Conference proposes changes to EMC gatherings, affiliations

Election results

Moderator
Abe Bergen (Kleefeld EMC)

Board of Church Ministries
Karla Hein (Westpointe Community Church)
Rob Wiebe (Blumenort Community Church)
1 vacancy

Board of Leadership and Outreach
Andrea Dyck (Steinbach EMC)
Jared Schroeder (Westpointe Community Church)

Board of Missions
Anthony Reimer (Blumenort Community Church)
3 vacancies

Board of Trustees
Harold Friesen (Abbeydale Christian Fellowship)
Brad Penner (Pleasant Valley EMC)
1 vacancy

Nominating Committee
Alvin Plett (Heartland Community Church)

To assist with filling listed vacancies, please contact the EMC office at 204-326-6401 or info@emconference.ca.

DELEGATES GATHERED on June 29, 2024, in person at La Crete (Alta.) Christian Fellowship Church (LCCFC) and virtually over Zoom to hear of proposed changes to EMC gatherings and affiliations.

Gatherings Committee recommendations

EMC Executive Director Emery Plett presented the recommendations from the EMC Gatherings Committee. One of the recommendations is to move national gatherings from an annual event in June to an event every five years that would happen at the end of October, with the first to take place in 2027/2028. Between national gatherings, regional events with a focus on equipping would take place.

The committee also recommends shifting in-person Conference Council meetings to once a year (November), with a second online-only meeting to be held in April. Other recommendations covered how ministerial events would take place.

EMC external partnerships

Plett also presented a proposal from the General Board on EMC external partnerships. Currently, the EMC provides board members and reporting opportunities to several external organizations. However, as the proposal states, “It is important that the EMC be thoughtful about which organizations it connects with.” The proposal includes three levels of affiliation based on how theologically aligned the organization is to EMC’s doctrinal statement and the scope of an outside organization’s presence (whether it is national, provincial or local).

Board of Missions

BOM chairman Anthony Reimer asked delegates to be on the lookout for Board of Missions members, saying “we’re looking for at least three more people to join our board.” He also presented an opportunity to be “a champion for Nicaragua.” With project funds for Nicaragua coming in short of their goals, the BOM is looking for someone to promote the needs in the country and “help raise a minimum of about $35,000 to $50,000 each year.”

Board of Leadership and Outreach

Cameron McKenzie, BLO chairman, said the BLO is working at “strengthening the role of pastors and ministers currently in our conference, but also working to raise up the next generation of pastoral leadership.” In relation to these goals, the BLO is looking at a proposal from the National Youth Committee to move their overseeing board to the BLO from the Board of Church Ministries, as it is currently.

Board of Church Ministries

Director Erica Fehr highlighted several BCM projects. A kids’ ministry team has formed to create a resource package for churches, with information on how to implement/maintain a child protection policy and other helpful materials. The team is also working alongside the Winnipeg-based Awesome KidMin Community to create a kids’ ministry equipping event in Alberta.

The BCM is also in the process of creating an audio version of The Messenger. Some selections are currently available at www.emcmessenger.ca (click on the “listen” tab), with more to come.

The event closed at noon local time, with workshops taking place in the afternoon.