Hope Mennonite Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Hope Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, came into being after Bethel Mennonite Church in 1986 commissioned seven members to explore birthing a new congregation. These founding leaders were Werner and Adelia Wiens, Steve Schroeder, Bill and Delores Block, and Bert and Martha Lobe.
The first meeting place was the auditorium at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate in the Armstrong’s Point neighborhood. The first service was held in February 1987 with almost 40 persons present. The congregation was characterized by roots in Anabaptist-Mennonite theology, diffuse leadership and consensus decision-making, strong small groups, and a concern for social justice.
In about 1989 the congregation moved to space at Canadian Mennonite Bible College, but it sought a place with possibilities for a stronger social justice witness. In 1993 it became part of Crossways in Common, an inner-city facility shared with a United church, 11 apartments for people living with AIDS, and numerous community service agencies. As the Hope congregation continued to grow, the sanctuary at Young United became full and indicated the need for a larger venue. This was in the Thomson Funeral Home, located just across Broadway street. In 2019 this provided a much larger auditorium/sanctuary within the same neighborhood. The church office remained at Crossways in Common.
A major concern in Hope's formation was congregational leadership. It initially decided that it would not hire a pastor. Instead, the gifts of various persons in the congregation would be exercised in preaching, leading worship, and pastoral care. A committee in charge of pastoral care was in place for some years. However, in the mid-1990s there developed a growing desire to call a pastor. One member served as part-time Interim Pastor for one year at the end of the 1990s. Then, after numerous meetings both in small groups and as a whole, it was decided to call a pastor for a three-year “pilot project.” It identified a pastor within our congregation and has not looked back since.
Small groups have always been important in the life of Hope Mennonite Church. Early on, every adherent was encouraged to join a small group for fellowship, study, pastoral care and processing congregational decisions. In recent years, some small groups have been formed around themes and activities such as “faith and film”; connecting scripture and life; the Enneagram; and eating together.
Bibliography
"An Insider's History of Hope Mennonite Church." Hope Mennonite Church. Web. 22 June 2021. https://hopemennonite.ca/history. http://covenantmennonitechurch.ca/history/.
Ens, Anna. In Search of Unity: Story of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Winnipeg, Man.: CMBC Publications, 1996: 204.
Klassen-Wiebe, Nicolien. "Hope Mennonite Church navigates growing numbers." Canadian Mennonite" 23, no. 7 (27 March 2019). https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/hope-mennonite-church-navigates-growing-numbers.
Mennonite Mirror (June 1988): 15.
Mennonite Reporter (25 June 1990): B4.
Additional Information
Address: 101-222 Furby St, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2A7
Meeting Place: 669 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0X4
Telephone: 204-786-5077
Website: https://hopemennonite.ca/
Denominational Affiliations:
Pastoral Leaders at Hope Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Dori Zerbe Cornelsen | 2000-2007 |
| Lynell Bergen | 2009-present |
| Clare Schellenberg | 2016-2017 |
| Lisa Martens | 2018-present |
Hope Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 42 |
| 2000 | 38 |
| 2020 | 104 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | June 2021 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Hope Mennonite Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2021. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hope_Mennonite_Church_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=171816.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (June 2021). Hope Mennonite Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Hope_Mennonite_Church_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=171816.
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