Chortitzer Mennonite Conference

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The Chortitzer Mennonite Conference, or Die Mennonitische Gemeinde zu Chortitz, is a small body of Mennonites in western Canada.

The forerunners of this group came to Manitoba from Russia in 1874. They were first known as Bergthalers, but eventually became known as the Chortitzer Church because their bishop, Gerhard Wiebe (1827-1900), lived near the village of Chortitz (now known as Randolph). This group was very conservative. They sang without harmony (parts), restricting the singing to a melody only. They allowed neither Sunday schools nor evening services. The German language was used exclusively in church services. The bishop and ministers possessed most of the authority in the conference, allowing for little local autonomy.

The departure in 1948 of the more conservative families to Paraguay, left the more progressive families remaining in Canada. This opened the way for a number of changes in the Chortitzer conference. A new emphasis was placed on Christian education, with the addition of Bible studies, Sunday school, Sunday evening services, and young people's programs. Exclusive use of the German language made way for the adoption of English - first in Sunday School, and then in the Sunday morning services. A mission board was formed to conduct the mission outreach of the conference, and now a number of Chortitzer conference members serve in different parts of the world.

The Chortitzer Mennonite Conference has over 2,400 baptized members in 11 congregations. The bishop is the spiritual leader of the conference and is the head of the CMC Ministerial Executive Committee. Although all land and property is owned by the conference, each congregation is nearly autonomous and presides over its ministerial elections, spiritual matters, ministries, and budget. The bishop is responsible for the ordination of ministers and deacons. Some of the conference pastors are financially supported by the conference and their local church, but most pastors serve without salaries. The conference prints the CMC Chronicle as the official publication of the church and has a radio program ministry that ministers to the Mennonites in South America.

Current Churches

Manitoba: Randolph CMC, Steinbach CMC, Mitchell CMC, Silberfeld Mennonite Church (New Bothwell), Rosengard CMC (Kleefeld), Grunthal CMC, Weidenfeld CMC, Niverville CMC, Callsbeck Fellowship Chapel (Winnipeg), Zion Mennonite Church (Winkler),

Saskactchewan: Osler Mission Chapel

British Columbia: People's Mission (Fort St. John), Prespatou CMC

[Visit the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference Website http://www.chortitzer.com]