Ottawa Mennonite Church (Ottawa, ON)

Title: Ottawa Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation: 1967-1988
Note: Further accruals are expected

Physical description: 40 cm of textual records

Administrative history: Located at 1830 Kilborn Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, the Ottawa Mennonite congregation began services in 1959, and formally organized in 1963. The first building was occupied in 1965, with a subsequent building program in 1985. William Dick is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated Mennonites who lived and worked in Ottawa. The group was formerly known as Ottawa Mennonite Fellowship.

The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario (1963-1988), Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1967- ) and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988- ).

In 1965 there were 28 members; in 1975, 96; in 1985, 98; in 1995, 144; in 2000, 164. The pastor in 2008 was Don Friesen.

Custodial history: The congregation has made periodic donations to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. Some papers were transferred from the Frank H. Epp fonds during processing.

Note: Archival description originally created April 2008 by Sam Steiner

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

1. Annual reports
   1964-1984
   Note: Includes "Guiding Principles" document approved 1974.
2. "Ottawa Mission" minutes 
   1959-1960
3. Directories
   1967-1975
4. Correspondence

Series 2: Church bulletins

1961 (scattered) 
1967-1988

Series 3: Newsletters

OMC Letter 1967-1975, Mar 1978, Dec 1978, Mar/Apr 1979, Nov 1979, Apr 1980, 1984 (Nos 1-2, 4-5, 8-9, 14, 16-25, Nov. 1984

Series 4: Informal records

1. Handbook, 1969-1971
   Scope and content: The handbook was prepared "especially for persons newly interested in the Ottawa Mennonite Church." It includes historical information, constitutional documents, an application for membership, and "information sheets," which are profiles of congregational members. 
   Note: The section marked "Letter" contained copies of the OMC Letter from 1967-1971; copies of the Letterhave been moved to Series 3. The section marked "Annual Report" contained copies of annual reports from 1965-1971; copies of the reports are located in Series 1.1.
2. Tributes
   "She made Ottawa into a home for many" : a tribute given at the memorial service of Mrs. Helen Wiens on March 2, 1979 / William Janzen 
   "Farewell to Alma Coffman," / William Janzen, 30 Apr 1978
3. Bulletin from inaugural service, 5 May 1963; Dedication services of the Fellowship Chapel, 22 May 1966;  "Report on the executive  secretary's schedule from May 4 to 12, 1963" / by David P. Neufeld. - Includes a report on the new congregation.
4. Ottawa Mennonite Church - 35th Anniversary by Paul Berg Dick, et al., 1994

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