A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

with the various mission boards, many issues with a potential for misunderstanding and tension have been eliminated. In retrospect it appears that all other inter-Mennonite activites that have been initiated during the past fifty years have been inspired directly or indirectly by the exemplary cooperation of the various groups in the Mennonite Central Committee. In Overseas Missions An expanding foreign missions program has led the Mennonite Brethren to cooperate with other missionary agencies for a more effective execution of their task. As early as 1919 the Board of Foreign Missions found it necessary to affiliate with the Foreign Missions Conference of North America, not as a "constitutional," but only as an "affiliated" member. 28 The occasion for affiliation was the stipulation of the British government that permission to enter British territories for mission purposes could only be obtained through this organization. When the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (EFMA) was born in 1943, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Mennonite Brethren Conference became affiliated with this new organization. The brethren H. W. Lohrenz, A. A. Schroeter, and J. B. Toews attended the organizational meeting of EFMA which was held in Columbus, Ohio. Among the services that might be derived through such an affiliation the following could be mentioned: (1) Representation before the government in matters of passports and visas; (2) assistance in obtaining transportation; and (3) advice in remitting funds to foreign countries. 29 Through the years the relationship of the Mennonite Brethren to the EFMA has been very helpful in resolving many technical and legal difficulties in the operation of a worldwide missions program. As general director of the NAE and executive secretary of the COOPERATING WITH OTHER GROUPS 393 EFMA, Clyde W. Taylor of Washington, D.C., has given strong leadership to this interdenominational effort. Of perhaps even greater significance for M.B. missions has been the organization in 1962 of the Council of Mission Board Secretaries (COMBS). It is a consultative group composed of the secretaries of the various North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ mission boards. In addition to the benefits derived from mutual sharing and fellowship, COMBS has entered into a consultative relationship with MCC. Already in 1954 the Mennonite Brethren Conference had expressed the desire "that our participation in the important ministry of relief be as closely as possible coordinated with the missionary objectives of our Conference of bringing the Gospel to the people to whom we minister relief." 30 Ten years later this vision became reality when the representatives of the mission boards of the MCC constituency met with MCC members and staff in Chicago, May 7-8, 1964. According to William T. Snyder this meeting was a milestone in making cooperation and trust more specific. "The consultati