A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

e the responsibility of district and/or provincial conferences. During the last decade, however, some new trends in conference activities are becoming evident. IV. Renewed Cooperation and Partnership (1954-1972) The "constitutional crisis" of 1954 which resulted in a reorganization of the General Conference can be described in terms of the "growing pains" of a brotherhood that is expanding and maturing. Instead of being composed of four "districts," the General Conference now comprised two large "area" conferences. Although the transition from the traditional pattern of conference organization and activity to the new conference "model" was not without some problems and pains, it appears that the long-range effects of reorganization are more positive than negative. In recent years, moreover, a new spirit of cooperation and partnership between the Canadian and United States conferences seems to be in evidence. The "consultative committees," created by the new constitution, have not only submitted reports to the triennial conventions, but have also entered into active cooperation in several instances. The Committee on Evangelism, for example, established in 1954 and composed of representatives of the participating districts or provinces, has promoted 214 HISTORY OF THE MENNON1TE BRETHREN CHURCH 32. Delegates at a conference session. evangelism and arranged for exchange of evangelists between the area conferences. The Church Schools Committee has been actively involved in the production of needed materials for churches and Sunday schools. Among other things this committee has published a Handbook for the "Service Training Program," which is finding increasing acceptance throughout the M.B. Conference. This committee is also responsible for publishing the Calendar of Activities which ministers and church workers have found extremely useful. The Church Schools Committee also produces the Mennonite Brethren Sunday School Standard, as well as the Adult Sunday School Quarterly. To maintain the unity of faith within a brotherhood requires not only common study materials for young and old, but also common hymnals for worship and praise. After 1945 both the Canadian and the United States Conferences felt the need for a new church hymnal. Because of different needs, however, the Canadian Conference published the Gesangbuch in German, and the General Conference (with token Canadian participation) the Church Hymnal in English. In 1963 the first steps were taken to produce a church hymnal which would be suitable for all congregations of the General Conference. At the convention in Winnipeg that year a joint-committee reported: ORGANIZATION FOR UNITED ACTION 215 It has become the express purpose of the U.S. Mennonite Brethren Conference Board of Church Music and the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference Hymnbook Committee to combine efforts in the publication of a new church hymnal. Suc