A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ough Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Wiens, together with Miss Katharina Klassen, had started to work in Hurley and Gile, Wisconsin, in 1908, and Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Smith had begun to work in Minneapolis the same year, the conference was not ready until a year later to accept full administrative responsibility for city mission work. In 1909 the conference adopted the Minneapolis City Mission (South Side) as a work of the M.B. Church with the Smiths as conference city missionaries. Financial responsibility was limited "to the extent the treasury permits." 15 ORGANIZATION FOR UNITED ACTION 199 City missions were eventually delegated to district and provincial conferences. A survey of early city mission efforts would lead to the conclusion that the "target group" for such a ministry were primarily the social outcasts, the people living "on the wrong side of the tracks." This policy of city missions, concentrating on rescue efforts among the down-and-out, has made the transition from "mission" to "church" very difficult, if not impossible in most instances. Higher Education Generally speaking, higher education did not receive the general and wholehearted support of the conference during this period, although eloquent pleas were made by individual brethren (especially J. F. Harms) to accept greater responsibility in this field. The financial support of the German Department at McPherson College (1899) was a partial response to meet growing needs in the constituency. The reaction of the conference in 1908 to the newly established "Tabor College School Association" is somewhat characteristic of Mennonite Brethren attitudes toward new ventures — especially in higher education. After a report and a request for moral and financial support by P. C. Hiebert, "the Conference delegation by a show of hands voted to wish the brethren of the Tabor College School Association the Lord's blessing in their endeavor, and assured them of the confidence of the churches."" Christian Ethics Even a cursory survey of early conference records impresses the reader with the fact that the brethren were deeply concerned about maintaining high standards of Christian life and discipleship. They were also concerned that churches might walk "according to the same rule" and thus strengthen the united witness of the brotherhood. Ethical issues and questions of church discipline were brought up again and again on the conference floor. From the perspective of the 1970's some of the issues may appear peripheral, but that does not minimize their relevance for the churches of that day. The marriage question often appeared on the agenda. In 1889 a resolution was passed that only baptized believers should enter into holy matrimony and be married by the church. 17 In 1898 permission was given to marry outside the church only if the respective person qualified to be received into (M.B.) membership. This concession was coupled with serious warnings