A Chapter in Focus: CBE Toronto

Julia L. Butcher

Much to the CBE’s excitement, new chapters have been sprouting up and forming all over the world this past year. This growth is encouraging, and we thank God for new energy and opportunities. We also thank God for our more established chapters that have faithfully met and encouraged one another for several years. CBE Toronto is just such a chapter, and it has led the way in promoting biblical equality in Canada in several ways.

The Toronto Chapter was officially started in 2001 and has been an active presence in CBE ever since. The meeting format for this chapter has mostly been that of a book club. Together they have read and discussed several books on biblical equality, including Beyond Sex Roles by Gilbert Bilezikian, Daughters of Islam by Miriam Adeney, and The Trinity and Subordinationism by Kevin Giles. They are currently reading Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy by Ronald Pierce and Rebecca Groothuis, General Editor and Dr. Gordon Fee, Contributing Editor. They also regularly schedule special speakers and potlucks, send out a quarterly newsletter, and hold an annual Christmas party.

Recently, this chapter has led the way in church and chapter relations by meeting at and working with Danforth Mennonite Church. They have become an official ministry under the umbrella of the church, and are developing new partnerships with that congregation. They have also set an example in cross-cultural chapter partnerships by communicating with the CBE Port Elizabeth, South Africa Chapter for mutual encouragement and prayer.

The CBE Toronto meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Danforth Mennonite Church at 7:30 pm. You can find out more on this, other CBE chapters, and the opportunity for cross-cultural chapter partnerships at:

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/about/chapters_main.shtml

 Thank you, CBE Toronto, for your timeless example of spreading the light of biblical equality in your area.