A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

ged on these concerns. The near- ly four decades of increasing modernity led them to highlight the following dangers: 1 . Fragmentation/Autonomy 1.1 An increased fragmentation and autonomy due to growing individualism, localism, nationalism, regionalism and theological pluralism. These socio-religious forces are fragmenting the Menno- nite Brethren Church along Canadian/United States lines, mid-west/west coast regions in Canada and the United States. Internal re-alignments will occur by 2000, especial- ly in Canada. The educational institutions will be the first agencies caught in these fragmenting forces, 1.2 The increase of theological pluralism. It will follow Anabaptist-Mennonite Brethren/ evangelical, Anabaptist- evangelical/evangelism-church growth and non-charismat- ic/ charismatic lines. Lack of leadership consensus re- garding the Confession of Faith and the theological orien- tation of the church will result in the further erosion of confessional consensus, especially on the peace position and related issues. 1.3 Erosion of conference loyalty. Local churches and in- stitutions will become more independent of the Confer- ence. There will be increased competition for people and money between local church and the institutions of the church. The institutions will loosen Mennonite Brethren identity as they seek to broaden their people and financial base to survive. 1.4 Post-secondary education will become increasingly divisive. It will serve to further divide the Conference re- gionally at the undergraduate level as in the U.S., so also 213 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH in Canada. 2. Theology 2.1 Theological and ideological re-alignments will occur across Mennonite denominational bodies that will force the Mennonite Brethren to make some critical decisions about Mennonite identity and affiliations. 2.2 Faith/theological questions will be determined by ex- pediency and pragmatism, 2.3 There will be increased biblical and theological illiter- acy in our churches, 3- Church/Character/Polity 3 .1 The General Conference may become a loose federa- tion of churches that will gather periodically for fellow- ship. Primacy will be placed on the local church with de- creasing support for larger Conference and global con- cerns. The General Conference will carry responsibility for few programs. Foreign missions and the Seminary may remain a General Conference concern. All other pro- grams may be nationalized. 3-2 The character of the church will be determined more and more by evangelism and activism. The doing of church planting/evangelism will be the glue. There will be increased erosion