I frequently encounter people, often MB pastors, who would push MB ecclesiology toward a baptistic congregationalism. They are particularly wont to mention that MBs and Baptists found common cause in the early days of the MB movement — and they did.

However, while Baptist church leaders taught Mennonite Brethren much, MBs did not swallow everything they saw among Baptists. The level of confusion, even obfuscation, around how to think of what the church is from an MB perspective is truly lamentable, and unnecessary.

In 1951, General Conference delegates passed the following resolution that should be instructive for this topic, as well as for resolutions that we have passed to help resource our life and mission. It reads as follows:

An appeal for a reaffirmation of the historic principle of the interrelationship of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Part II, of Statement. Statement summary:

(a) That each local church is independent in the administration of its internal affairs and functions as an independent unit.

(b) That we as a Conference are a Brotherhood of Churches.
We are, as our official name implies, “The Church” of the Mennonite Brethren Conference of North America, not the Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches of North America. As such we carry mutual responsibility for the spiritual conditions in the churches and for the presentation of the purity of faith and
doctrine as expressed in our practice.

(c) That we as churches of the Conference recognize resolutions and decisions of the Conference as morally binding and obligate ourselves to observe and carry them out to the best of our ability as faithful and cooperating members of the Brotherhood.

I wonder what would change for us were we to take this to heart?