Wilmer Martin

Classification scheme:

Hist.Mss.1.306

Title: Wilmer Martin fonds

Dates of creation: 1945-2012; predominant 1970-1990

Physical description: 1.8 m of textual records, photographs, cassette tapes

Biographical sketch: Wilmer Ray Martin (1945- ) was born to Omar Martin and Anna (Kuhns) Martin near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was ordained by lot as a minister in the Chambersburg Mennonite Church in 1964, at the age of 18, to assist his minister father. On Oct. 2, 1965 he married Janet Ranck (1945-2016) of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; they had two children—Janelle and Alan. Wilmer and Janet both attended Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute beginning in fall 1965. After graduation from OMBS & I in 1968, Wilmer served two pastorates in Ontario: Tavistock Mennonite (1968-1978) and Erb Street Mennonite (1978-1991). After this he became the President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada (1991-2000), located in Waterloo.

In the 1970s Wilmer became a tour leader, and in 1982 a partner in TourMagination, a Mennonite-oriented travel company. He became fulltime President of TourMagination in 2000; a role he continued until his retirement in 2016. In this capacity he organized and led many tours throughout the world.

Wilmer furthered his education while pastoring. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo in 1980 and a Master of Theological Studies from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary in 1989.

Wilmer and Janet became members of the Waterloo North Mennonite Church in 1996, and transferred their membership to the St. Agatha Mennonite Church in 2002.

Wilmer Martin accepted numerous leadership roles within the Western Ontario Mennonite Conference, the Mennonite Conference of Ontario & Quebec (MCOQ), and within the larger Mennonite Church (MC) denomination. These included service on the executive of the Western Ontario Mennonite Conference (1971-1978), chairing the Personnel Committee of the Mennonite Conference of Ontario & Quebec (1984-1988), chairing the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada Leadership Commission (1988-1991), serving on the executive of the Inter-Mennonite Conference (Ontario)(1973-1978); serving on the Mennonite Church Student Services Committee (1977-1981), co-chairing the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church Task Force on Human Sexuality in the Christian Life (1981-1988), chairing Mennonite Publishing Service (Mennonite Reporter) (1979-1989), chairing Shalom Counselling Services of Waterloo Region (1988-1991), member, Conrad Grebel College Board of Governors (1994-2000), member, Mennonite Board of Education (1989-1994).

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives by Wilmer Martin in 2014

Scope and content: The records consist of six series: 1) Correspondence (1974-1991); 2) Student papers from seminary studies (1968-1989); 3) Documents related Martin’s service on Mennonite Church’s Task Force on Human Sexuality in the Christian Life (1981-1987); 4) Pastoral resources; 5) Family Information and Memorabilia; 6) Sermons.

Notes: For photographs related to Wilmer Martin search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
Further materials related to Wilmer Martin may be found by searching the Archives.
Records related to Wilmer Martin's pastorate at Chambersburg Mennonite Church and his involvement with TourMagination have been deposited with the Mennonite Historical Association of the Cumberland Valley in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Original archival description created 2017 by Sam Steiner.

File list:

Series 1: Correspondence

1971-1991
Scope and content: Most letters deal with congregational activities, Martin’s academic studies, his various conference positions, his community activities, and travel with TourMagination and other groups.

Series 2: Papers written for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

Christ and Contemporary Man (2 take home exams, n.d.)
The Apostle Paul (Take home exam, n.d.)
“The Nature of the Church,” 1968 (OMBI)
Historical Jesus Study: “The Lord’s Prayer: Prayer—communication with our Father,” 1971
Family & Kinship: “The matrix of my family as an influence shaping my personality,” 1974 (Autobiographical)
Utopian Communities: “Summary of settlers at Hunta, Ontario,”1975
Mennonite History: “The history of Tavistock Mennonite Church (1942-1975),”1975
Sociology of Law: “News Clippings and Interpretations,” 1975
Sociological Analysis of Social Problems: “Scrapbook and Analyses,” plus Take-home exam,1976
Canadian Minorities: “The Training and Molding of Character in Hutterite Life,” 1976
Sociology of the Mennonite Community: “Movements into and out of the Mennonite Church (Waterloo County), 1950-1971, 1976 (with Barbara Gatschene), plus take home exam
Christian Moral Decisionmaking: “Premarital Sexual Relationships: a Plea for Responsible Moral and Ethical Choices,” 1977
“Homosexuality – ‘Working toward an Understanding of Persons with Homosexual Feelings’,” 1977
Art and Society: “Charles Monroe Schulz: a Man revealing Religious Values amidst Life’s Struggles,” 1978
Issues in Mass Communication: “Canada’s Native People—the Indians: ‘a Plea for Recognition and Understanding,’” 1978
Sociology 467G: “The Recovery of Mutual Aid in the Urban Mennonite Church,” 1979
Sociology 466G: “Conceptions of Leadership Roles in Two Branches of the Mennonite Brotherhood in Ontario,” 1979
Studies in Family Life: “Fit to be Tied: On Marriage and Marriage Checkups,” 1979
Religion and Film: “The Magician: a Look at the Incarnation, the God-Man Relationships,” 1979
Family Life: “Premarital Sexual Relationships: a Plea for Responsible Moral and Ethical Choices,” 1980
Religion in the 1980s: “The Quest for Authority: an Issue confronting the Church,” 1980
Aging, Dying and Death: “Providing Pastoral Care to the Bereaved,” 1980
Art and Society: “The Grapes of Wrath: an Indictment Against Social Injustice,” 1980
Religion in Film: Judgement at Nuremberg: a Bitter Question of Man’s Guilt,” 1980
Church and Ministry: “An Autobiographical Statement on Church and Ministry” and “Fit to be Tied: On Marriage and Marriage Checkups,” 1981
New Testament Introduction: “The Role of the Law according to Paul,” and “Paper on Letters of Paul,”, 1981
Marriage and Family Counseling: “Field Project on Family Systems Analysis,” 1982
Marriage and Family Counseling: “A Model in Pastoral Care: Marriage Enrichment Retreat for Mid-Year Couples, ‘Making a Good Marriage Better’,” 1982
Literature of the Old Testament: “Creation, Genesis 1 and Creation, Genesis 2—the Stories compared,” 1983
Literature of the Old Testament: “Jeremiah’s Call: Prophet to the Nations,” 1984
Directed Study: “Human Sexuality in the Christian Life,” 1984/85
Pastoral Care of the Grief Sufferer: “Quest for Meaning in Facing Terminal Illness” and “Wilmer Martin’s Journal,” 1985
Ministering to Lower Income Persons: “Incest: Child Sexual Abuse,” 1986
Church History: “Evaluation of ‘Women in the Church and at the Seminary’,” 1987
Church History: “Journal for Church History: the Modern Period,” 1988
Introduction to Christian Doctrine: “Fall and Sin: as Interpreted by Influential Mennonite Leaders in the early 1900’s” plus take home exam, 1988
Introduction to Christian Doctrine: “Justification and Sanctification as interpreted by Johann Arndt” plus take home exam, 1989
Comprehensive Seminar: “Providing Pastoral Care for Families of Homosexual Persons,” 1989

Series 3: Task Force on Human Sexuality in the Christian Life

Administrative history: Wilmer Martin was co-chair, along with Sue Goerzen of Windsor, Ontario, of the Task Force on Human Sexuality, a body created by both the General Conference Mennonite Church (1980) and the Mennonite Church (1981). The Task Force met from 1982-1987, and issued a study document in 1985, Human Sexuality in the Christian Life. After receipt of feedback from congregations, area conferences and individuals, both the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church approved resolutions on human sexuality known as Saskatoon ’86 and Purdue ’87 (named after of the locations of the assemblies). These statements formed the basis of the denominations’ position on sexuality into the 2000s.

Task Force Minutes and Mennonite Church Assembly related activity,
1982-1987
Correspondence
Undated, 1981-1988
Draft document and related correspondence, Human Sexuality in the Christian Life, 1985. Includes copy of final published document.
Congregational responses to Task Force’s draft document,
1985
Report of Task Force to Saskatoon ’86 assembly of General Conference Mennonite Church, 1986
Resources for Human Sexuality document’s section on Sexual Expressions, 1977-1984
Documents received by Task Force related to homosexuality, 1981-1986
Workshop: Mennonite Conference of Ontario & Quebec, Central District Winter Bible School, Jan.-Feb. 1984
Workshop: MCOQ Quarterly Ministers Meeting, 1984
Workshop: MCOQ Winter Bible School, 1986
Workshop: Hidden Acres Teen Sexuality Seminar, 1986
Workshop resources, 1985-1986
University of Guelph Conferences on Sexuality (Registration materials, documents, notes) attended by Martin
1984 (Sexuality: a Search for Values)
1986 (The Changing Nature of Relationships: Sexual Scripts & Lifestyles Today)
1987 (Sexuality: Today’s Personal and Social Dilemmas)
1988 (In Search of Healthy Sexuality)
Resources on Homosexuality collected by Martin (clippings, unpublished papers, statements), 1977-1988
Periodical resources on Sexuality and Homosexuality gathered by Martin, e.g. Time magazine, Newsweek, Playboy, Ministry, Windy City Times (Gay & Lesbian Newsweekly), Xtra: Gay Guide to Toronto, Keystone Queer, 1967-1988

Series 4: Pastoral Resources

Scope and content: These folders were assembled by Wilmer Martin on a variety of themes he found helpful in his ministry. They contain clippings, articles, notes, pamphlets and similar materials.

Alcohol and Drug Concerns, 1966-1970s; predominately mid-1970s
Children’s Story: The Giving Tree (includes overheads)
Children’s Stories (Includes overheads and notes)
Church Membership, 1971-75
Couples Groups, 1970s
Creative Worship (includes litanies, choral readings, and reflective items on worship), 1970s?
Divorce & Remarriage
Family Life Seminar (similar to Couple Groups above)
(from Martin’s years on Mennonite Church Student Services Committee; the published issues of Forum have been removed; remaining are Ontario-related student services materials). See Milton R. Good Library for copies of Forum.
Group Experiences (small groups)
I Used to Know a lot about Sex (a presentation, along with overhead slides)
I’m OK, You’re OK (workshop on transactional analysis)
Interpersonal Relationships (a course from 1969/70)
Lotteries, 1974-1976
Marriage enrichment, early 1970s
Mennonite Research Journal (historical Mennonite periodicals, including Mennonite Historian, Mennonite Historical Bulletin, Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, The Mirror, and the booklet by Frank H. Epp, Stories with meaning. They have all been removed from the file; copies can be seen the Milton R. Good Library.
Pre-Marital Counseling (includes overhead slides)
Religious Drama (primarily scripts for short worship dramas)
Small groups (evangelism through small groups; house fellowships, small congregations), early 1970s
Stories, jokes
Tavistock Mennonite Church special programs and clippings (also contains special programs from other Mennonite churches, 1970s)
Who are the Mennonites?
Worship Ideas
Funeral/memorial services, 1974-2012; primarily 1980s
Erb Street Mennonite church special services and events, 1978-1991 (includes Wilmer Martin’s installation as pastor, and correspondence around his acceptance of the position)

Series 5: Family Information and Memorabilia

Wilmer Martin’s baby book, 1945-1947?; includes a few greeting cards
Diplomas and degrees earned by Wilmer Martin and Janet Martin
1963 (Lancaster Mennonite High School)
1968 (Ontario Mennonite Bible Institute)
1980 (University of Waterloo, BA)
1989 (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, MTS)
Letters of support after Wilmer Martin’s ordination, 1964 (see audio tapes for recording of ordination service); also includes one letter from grandmother in 1986
Included in folder 7
Children’s story, “This is our life” about growing up years of Wilmer Martin and Janet Ranck, 1978 (used when Wilmer became pastor at Erb Street Mennonite Church)
Articles written by Wilmer Martin for Tavistock Gazette, 1970s
Memorabilia on special events in Wilmer & Janet’s life, as well as clippings about Wilmer and Janet Martin. Includes program for speaking (1964), wedding invitation (1965), 20^th anniversary of ordination (1984), letters of resignation from Tavistock Mennonite Church (1977) and Erb St. Mennonite Church (1991), etc.
Personal journal, 1987
Habitat for Humanity Canada, n.d., 2000-2006. Includes undated children’s book about a Habitat for Humanity build, and letters of support following Wilmer Martin’s termination at Habitat for Humanity Canada (2000)
Building Bridges: Mediations by Wilmer Martin. Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2009.
Farewell scrapbook compiled when Wilmer Martin ended his pastorate at Erb Street Mennonite Church, 1991. Includes cards, pages designed by church members, and numerous photographs commemorating the years at Erb Street (1978-1991)