Mennonite Church Manitoba

Background and Rationale for Ministry Redefinition and Multi-year Budget Planning

September 2003

This report provides background and rationale for the reshaping of MCM’s ministries and the multi-year budget plan for the next three years commencing in 2004. The report is intended to provide information to facilitate discussions for MCM congregations in preparation for the October 18, 2003 delegate session. At the October meeting the MCM board will seek ratification of proposed decisions regarding the redefinition of some of MCM’s ministries and approval for the proposed budget for the year 2004. We are also reporting decisions that needed to be taken in 2003 in response to the current financial realities and the impact of Mennonite Church Canada’s decision to end their half of the Evangelism and Service partnership.

Recap of Decisions, and Proposed Directions:

The following is an overview of actions approved by the MCM Board of Directors in June 2003 and proposed directions needing congregational input and ratification. These decisions and proposed directions have been incorporated into the three-year proposed budget plan attached to this report.

Factors calling for action:

Current level of congregational donations that are projected to be $65,600 lower than budgeted for 2003 (overly optimistic askings of congregations).
Incorporating provisions for certain ministry aspects, that were part of the visioning/restructuring process approved by congregational delegates in 1998, as yet not implemented.
The depletion of the FLC Bequest & Memorial Fund.
Decision by MC Canada to end their half of the Evangelism & Service partnership.

Actions taken in 2003:

The Evangelism and Service Ministry Director’s position moved from half time to full-time effective July 1, 2003.
The Treasurer’s position moved from 80% to full-time effective July 1, 2003.
The subscription funding to “Canadian Mennonite” reduced by 50% 2003 effective July 1, 2003.
The Resource Development 1/4 time position ended, effective July 31, 2003.

Actions proposed for 2004 and beyond:

The new Church Community Ministry (MCM’s vision: Our Vision is to be a community of congregations; unified in Jesus Christ; living a biblical Anabaptist faith; together presenting Jesus Christ to the world), which means consolidating MCM’s communications, promotion, publication and community building efforts, will have additional resources directed at this area effective January 1, 2004.
The Recording Engineer’s position will end, effective April 30, 2004.
The Abundant Life Program will end January 31, 2004.
The subscription funding to “Canadian Mennonite” reduced by 50% for 2004 and subsequent years.

Conference Review, Restructuring and Ministry Redefinition:

In February 1996 the CMM delegate sessions approved a comprehensive review of the conference structures and programs. A three-person review committee presented its final report in November 1997. The General Board, in following up on the report initiated a process of revisioning, restructuring and ministry redefinition. This led to the adoption of a new Vision and Mission statement (attached) and the approval of a new governance structure. These aspects of the restructuring were completed by February 2000. Included in the approved restructuring plan was an outline for the program ministries required to implement the new vision and mission. The implementation of the redefined ministries began in 2000.

The redefined program ministries included the following:

Leadership.
Education.
Service & Evangelism (now Evangelism & Service).
Interchurch Linkages (now proposed as Church Community Building).

The Leadership, Education, and Evangelism & Service ministries were put in place by mid-year 2001. The end of 2001 completed the appointment of ministry directors in these three areas. The ministry area that remains largely undefined is the Interchurch Linkages (Church Community Building).

Congregational Donation Revised Projections:

The review of the 2001, 2002 & 2003 budget for congregational giving has shown a considerable shortfall from budget askings to actual. Following is a recap of this analysis:

	2001	2002	2003
Budget	$730,090	$748,342	$766,376
Actual	664,387	687,677	700,777*
Shortfall	($65,703)	($60,665)	($65,599)*

* 2003 Actual and Shortfall projection.

This led to the decision to make a mid-year revision to the budget to accommodate this projected shortfall. Future years’ budgets are also affected directly in that the level of funding for programs is reduced. The budgets for these years were higher than could realistically be met by congregations. This had a significant effect on MCM’s overall budget resulting in the need for program reductions. However, donations from congregations did increase year over year and we are grateful to congregations for this ongoing financial support.

Church Community Building:

The Interchurch Linkages ministry area, defined by the restructuring process, remains very loosely defined. It envisioned a) building and facilitating constituency relations, b) developing significant joint worship services and organizing annual delegate meetings, c) facilitating the use of media to communicate with the people of our region and the wider church, d) encouraging teamwork among ministry areas and create partnerships among congregations, programs and conferences and, e) ministry support and administration. The board is committed to taking the necessary steps in defining this area as the Church Community Building ministry in order to complete the process of revisioning and restructuring begun in 1997.

The Church Community Building ministry will include the following program aspects: a) Celebration events,
b) The choirs: Men’s, Women’s and Singers, c) Choir festivals, d) MCM Website, e) Media services: audio recording, video, presentation (each ministry would explore media ministry opportunities in their respective areas of work and receive assistance in developing these), f) Canadian Mennonite, g) Newsletters and announcements, h) Media releases, i) Production services to ministries for media ministry and, j) Production services to ministries for publication and promotion needs, k) Facilities management, l) Media services for congregations, m) Office services, n) Financial services, o) Administrative services, p) Planned Giving.

Evangelism & Service Changes:

In 2001 the Board of Directors had approved plans, including the necessary budget, to implement a full-time ministry director for Evangelism & Service. By the end of that year MC Manitoba and MC Canada had entered into a 50/50 partnership ministry in Evangelism and Service. This reduced the budget requirements for MCM and allowed for another part-time partnership ministry in the area of Resource Development.

In March 2003 MC Canada announced the termination of its half of the Evangelism & Service ministry position. This left MCM in the difficult position of dealing with the impact for the remaining half-time position and the possible adverse ramifications of losing considerable ground due to the difficulty in retaining a half-time person. In keeping with the original Evangelism & Service vision, the board favoured implementing a full-time evangelism & Service Director position. Before taking this action a May Congregational Representative Meeting was called to seek reaffirmation of the vision for Evangelism & Service. The board sensed this reaffirmation but also heard congregations’ caution that any increase in the budget in this area should be done within the framework of existing financial resources. The board decided to proceed to move the director’s position to full-time.

Abundant Life Program & Recording Engineer’s Position:

These two areas currently fall under the Evangelism & Service ministry and are part of the former Faith & Life Commission program area. These two areas are proposed to come to an end due to a number of crucial factors.

The Faith & Life ministry has throughout its history depended on considerable financial support of donations from the radio audiences and other supporters of the ministry. These donations began to decline several years ago in particular for the Wort des Lebens and Abundant Life programs. This led to a dependency on other sources of revenue to support the ministry at existing levels. Another part of the supporting revenue for FLC came from recording services. The use of these services has declined over the past several years again resulting in the need for other sources of revenue. The drop in need for recording services and the reduction of radio program production reduces the need for a recording engineer. The two declining sources of funds have resulted in a deficit in the FLC area for the past several years and have been covered by drawing funds from the FLC Bequest & Memorial Fund.

The Bequest & Memorial Fund has been built up over the years by bequests and memorial gifts. Since 1996 the fund has accumulated about $228,000 for the support of the FLC ministry. At the outset the fund was intended to support the capital needs of the various programs of FLC and did so to the extent of $60,000. Due to operating deficits in FLC, decisions have been made, since 2000, to charge these deficits to the Bequest & Bequest Fund. The current annual deficit charged to the Fund is about $35,000. With the projected charge of $35,000 for 2003, the Fund will be left with about $22,000. As a result the Fund will be used up by mid-year 2004 and leaves a significant deficit for subsequent years.

The foregoing has resulted in the proposal to end the Abundant Life radio program and to end the recording engineer’s position. These changes make possible the pursuit of a redefined emphasis in media ministry and resourcing of MCM congregations through the Church Community Building Ministry.

Canadian Mennonite and Resource Development:

The reduction in funding for the Canadian Mennonite subscription plan and the ending of the Resource Development quarter-time partnership with MC Canada were further program reductions that were required to achieve the changes in Evangelism & Service and Church Community Building Ministry.

The greater emphasis in communications and church community building efforts within MCM was the basic reason for reducing the amount of our resources spent on the Canadian Mennonite. MCM’s ability to communicate with its congregations and constituency has not been as strong as was needed and desired. The Church Community Building Ministry will allow for this increased emphasis and direction. At the present time MCM forwards about $49,000 annually to Canadian Mennonite. The review of the “Canadian Mennonite” funding partnership is scheduled for 2003 and seeks the decision of each area conference and MC Canada.

Conclusion:

It is hoped that the foregoing provides sufficient background and rationale for the decisions that have been made and are being proposed. The October delegate session will be an important time of testing the plans for moving forward. We look forward to this time together as congregations, as we seek to build the Kingdom of God and the Church.

If you have questions of clarification please call Bernie Tiessen, Moderator @ (204)534-7025 or Edgar Rempel @ (204)896-1616.