News

In North American Mennonite theological education, a regional focus is emerging as students prefer to access seminary education closer to home. Uprooting families and finding employment for a spouse in another country have become increasingly difficult.

To address this reality for students and to serve the changing needs of the church, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, and Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario, have established a collaborative arrangement in which Canadian students can use the same course credits to earn sequential degrees from both Grebel and AMBS.

Working toward reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours takes time and requires building awareness and understanding. Following the report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Justice Murray Sinclair issued this challenge: “We have described for you the mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”

Representatives of Anglican, United, Lutheran, and Mennonite Settler communities are lacing up for the climb. Muriel Bechtel, a retired Mennonite pastor says, “We are well aware that re-educating ourselves about our colonial history takes courage. We believe building awareness is a vital step in the reconciliation process for churches, governments, and all people who call this land our home.

Four productions of Discovery: A Comic Lament will occur in Waterloo Region from May 31 to June 3. As chair of the planning committee, Bechtel says “Only as we acknowledge our complicity in the displacement and dispossession of Indigenous communities, will we be able to move beyond our paralysis and confusion to deeper listening and action in partnership with Indigenous-led healing and justice efforts. We believe that this drama will inspire and motivate us for the climb ahead.”

“I always find hope in the resilience of the Rohingya people — in their dignity in the face of incredible abuse,” remarked the Honorable Bob Rae, in a CBC interview in early March. Currently working as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Rae has spent four months traveling to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the UN in New York. Tasked with investigating the humanitarian crisis, Rae is actively assessing efforts required to ensure the secure return of refugees to their homes, and gathering evidence of breaches of law and human rights. He reports that Canada has been “publicly associated with the peace process, with the dialogue on governance and pluralism, and with a number of other critical issues, and this engagement needs to continue.”

Have you ever been in a place, space, or community where you have been encouraged to try something new? Have you been challenged to take risks and leap out of your comfort zone? Have you tasted the confidence that comes with mastering new skills?

At summer camp, youth often have the opportunity to take these risks in the form of tackling a high ropes course, canoeing for the first time, or performing in a talent show. These experiences at summer camp are transformative and life-long confidence builders.

At Peace Camp, jumping out of your comfort zone looks a bit different. It’s practicing a new conflict resolution strategy and learning how to advocate for an issue you’re passionate about. It’s having a dialogue with someone who has different experiences and learning that together, we can make a difference.

For more than fifty years, Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo has cultivated a unique post at the College. Nestled in the heart of the Grebel residence building, alongside 142 undergraduate students sharing double rooms, lives a young married couple in a cute little apartment unit.

It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we announce the winners of the orchestra@waterloo concerto and aria competition. 

Eric Liang performed spectacularly with Brahms 2nd piano concerto, winning him the 1st place position. Eric will be performing the 1st movement with the orchestra@waterloo on our upcoming concert on March 29, 2018. 

Grebel is mourning the loss of John W. Miller, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies. John taught Old Testament at the College for 23 years before he retired.

With an air of celebration, in a hall filled with support from over 400 friends, family, alumni, students, staff, faculty, University of Waterloo representatives, and community members, Marcus Shantz was installed as Conrad Grebel University College’s eighth president on October 29, 2017.

With deep sadness, Conrad Grebel University College announces the passing of Ralph Lebold (1934-2017) on Tuesday, October 31. Lebold followed Frank H. Epp as the third president of Grebel from 1979 to 1989. Ralph is survived by his wife Eileen, and his children, Cindy and Scott, Connie and Tony, Marvin and their families. The funeral service will be held at Waterloo North Mennonite Church on Saturday November 4, 2017 at 11 am.

For 48 days beginning September 25, the names of 661,818 soldiers and nurses on all sides of the First World War will be digitally displayed at more than 60 locations around the world. The Mennonite Archives of Ontario will be one of these locations.