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ICOMB’s Global History of Mennonite Brethren Takes Shape

BOGOTA, Colombia — The International Committee of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is exploring its relationship with the Mennonite World Conference, creating a Leadership Training Scholarship, planning to enhance its global mission efforts and it has launched a new publishing series as well as a global history project. These items were on the agenda of ICOMB's annual meeting convened July 11-14, 2006 at the Casa San Pedro Cavel convent here.

Sixteen of the 19 member conferences were represented. Sigueira Luzembo of Angola made it to Brazil, but didn’t have the visa to enter Colombia.

In anticipation of the 150th anniversary of the Mennonite Brethren movement, writers from every conference have already been found for the global history project. The Historical Commission of North America is guiding the process under the direction of Dr. Abe Dueck of Winnipeg, former Director of the Historical Commission. Dr. Dueck attended the meetings in Bogota to work first-hand with the ICOMB group.

The objective of the project is not to create a “coffee table book” but to put the MB story into the hands of the people as a learning tool. Global confessional values will be the centrepiece. The missional nature of the movement will be featured prominently. A vision of the future and how to prepare for it will be the challenge to every reader.

“The past, the present and the future should be in dialogue with each other,” said Victor Wall, Executive Secretary.

$15,000 has been committed by ICOMB. It is expected that further fund raising will be required from interested individuals and groups.

In other news, a new publishing series was launched. The purpose will be to inform pastors and members of Mennonite Brethren values and polity. The first item will be a commentary/guide on the International Confession of Faith released 2 years ago. Dr. Elmer Martens of the MB Biblical Seminary and Peter Klassen, Chair of the Historical Commission will be co-editors and a Reference Council with one representative from each continent will be appointed to guide development. Contributors will be found from each conference as the series develops.

As a step of continued growth as a global body, the delegates decided to create a Leadership Training Scholarship that will help pastors in training to acquire seminary education. The parameters are to be worked out in this coming year. Implementation will follow next year’s meeting. Connected to this, ICOMB seeks to host a Forum for Educators for leaders from the M.B. colleges and universities in the various countries.

To enhance the development of global mission efforts, Randy Friesen, General Director of MBMS International, will convene a second meeting of the Global Mission Alliance in September in Almaty, Kazakhstan, alongside of the Global Mission Fellowship of the Mennonite World Conference. Each MB conference with a mission-sending agency will be invited to participate.

ICOMB also is exploring its relationship with the Mennonite World Conference as an international organization, not just as individual conferences.

Prior to the ICOMB meetings, members attended the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Colombia M.B. Conference. The meetings concluded with a foot washing service and a tour of Bogotá.

Plans are beginning for next year’s annual meeting, set for Kinshasa, Congo.

— David Wiebe, ICOMB Secretary