One step at a time

Across Canada, generations of women have been walking together in faith. As early as 1786, when Mennonites first began arriving from Pennsylvania, up until today, Mennonite women have found a sense of belonging by sharing with and caring for each other.

Historically, women did not have a voice in the church, and meeting together as a group was one way in which they could support and encourage each other, and work on projects dear to their hearts.

For many years, women also met during annual conference sessions. And later, they organized as separate provincial bodies to extend their connections and work on projects together. In 1952, this led to the formation of Canadian Women in Mission (CWM), renamed Mennonite Women Canada in 2009. Together, we can do so much more!

In the past decade, MW Canada has faced a number of challenges. In 2007, it was disheartening that B.C. Women in Mission decided to fold, followed a year later by Manitoba, mainly due to the lack of women willing to serve on the executive. However, Mennonite Church B.C. churches continue to host well-attended Inspirational Days and retreats, and in 2010, with the help of MC B.C., a new Women’s Ministry was launched, which is now represented by Waltrude Gortzen on the MW Canada executive. We are grateful for this!

In July 2012, we were delighted that Elsie Wiebe of Morden, Man., volunteered to serve as a liason for Manitoba women on the MW Canada executive, with the hope of helping them reconnect provincially and nationally. Her overview follows:

“The decision to disband Manitoba Women in Mission at the Enrichment Day in May 2008—after 47 years of active provincial involvement—was a sad day for many women who were committed to an organization that provided a means of service, spiritual direction, support, and wider social and fundraising connections through partnering with CWM. The main reason for the closure was declining and aging membership, which made it difficult to fill executive positions.

“Thankfully, a number of the local womens groups have remained active and some have continued to support MW Canada’s mission projects. But sadly there has not been a provincial gathering since the closure, which inevitably is causing a disconnect among Mennonite women in Manitoba.

“To begin the reconnecting process, a letter of introduction was sent to every church, including an update from MW Canada and an invitation to those interested to participate in a planning meeting to consider next steps. There were a few responses, mostly from the honorary groups which expressed support but graciously declined participating in the meetings.

“Following a round of phone calls, e-mails and personal connections, a group of women from across southern Manitoba met last October for a conversation about past connections to Women in Mission, whether they and others from their church would be interested in reconnecting provincially, and, if so, how that could be done.

“Subsequently, we also met with MC Manitoba leaders to inform them of our intentions. With their support and encouragement, a follow-up meeting to further discuss topics raised and actions to be taken is being planned.

The expressions of interest in reconnecting with women across the province have been encouraging, but time is a factor for many. Hopefully, taking one step at a time, we will find a way to meet with a multi-generational group of women representing all MC Manitoba churches within the coming year.”

That is good news not only for Manitoba women, but also for MW Canada. As Kathy Giesbrecht, MC Manitoba associate director of Leadership Ministries, who actively participated in these conversations, put it, “The voice and energy that women offer has always been vital for the health and well-being of the church.”

And as our logo above indicates, we share her hope that “together we will discover anew ways of strengthening and supporting the lives of women in our congregations and in local, [national] and global communities . . . as we walk into the future with holy curiosity.”

Please feel free to share your thoughts on these conversations with Liz Koop at presmwcanada@mennonitechurch.ca.

--Posted Jan. 15, 2014