Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec

Classification scheme: II

Title: Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec fonds

Dates of creation: 1810-1988

Physical description: 35 m of textual records

Administrative history: The Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec (MCOQ) was founded in 1810. It was known as the Mennonite Conference of Canada until 1909 and the Ontario Mennonite Conference until 1982.

The Old Mennonite Church in the United States and Canada was organized into district conferences, the majority of which participated in Mennonite General Assembly, founded at a Constitutional and General Assembly held at Kitchener, Ontario, on 16-19 August 1971. The assembly was made up of congregational delegates proportionately representing the participating conferences. MCOQ participated in Mennonite General Conference, 1898-1971, and Mennonite General Assembly, 1971-1988 (see (Old) Mennonite Church).

In 1988 the Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec merged with the Western Ontario Mennonite Conference and the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario to form the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada.

Custodial history: Accruals have been received at various times from various individuals and groups participating in conference activities.

Scope and content: The fonds consists primarily of reports, programs and meeting minutes. Two large schools created by the conference have their records in the MCOQ fonds: Rockway Mennonite School and the Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute (see Series 4: Educational Cabinet). Several other institutions, including the Mennonite Aid Union and Women's Missionary and Service Commission are listed in Series 5.

Notes: For further reference see Samuel Steiner. "Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec (MC)." Mennonite Encyclopedia, V:570.

File list: There are seven series in the fonds, with numerous sub-series:

Series 1: Early and Annual Records

  1. Annual conference reports and resolutions, 1873, 1892-1895, 1899-1916
  2. Annual conference programs, 1904, 1909, 1913-1916, 1918-1919, 1922-1928, 1930-1964, 1966-1970, 1974-1975, 1977
  3. Annual conference resolutions (digests and excerpts), 1836, 1839, 1847-1904, 1847-1928
    See also, in the Milton Good Library a copy of: Burkholder, Oscar, S. F Coffman, and Gilbert Bergey. Resolutions: Ontario Mennonite Conference, 1847-1928. Ontario: [The Conference], 1929.
  4. Charter and by-law for The Mennonite Conference of Ontario, 1951
  5. Constitutions
    Constitution and Discipline, 1909, 1936 (printed 1940, 1943 amendments tipped in), 1949, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1972
    Statement of Faith and Constitution and Discipline, 1956
    Constitution, 1977 (bound with constitution and by-laws of the Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario), 1982 (draft)
    Constitutional amendments to add "and Quebec," (1982?)
  6. Semi-annual conference reports and resolutions, 1837, 1842, 1844, 1858, 1864, 1865, 1891-1909
  7. Programs for fall conferences
    Fall Conference, 1944-1947
    Ontario Ministerial Bible Conference, 1949-1951, 1953-1956, 1960
    Ontario Fall Conference, 1962
  8. Secretary's books
    First secretary's book, 1847-1901 (minutes begin 1861)
    Annual conference minutes, 1902-1929; Executive minutes, 1921-1930
    Executive minutes, 1914-1919
    Executive minutes, 1922-1931 (includes Investigating Committee, 1922)
    Annual conference minutes, 1941-1953 (drafts)
    Note the Calendar of Appointments (title varies) began including reports and minutes from conference annual meetings in 1917. From 1981-1987, minutes were published in the Inter-Mennonite Conference (Ontario) Yearbook.
  9. Petitions
    Petition to members of parliament to retain military exemption, 1865 (photocopy)
    Petition to the Governor General in Council of Canada urging for peaceful resolution of disputes between nations, [1909?]
  10. Various documents
    David Sherk statement re Wisler and Brenneman, 1880
    Samuel Bowman's Waterloo Country church membership list, early 1900s
  11. Calendar of Appointments
    Note: This file contains extra copies of the "calendar of appointments" published by the Conference. The most complete set of this annual volume, under various titles, is found in the Milton Good Library (BX 8107.C21). Publication began in 1836. The Library has: 1837, 1851, 1854, 1857-1987. The Calendar began including reports and minutes from the conference annual meetings in 1917. From 1981-1987, minutes were published in the Inter-Mennonite Conference (Ontario) Yearbook.
  12. Annual meeting delegate report books, 1959-1988

Series 2: Executive Committee

  1. Moderator (Chairman) and Assistant Moderator, 1943-1971, 1977-1978, 1982-1984
  2. Secretary
    Executive minutes, 1931-1988
    Correspondence, 1893-1895, 1901-1902, 1919-1922, 1924-1927, 1929-1987
    See also II-1.10 for earlier secretary's records. Note the Calendar of Appointments (title varies) began including reports and minutes from the conference annual meetings in 1917. From 1981-1987, minutes were published in the Inter-Mennonite Conference (Ontario) Yearbook.
  3. Ministerial/Personnel Committee
  4. Finance Committee (These records were re-appraised in 2009. Most receipts and invoices were withdrawn.)
  5. Special Committees
    Land Use Task Force, 1975-1976
  6. Faith and Life, Youth Ministry Committee
  7. Program Committee
  8. Theological Concerns
  9. Office Manager 

Series 3: Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario

Series 4: Educational Cabinet

  1. Education Cabinet records
  2. Rockway Mennonite School
  3. Religion in the public schools
  4. Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute
  5. Religious Education in the Public Schools
  6. Student Services
  7. Sunday School Conference
  8. Christian Workers' Committee
  9. Ontario Bible Conferences
  10. Christian Nurture Committee
  11. Mennonite Youth Fellowship
  12. Member, Mennonite Church Publication Board
  13. Summer Bible School
  14. Young People's Conferences
  15. Literary Societies
    1. Excelsior
    2. Interrogative
    3. Alpine 
    4. Progressive
    5. Keystone
    6. Philomatheon
    7. Maple Leaf
  16. Mennonite Camps
    1. Chesley Lake
    2. Fraser Lake
  17. Sunday School Reports

Series 5: Organizations related to Conference

  1. Mennonite Benefit Association
  2. Mennonite Aid Union
  3. Fairview Mennonite Home
  4. Women's Missionary and Service Commission
  5. General Welfare Committee
  6. Ontario Mennonite Evangel
  7. Conference Historian
  8. Peace, Social and Economic Relations Committee

Series 6: Conference Districts

  1. Northern
  2. Central (K-W)
  3. Eastern (Markham/York County)
  4. Western (Wilmot)
  5. Niagara