A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ze its members for effective action. Early in their history the Mennonite Brethren realized the need as well as the importance of uniting their forces and pooling their resources for an effective witness at home and abroad. As pointed out in chapter six, the Mennonite Brethren in Russia met for their first conference in 1872, twelve years after the founding of the church. It is significant that the early Brethren (both in Russia and in North America) always referred to this gathering of the larger brotherhood as the Bundeskonferenz, implying a covenant relationship among the member congregations. In contradistinction to the somewhat complex conference structure developed in later years in North America, the conference organization in Russia remained relatively simple and centralized. A unique feature in the organizational pattern of the conference in that country developed during the first decade of the twentieth century when the Mennonite Brethren began to have joint business sessions with the representatives of the Mennonite Church.' Among the widely scattered congregations in the American Midwest a concern for a wider fellowship was manifested early in their history. The initiative in this matter was taken by the ministers of the larger congregations, who visited smaller groups and conducted services there. The lack of proper means of communication and transportation, 19-1 ORGANIZATION FOR UNITED ACTION 195 as well as the struggle for survival during the pioneer years, made a gathering of brethren from the several states where Mennonite Brethren had settled virtually impossible. 2 Considering these problems, it is remarkable that several leaders met for their first interstate conference only four years after the first Mennonite Brethren had set foot on American soil. For convenience, we shall divide the organizational development and the expansion of the activities of the Mennonite Brethren Conference in North America into several periods. It will be noted that historical, cultural, and occasionally even national developments have influenced the shape of the conference-structure from the 1870's to the 1970 s. I. Conference Beginnings and Centralization (1879-1909) In chapter ten, the first attempt at conference organization in 1878 has been described. The reasons why it was not recognized by the brotherhood in later years have also been considered. Nevertheless, this first interstate church-meeting was a step that prepared the way for the organization of a Mennonite Brethren Conference in North America. The brethren from York and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska, and especially Peter Regier, must be given recognition for initiating this venture of united work and witness. The first duly constituted M.B. Conference convened in October 1879, again in Nebraska. It was begun with a love feast and a missions festival on Sunday, followed by two days of business sessions. The congregations