A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ent in the report: "We feel that NAE has a real respect for the position of the Mennonite Brethren, and that we have not only learned from them but have also been able to contribute." " This contribution, it might be noted here, Mennonite Brethren were able to make partly because of their association with MCC. The latter organization was able, for instance, to provide the personnel for NAE for relief work at Hue in South Vietnam. The relationship of Mennonite Brethren with both organizations, MCC 388 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH and NAE, has from time to time created unique opportunities for a meaningful witness. In Canada As mentioned earlier, inter-Mennonite cooperation in Canada received a great impetus as a result of Russian Mennonite immigration. The prospect of immigration of thousands of coreligionists from Soviet Russia was the major motivation in the 1922 organization of the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization (CMBC) by the several Mennonite bodies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Under the able leadership of "Bishop" David Toews 15 this organization was directly responsible for negotiating immigration arrangements and aiding in the resettlement of the Russian refugees. In the mid-twenties (1923-1927) the immigrants formed an organization of their own, known as the Central Mennonite Immigration Committee (CMIC). Some of the duties of the CMIC were to advise the CMBC in helping the immigrants establish new homes and to build Mennonite communities. 16 However, as the provincial immigration committees gradually assumed greater responsibilities, the CMIC lost its significance. At a meeting held in Rosthern in 1934, the committee decided to merge completely with the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization. Through the years Mennonite Brethren have been active in both organizations. B. B. Janz served as vice-chairman of the CMBC for many years. Other Mennonite Brethren who have served in this inter-Mennonite relief and service agency were C. A. DeFehr (Man.), A. A. Wiens (B.C.), G. Friesen (Ont.), A. A. Toews (Alta.). C. F. Klassen served as "collector" of transportation debts (Reiseschuld) from 1930-1945. A milestone in inter-Mennonite cooperation was reached in 1963 when a Canada-wide Mennonite organization, MCC (Canada), was born. In order to avoid overlapping of services, promote efficiency, and present a united witness the following organizations merged: The Canadian Mennonite Relief and Immigration Council (earlier known as CMBC), the Nonresistant Relief Organization, Canadian Mennonite Relief Committee, and Conference of Historic Peace Churches of Ontario. The functions of MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service) and of the Historic Peace Church Council were also assumed by the new organization. Thus MCC (Canada) assumed the responsibilities of at least six former inter-Mennonite agencies. 11 J. M. Klassen, a member of the Steinbach M.B. Church, was appointed to the p