Accession 2002.008
Title and Physical Description
Taber Mennonite Church fonds. — 1954-1999. — 1.08 m of textual records. — 6 photographs. — 1 negative
Administrative/Biographical History
Taber Mennonite Mission worship services had begun in the Taber area in 1949. The congregation originated through outreach by Coaldale Mennonite Church among Old Colony Mennonites near Taber. David Nickel is considered the founding leader of the group. They built their own meeting house in 1953 but were only formally organized in 1963. The need for an organized church community among the Old Colony of Taber became known when a young boy died and there was no local church or spiritual leadership to help with funeral arrangements. Assistance was sought from Coaldale Mennonite which began to send ministers and teachers to Taber and eventually helped to organize the church. In 1964/65 it took on the name Taber Mennonite Church. The ministerial families were David and Betty Nickel (1951-1964), Jake and Helen Wiebe (1965-1970), Menno and Esther Bergen (1970-1975), Jake and Lena Reimer (1975-1980), and after a gap, Elwin and Olga Epp (1982-1987). The building was leased to the New Life Christian Centre from 1986. In 1988 Marvin and Audrey Dueck came to minister to the low-German people in the area. The congregation had been affiliated with Conference of Mennonites in Alberta (1964-1998), Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1971-1998) and the General Conference Mennonite Church (1986-1998). The congregation dissolved in September 1998.
Custodial History
The records were transferred to the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta.
Scope & Content
The fonds consists of 13 series: A) Formation/Dissolution/Legal Papers, B) Council Meetings, C) Congregational Meetings, D) Missions and Service Committee, E) Christian endeavour/Education Committee, F) Business Administration Committee, G) Financial Records, H) Membership, I) Friendship Circle/Helping Hands, J) Taber Mennonite Youth, K) Correspondence, L) Pastor’s Records, M)Music and N) Miscellaneous
Source of Acquisition
Gift by Conference of Mennonites in Alberta through Henry Goerzen, CMA Archivist, 2002.
Finding Aids
See Series Inventory
Associated Materials
Records associated with the Bergthal Mennonite Church fonds held by Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg.
Related Materials
Dick, C.L.The Mennonite Conference of Alberta: A History of its Churches and Institutions. Edmonton: The Mennonite Conference of Alberta, 1981.
Notes
Accession 2002.008
Also known as Taber Mennonite Mission
Description by Judith Rempel
Revised June 2012
Series A. Formation/Dissolution/Legal Papers. — 1963-1993. — 2 cm of textual materials
The series is comprised of organization, incorporation, dissolution and other legal documents of the Taber Mennonite Church, including numerous redrafts of the constitution. The series is arranged chronologically.
1-1 Organizational Papers – 1963
1-2 Declaration of Incorporation – 1964
1-3 Constitution – 1964, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1993
1-4 Correspondence regarding Constitution and Legal Status of Congregation – 1970-1972
1-5 Mortgage, Lease and Title, Legal Documents and Correspondence – 1977, 1984-1985
1-6 Dissolution Documents – 1990
Series B. Council Meetings. — 1964-1997. — 19 cm of textual materials
The series is comprised of council meeting minutes, including joint meetings with the congregation and the Vauxhall Mennonite Church. The series is arranged chronologically.
1-7 Council Meeting – 1964
1-8 Council Meeting – 1964-1966
1-9 Council Meeting – 1966-1967
1-10 Council Meeting – 1967-1969
1-11 Council Meeting – 1969-1970
1-12 Council Meeting – 1970-1971
1-13 Council and Congregational Meeting – 1971-1972
1-14 Council Meeting – 1971-1975
1-15 Council Meeting – 1972-1975
1-16 Council Meeting – 1975-1980
1-17 Council and Congregational Meeting – 1980-1982
1-18 Council and Congregational Meeting – 1982-1984
1-19 Council Meeting – 1983-1984
1-20 Council Meeting and Congregational Meeting – 1984-1986
1-21 Council Meeting – 1985-1986
1-22 Council Meeting – 1988
1-22a Council meetings – 1988-1990
1-23 Council Meeting – 1989
1-24 Council Meeting – 1990
1-25 Joint Taber-Vauxhall Church Council Meeting – 1990
1-26 Council Meeting – 1991
1-27 Joint Taber-Vauxhall Church Council Meeting – 1991
1-28 Council Meeting – 1992
1-29 Council Meeting – 1993-1997
1-30 Joint Taber-Vauxhall Church Council Meeting – 1994-1996
Series C. Congregational Meetings. — 1964-1998. — 11 cm of textual materials
The series is comprised of agenda, reports and minutes for congregational (all member) meetings. The series is arranged chronologically.
1-31 Annual General Meeting – 1964
1-32 Annual General Meeting Minutes and Reports – 1966-1967
1-33 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1968
1-34 Annual General Meeting Minutes and Reports – 1969
1-35 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1970
1-36 Annual General Meeting Reports – 1971
1-37 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1972
1-38 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1973
1-39 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1974
1-40 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1975
1-41 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1976
1-42 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1977
1-43 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1978
1-44 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1979
1-45 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1980
1-46 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1981
1-47 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1982
1-48 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1983
1-49 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1984
1-50 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1985
1-51 Congregational General Meeting – 1985
1-52 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1986
1-53 Congregational General Meeting – June – 1986
1-54 Annual General Meeting Agenda and Reports – 1987
1-55 Congregational General Meeting – July – 1987
1-56 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1988
1-57 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1989
1-58 Congregational General Meeting – June – 1989
1-59 Congregational General Meeting – September – 1989
1-60 Annual General Meeting Agenda, Reports, and Minutes – 1990
1-60a Council and congregational meetings – 1990-1992
1-61 Congregational General Meeting – July – 1990
1-62 Annual General Meeting – 1991
1-63 Congregational General Meeting – September – 1991
1-64 Annual General Meeting – 1992
1-65 Annual General Meeting – 1993
1-66 Annual General Meeting – 1995
1-67 Congregational General Meeting – February – 1995
1-68 Annual General Meeting – 1996
1-69 Annual General Meeting – 1997
1-70 Annual General Meeting – 1998
Series D. Missions and Service Committee. –— 1978-1980. — .25 cm of textual materials
The series is comprised of Committee correspondence.
1-71 Missions and Services Papers correspondence – 1978-1980
Series E. Christian Endeavour/Education Committee. — 1956-1984. — 3.5 cm of textual materials
The series consists of Sunday School financial and attendance records as well as congregational bulletins. The series is arranged chronologically.
2-72 Sunday School Register and Sunday School Statement of Income & Expenses – 1956-1970 [filed in oversize Box 2]
2-73 Sunday School Register and Sunday School Statement of Income & Expenses – 1959-1964
2-74 Sunday School Class Record Book – 1964-1967
2-74a Graded students’ test and notes – n.d
2-74b Sunday School teachers’ meetings – 1961-1971
2-74c Sunday School teachers’ meetings – 1972-1976
2-74d Sunday School teachers’ meetings – 1977-1983
2-74e Christian Education meetings – 1962-1990
2-75 Bulletins – 1964-1970
2-76 Bulletins – 1984
Series F. Business Administration Committee. — 1984-1994. — .25 cm of textual materials
The series consists of Committee notes.
2-77 Administration Board Notes – 1984-1994
Series H. Membership. — 1963-1996. — 7 cm of textual materials
The series consists of membership lists and vital records regarding changing membership composition. The series is arranged chronologically.
2-86 Membership Record Book and Transfer Correspondence – 1963- 1983 [separated]
2-87 Membership Transfer Records – 1964-1979
2-88 Membership Lists and Records – 1966-1974
2-89 Register of Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Funerals – Taber Mennonite Church – 1971-1996 [copy; original returned to Government of Alberta]
2-90 Membership Lists and Records – 1980-1982
2-91 Membership Transfer Records – 1980-1998
2-92 Membership Register and Transfer Records – 1981-1996
Series I. Friendship Circle/Helping Hands. — 1962-1993. — 9 cm of textual materials
The series consists of the constitution, financial and minute records of these Ladies groups. The series is arranged chronologically.
2-93 Taber Mennonite Church Ladies Aid Constitution – n.d.
2-94 Minutes and Financial Journal – 1962-1963
2-95 Minutes – 1964-1965
3-96 Minutes – 1971-1979
3-97 [Number not used]
3-98 Minutes – 1982-1984
3-99 Minutes – 1985-1988
3-100 Taber Friendship Circle Meeting Minutes – 1988-1992
3-101 Friendship Circle Minutes – 1988-1993
Series J. Taber Mennonite Youth. — 1955-1989. — 4.5 cm of textual materials
the series consists of minutes and financial records of the Taber Mennonite Youth group. The series is arranged chronologically.
3-102 Youth Organization Record Book – 1955-1957
3-103 Taber Mennonite Youth – Record of Income and Expenses – 1966-1985
3-104 Choir – 1969-1971
3-105 Taber Mennonite Youth Organization Minutes – 1970-19813-106 Youth Meeting Minutes – 1976-1979
3-107 [Number not used]
3-108 Taber Mennonite Youth Minutes – 1979-1981
Series K. Correspondence. — 1964-1996. — 19.5 cm of textual materials
The series is comprised of general correspondence. The series is arranged chronologically.
3-109 Correspondence – Taber Record – 1964-1965
3-110 Correspondence – Canadian Conference – Tabor Church – J.A. Wiebe – Mission Board Business – 1965-1971
3-111 Correspondence – Head Office re Taber/Vauxhall Churches – 1969-1970
3-112 Correspondence – Alberta Service Committee – J.A. Wiebe – 1969-1971
3-113 Correspondence – MCC Canada – 1969-1971
3-114 Correspondence – Alberta Education Committee – 1969-1973
3-115 Correspondence – MCC Alberta – 1969-1973
3-116 Correspondence – General Conference – Taber – 1969-1973
3-117 Correspondence – Church Growth – J. Wiebe – 1969, 1984
3-118 Correspondence – Alberta Conference Executive – 1970-1972
3-119 Correspondence – Miscellaneous – 1970-1972
3-120 Correspondence – Taber and Vauxhall – 1970-1973
3-121 Correspondence – 1970-1973
3-122 Statistical Report for the General Conference and Canadian Conference – 1970-1975, 1977-1979, 1983, 1986, 1988
3-123 MCC Alberta Questionnaires – 1971, 1974
3-124 Correspondence – Camp Valaqua – 1972-1973
3-125 Correspondence – 1972-1974
3-126 Correspondence – 1974-1975
3-127 Correspondence – 1975-1978
3-128 Correspondence – 1977-1999
3-129 Correspondence – 1978
3-130 Correspondence – 1978-1979
3-131 Correspondence – 1978-1979
3-132 Correspondence – 1979-1980
3-133 Correspondence – 1980
3-134 Correspondence – 1980-1981
3-135 Correspondence – 1981-1987
3-136 Correspondence – 1986-1988
3-137 Correspondence – 1990
3-138 General Correspondence and Reports – 1991
3-139 Correspondence and Notes – 1994-1996
Series L. Pastor’s Records. — 1967-1986. — 2 cm of textual materials
The series consists of miscellaneous pastoral records. The series is arranged chronologically.
3-140 Taber-Vauxhall and District Ministerial Association Minutes – 1967-1969
3-141 Ministerial Resource File – 1971-1972
3-142 Certificate of Registration of Clergy – 1971-1973
3-143 Sermons – 1984-1986
Series M. Music. — 1960-1993. — 19 cm of textual materials.
The series consists of published and unpublished sheet music employed by choir and congregation in their worship services. The series is arranged alphabetically
3-144 Music Collection – ‘A’
3-145 Music Collection – ‘B’
3-146 Music Collection – ‘C’
3-147 Music Collection – ‘D’
3-148 Music Collection – ‘E’
3-149 Music Collection – ‘F’
3-150 Music Collection – ‘G’
3-151 Music Collection – ‘H’
3-152 Music Collection – ‘I’
3-153 Music Collection – ‘J’
3-154 Music Collection – ‘K’
3-155 Music Collection – ‘L’
3-156 Music Collection – ‘M’
3-157 Music Collection – ‘N’
3-158 Music Collection – ‘O’
3-159 Music Collection – ‘P’
3-160 Music Collection – ‘Q’
3-161 Music Collection – ‘R’
3-162 Music Collection – ‘S’
3-163 Music Collection – ‘T’
3-164 Music Collection – ‘U’
3-165 Music Collection – ‘V’
3-166 Music Collection – ‘W’
3-167 Music Collection – ‘Z’
Series N. Miscellaneous. — 1960-1993. — 4 cm. — 6 photographs. 1 negative
The series consists of miscellaneous congregational records including photographs, guestbooks, and calendars. The series is arranged chronologically.
3-168 Photographs of Camp Valaqua -n.d.
3-169 Taber Mennonite Church History – after 1975
3-170 Guestbook – 1960-1996
3-171 Guestbook – 1980-1989
3-172 Calendar – 1990-1993