Rouyn-Noranda

Title: Église évangélique mennonite de Rouyn-Noranda fonds

Dates of creation: 1985-2002

Physical description: 10 cm of textual records ; one photograph album

Administrative history: At the request of local families, the Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec (MCOQ) began providing visiting pastoral support in 1984. In 1985, Robert and Lois Witmer arrived and conducted regular meetings in their home. The congregation formed officially as an emerging congregation of MCOQ in 1986. French was the language of worship. Growth came initially from former members of a Plymouth Brethren church and others looking for alternatives to evangelical and Catholic churches. By 1988 there were 30 adults and as many children involved. The congregation rented space at All Saints Church in Noranda. Monthly ecumenical praise and prayer services were held in cooperation with three local Catholic parishes.

In the early 1990s, relationships with the small groups in both La Sarre and Val d’Or developed considerably, leading to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) officially recognizing the La Sarre group as an emerging congregation. Witmer also supervised other MCEC work in Quebec and northern Ontario until his retirement.

In 1994, Daniel Genest, a former Mennonite Brethren pastor, was selected as the new pastor of the three groups in Rouyn-Noranda, Val d'Or and La Sarre. However, commitment of members and participants became less stable. By 1996 Genest returned to Montreal but continued as pastor till 1999. The congregation moved out of All Saints to save money. Strong lay leadership continued including Marie-Reine Morin, a former Roman Catholic nun who served in 2000 as a congregational leader while Benoit Laplante was the teacher. Several teens became quite committed through the Mennonite Central Committee Summerbridge programme. Nevertheless the group was too small to continue and voted to dissolve in 2001.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2022 from the estate of Robert Witmer

Scope and content: Formal and informal records of the congregation

Notes: An encyclopedia entry for this congregation may be found in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Administrative history modified from Richard Lougheed's encyclopedia article.
The language of the fonds is French.
Original archival description created 2023 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
 

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

1. Minutes, constitutions and reports, 1985-2001
2. Lists
   Membership lists, 1986-1999
   Directories, 1989, 1991, 1997-1999, 2001
3. Vital records
   Correspondence from government, 1990-1994
   Register of marriages and funerals, 1997-1993
4. General correspondence
5. Offering book, 1988-1999
   Note: For privacy reasons, this item was restricted by the Archives until 2071

Series 2: Informal records

1. Congregational history
   Vallée, Claudette. "Église évangélique mennonite de Rouyn-Noranda, 1986-2001," 2001
   Profile of Robert Witmer
2. Training course for lay people in Anabaptism, "Cours de formation pour laics: L'origine des Assemblees Mennonites"
3. Photographs
   Group photograph of congregational community with identifying list, 1989
   Photograph album of congregational activities and events with the wider church
4. Congregational covenant, 1986
   Note: Located in map case