A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

at a number of brethren, with the approval of the Committee of Reference and Counsel, had purchased the Christian Press, and asked whether the conference could sanction this action. The conference showed its approval by becoming a shareholder in this venture. 4 ' A lack of news coverage of institutions and concerns of special interest to Canadian M.B. churches by the Zionsbote and the Christian Leader was often given as a reason for establishing publication on a Canadian Conference level. In 1946 the Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren was received into the Northern District (Canadian) Conference. This was an important and historic event in the expansion of the Canadian Conference and greatly strengthened its program in evangelism, home missions and education. 2. Developments in the United States The Mennonite Brethren in the United States were much more homogeneous in cultural background and in historical experience during this period (1924-54) than their Canadian brethren. The majority of the church members here were the descendants of the immigrants of the 1870's and their gradual acculturation had not been disturbed by the influx of several "waves" of newcomers as had been the case in Canada. Hence there was also a greater unity in supporting General Conference projects. The three district conferences all carried on an increasingly effective home missions program, 4 " but cooperated fully with the General Conference in foreign missions, publication and higher education. On the level of secondary training, local churches and occasionally a group of congregations would establish a private Christian high school or "Bible Academy." Such academies were established in Corn (1902), and in Reedley (1912). In Lustre, Montana, Mennonite Brethren cooperated with other Mennonite groups to establish the Lustre Bible Academy (formerly the Lustre Bible School) ORGANIZATION FOR UNITED ACTION 209 in 1928. The Mountain Lake Bible School had earlier been established on the same basis. On the post-high school level Tabor College continued to meet the needs of the entire United States constituency until World War II. The rapid growth of the Pacific District (both in terms of the number of congregations as well as total membership) during the forties and fifties, however, precipitated new developments in education on the West Coast. As early as 1940, the Pacific District Conference appointed a committee, which among other things, was assigned to study the possibility of establishing a district conference Bible school. In 1942 the proposal to establish a Bible institute in the city of Fresno was introduced by the Committee of Religious Education at the conference sessions held in Shafter, and was accepted with the provision of "not being too hasty in carrying out the recommendations." 49 This note of caution was added because of heavy financial commitments in support of the Civilian Public Service (CPS