Church Matters

Heavy metal music at a funeral in a Mennonite Church? When an un-churched young man in Rudy's community died suddenly and tragically, the victim's family approached Rudy and his congregation to host the funeral. Since then, some amazing things have happened.

For a congregation to carry out God's work in the world, it is necessary to gather. The same is true for wider levels of the organized church - including the denomination (Acts 11: 25-26). Peters-Pries says, "We would never expect the local church to be effective in carrying out God's mission in this world unless the local church gathered regularly. In the same way, the national church needs to gather in order to be effective ambassadors for God's healing and hope." This summer, Mennonite Church Canada will continue its tradition of meeting annually (July 7-8, 2008) where delegates will gather to pray, worship, and discern God's leading together. From July 8-10, Mennonite Church Canada will meet jointly with Mennonite Church USA for a "People's Summit for Faithful Living." Both events will focus on the theme, "At the Crossroads: Promise and Peril" (Deut. 4:6). Christians are living in especially challenging times, and church unity is being threatened at many levels. Peters-Pries offers a compelling rationale

Guests: Bruce Faurschou, Executive Secretary of the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario for the United Church of Canada;Tim Dyck, General Secretary of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference;Ruth Vince of the Evangelical Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada;Donald Phillips, Diocesan Bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Rupertsland;Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Manitoba, and Senior Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Church across Canada;Paul Johnson (pictured), Assistant to the National Bishop for Ecumenical Relations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Mennonite Church Canada recently hosted a gathering of inter-denominational leaders to celebrate the 100th year of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We asked church leaders from other faith traditions two questions: Why and how does the church matter in your denomination?Why is it important to have a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity? Download the broadcast and hear what these leaders had

How can we share the gifts we have as a church with churches in other parts of the world? And what do churches in other parts of the world have to offer the church in Canada? Join Charles Mahlangu, Principal at the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa and his wife Dolores in conversation as we ask these and other questions about what churches can do for one another on a global level.

What messages are we sending to our children and youth when we practice communion? Are there ways we can include and encourage them in their faith journey that honour scripture and the intent of communion? Join with this conversation to learn and discern what is right for you and your congregation.

Daniel Pantoja and his wife Joji are developing a peace building ministry in a region of the Philippines that has experienced years of land conflict among indigenous, Muslim, and Christian people. Using a multiplier model, he is training peace workers who can in turn train more peace workers to promote dialogue in place of violence, and reconciliation in place of vengeance.

Why do churches/denominations need to do fundraising? Do non-church charities compete with the church for donations? Does the church keep too much money for itself? How do people decide what causes they'll donate to? Do personal giving preferences trump congregational giving decisions? Join guest Al Rempel, Director of Resource Development for Mennonite Church Canada, and researcher Lori Reesor to learn about the abundance model of funding ministry.

Since his boyhood, Gary Hawton has been curious about how God's people use their money. Today he is CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds, a socially responsible investment firm that helps people speak into the corporate boardrooms of the world through their financial investments. Gary shares stories that illustrate what socially responsible investment is, and why it should matter to people - especially to Christians and the Church - and people can make a difference in the world by how they choose to invest.

Anostocio is a Mennonite pastor and teacher from Colombia, temporarily living in Canada to escape threats on his life. As a teacher and peace activist in Colombia, Anostocio is perceived as a threat to paramilitary and other armed groups who choose to control wealth and resolve conflict using violence. Caught between great personal concern for his wife and two daughters who remain in Colombia and his own survival, Anostocio remains a steadfast witness of Jesus' call to peace. Join Church Matters hosts Janet Plenert and Dan Dyck as they explore Anostocio's convictions.*psuedonym

For the first time since the Korean war in the 1950s, Canada is involved in a direct combat role - this time in Afghanistan. Military advertisements, recruiting, military funding, and news reporting on Canada's military role have significantly increased in recent years. Mennonite Church Canada has sent a letter to the Prime Minister advocating for a legal option that would allow taxpayers to direct their portion of military taxes toward peace initiatives. What else can and should a peace church be saying to Canada's leaders about this? Is there evidence that peaceful solutions to conflict really exist? How can Mennonites engage and strengthen the ecumenical community in peace theology? Join Church Matters hosts Janet Plenert and Dan Dyck as they engage Mennonite Church Canada General Secretary Robert J. Suderman in discussion on these and other questions.

Does the church really have something to say about creation care? David Neufeld holds a PhD in Environmental Planning and represents the Mennonite Creation Care Network a bi-national body "...actively engaged in the care and restoration of God's creation." Neufeld explains why and how the church as a body of Christ can have an impact on care for God's creation.

Sarah Thompson, 23 year-old Fulbright scholar, speaks out about young adults and the church, her role with the Mennonite World Conference Amigos program and its Global Youth Summit in 2009, and the global church. Sarah reveals where young adults are at in their love-hate relationship with the church, how the church can better respond and retain young adults, and reflects on her perspective of the global church.

Karen reflects on a recent visit to Mennonites/Anabaptists in Uruguay, a reunion with her IMPaCT (International Mennonite Pastors Coming Together) pastor partner there, why and how the church matters in this country and for these people, and tells the moving story of Rodriguez, a Montevideo homeless man taken in by a local congregation.