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Conference advantages

The advantages of being a church within the Mennonite Brethren denomination.

• Pastoral support
• Church support
• Personal support

Pastoral support

• The denomination assists churches in finding pastors by providing resumés or suggestions as possible candidates. The church makes the final choice and in fact often does not end up calling someone who has been suggested. However, even being given some possible names as suggestions gives a church a lot of hope. (Provincial)
• When a church calls someone to candidate, the Board of Faith and Life examines their doctrinal statement if the person is coming from outside the denomination. This provides a great safety net and a good source of security for the church. (Provincial)
• The pastor, when called, signs a conduct policy administered by the Conference office which provides solid moral protection for both the church and the pastor. (Provincial)
• The Conference serves as the Ecclesiastical Authority so that pastors may be registered with Justice Department in order to officiate at weddings. Churches cannot register their own pastor with Justice Department. (Provincial)
• The Conference provides an excellent medical, dental and retirement plan along with provision for life insurance and long term disability. The rates for this plan are much cheaper because this is provided as a group plan. (Provincial and Canadian)
• The Conference provides easy and quick access to pastors for housing loans at very fair interest rates. (Canadian)
• The Conference provides a support base for pastors through: (Provincial)
  • Pastoral retreats
  • Resourcing events
  • Support, encouragement and resources through the ministry of the Director of Church Ministries
  • A network of prayer support from fellow pastors and sister churches
• The Conference provides a Church Help Fund for churches with a yearly budget of $100,000.00 or less. Pastors can access this fund when in a crises situation or for professional development. (Provincial)
• The Conference provides an annual salary grid which churches are encouraged to follow in paying their pastor. (Provincial)
• The Conference provides a confidential counseling service through the Employee Assistance Program and which is covered through the health care plan. Pastors have access to a 24-hour-a-day toll-free counseling service dealing with a wide variety of concerns. (Canadian)

Church support

• The Conference provides a current and up-to-date Confession of Faith which serves as the essential statement of faith in each local church constitution. (Canadian)
• The Conference makes loans available to churches at excellent interest rates for building projects. (Canadian and Provincial)
• Conference personnel are available for preaching in churches. (Provincial and Canadian)
• The Conference assists churches in doing regular and systematic assessments through NCD (Natural Church Development). (Provincial and Canadian)
• The Conference provides excellent resources for teaching, preaching and personal enrichment. (Canadian)
  • Kindred Productions
  • Teaching Materials
  • Pamphlet series dealing with a variety of issues and topics
  • MB Herald
• The Conference provides human resources, teaching sessions and resource material for age specific ministries. (Canadian)
• The Conference makes available finances and encouragement for churches to engage in local evangelistic efforts through Project Reach Your World. (Provincial)
• The Conference helps the church fulfill their mandate to “go into all the world” through opportunities to participate (through praying, giving or going) in provincial church planting efforts, Canadian church planting efforts and International missions endeavors. (Provincial and Canadian)
• The Conference seeks to maintain relationships with relief agencies such as Mennonite Central Committee, giving an outlet for churches to fulfill the mandate of Christ to provide for the disadvantaged. (Provincial and Canadian)

Personal support

• The Conference provides bursaries and matching grants for students seeking ministry leadership training. (Provincial and Canadian)
• The Conference provides excellent opportunity for children, youth and families for a wonderful camping experience. (Provincial)
• The Conference provides solid educational centers for Biblical and Leadership Training. (Provincial and Canadian)

All of this has been available to pastors, churches and individuals unconditionally. These benefits can only be made available as churches and individuals make faithful contributions to these ministries.

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