A number of congregations in Mennonite Church Manitoba are struggling with the issue of same sex marriage. Peter Rempel of Winnipeg is the Moderator. He explains there are diverse understandings of this issue among member churches.

"We've, on one hand, had conversations with congregations that have come to us and said that; We are ready to welcome same-sex marriage. On the other hand, we are engaging in conversations with congregations that are telling us that they regard that kind of a position to be contrary to the Bible and to the (Mennonite) Confession of Faith. They are asking us; What are you doing about these other congregations?"

Rempel says Mennonite Church Manitoba has scheduled a special meeting of its member congregations on January 12th where it wants to explore whether they can remain in fellowship with each other even though they hold contrary views on the same sex issue. He notes the congregations share many things in common regarding their views on things like worship, fellowship, witness, mission and service and he is hopeful that differences over one issue won't divide them.

"That's my hope although sometimes I despair that not enough of us are willing to come together around the things that we can do together."

The Plum Coulee and Winkler Bergthaler Churches along with Grace Mennonite in Winkler have already quit the conference over this issue. And, some members of Steinbach Mennonite Church are in the process of establishing a separate congregation over the disagreement.

Rempel notes there have been other issues in the past where congregations have disagreed with one another yet remained part of the conference. He says the same-sex issue is somehow different.

"There's something visceral about this issue, I guess because it pertains to sexuality, which is such an intimate and important part of our identity and lives, that it's harder on this issue than it is for other differences that we might have about things that are maybe more doctrinal."