Long-time treasurer retires from campus chaplaincy board
WINNIPEG, Man.—
For almost three decades, students have found a sense of community, peer support, pastoral care, counselling and more at Menno Office on the University of Manitoba campus.
Menno Office. a campus ministry supported by the Inter Mennonite Chaplaincy Association (IMCA), is a shared ministry of Mennonite church conferences that appoint members to serve on the board. Shortly after the IMCA was formed in 1995, Len Loewen was appointed to the board and served as IMCA’s treasurer from May 1996 until his retirement in May 2023.
“Len’s decades of service on the IMCA board have borne witness to his belief in the value of the ministry that we offer at U of M,” says IMCA Chaplain Mark von Kampen. “His skills, deep and quiet wisdom and good humour have been a gift.”
Loewen, a retired accountant and member of Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg, was appointed by the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC). Loewen’s long-time service and outstanding contributions were recognized by Morrow Gospel Church during a Sunday morning worship service in June.
“Len has been an incredible force behind the IMCA, keeping the wheels turning and always looking for ways to help the organization,” said IMCA chair Allison Janzen in her tribute message. “Len will be missed, and I hope he enjoys his more retired retirement.”
EMMC executive director Lyn Dyck said in his tribute message that finding faithful people who are passionate about ministry and involvement is a special blessing. “Len has demonstrated commitment to the IMCA campus ministry as it has changed and grown over the years,” he said. “Len has been a stable leader through challenging times and committed to the ministry and the guiding board.”
During his 27 years of service, Loewen served with eight different board chairs and three different chaplains. In his remarks Loewen said it had been a privilege for him to use his accounting skills to strengthen a ministry that provides a welcoming place of refuge for students on a multi-faith campus.
“I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful Christian people,” he said. The appointment of von Kampen as chaplain in 2003, he noted, “brought consistency, stability and great spiritual and moral impact to our students.”
Loewen also acknowledged the contributions of volunteer board members and the ongoing financial and prayer support from the church conferences and the IMCA’s network of supporters.
Currently, the IMCA’s modest budget is met through the financial support of three church conferences (EMMC, Evangelical Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church Manitoba) along with fundraising events and financial contributions from congregations and individuals.
“Please continue to encourage and support this important ministry—our university students need us!” said Loewen.
Learn more about this ministry through visiting mennooffice.ca.