November 10th, 2022Jonathan Neufeld welcomed as Indigenous Relations coordinator for Mennonite Church Canada
Mennonite Church Canada is pleased to announce the hiring of Jonathan Neufeld as Indigenous Relations coordinator, a role that will seek to coordinate and resource the regional churches in their relationship-building with Indigenous communities.
“Jonathan brings a wealth of experience and understanding, both from years of ministry in Canada and the U.S.,” says Doug Klassen, executive minister of Mennonite Church Canada. “I am excited to see how Jonathan will help our regional churches foster and animate connections between our congregations and Indigenous neighbours.”
Growing up in Landmark Man., and Abbotsford, B.C., Neufeld studied and served as pastor in Winnipeg in the ‘90s and 2000s. Most recently he spent fourteen-and-a-half years as pastor of Community Ministry and Just Peace with Seattle Mennonite Church.
Over the past decade he has been involved in forming the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition, a movement of Anabaptist people of faith “to address the extinction, enslavement and extraction done in the name of Christ on Indigenous lands” to Indigenous people.
“In my work, I have witnessed the mutual transformation that is possible through respectful relationship when people of faith support Indigenous self-determination,” says Neufeld.
Seattle MC followed the lead of Indigenous campaigns on environmental protection, land return and fundraising in support of local tribal services. Neufeld also coordinated services for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle. Seattle MC’s community ministry offered companionship to victims of chronic and persistent trauma resulting from intergenerational effects of settler colonialism.
Neufeld has a history of service within Mennonite Church Canada. He was pastor of youth and young adults at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg from 1995 to 2002 and led Sunday services and VBS at Matheson Island and Pine Dock, Manitoba, where he was mentored by Neill and Edith von Gunten.
“It is a great privilege to be in this moment, with the way before us to 'Undo in the name of Christ, what was done in the name of Christ,'" says Neufeld. “Local congregations, regional and nationwide churches have essential roles to play in contributing to the path of healing, restoration and reconciliation.”
Neufeld has an MDiv from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and degrees in religious studies and theology from University of Winnipeg and Canadian Mennonite Bible College respectively.
He lives in Oakville, Man., and is married to Melanie Neufeld, who is Mennonite Church Manitoba’s director of mission engagement.
Jonathan Neufeld begins in his new role Nov. 22, 2022, and can be reached at jneufeld@mennonitechurch.ca after that date.
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