Institute for Theology & the Church

- History and Background
- Church in Ministry Seminars
- CMU Press
- Theological Journal Coordination (Vision & Direction)
- Refreshing Winds
- Gerhard Lohrenz Publication Fund
Director: Abe Bergen
The Institute for Theology and the Church (ITC) exists to provide resources and offer programs that affect the faith, life, work and witness of the church, with a special emphasis on the denominations that support CMU—Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba.
History and Background
The Institute was established through the assistance of an endowment from the estate of Katherine Esau. Her goal was to create a program that would allow CMU to use its resources to address the practical needs and concerns of the church.The Institute is governed by an advisory committee comprised of representatives from Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba,
Activities
ITC has three main program areas:CMU Press
CMU Press is an academic publisher of Canadian Mennonite University. Books from CMU Press address and inform interests and issues vital to the university, its constituency and society. Publications are church-oriented or theologically engaged and include writings in the area of Mennonite studies.
See www.cmu.ca/publications/ for further information and a catalogue of publications.
CMU Theological Journal Coordination
ITC gives support and is represented on the editorial council of two church oriented journals: Vision, a joint venture of CMU and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, targeting both Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA and Direction, a journal supported by Mennonite Brethren higher education institutions in the United States and Canada targeting the Mennonite Brethren constituency.
Conferences/Symposia and Research/Writing
ITC seeks to develop programs of research and conferences on topics of relevance and interest to the constituency churches and beyond.- Church in Ministry Seminars
The Church in Ministry Seminars is an annual event, usually held in January of each year, geared towards pastors, church leaders and lay people engaged in various ministries of the church. The seminars attempt to provide resources on issues related to the ministry of the church and give support to persons engaged in ministry. The Church in Ministry Seminars are jointly sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, Mennonite Church Canada and the Institute for Theology & the Church.
The Church in Ministry Seminar 2010: Mapping the Way: Finding Pathways Through Challenging Issues, a seminar for pastors, church leaders and laity. With Dr. Timothy J. Geddert from Fresno, California. Sponsored by the Institute for Theology and the Church. More info...
The Church in Ministry Seminars 2008: featured Dr. Thomas Long on The Witness of Preaching. More info...
- Refreshing Winds
This biennial conference aims to bring together pastors and musicians, worship leaders and planners to engage in worship and learning and discussion around liturgy and music. The 2009 Refreshing Winds Conference theme is Worship Come to Its Senses. Presenters are Don Saliers, author of the book Worship Come To Its Senses and recently retired Professor of Theology and Worship at Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia, and .Doug Gay, ordained minister, musician, song writer, worship leader, leader of Alt Worship and an Associate Member of the Ioana Community.
