Classification scheme:
III-44
Title: Rockway Mennonite Church fonds
Dates of creation: 1960-2006
Note: Further accruals are expected
Physical description: 80 cm of textual records
Administrative history: The Rockway Mennonite congregation in Kitchener, Ontario began services and formally organized in 1960. The congregation met at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate until 2005. In that year, it moved to the Zion United Church in Kitchener where it occupied the former Zion Bible School at the rear of the building. In September 2016 it moved to a former United Church building at 47 Onward Ave. in Kitchener. It had purchased the building in July 2015.
Edgar Metzler is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through outreach by First Mennonite Church in Kitchener.
In 1965 there were 60 members; in 1975, 65; in 1985, 103; in 1995, 119; in 2000, 124. The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario (1962-88), the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario (1976-88), the Mennonite Church (1962-1988), the Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1975- ), and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988- ). The language of worship is English.
Pastoral leaders have included Edgar Metzler (1960-1961), Howard Good (1961- February 1966), John W. Snyder (January 1967-1990), Glenn Brubacher (Interim, 1990-1992), Allen Rudy-Froese (1992-1999), Mary Burkholder & Christina Reimer (Interim, 1999-2000), and Scott Brubaker-Zehr (2000-
Custodial history: The materials were donated to the Archives by the church at various times.
Scope and content: There are four series: Formal records, Informal records, Church bulletins and Newsletters.
Notes: Original description created by Sam Steiner, November 2003
See also: Worship service tapes in Sound Recordings -- Worship Services
Related photographs are located in Hist.Mss. 10: Photographs and Slides.
File list:
Series 1: Formal records
- Constitutions
Undated
1961 (several versions)
1980 (draft only)
1992, 1995
Bylaws, 2005 - Congregational meetings and reports
1959-1991, 1993, 1995-2015, 2017 - Church Council/Church Board minutes
1960-1994/95
1995-1997 (incomplete)
1997/98-2007/08, 2016 - Stewardship Committee
1961-1964, 1966, 1976 - Worship/Resource Committee
1976-1980/81 - Building Committee
1963-1967 - Rockway School & Rockway Church Committee
1963, 1966, 1968-1969 - Directories/Membership lists
1960-1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986/87, 1989/90, 1992/93-2018 - Membership/Commitment Statement Committee
1969 - Church Study Report and Meetings
1983, 1989 - Ministry Council
1983 - Student Aid Program
1990-1995 - Site Planning Committee
1976-1978 (includes some architectural drawings) - Facility Management Committee & Lease with Rockway Mennonite School
1979-1981
Series 2: Informal records
- Correspondence
1960-1967
1968-1969
1970-1975
[19--], 1976-1985 (incomplete) - Programs
1962-1990 - Clippings
1969-1974 - Presentations, Sermons & Position Papers
(Miscellaneous lectures presented; some in "Church and Word" series, as well as position statements by congregation on Local Government, etc.)
1963-1977, some n.d. - Baptismal Vows
Typed copy of vows used in 1968 - History
"Three-minute" history of Rockway Church by Eleanor High done in 1970s - "Rockway Mennonite Church: Are Its Members Still 'Mennonite'?"
Notes: This folder contains the original undergraduate paper by Sam Steiner done in 1973, a copy that circulated to members, and notes from interviews. See also interview tapes located in Hist.Mss.22.9. Both the notes and tapes are restricted in that no individual interviewed may be specifically quoted or have his/her name used in any form of publication in accord with the understanding at time of interview.
Series 3: Church Bulletins
1960-1965 (almost complete)
1966-1970
1971-1973 (a few missing, especially 1973)
1974-1975 (almost all missing)
1976-1981 (most present, but incomplete)
1982-1988 (almost complete)
1989-2017
Series 4: Newsletter
1983-1986
2007-2017