Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church

Classification scheme: XIII-2-17

Title: Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation: 1984-1997

Physical description: 101 cm of textual records

Administrative history: The Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church (TCMC) was planted in 1979 by Pastor Winfred Soong and his wife Jean Soong. The congregation was formally organized in 1980.

For the first nine years, the congregation shared space with the Danforth Mennonite Church. Because of growth, TCMC then relocated to the nearby Rogers Memorial Presbyterian Church in which it rented church space for 10 years. In 2000 it purchased the building when the Presbyterian Church closed.

In 1990 the congregation initiated an outreach in the Markham area, resulting in the formation of the Markham Chinese Mennonite Church.

By 2010 the demographic of the congregation had changed, with services in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Although some immigrants have come from mainland China, the many families are well into their second generation in Canada.

The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario (1982-1988), Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1981-1991, 1995-), General Conference Mennonite Church (1983-1991) and the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada (1988- ). The language of worship is Cantonese and English; the transition from Chinese occurred in 1988.

Custodial history: The congregation made donations to the Archives in 1998 and 2025.

Scope and content: Formal and informal records and church bulletins in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Notes: Archival description created March 2000 by Sam Steiner and updated 2025 by Laureen Harder-Gissing

File list:

Series 1: Formal Records

  1. Annual report, 1983-1996, 2012-2013
    Financial Statements, 1997-2004, 2018-2019
  2. Directory, 1990/91
  3. Board meeting minutes, 1982-1995, 1997-2000, 2004-2016
  4. English Ministry Executive Committee (EMEC), 1987, 1991-1998 (incomplete)
  5. David Fellowship, 1985-1992
  6. Chinese Christian Softball Association, 1988-1991, 1995
    Note: Contains files for both of the church's teams: Nikos and Excelsiors.
  7. Gideon Fellowship, 1990-1995
  8. Joshua/Career Fellowship, 1987, 1989-1998, 2000
  9. Timothy/High School Fellowship, 1991-1993, 1998
  10. Daniel/Youth Fellowship, 1989-1998
    Songbook
  11. Constitution, 1981, 1986, 2001
  12. Fellowship Attendance Records, 1988-1991
  13. Jeremiah Fellowship, 1993
  14. Sunday School, 1990-1997, 2000
  15. Summer camp, 1983-1988, 1990-1997
  16. St. Raphael's Nursing Home, 1991-1993
  17. Pastoral search, 1996
  18. Zion Fellowship, 2002-2018
  19. Anniversaries, 1995 (15th)
  20. Family Fellowship, 1993-1999
  21. Sunday service schedule (chart of duty), 1991-1996
  22. Reference group for Markham Chinese Mennonite Church, 1990-1997
  23. Kei Lok Yuen, 2005
  24. Peter Fellowship, 1996
  25. Property Committee, 2000
  26. Mandarin Ministry Committee, 2004
  27. Evangelistic meeting minutes, 1989, 1994-1997
  28. Building Committee, 1997, 2000
  29. Sermons and other worship materials, [19--?], 1985-1986, 1990-1992, 1994-1996, 1998-1999
  30. Missions, 1989, 1996, 2001
  31. City on a Hill reference council, 1995
  32. Retreats, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998-1999
  33. Organizational chart, [19--?]

Series 2: Informal Records

  1. Wedding programs
  2. News clippings, 1991, 2018
  3. Special programs, 1999-2000

Series 3: Church Bulletins

1 April 1983, 20 April 1984, 1990-1 October 2006, 2017-15 March 2020