A Pilgrimage of Faith: The Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia and North America, 1860-1990It is now [1990] one hundred and thirty years since the birth of the Mennonite Brethren Church and therefore time for someone in that church to take a backward glance to see how things have developed. Who better to do this John B. Toews. His life spans well over half of those years and he has experienced much of what he writes. "JB" as he is affectionately known by both students and colleagues is a patriarchal figure in the Mennonite Brethren Church. Born in Ukraine, the Russian Revolution and its aftermath were the crucible that shaped his youth and young adult years. After studying in Western Europe, Toews immigrated to Canada in the late 1920s. Much of his life has been in Mennonite Brethren educational institutions in Canada and the United States. During ten years as Executive Secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions he traveled widely and came to know Mennonite Brethren people around the world. In between educational and mission administrative responsibilities he pastored in Kansas and California. After retiring from the presidency of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary he became the founding Director of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Church.
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... shared their forebears ' aversion to doctrinal formulations . The Anabaptist view that a practical theology of life cannot be pressed into a doctrinal system found strong affirmation among them , and perhaps explains the void of written ...
... shared their testimony of salvation and continuing Christian life . In North America , however , Mennonite Brethren churches changed more slowly . Only in the 1920s and 1930s did they begin to accept non - immersed people from other ...
... shared re- sponsibility for unscriptural practices and sins within the church . They prayed and fasted together in repentance , seek- ing forgiveness and purification . “ 1 3. The structure of church government was a fellowship- ping ...
... shared the official duties of baptism , communion and leader- ship . " The emphasis was on the council of elders to lead the church and share the responsibility for the flock . The Old Testament references to the elders of Israel ( Num ...
... shared by a plurality of equals.28 The people chosen for these leadership roles were to be those who had the Spirit of God ( Num . 11 ) and the New Testament qualifications as defined in 1 Timothy 3 . The Confession of Faith further ...