By Laura Kalmar
Mennonite Brethren Herald

	Grace Kim			Bev Peters
		Korean pastor ministers to Chinese MBs By Barrie McMaster Mennonite Brethren Herald VANCOUVER, B.C. — Grace Kim didn’t realize she would be the first woman in Canada ordained as a Mennonite Brethren pastor. “It’s solely God. I didn’t plan this,” she said. “I’m honored that the Mennonite Brethren were willing to take a risk. And I’m thankful to my church. I’m happy for all MB female pastors.” Reflecting on the importance of ordination in Chinese-speaking churches, Kim said: “I’m doing the same ministry. But for some people in church work, not to be ordained is sometimes seen as a lack.” Kim’s church is Vancouver Pacific Grace, British Columbia’s first MB Chinese-language church plant. It’s now the model for eight other Pacific Grace churches in greater Vancouver. Kim grew up in South Korea and as a young woman sensed a call of God to minister to Chinese people. After pastoring in South Korea, she came to Canada in 2004, eventually joining Vancouver Pacific Grace’s pastoral staff. She sees God’s hand in her position. Most new Chinese-language immigrants to Canada don’t speak Cantonese, but Mandarin, her second language. Guests at the March 30 ordination service heard that Kim has led some 30 people to faith in the last three years. Among the well-wishers were most other MB Chinese-language pastors.

Many see the ordinations as a direct outcome of a 2006 conference resolution that allowed congregations to affirm women for all pastoral roles. That affirmation now includes ordination.

“It seems like a logical extension to me that if a congregation would seek to call and affirm a woman as its lead pastor that it would also have the freedom to bless that individual through an ordination process,” said Ken Peters, chair of the conference’s Board of Faith and Life.

But the practice of ordination is not common in Canadian MB churches.

“We’ve seen a radical decrease in the number of formal ordinations in recent years,” said conference executive director David Wiebe. “As a denomination, we aren’t entirely clear about the purpose and place of ordination.”

Some wonder if the practice is biblical. Others worry that ordained ministers will abuse their power and privilege. Still others see ordination as an act that unnecessarily divides clergy and laity. Some disagree about whether ordination presumes a lifetime commitment. Several pastors have declined their congregation’s call to ordination based on their theological convictions.

However, there are points of agreement. Ordination is a marker by the congregation and conference that a person’s call to ministry is recognized. Ordination is usually requested for pastors after they’ve served for a period of time and exercised their gifts.

MB women were not always excluded from ordination. In the early 1900s, the MB North American General Conference ordained women, but only for the task of overseas mission work. From 1919 to 1954, 37 Canadian women were ordained as missionaries.

The conference rescinded the ordination of women in 1957 and reaffirmed that decision in 1981.

But the church’s attitude toward women serving in pastoral roles began to change, not only in North America but around the world.

In 2003 the MB Church of Congo ordained Kadi Tshinyama, recognizing her contributions in spiritual formation, economic development and theology. Since then, three other MB women have been ordained in Congo, and more are scheduled for this year.

The Congo church’s willingness to resolve the issue appears to have influenced the Canadian church.

The recent ordinations of Bev Peters of Abbotsford, B.C., and Grace Kim of Vancouver, B.C., suggests Canadian MBs have turned a corner in their discussion of this issue.

“Recognition implies valuation,” Wiebe said. “Something that’s valued is usually an encouragement for others to participate. I hope this will encourage future leaders to listen to God’s call for pastoral ministry.”

Peters has served on the staff of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford for seven years. Her primary area of responsibility is women’s ministry.

Peters believes ordination carries a certain level of authority and favor for ministry, which she feels is necessary as she serves on the executive of the Abbotsford Christian Leaders Network.

“Because it’s a very male world I work in, ordination will help me live in that world,” she said

Peters encountered some controversy at Northview when she announced her intention to be ordained — not only because she is a woman but because ordination itself was debatable.

“It made us talk about the issue,” Peters said. “It’s been a good journey for our whole church.”

Kim serves on the pastoral staff of Vancouver Pacific Grace, British Columbia’s first MB Chinese-language church plant (see sidebar).