What to expect at EQUIP 2025

The National Faith and Life Team (NFLT) sponsors an in-person gathering of our MB family every two years to both discuss important theological and ethical matters (e.g., sexuality, discipleship, hermeneutics, church, etc.) and equip our family for more faithful witness in living out our convictions. The NFLT often connects an Equip gathering with important discussion pieces related to our MB Confession of Faith.

Equip 2025 (Oct 21-23; NKMB Winnipeg) is exploring what could be called the Mennonite Brethren peace position. What does our commitment to the gospel and God’s Kingdom mean for living out peacemaking in our families, churches, community, and world? Our Confession of Faith talks about Christian Peacemaking as involving such things as a strong rejection of violence, a commitment to love enemies and alleviate suffering, and a commitment to give alternative service in times of war. We will be exploring what our Confession seems to be saying and the implications of such convictions for our personal and corporate lives in a world of increasing conflict and violence.

We are excited to host a conversation around the MB peace position and a robust understanding of the gospel. We are excited to host a conversation about what practical peacemaking looks like in marriages, churches, the community, and beyond—and hear stories from people living out peace in these difference places. We are excited to host a tough conversation about the nature of violence; and whether police and/or military service can fit with our MB peace position. We will hear about how and why our US Mennonite Brethren (USMB) family chose to revise their Confession of Faith around these questions—and sit together to discuss our new proposed Explanatory Notes for Articles 12: Society and State and 13: Love and Nonresistance. What does it mean to have integrity as a Canadian MB family in light of our convictions?

Besides having these important conversations, we are just excited about being together as a family, visiting together, worshiping and praying together, eating together, and getting to know new people from across our MB family.

Whatever your thoughts are about peacemaking, violence, and Articles 12 and 13, Equip 2025 needs individuals (men and women, younger and older, pastors and congregants) representing every MB church across Canada to be present, or we will be missing much-needed voices. In the same way, every MB church across Canada needs to hear about what our shared convictions about these things mean for faithful discipleship and gospel witness to Jesus.

There is still time to register and join this important and possibly even denomination-defining event. Register today, invite others in our family, and be part of this conversation! For all the details, see MennoniteBrethren.ca/EQUIP