Evangelical Mennonite Conference

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) is a Canadian evangelical Mennonite denomination headquartered in Steinbach, Manitoba. Its historical roots reach back to the Kleine Gemeinde, a renewal movement formed among Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites in the Molotschna settlement of southern Russia in 1812. The movement was associated especially with Klaas Reimer, who objected to what he regarded as declining spiritual discipline, increasing accommodation to surrounding society, and weakening commitment to Mennonite nonresistance. The Kleine Gemeinde migrated to North America during the major Mennonite emigration of 1874–1875, prompted by the Russian government's plan to end Mennonite privileges concerning schooling and military exemption. The more conservative Canadian settlers established communities in southern Manitoba, while related groups settled in the United States. Over the twentieth century, the Canadian body underwent a substantial transformation. It adopted a more explicitly evangelical theological vocabulary, moved away from distinctive traditional practices such as plain dress, shifted from German toward English in worship, and became increasingly multiethnic and multilingual. The Canadian organization changed its name to the Evangelical Mennonite Church in 1952 and adopted the name Evangelical Mennonite Conference in 1959 because another American body already used the former name. The denomination's evangelical and Anabaptist identity developed alongside a growing commitment to missionary work. Susanne Plett became the first EMC missionary in 1945, initially serving without formal conference support, and later missionary activity expanded through partnerships with evangelical, interdenominational, and Anabaptist organizations. The EMC comprises congregations organized into regional structures and is governed collectively by its churches. Delegates participate in conference council meetings, while ministers meet nationally for fellowship, discussion, and retreat. National boards oversee areas such as missions, church planting, education, and other conference responsibilities. The denomination has maintained a strong missions emphasis; historically, more than half of its national budget was directed toward mission work. Its international activity has extended to numerous countries, while domestic priorities have included church planting and holistic ministry. The conference's beliefs combine evangelical Protestant convictions with Anabaptist practices. Its stated theology affirms the authority of Scripture, the Trinity, humanity's need for salvation, Christ's substitutionary atonement, and the future return of Christ. The EMC is broadly Arminian in theological orientation. Its Anabaptist distinctives include believers' baptism, congregational governance, mutual accountability, church discipline, nonconformity, refusal of oaths, and nonresistance. It teaches that Christian discipleship should be expressed through service, peace-making, and practical concern for human suffering. The EMC recognizes believers' baptism, the Lord's Supper, and foot washing as ordinances, although foot washing is not widely practiced. It officially holds a complementarian position and does not ordain women to the ministry, while women may serve in associate or senior pastoral capacities in some settings and participate on boards, committees, and as delegates. The conference describes biblical interpretation as a communal responsibility rather than solely an individual or clerical task. The EMC operates or supports educational and publishing activities. Its Steinbach facilities include conference offices and archives, as well as Steinbach Christian High School and Steinbach Bible College. It is connected with graduate-level ministry and theology education through Canadian Mennonite University. The Messenger is its official periodical, while Theodidaktos addresses theology and education. The conference also produces Christian education resources and materials related to peace, social justice, preaching, and discipleship. In 2012, the EMC marked the bicentenary of its historical origins. At that time, reference material described approximately 7,200 members in 62 churches, with about 150 ministers, although membership and congregation counts may have changed since then. Its churches extend from British Columbia to southern Ontario. The conference is affiliated with organizations including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, and Mennonite World Conference. Today it presents itself as a diverse Canadian Christian fellowship that retains Anabaptist commitments while serving congregations shaped by varied cultural and denominational backgrounds.

The EMC traces its origins to the Kleine Gemeinde, a Mennonite renewal movement established in 1812 in Molotschna, a Mennonite settlement in what is now Ukraine. Klaas Reimer, a minister who had settled in Molotschna in 1805, believed that the surrounding Mennonite community had become too permissive in doctrine, discipline, and personal conduct. He began holding separate meetings in homes and was joined by Cornelius Janzen and other supporters. In 1814, the group formally recognized itself as a distinct church body. The movement's early disputes concerned the application of church discipline, the use of government punishment against offenders, tolerance of alcohol and other perceived vices, participation in weddings considered worldly, and the adoption of sermon and funeral practices associated with other Christian traditions. A central concern was the preservation of Mennonite nonresistance: members could respect civil government but should not participate in the detention or punishment of wrongdoers. In the nineteenth century, the Russian government's intention to withdraw Mennonite privileges, including military exemption and control over schools, encouraged emigration. Delegates investigated North American settlement in 1873, and most of the Kleine Gemeinde migrated in 1874 and 1875. The more conservative Canadian contingent settled mainly in southern Manitoba, particularly the East Reserve, while related members established communities in Nebraska and later other parts of the United States. Other historical branches developed separately, including groups that migrated through Crimea and became associated with the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren, as well as the conservative Kleine Gemeinde community that later relocated from Canada to Mexico. The Canadian branch changed considerably in the mid-twentieth century. Evangelical revival activity in the 1940s, associated with Ben D. Reimer and others, helped redirect the denomination toward evangelical theology and outreach. Missionary work became particularly important. Susanne Plett left for Bolivia in 1945 and was followed by additional workers. From 1946 to 1961, the Western Gospel Mission also influenced evangelism and church planting among EMC-related communities in parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario. In 1952, the Canadian Kleine Gemeinde changed its name to Evangelical Mennonite Church. Because a United States organization already used that name, the Canadian body adopted Evangelical Mennonite Conference in 1959. During the same period, congregations gradually abandoned plain dress and other cultural markers, German declined as the main worship language, and English became dominant. The denomination also opened itself to members and leaders from non-Russian-Mennonite backgrounds. Edwin Wright, a Welsh-born pastor, was an early example of this broadening leadership profile. Education became a more prominent institutional priority. The conference became an official partner of Steinbach Bible College, while its broader educational relationships eventually included Canadian Mennonite University and graduate-level ministry and theology training. The EMC also developed publications and educational resources, including The Messenger, Theodidaktos, Christian education materials, and resources concerning peace and biblical social justice. By the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, EMC congregations had become culturally and linguistically diverse. People with Hispanic, African, Latin American, and other backgrounds joined existing congregations or helped establish new ones. Some worship services use Spanish or other languages alongside English. The conference's mission program expanded through partnerships in many countries, and its domestic agenda increasingly combined church multiplication with holistic ministry, service, and social responsibility. The denomination's governance remains conference-based and congregational. Churches send delegates to council meetings, ministers meet nationally, and boards administer specific areas of ministry. The EMC maintains affiliations with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite World Conference, and other organizations. Its published beliefs continue to combine evangelical doctrines with Anabaptist commitments to believers' baptism, peace, nonresistance, communal interpretation of Scripture, mutual accountability, and service.

• 2012

  Two-hundredth anniversary

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  The EMC commemorated two centuries since the formation of the Kleine Gemeinde and reported approximately 62 churches and 7,200 members in contemporary reference material.

• 1959

  Name becomes Evangelical Mennonite Conference

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  The Canadian denomination adopted its present name because another American group already used Evangelical Mennonite Church.

• 1952

  Canadian body adopts Evangelical Mennonite Church name

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  The North American Kleine Gemeinde in Canada changed its name as part of its evangelical and organizational transformation.

• 1945

  First EMC missionary departs

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  Susanne Plett left for Bolivia, initiating the conference's documented missionary tradition.

• 1874

  Migration to North America begins

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  Kleine Gemeinde families migrated from Russia to North America, with the more conservative Canadian group settling mainly in southern Manitoba.

• 1814

  Separate church body recognized

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  Reimer, Cornelius Janzen, and their supporters formally identified themselves as a distinct Mennonite church body.

• 1812

  Kleine Gemeinde begins in Molotschna

  [1]Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org

  Klaas Reimer began separate home meetings that became the foundation of the Kleine Gemeinde renewal movement.

An evangelical Anabaptist denomination combining Mennonite commitments to nonresistance, communal discipleship, and congregational accountability with evangelical theology, church planting, education, and international missions.

• Denominational publication

  The Messenger

  The official EMC publication, issued monthly in the reference material and distributed in print and online. It communicates conference news, congregational developments, missionary activity, theological reflection, and matters of Christian life and discipleship.

• Theology and education journal

  Theodidaktos

  A journal associated with the conference that addresses theology and Christian education. It is published periodically and provides a forum for reflection on doctrine, ministry, biblical interpretation, and teaching.

• Christian education resource · 2006

  Follow Me

  A Sunday school resource published by the EMC in 2006, focusing on biblical social justice and Christian formation.

• Preaching and discipleship resource · 2007

  Peace Sermons resources

  A series of conference-produced materials, including CDs and booklets, designed to support preaching and reflection on peace, nonresistance, and Christian discipleship.

• 1946Western Gospel Mission cooperation

  Saskatchewan · Manitoba · Northwestern Ontario

  From 1946 to 1961, EMC members and churches were involved with the Western Gospel Mission's evangelism and church-planting work.

  Outcome. The cooperation influenced the development of evangelical outreach and new congregational work in western and northwestern Canada.

  Source
• 1945Bolivia missionary initiative

  Bolivia

  Susanne Plett became the first documented EMC missionary, beginning a long-term emphasis on international evangelism and mission partnerships.

  Outcome. The initiative helped establish missions as a defining priority of the conference.

  Source

• 2012

  Grassroots review of the Statement of FaithStrategy

  Background

  As part of strategic planning and its bicentenary reflection, conference delegates considered how the denomination should articulate its beliefs.

  Action taken

  Conference council delegates approved a grassroots process to examine the Statement of Faith.

  Aftermath

  The process underscored the EMC's practice of communal theological discussion.

  Source

• 1959

  Adoption of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference nameStrategy

  Background

  An American organization already used the name Evangelical Mennonite Church.

  Action taken

  The Canadian body adopted Evangelical Mennonite Conference as its official name.

  Aftermath

  The name remains the denomination's current identity.

  Source

• 1952

  Adoption of Evangelical Mennonite Church nameStrategy

  Background

  The Canadian Kleine Gemeinde was moving toward evangelical theology, broader outreach, and reduced reliance on older cultural practices.

  Action taken

  The organization changed its name to Evangelical Mennonite Church.

  Aftermath

  The change reflected the denomination's developing evangelical identity before the present name was adopted in 1959.

  Source

1. 1Evangelical Mennonite Conferenceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Evangelical Mennonite Conference official websiteemconference.ca