A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

he United States. The process of change, however, has been slowed down and modified by several factors, the most significant being the large scale immigration of Mennonite Brethren in the 1920's, and to a lesser extent the immigration after World War II. The historical Anabaptist-Mennonite pattern of a multiple lay ministry was perpetuated in early Mennonite Brethren churches in Canada. Congregations elected and ordained brethren from their own midst to serve as preachers and leaders. This practice was enhanced and supplemented by the services of itinerant ministers — usually men of wide experience — who not only enriched the spiritual diet of the local congregation, but also offered wise counsel for the solution of the practical problems many churches faced. The immigration of the Russlaender Mennonite Brethren greatly strengthened the forces of the lay ministry in the churches. As J. H. Lohrenz points out, there were "among them many gifted and devoted ministers, leaders, teachers and men qualified in practical affairs." u The Bible schools, although not specifically geared to the training of ministers, nevertheless equipped many brethren for an effective lay ministry in their local congregations. A survey among M.B. ministers in 1963 revealed that 59 percent had enjoyed the privilege of Bible school training. 1 ' 1 Although the factors just mentioned postponed the change from the multiple ministry to the one-pastor-ministry, they could not prevent it. Cultural pressures and spiritual needs of congregations in an urban environment precipitated many changes, including changes in the role and function of the ministry. Before we describe and analyze these changes, a note on the question of elders in Canadian M.B. churches might be of interest. According to available information, no brethren were ever ordained as elders in Canada. Several elders, however, came into Canada from the United States and from Russia. Elder David Dyck, who came to Canada from Colorado in 1895, ministered in Winkler and Waldheim (Sask.). Elder Heinrich Voth moved to Canada in 1918, where he served for a short time at Vanderhoof, B.C. From Asiatic Russia (Siberia) two M.B. elders came to Canada in the 1920's. Elder Franz Friesen went to Alberta, where he served at Coaldale and Vauxhall, while elder H. M. Janzen took up residence in Winnipeg. To the writer's knowledge the latter two brethren were never recognized as elders in Canadian M.B. churches. This also applies to elder Wilhelm Dyck (from Millerowo) who resided in Niverville, Manitoba, during the last years of his life. Here too SERVING WITH VARIOUS GIFTS 309 the views of the Molotschna M.B. Church were accepted, according to which the church has not only one, but many elders, even though they are not officially designated as such. Transition to Pastoral System As already indicated, the transition from a multiple lay ministry to the one-pastor-ministry came a