Rockway Mennonite Church

Classification scheme:

III-44

Title:ÌýRockway Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation:Ìý1960-2006
Note: Further accruals are expected

Physical description:Ìý80 cm of textual records

Administrative history:ÌýThe Rockway Mennonite congregation in Kitchener, Ontario began services and formally organized in 1960. The congregation met at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate until 2005. In that year, it moved to the Zion United Church in Kitchener where it occupied the former Zion Bible School at the rear of the building. In September 2016 it moved to a former United Church building at 47 Onward Ave. in Kitchener. It had purchased the building in July 2015.

Edgar Metzler is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through outreach byÌýFirst Mennonite ChurchÌýin Kitchener.

In 1965 there were 60 members; in 1975, 65; in 1985, 103; in 1995, 119; in 2000, 124. The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario (1962-88), the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario (1976-88), the Mennonite Church (1962-1988), the Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1975- ), and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988- ). The language of worship is English.

Pastoral leaders have included Edgar Metzler (1960-1961), Howard Good (1961- February 1966), John W. Snyder (January 1967-1990), Glenn Brubacher (Interim, 1990-1992), Allen Rudy-Froese (1992-1999), Mary Burkholder & Christina Reimer (Interim, 1999-2000), and Scott Brubaker-Zehr (2000-

Custodial history:ÌýThe materials were donated to the Archives by the church at various times.

Scope and content:ÌýThere are four series:ÌýFormal records,ÌýInformal records,ÌýChurch bulletinsÌýandÌýNewsletters.

Notes:ÌýOriginal description created by Sam Steiner, November 2003Ìý
See also: Worship service tapes inÌýSound Recordings -- Worship Services
Related photographs are located inÌýHist.Mss. 10: Photographs and Slides.

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

  1. Constitutions
    Undated
    1961 (several versions)
    1980 (draft only)
    1992, 1995
    Bylaws, 2005
  2. Congregational meetings and reports
    1959-1991, 1993, 1995-2015, 2017
  3. Church Council/Church Board minutes
    1960-1994/95
    1995-1997 (incomplete)
    1997/98-2007/08, 2016
  4. Stewardship CommitteeÌý
    1961-1964, 1966, 1976Ìý
  5. Worship/Resource CommitteeÌý
    1976-1980/81
  6. Building Committee
    1963-1967Ìý
  7. Rockway School & Rockway Church Committee
    1963, 1966, 1968-1969Ìý
  8. Directories/Membership listsÌý
    1960-1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986/87, 1989/90, 1992/93-2018
  9. Membership/Commitment Statement Committee
    1969
  10. Church Study Report and MeetingsÌý
    1983, 1989
  11. Ministry Council
    1983
  12. Student Aid ProgramÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
    1990-1995
  13. Site Planning CommitteeÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
    1976-1978 (includes some architectural drawings)
  14. Facility Management Committee & Lease with Rockway Mennonite SchoolÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ìý Ìý
    1979-1981

Series 2: Informal records

  1. Correspondence
    1960-1967
    1968-1969
    1970-1975
    [19--], 1976-1985 (incomplete)Ìý
  2. Programs
    1962-1990Ìý
  3. Clippings
    1969-1974Ìý
  4. Presentations, Sermons & Position PapersÌý
    (Miscellaneous lectures presented; some in "Church and Word" series, as well as position statements by congregation on Local Government, etc.)
    1963-1977, some n.d.Ìý
  5. Baptismal Vows
    Typed copy of vows used in 1968Ìý
  6. History
    "Three-minute" history of Rockway Church by Eleanor High done in 1970s
  7. "Rockway Mennonite Church: Are Its Members Still 'Mennonite'?"Ìý
    Notes: This folder contains the original undergraduate paper by Sam Steiner done in 1973, a copy that circulated to members, and notes from interviews. See also interview tapes located in Hist.Mss.22.9. Both the notes and tapes are restricted in that no individual interviewed may be specifically quoted or have his/her name used in any form of publication in accord with the understanding at time of interview.

Series 3: Church Bulletins

1960-1965 (almost complete)
1966-1970
1971-1973 (a few missing, especially 1973)Ìý
1974-1975 (almost all missing)
1976-1981 (most present, but incomplete)
1982-1988 (almost complete)
1989-2017

Series 4: Newsletter

1983-1986
2007-2017

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