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
    Miscellaneous records kept by secretary: Canadian Passenger Association, 1944-1960; Census of non-resident members, 1964-1965; Forms for missionary candidates and student financial need; Pastoral support questionnaire, 1966; Youth profile, 1968; Learning trip to Elkhart, 1976; Recommendation re church participation in government lotteries, 1977; Sketches of conference banners. 
    See also II-1.8 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 Committee/Personnel Committee
    Minutes, 1955, 1957-1987
    Correspondence, 1952, 1957, 1959-1972, 1974-1975, 1977
    News clippings
    Forms and certificates (blank)
    Doctrinal questionnaires for ministry candidates and wives (blank), [19--],1928-1929, 1932, 1936, 1965, 1978
    Two talks by Paul Peachey on pastoral psychology, 1955
    Committee on Ministerial Retirement, 1963
    Personnel advice for congregations, 1972-1980
    Conference Minister role, 1972-1980
    Statement of Direction on Ministry, 1971, 1974-1976
    Hiring of youth minister, 1972, 1977, 1980-1981 (restricted)
    Doctrinal questionnaires, ca. 1961-1965 (restricted)
  4. Finance and Stewardship Committee, 1941-1987
    Note: These records were re-appraised in 2009. Most receipts and invoices were withdrawn.
  5. Special committees and meetings
    Clarence Centre congregation, 1942
    Conferences on non-conformity, 1943
    Report of the Committee on Birth Control, [1944?]
    Conference Charter Committee, 1944-1945
    Constitution Revision Committee, 1954-1955
    Wilmot Group withdrawl, 1959-1960
    Worship Study Committee, 1960
    Conference Organization Study, 1960
    Study Committee on the Office of Deacon, 1963-1966
    Special Committee to set up discussion by ordained men of vital issues, 1967
    Organizational study, 1967-1968
    Church Property Advisory Committee, 1968-1969
    Land Use Task Force, 1975-1976
    Mini-consultation on five year goals, 1977
    "Ontario Four" publication (Four Earthen Vessels), 1976-1981
    Student Aid Ad Hoc Committee, 1982
    Long range study on conference staff, 1982-1983
  6. Faith and Life Committee, 1968-1987 
    Youth Ministry Committee, 1975-1987
  7. Conference program planning committees, 1962-1964, 1975-1982
  8. Theological Concerns Committee
    Minutes and correspondence, 1978-1986
    Questionnaires: "A delegate view of theological issues," 1980; "The roots of Mennonite identity," 1983.
  9. Office Manager (no files)
  10. Ontario Mennonite Conference Council
    Minutes, 1960-1968

Series 3: Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario

Series 4: Committees for education

  1. Education Cabinet records, 
    Note: Includes Educational Problems Committee, Educational Council
  2. Rockway Mennonite School
  3. Religion in the public schools
    Note: Includes Ontario Interchurch Committee on Week Day Religious Education
  4. Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute
  5. Unused
  6. Student Services
  7. Sunday School Conference
    Note: The Christian Workers Committee succeeded the Sunday School Conference in 1951. Some CWC files are included here.
    Book 1 - Minutes: Sunday School conferences, 1890-1900. Includes statistical reports, 1892-1900
    Book 2 - Minutes: Sunday School Conference delegate meetings, 1916-1934; Sunday School Conference executive committee, 1917-1934
    Book 3 - Account book, 1917-1934
    Book 4 - Minutes: Sunday School executive committee, 1935-1950; Christian Workers Conference executive, 1950-1958.
    Book 5 - Minutes: Sunday School conference delegate meetings, 1935-1950; Christian Workers Conference delegate meetings, 1951-1959
    Book 6 - Minutes: Sunday School Conference/ Christian Workers Conference, 1935-1959
    Constitutions, 1917, 1946. Includes constitutional committee records and samples of Sunday School constitutions, 1941-1946.
    Programs, 1894-1953. 1955-1960
    Memory Work Committee, 1953-1956. Includes some earlier correspondence.
    Sunday School superintendent lists, 1942, 1945-1961, 1963-1965, 1967-1969, 1972-1979, 1981-1982. Includes advice for superintendents, 1930s.
    Sunday School library book lists, 1930s
    Correspondence, notes, and reports, [19--], 1904, 1917, 1926, 1928, 1931-1932, 1934-1948, 1950-1968, 1979
    Miscellaneous: Sunday School Conference history, [1933?]; Sermon, 1930s; various Sunday School resources
    Annual statistics, 1918-1920, 1922-1982 (see also Book 1 for earlier statistical reports)
  8. Christian Workers' Committee
  9. Ontario Bible Conferences
    Note: First conference held in 1899
  10. Christian Nurture Committee
  11. Ontario Mennonite Youth, 1949-1987
    Note: The Ontario Mennonite Youth Fellowship was founded in 1958.
  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

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