A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

vement in the task on the part of the chairman, Elmer Martens, and the secretary-treasurer, A. J. Klassen, have been important factors in the remarkable progress the Board of Christian Literature has made in a relatively short time. Among the present projects of the board is the writing of a history of Mennonite Brethren missions by G. W. Peters, J. B. Toews, and J. J. Toews. Another important projection presently in the early stages of realization PUBLISHING FOR THE BROTHERHOOD 301 is the "Trailblazer Series." This series of pamphlets attempts to recapture the vision, dedication and contribution of former Mennonite Brethren leaders and to make this spiritual heritage available to the present generation. The motto which appears on the letterhead of the Board of Christian Literature is an appropriate definition of the assignment in publications that the Mennonite Brethren have accepted as their mission to this present age: "Write the vision and make it plain" (Hab. 2:2). Chapter 18 Serving with Various Gifts: The Ministry in the Church The role of the ministry became one of the key issues leading to the secession of the original Mennonite Brethren. The new group severely criticized the ministers and leaders in the Mennonite Church. After referring to the ungodly life of church members in the Document of Secession the Brethren pointed out that "even the teachers (preachers) go about and see it, yes even at social festivities sit quietly by; see and hear how people serve the devil. . . . The teachers do not stand in the gap as of old." When in late March, 1860, they were asked to explain the reasons for their withdrawal from the Mennonite Church, the Brethren again focused on the failure of the ministry: "With joy we would even now return to our churches if the ministers (Lehrer) would earnestly op- pose corruption according to the Word of God and we would assist them with God's help to restore the churches.'* 1 From this statement it seems clear that alongside of the criticism of existing church leaders, there emerged among the early Brethren a new concept of the ministry which involved the active participation of church members. As in most church renewal movements, the Brethren returned to the scriptural emphasis of the priesthood of all believers, and considered the "ministry" as a kind of service in which all Christians are engaged, not only a chosen few. It was perhaps providential that among the eighteen "founding fathers" there was not a single ordained preacher or deacon. This compelled the Brethren to rethink and reexamine the question of the ministry in the light of biblical teaching. That this actually happened is evident from their confessional documents. When elder Heinrich Huebert, representing the Molotschna Mennonite Brethren Church, was asked to give an account 2 concerning the practices of his church, he elaborated also on the understanding of the Mennonite Brethren