The National Faith and Life Team(NFLT) ensures CCMBC is growing spiritually healthy churches grounded in the Bible and equipped to reach their communities for Christ.
We do this by providing spiritual guidance and direction in matters of faith, theology, ethics, and Christian living, and upholding biblical and ethical integrity through our Confession of Faith as well as resources and events.
The NFLT exists to articulate and safeguard Mennonite Brethren theological convictions, design and develop national strategies and resources, and facilitate collaboration between provinces, national, and agencies.
On an ongoing basis, the NFLT identifies and addresses areas of concern and significant issues impacting the MB churches in Canada. The NFLT takes lead in the national key initiative of Spiritual Health and Theology.
Faith and Life Resources
Confession of Faith Amendment Procedure Policy
1. Identity/Doctrine/Witness
A. Anabaptism: The basic beliefs
B. Baptism and church membership (English | Français)
E. Christian witness in a world of many faiths
F. Mennonite Brethren: Tell me about them
G. The Bible: Reading with understanding
H. Creation: God’s Revelation in Nature
2. Marriage and Family
A. A more excellent way: Christian marriage in the world
B. Making our weddings Christian
C. When marriages fail (English | Français)
D. Why not just live together?
3. Social / Lifestyle
B. Euthanasia and the sanctity of life
C. Finding fulfillment in retirement
E. Making good viewing choices: Videos, movies, and TV
F. Materialism: Blowing the whistle
G. Gambling
The pamphlets are available for download in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
To order printed copies please fill out the order form and email to or call 1-800-545-7322.
Pamphlets are free (plus postage) for Canadian Mennonite Brethren churches and $0.40 each (plus postage) for non-MB or non-Canadian churches/customers.
Ordination Booklet – May 1, 2017, First edition
NOTE: print double sided and select “flip on short edge” in the printing options
The National Faith & Life Team’s study guide (including discussion guide) is available for all groups and individuals who would like to learn more about human sexuality.
Study-Guide-2015-Booklet
NOTE: print double sided and select “flip on short edge” in the printing options
Guide-détude-sur-la-sexualité1
MB情性研討指引 / Study Guide 2015 (Chinese)
The following are resources (downloadable PDFs) around the topic of human sexuality recommended by CCMBC’s National Faith and Life Team. For more information about any of these resources, please go to the MCC Canada website.
A. Pornography: Lies, Truth, Hope
This MCC booklet explores the dangers of pornography and helps find ways to prevent and overcome the harm it causes.
B. Home: A Safe Place for All
This MCC pamphlet addresses the issue of family violence and abuse.
C. Abuse: Response and Prevention
This MCC booklet is a guide for church leaders seeking to address the issue of abuse in the church and home.
- Additional resources on this topic are available here: abuseresponseandprevention.ca
D. Understanding Sexual Abuse by a Church Leader
This MCC booklet deals with the complex issues surrounding sexual abuse within the church, providing a clear definition of what constitutes sexual abuse by a church leader or caregiver.
Close to Home is a pamphlet series produced by the Mennonite Publishing Network and available for order through Kindred Productions. The pamphlets address difficult personal issues such as addiction, compulsive behaviour, mental disorders, infertility, marital discord or the experience of abuse.
This resource is neither a substitute for therapy, nor the definitive word on the issue. It’s simply a starting point – using Scripture and the support of a caring Christian community – to move toward healing and wholeness.
Videos of Presentations:
(VIDEO) A Wellness Focus in 2020 by Rod Wilson
(VIDEO) Ministry Burnout by Bonita Eby
Resources from Dr. Rod Wilson:
The Inner Life of the Pastor – Presentation Notes
Resources from Bonita Eby:
Burnout Conversations for Pastoral Teams (Bonita Eby)
Burnout Assessment Tool (Bonita Eby)
Burnout Prevention and Wellness Presentation Slides (Bonita Eby)
Blog Articles:
- 5 Challenges in a Work From Home World
- 10 Work From Home Wellness Solutions
- More relevant articles are available on the Blog page.
Video:
Books:
- Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again by Dr. Frank Lipman M.D.
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
- Unstressed: How Somatic Awareness Can Transform Your Body’s Stress Response and Build Emotional Resilience by Alane K. Daugherty PhD
Additional Resources:
Scope & Purpose
This policy contains guidelines for the regulation of members in MB churches in Canada as referenced in CCMBC Bylaw Article 4 Section 7 Membership in the Member Church. The spirit of these guidelines is to promote best practices and consistency in the MB churches in Canada and not to place an undue burden on the church.
Related Resources
1. Confession of Faith Article 6, 8 & 10 and related Living our Confession guidelines
2. The Faith & Life pamphlet Baptism and Church Membership
Theological Basis
The basis for the guidelines contained in this policy are our convictions as stated in the Confession of Faith, specifically Articles 6, 8 & 10 which address the nature of the church, baptism, belonging, and discipleship in the context of a local church.
Among these are our beliefs that the church is the body of Christ, made visible in the context of the local church. The church forms a covenant community of persons who have placed their faith and trust in Christ and have made that faith visible in the act of believer’s baptism.
We endorse a short span of time between faith and baptism which results in becoming a member of the covenant community. We hold that baptism makes one a member of the covenant community and that such belonging is not conditional on spiritual maturity.
Definitions
Covenant Community is a local church community consisting of baptized followers of Christ who mutually commit to follow Jesus in the context of this community. In this policy, the terms covenant community and local church are used interchangeably.
Member of the covenant community is a baptized believer committed to follow Jesus in this local church. This belonging begins at the point of a person’s believer baptism in that congregation, acceptance into membership by means of transfer from another MB congregation, or acceptance into membership by means of testimony for those believer baptized elsewhere.
This belonging ends when the person leaves the covenant community or is no longer a member in good standing. Missionaries, students, and others who, for a time, live away from the covenant community, but desire to retain their membership may be an exception, as discerned by the leadership of the local church.
Legally Constituted Membership refers to membership of an organization, as stipulated by applicable government regulations, for the purpose of participation in the governing decision- making in the organization. In many MB churches the covenant community members are also the legally constituted members. In some MB churches the legally constituted members are a subset of the covenant community members. (See Article 8 Implementation Guideline 10)
Policy
To provide for consistency of practice that reflects our MB convictions, each local church shall:
1. Have in place clear processes for managing membership by:
- Baptizing and incorporating believers in accordance with Article 8 of MB Confession of Faith and the Article Implementation Guidelines contained therein,
- Having in place an adequate baptism preparation process (see FAQ 5),
- Considering all believers baptized in this church to be members of the covenant community with mutual commitments as outlined in (FAQ 10),
- Having in place the means and a process for incorporating into the covenant community those believers who were believer-baptized in other congregations,
- Having in place policies which, in line with applicable government regulations, specify which covenant community members may vote on legal matters of church governance,
- Having in place a means of tracking the individuals baptized in this church, those joined through transfer or testimony, and those who may legally participate in decision-making in the church.
2. Have in place a clearly defined process for church discipline that aims at restoration of the disciplined member into full participation in the covenant community.
3. Have in place a clear path, for all ages and stages of spiritual growth, for the purpose of nurturing and discipling toward spiritual maturity.
4. Have in place clearly defined practices for the process of calling out and nurturing the gifting and character of each member of the covenant community for service in the church, the MB conference, and the world.
Each MB church shall endeavour to implement the requirements of this policy as stated herein and do so in a way that honours the local context and strengthens the church.
Faith and Life Events
The NFLT hosts Equip conferences every two years in order to bring together our national MB family around theological and ethical questions deemed to be particularly important in this cultural moment. Equip conferences are opportunities to worship and pray together, study Scripture together, interact together about how we can be a more faithful community of Jesus followers, and encourage each other. The goal is always to be more faithful to our larger CCMBC mission: “To cultivate a community of healthy disciple-making churches and ministries, faithfully joining Jesus in his mission.”
NFLT also facilitates Pastoral Credentialing and Orientation, a pastoral-equipping and orientation event, led by MB Seminary faculty and Canadian Conference staff. It is for those who are new to ministry within the Mennonite Brethren conference and for others who are seeking a refresher on Mennonite Brethren history, theology and resources. Those who attend and complete the requirements are eligible for pastor’s credentialing through their respective provincial conferences.
