A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

d Orlando Harms, had been accepted and incorporated in the preparation of these lessons. 28 In 1962 the chairman of the Sunday School Committee, I. W. Redekopp, reported to the conference that the new Sunday school materials were well received, with only a few exceptions. "The main difficulty," Redekopp claimed, "seemed to lie in the methods rather than in doctrine." 29 The members of the Committee of Reference and Counsel endorsed the material and encouraged the S. S. Committee in their endeavor. By 1964, however, churches began to cancel their orders for the new material and the committee voiced its concern with regard to future participation in this inter-Mennonite endeavor. "We had hoped that some of our Anabaptist distinctives could be emphasized," H. R. Baerg reported, "without weakening our traditional stand on evangelism. . . . However, this appears to be most difficult, if not impossible." 30 Not all delegates shared the views of the committee, but by 1966 the "Mennonite Brethren Graded Sunday School Series" were on their way out in many churches. The main problems appear to have been methodological, rather than theological, since the new materials made greater demands with regard to the preparation of the teacher. As in the United States, so also in Canada, Mennonite Brethren churches turned to Scripture Press for their Sunday school curriculum. The decline of M.B. Sunday school material may be observed in the following table. TABLE III Mennonite Brethren Graded Sunday School Series Orders Oct. — Dec. Apr. — June Apr. — June Apr. — June 1962 1963 1964 1965 Primary Pupil's Books 1881 1889 1478 1151 Junior Pupil's Books 1569 1542 1255 1021 Intermediate Pupil's Books 1343 1385 1092 887 " The Bible schools have played a major role in the training of Sunday school teachers. Special Sunday school teachers' courses conducted at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College also made a significant contribution. During the last decade Christian education conferences, which generally focus on the total church training program, have been conducted on a provincial as we!' as on a Canadian conference level. A Sunday school paper, the M.B. Sunday School Instructor, ap- peared in 1952. The Instructor served as a means to improve teaching TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE 225 33. A. A. Schroeter 34. A. A. Kroeker 35. J.W.Vogt methods, to promote new lesson materials, and to suggest ideas and helps for special occasions. In 1964 the Canadian Sunday School (and Youth) Committee initiated a new ministry to promote the work of Christian education in the conference. George Konrad, a Bible school teacher engaged in post-graduate studies at Fort Worth, Texas, was appointed as executive secretary on a part-time basis. His job description included the writing of articles for the Youth Worker, preparing educational literature, corresponding with churches ab