Canadian Mennonite University

Theological Identity and Shared Conviction

The 1998 Act of the Manitoba Legislature entrusts CMU’s mission, Board, and programs to the ‘Mennonite community’ writ large. This community consists of a diverse range of individuals, congregations, and denominations that relate to the Anabaptist faith tradition globally, along with an even broader set of ecumenically diverse individuals and communities who choose to affiliate with CMU. While CMU connects in particular ways with Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, students from diverse denominations and faith backgrounds, as well as many who bring no connection to the church, are fully welcome as active participants in the CMU learning community.

The Shared Convictions of Mennonite World Conference* is a formal statement that expresses primary tenets of the Anabaptist faith tradition, and connects CMU with Anabaptist/Mennonite bodies world-wide.

 

Shared Convictions of the Mennonite World Conference

By the grace of God, we seek to live and proclaim the good news of reconciliation in Jesus Christ. As part of the one body of Christ at all times and places, we hold the following to be central to our belief and practice:

  1. God is known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Creator who seeks to restore fallen humanity by calling a people to be faithful in fellowship, worship, service, and witness.
  2. Jesus is the Son of God. Through his life and teachings, his cross and resurrection, he showed us how to be faithful disciples, redeemed the world, and offers eternal life.
  3. As a church, we are a community of those whom God's Spirit calls to turn from sin, acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, receive baptism upon confession of faith, and follow Christ in life.
  4. As a faith community, we accept the Bible as our authority for faith and life, interpreting it together under Holy Spirit guidance, in the light of Jesus Christ to discern God's will for our obedience.
  5. The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.
  6. We gather regularly to worship, to celebrate the Lord's Supper, and to hear the Word of God in a spirit of mutual accountability.
  7. As a world-wide community of faith and life we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language. We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God's grace by serving others, caring for creation, and inviting all people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

In these convictions we draw inspiration from Anabaptist forebears of the 16th century, who modeled radical discipleship to Jesus Christ. We seek to walk in his name by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we confidently await Christ's return and the final fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Adopted by Mennonite World Conference
General Council, March 15, 2006

*Mennonite World Conference consists of the majority of the global Christian churches rooted in the 16th century Radical Reformation in Europe, particularly in the Anabaptist movement. MWC membership in 2015 included over 100 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national church conferences from 56 countries.

Printed from: www.cmu.ca/about/cmu/identity