© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated 24 June 2011)

• Conference of Mennonites in Canada - Board of Christian Service



Retrieval numbers: Volume 124, 175-197, 808, 833, 2846-2847, 3189, 4893, 5545

Title: B.04 Board of Christian Service
Dates: 1954-1971
Extent: 3.2 m of textual records

Historical note

The Board of Christian Service was created in 1954 as an amalgamation of committees including Dienstkomitee (Service Committtee), Komittee fuer Armenpflege (Committee for the Care of the Poor), and Komitee fuer Nothlife (Mennonite Central Relief Committee). It merged into the Congregational Resources Board in 1971.

Scope and content note

The Board of Christian Service records appear to be fairly complete. The contain Board minutes for the years 1954-1971, as well as correspondence files dating from 1954 and 1956-1971. The files contain a great deal of material regarding the social issues of the 1950s and 1960s and about the CMC position toward them. The Board of Christian Service was very involved in the area of peace education and this interest is reflected in the content of the files. There are also files on subjects such as divorce, race relations, draft resistance, Martin Luther King, medical ethics, and capital punishment, to name a few.

The Records of the Board of Christian Service files were generated by the following people: a) David P. Neufeld (Chairman of the Board 1956-1960) b) Frank H Epp (Executive Secretary 1956-1959, 1965) c) Henry A. Wiens (Secretary of the Board 1957-1959, Chairman of the Board 1960-1964) d) Peter G. Sawatzky (Executive Secretary 1964) e) Frank H. Epp (Chairman of the Board 1964, Executive Secretary 1965) f) Nick Dick (Executive Secretary 1966) g) Jake Letkemann (Executive Secretary 1967-1971).

These files are of considerable interest for studying church involvement in Canadian social issues, church state relations, religion and the larger society, and the evolution of the Christian social conscience.

Index terms

Creators

• Conference of Mennonites in Canada - Board of Christian Service

  Adjunct descriptive data

  Finding aids

  Inventory file list available

  Related material in this repository

  MHC Photographs Collection: 298

  Notes

  Physical description details

  The materials in these files are largely typewritten and are in good condition.

  Language

  For 1956 half of the documents were in English, and the use of English increases every year thereafter

  Restrictions on access

  none

  ---

  Inventory file list for CMC Series B.04. Board of Christian Service Files

  
  Volume 0124
  CMC – General Board – Conference Secretary Files – P.R. Harder files
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service (1957-1958)
  1. CMBC, (1957-1959)
  2. Board of Education, (1956-1957)
  3. Board of Finance, (1956-1957)
  4. Mission Board, (1957-1958)
  5. Council of Boards, (1957-1958)
  6. Executive Committee, (1956-1959)
  7. Program Committee, (1954-1958)
  8. Secretary's Correspondence (1958)
  
  Volume 175
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1954-1959)
  1. Correspondence (1954)
  2. Correspondence (1956)
  3. Correspondence (1957)
  4. Correspondence (1958)
  5. Correspondence (1959)
  
  Volume 176
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1960-1964)
  1. Board of Christian Service Finances (1958-1960)
  2. Board of Christian Service (1961)
  3. Correspondence (1962)
  4. Correspondence (1963)
  5. General Conference Board of Christian Service (1964)
  
  Volume 177
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1956-1970)
  1. Correspondence (1965)
  2. Canadian Board of Christian Service Correspondence (1966)
  3. Correspondence (1967)
  4. Christian Service Correspondence (1969)
  5. Christian Service Correspondences (1970)
  6. Correspondence (1956)
  7. Correspondence (1957)
  8. Correspondence (1958)
  9. Correspondence (1959)
  10. Correspondence (1960)
  11. Correspondence (1961)
  12. Board of Christian Service (1964)
  
  Volume 178
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1971)
  1. Correspondence, cont. (1965)
  2. Correspondence (1966)
  3. Correspondence (1968)
  4. Peace (1968)
  5. Politics (1968)
  6. Draft Registers (1968)
  7. Rhodesia (1968)
  8. Mennonite Hospitals and Homes (1968)
  9. Divorce (1968)
  10. Workshops (1967-1968)
  11. Alberta (1968)
  12. British Columbia (1968)
  13. Manitoba (1968)
  14. Saskatchewan (1968)
  15. Board (1969)
  16. Board (1971)
  17. Martin Luther King (1965-1966)
  18. Congregations (1957-1961)
  19. General Conference (1963-1964)
  20. Manual (1971)
  
  Volume 179
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1956-1970)
  1. Canadian Conference (1958-1961)
  2. Conference Administration (1961-1967)
  3. Finances (1957-1959)
  4. Joint Mission and Service Board Meeting (1966-1968)
  5. Christian Service News (1958-1966)
  6. Poster (1964-1965)
  7. Council of Boards (1959, 1965-1968)
  8. Planning (1968-1969)
  9. Reports (1957, 1961)
  10. Minutes (1962-1967)
  11. Minutes (1961)
  12. Christian Service Minutes (1970)
  13. Service Minutes (1956-1961)
  
  Volume 180
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1958-1970)
  1. Committee and Projects (1958, 1963, 1969)
  2. Canadian Christian Service Board (1966-1969)
  3. Pensions/Welfare (1961-1970)
  4. (1962-1966)
  5. Honorarium/Pensions (1967-1970)
  6. (1967)
  7. (1968-1970)
  
  Volume 181
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1956-1970)
  1. Welfare Aid (1963, 1964, 1969, 1970)
  2. Honorarium/Pension (1971)
  3. Pensions/Welfare (1969-1971)
  4. Service Pensions
  5. Welfare Aid (1971)
  6. North Battleford (1959, 1960, 1962-1964)
  7. Service (1967-1970)
  8. Service (1971)
  9. Toronto Service Program (1971)
  10. Seminary Students Southland Experience/Kenora (1960, 1967, 1968)
  11. Northwest Association (1967-1970)
  12. Projects (1969)
  13. Research (1969-1970)
  14. Thompson (1968)
  15. La Crete (1956-1961, 1963-1970)
  16. Toronto Service Program (1970)
  17. CMC Service Bulletin (1967)
  
  Volume 182
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1970)
  1. MCC (1957, 1961, 1963, 1964)
  2. MCC (1965, 1969, 1970)
  3. MCC Correspondence and Reports (1971)
  4. MCC (1971)
  5. Canadian Mennonite Relief & Immigration Council (1961-1963)
  6. Northwest Association (1962-1963)
  7. Mennonite Disaster Service (1959-1960)
  
  Volume 183
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1960-1970)
  1. Social Concerns (1960-1965)
  2. Social Concerns (1967-1970)
  3. CMC Service (1967)
  
  Volume 184
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1955-1971)
  1. Aging (1955, 1961-1966)
  2. Alcohol (1959-1961, 1969)
  3. Aging (1968-1970)
  4. Family (1966-1967)
  5. Family Counselling (1971 )
  6. Canadian Friendship Service Committee (1968-1970)
  7. Grindstone Island
  
  Volume 185
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1959-1970)
  1. Committee on Services for Juvenile and Adult Offenders (1963)
  2. Offender (1965-1969)
  3. Offender (1971)
  4. Race (1959-1971)
  5. Draft Resisters (1970)
  6. Half-Way house/Draft Resisters (1965, 1968-1969)
  7. Draft Resisters (1971)
  8. Literature (1969-1970)
  9. Literature (1971)
  10. Mennonite Hospitals and Homes (1962-1963, 1970)
  11. Mennonite Hospitals and Homes (1971)
  
  Volume 186
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1960-1970)
  1. Divorce (1971)
  2. Divorce (1967-1970)
  3. Lotteries (1968)
  4. Tobacco (1969)
  5. Cultural Rights (1968, 1970)
  6. Project Equality (1968)
  7. Canadian Urban Training (1967-1970)
  8. Canadian Urban Training (1971)
  9. Voice of Women (1967)
  10. Religion Labour Council (1960, 1968-1970)
  
  Volume 187
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1959-1970)
  1. Poverty (1968-1969)
  2. Poverty (1970)
  3. International Development (1968)
  4. Peace Camps (1963-168)
  5. Leisure (1965)
  6. Mental Health (1956, 1958)
  7. Refugees (1959)
  8. Medical Ethics (1962)
  
  Volume 188
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1967-1970)
  1. Ottawa (1967-1968)
  2. Ottawa (1967-1969)
  3. Ottawa Reports (1967-1970)
  4. Ottawa Reports (1969-1970)
  5. Ottawa Office (1968-1970)
  6. Ottawa Office (1971)
  7. Ottawa (1970)
  8. Ottawa Consultation (1971)
  9. Letters to Government (1969-1970)
  10. Letters to Government (1971)
  
  Volume 189
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1956-1970)
  1. Mennonites in Government Service (1964-1970)
  2. Vocations/V.S. (1963-1964, 1969)
  3. Mennonite Men (1956-1961, 1966-1967)
  4. Peace (1963-1965, 1968-1970)
  5. Peace (1970-1971)
  6. MCC Peace Section (not for archives) (1971)
  
  Volume 190
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1970)
  1. Draft Registers (1968-1970)
  2. Peacemaker Camps (1968-1970)
  3. Civil Defence (1957, 1959)
  4. Peace Vigil #1 (1966)
  5. Peace Vigil #2 (1961-1964)
  6. Peace Vigil #3 (1966)
  7. Communism
  
  Volume 191
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1958-1970)
  1. Christian Labour Association of Canada (1970)
  2. Voluntary Service (1964-1966)
  3. Service Opportunities and Application Forms (1967-1970)
  4. Summer of Service (1967)
  5. Mennonites in Labour relations and Industries (1960)
  6. Southern Tour Report (1958)
  7. Study Conference (Jan. 1959)
  8. Peace Conference (April 1959)
  9. Farm Study Conference #1 (April 1958)
  10. Farm Study Conference #2 (April 1958)
  11. Materialism Study Conference (1965)
  12. Christian Responsibility to the State Conference (Nov. 1958)
  13. Miscellaneous
  
  Volume 192
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1964-1970)
  1. Visual Aid Catalogue (1960-1967)
  2. Visual Aid Catalogue (1959-1970)
  3. Visual Aid Catalogue (1967)
  4. Visual Aid Catalogue (1966)
  5. Peace Meet Photos, see photo collection
  6. Visual Aid Catalogue: Temperance Packet
  
  Volume 193
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1954-1962)
  1. File Key (1959)
  2. Correspondence (1956-1961)
  3. General (1959-1960)
  4. Policy (1958-1959)
  5. Lists (1957-1961)
  6. General (1958-1959)
  7. Correspondence (1957-1959)
  8. General (1957)
  9. Correspondence (1956-1960)
  10. Mennonite Disaster Service (1957-1958)
  11. General (1957-1959)
  12. Correspondence (1954-1960)
  13. Records and Reports (1954-1957)
  14. Itineraries (1957)
  15. Executive
  16. Executive Committee (1961)
  17. General (1958-1959)
  18. Correspondence (1956-1961)
  19. Correspondence (1957-1961)
  20. Correspondence (1958-1961)
  21. Monthly Reports (1959-1962)
  22. Board of Christian Service/Council of Boards (1957)
  23. Board of Christian Service/Council of Boards (1958)
  24. Southern Tour Report (1958)
  
  Volume 194
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1956-1964)
  CMC – Auxiliary Organization – Canadian Mennonite Men (1964)
  1. Correspondence (1956-1960)
  2. Canadian Mission Board (1956-1960)
  3. United Church Board of Evangelism and Social Service (1956-1960)
  4. Canadian Board of Education and Publication (1956-1960)
  5. Executive of Canadian Conference (1956-1960)
  6. Education (1956-1960)
  7. Fellowship of Reconciliation (1956-1960)
  8. Canadian Mennonite Relief Committee (1956-1960)
  9. Conference of Historic Peace Church (1956-1960)
  10. Union of Doukhobors (1956-1960)
  11. Peace (1956-1960)
  12. General (1956-1960)
  13. Correspondence (1956-1960)
  14. Sundry (1956-1960)
  15. Team (1956-1960)
  16. Peace Mailings (1956-1960)
  17. Correspondence (1956-1960)
  18. General (1956-1960)
  19. Materials (1956-1960)
  20. Response (1956-1960)
  21. General (1964)
  22. CLAC (1964)
  23. Communism (1964)
  24. Criminology (1964)
  25. Fort Vermilion (1964)
  26. Funerals (1964)
  27. Government (1964)
  28. MCC Canada (1964)
  29. Mennonite Men (1964)
  30. Mutual Aid (1964)
  31. Newton (1964)
  32. Organization (1964)
  33. Peace Booth (1964)
  34. Pensions (1964)
  35. Poster (1964)
  36. Provincial (1964)
  37. Publications (1964)
  38. Race (1964)
  39. Voluntary Service (1964)
  
  Volume 195
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1964-1965)
  1. General (1964)
  2. Service (1964)
  3. Social Concern (1964)
  4. Welfare (1964)
  5. Minutes and Reports (1964)
  6. General (1965)
  7. Alcohol (1965)
  8. Conference on Aging (1965)
  9. Homes and Hospitals (1965)
  10. Canadian Welfare Council/Aging (1965)
  11. Church and Offender (1965)
  12. Communism (1965)
  13. Conference (1965)
  14. East/West (1965)
  15. Forgiveness (1965)
  16. Films (1965)
  
  Volume 196
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1965)
  CMC – Auxiliary Organization – Canadian Mennonite Men (1965)
  1. Fort Vermillion (1965)
  2. Government Service (1965)
  3. Literature (1965)
  4. Materialism (1965)
  5. Mennonite Men (1965)
  6. Mutual Aid (1965)
  7. Newton General Conference (1965)
  8. Office – 600 (1965)
  9. Pensions and Welfare (1965)
  10. Poster (1965)
  11. Provinces 1965)
  12. Religion and Labour (1965)
  13. Voluntary Service (1965)
  14. Correspondence (1957-1961)
  15. General (1957-1961)
  16. Annual Report (1957-1961)
  17. General (1957-1961)
  18. Correspondence (1958-1961)
  19. Registration Youth (1957-1961)
  20. Mennonite Men (1960-1961)
  21. Women in Church Vocations (1960)
  22. Vocations (1960)
  23. Ideas (1957-1961)
  24. Study Conference/Publications (1957-1961)
  25. Annual Conference (1962)
  26. Committee of Christian Service – Alberta (1959-1961)
  27. Films (1960-1961)
  28. MCC Witness and Service (1961)
  29. Mutual Aid Report (1961)
  30. Social Service Agency (1961)
  31. Principles of Apostolic and Early Church Developments to 312 AD (1957-1961)
  
  Volume 197
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1961-1966)
  1. Annual Board Meeting (1966)
  2. General (1966)
  3. Civil Disobedience (1966)
  4. MCC Canada (1966)
  5. Mission Board (1966)
  6. Newton (1966)
  7. Church Offender (1966)
  8. Literature (1966)
  9. Provinces (1966)
  10. Service (1966)
  11. Vietnam –E.W. (1965-1966)
  12. Welfare (1965-1966)
  13. Minutes (1966)
  14. Peace Vigil (1966)
  15. Minutes of Board of Christian Service (1958-1960)
  16. Canadian Conference Executive (1964)
  17. Board of Christian Service Executive (1964)
  18. Social Concerns (1961-1964)
  19. Peace and Service (1961-1964)
  20. Voluntary Service Committee (1963-1964)
  21. Armenkasse (1961-1964)
  22. Loans (1960-1962)
  23. Mutual Aid (1962-1963)
  24. The Pas (1961-1962)
  25. Fort Vermillion (1961-1962)
  
  Volume 808
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1963-1971)
  1. Minutes of Northern District Peace Committee (1963-1971)
  2. Minutes of Eastern District Peace Committee (1963-1971)
  3. Minutes of Central District Peace Committee (1963-1971)
  4. Minutes of Western District Peace Committee (1963-1971)
  5. Minutes of Pacific District Peace Committee (1963-1971)
  6. Christian Service News (1963-1971)
  7. Materialism Study Conference (1965)
  8. Background Materials on the Draft (1969-1970)
  9. District Conferences (1968-1970)
  
  Volume 0833
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1955-1970)
  1. Minutes (1955-66)
  2. Minutes (1967)
  3. Minutes (1968-1970)
  
  Volume 2846
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1961)
  1. Papers (1959)
  2. General (1958)
  3. Correspondence (1957-1958)
  4. Women in Church Vocations (1958)
  5. General (1958)
  6. Correspondence (1958-1961)
  7. Study Conference (1958)
  8. Board Report (1958)
  9. Annual Report (1958)
  
  Volume 2846
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1958-1959)
  1. "The Church's Witness in Society" Study Conference Papers (1959)
  2. General (1958)
  3. Correspondence (1957-1958)
  4. Women in Church Vocations (1958)
  5. General (1958)
  6. Correspondence (1958-1961)
  7. Study Conference (1958)
  8. Board Report (1958)
  9. Annual Report (1958)
  
  Volume 2847
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service – (1957-1961)
  1. Social Concerns (1958-1961)
  2. Voluntary Service (1969-1961)
  3. Other Boards (1958-1959)
  4. General (1957-1959)
  5. Registered Nurses (1957-1959)
  6. Correspondence (1957-1959)
  7. Lists (1958)
  8. Orders for Payment (1959-1958)
  9. Agendas (1957-1960)
  10. Conference Steinbach (1960)
  11. Council of Boards, Newton (1960)
  
  Volume 3189
  CMC – General Board – Annual Sessions (1965)
  CMC – General Board – Board of Finance (1964-1966)
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Education and Publication (1964)
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Missions (1964-1965)
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service (1966)
  – CMC board member, Kay Martens files (1964-1966)
  1. Board of Education and Publication (1964)
  2. Board of Finance (1964-1965)
  3. Board of Missions (1964-1965)
  4. Reports to The 63rd Session of Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1965)
  5. Annual Report Board of Christian Service (1966)
  
  Volume 4893
  Theodore E. Friesen fonds
  CMM (1966-1967)
  CMC – General Board (1960-1976)
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Christian Service (1961-1965)
  CMC – Resources Commission - Board of Missions (1960-1962)
  1. Film: “The Christian Citizen and the Election.” Programs and Correspondence (1963, 1965)
  2. Sermon: “The Church as Fellowship of Committed Disciples.” (1958)
  3. Miscellaneous Correspondence (1962-1965)
  4. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Alcohol Statement (1961)
  5. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Minutes (1963-1965)
  6. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Correspondence (1962-1965)
  7. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Minutes, Reports and correspondence (1961)
  8. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Mutual Aid Minutes, Reports, and Correspondence (1961)
  9. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Minutes and Reports (1961, 1964)
  10. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Correspondence and Reports (1960)
  11. Canadian Board of Christian Service: Executive Minutes, Reports and Correspondence (1961)
  12. CMC Annual Reports (1960-1962)
  13. CMC: Missions Minutes, Reports and Correspondence (1961)
  14. CMC: Board of Missions Minutes and Reports (1960-1962)
  15. CMC: Executive Report (1962)
  16. CMC: Correspondence (1976)
  17. CMC: Reports and Correspondence (1966)
  18. CMC: Program and Articles (1963)
  19. CMC: Finance Board Reports (1961-1962)
  20. CMBC: Board Minutes and Reports (1960-1962)
  21. General Conference: Brochure and Constitution (1956, 1965)
  22. History of Canadian Mennonites: Reports and Correspondence (1967)
  23. Jake Harms: Correspondence (1964)
  24. Historic Peace Church of Canada: Minutes, Reports, and Correspondence (1962-1963)
  25. Historic Peace Church of Canada: Reports and Correspondence (1962-1963)
  26. 50th Wedding Anniversary of Roy and Elsie Hill (1965)
  27. CMM: Board of Christian Service Reports and Correspondence (1967)
  28. CMM: Board of Christian Service Reports (1967)
  29. CMM: Board of Christian Service Minutes and Reports (1966)

 Volume 5445

The Church and its Witness in Society study conference/ Canadian Board of Christian Service, Conference of Mennonites in Canada. Winnipeg January 9-11, 1959. -- Papers include:
- Introductory Statement on Problem, Purpose, and Procedure/ Frank H. Epp.
- The Biblical Basis of the Church's Social Concern and Witness/ William Klassen.
- The Church's Involvement in Political Action/ Archie Penner.
- The Church makes Peace in A World at War/ Harvey Taves.
- The Church and Change in the Economic Situation/ Reinhard H. Vogt.
- Christian Ethics and Current Economic Problems/ John W. Miller.
- Concerns Related to the Recreational and Commercial Sabbath/ Peter B. Sawatzky.
- Concerns Related to Mass Media/ Andrew R. Shelly.
- Concerns related to Crime and treatment of Criminals/ D. Rempel.
- Concerns Related to Juvenile Delinquency/ Hugo Hildebrandt.
- Concerns related to Alcohol (and Drugs) Homer K. Janzen.,
- Concerns Related to Recreation and Gambling/ Carl Ens.
- Concerns Related to Legal Problems and Involvement/ John J. Enns.
- Concerns Related to Immorality and Sex/ J.F. Janzen.
- The Church and Her Redemptive Witness to Society/ Henry H. Epp.
- The Church and its Witness in Society/ Leo Driedger.
- The Total Gospel for the Total Man in the Total Situation/ J.B. Martin.