights into revelation, discipleship, evangelism, and theological vocation. Educator Rick Faw of A Rocha Canada helps make clear how earthkeeping is part of Christian discipleship. Noting that the original human vocation concerned caring for creation, he gives examples and offers principles for helping this to happen in the local congregation.
In her Ministry Compass piece, Sharon Simpson appeals for a renewed passion for evangelism, highlighting ten striking benefits for congregations that do so. This issue is blessed with a few more Book Reviews than is typical for the journal. The first five address books recommended for those participating in the 2023 Fire & Ashes conference.
My gratitude goes to Ken Esau and Kristal Toews who were very helpful in providing the above rationale and context for the Equip conference, and Ken also assisted with communication and feedback to the writers. May the contents of this issue serve to equip and strengthen the saints for their faithful work in this cultural season.
