© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated 24 November 2010)

Wiebe, Bernie, 1935-

Retrieval numbers: Vol. 5124-5129, 5295-5297

Title: Bernie Wiebe fonds
Dates: 1949-2000
Extent: 2 m of textual records
Extent: 5 photographs

Extent: 8 Audio Cassettes
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

Historical note

Bernie Wiebe, ordained Mennonite minister, educator, editor, counselor, husband and father, was born in Manitoba in 1935 just southwest of Altona, Manitoba. From a family of twelve, he was the only one that continued his education well beyond high school into graduate studies, earning a Ph.D in 1974 from the University of North Dakota in the area of counseling and guidance. His career included teaching elementary school in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (1953-1958), high school teaching and counseling at Mennonite Collegiate Institute (1963-1965), conference minister for Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (1965-1971), Student Pastor with United Methodist Churches in North Dakota (1971-1973), President of Freeman Junior College (1973-1976), Editor of "The Mennonite" (1976-1986),  and teaching and research associate at the Mennonite Studies Centre (1986-1989) becoming  Associate Professor and Chair of Conflict Resolution Studies at  Menno Simons College (the successor to the Mennonite Studies Centre) at  University of Winnipeg (1989-1999).

Bernie Wiebe was ordained as a minister in the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba and kept up a regular pulpit ministry in many local settings. He preached an average of 100 times per year during the first 30 years after ordination. He was the first salaried counselor for the Bergthaler Mennonite Churches of Manitoba. He started the Faith and Life Singers, a radical musical group in the 1960s that caught on very deeply with Mennonite youth of Manitoba and beyond. Wiebe also initiated a cooperative relationship among the General Conference Mennonite Church Radio and TV ministries, Mennonite Broadcasts (Mennonite Church) and the work of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba in the area of radio and television.

Wiebe worked with numerous churches in conflict. He stood up for more inclusive attitudes towards brothers and sisters who are homosexual. He mediated town-wide disputes, clan conflicts, inter-personal disputes, church disputes and divorce mediation. He also participated in "peace missions" to Haiti and Northern Ireland (Belfast). He was largely responsible for developing the B.A. curriculum in Conflict Resolutions Studies in negotiation with the vice-president academic office, University of Winnipeg for Menno Simons College.

Wiebe was a world traveler and tour guide. He visited Southeast Asia in 1980, participated in a study tour of Cuba in 1983, led a Europe tour in 1984, toured the Middle East and Israel in 1982 and 1986, made numerous visits to the USSR (CIS since 1990)--1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1993, and visited Costa Rica in 1996. He also held volunteer positions in local congregations such as the Fort Garry Fellowship in Winnipeg, as well as in the wider Mennonite church structures such as the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (CMM) and the General Conference Mennonite Church (GCMC). He was moderator of the CMM from 1979-1982 and 1985-1988 and assistant moderator of the GCMC from 1992-1999. He also served as moderator of Mennonite Church Manitoba from 2000-2003.

Bernie Wiebe married Marge Letkeman of Winkler in 1956. They had four children: Glen (1958-1981-suicide); Gayle, Greg and Grant. Marge Wiebe was Branch Manager of the United Church Bookstore in Winnipeg from 1987 to 1999, when she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Bernie Wiebe retired as the Coordinator of Conflict Resolution Studies, Associate Professor, Menno Simons College on 31 August 1999.

Scope and content note

This fonds consists of personal correspondence received and written from 1949-2000. These records document Bernie Wiebe's vocational and personal life as a Mennonite leader, educator, counselor, preacher, radio minister, editor of a denominational paper, and husband and father. Some files relate to the specific congregation or institution for which he worked. There are also files related to his trip and tours to Russia, Europe, Holy Land, and South America; as well as a few items of family interest and a personal nature.   One series of files contains his private correspondence with  Dr. G.K. Epp and Dr. George Richert, the first presidents of Menno Simons College, as well as private correspondence with specific churches and individuals regarding conflicts in the church between 1986-1999.

Index terms

Creators

File List

Volume 5124
1. Correspondence - 1949-1959
2. Correspondence - 1960
3. Correspondence - 1961
4. Correspondence - 1962
5. Correspondence - 1963

Volume 5125
1. Correspondence - 1964
2. Correspondence - 1965
3. Correspondence - 1966
4. Correspondence - 1967

Volume 5126
1. Correspondence - 1968
2. Correspondence - 1969
3. Correspondence - 1970
4. Correspondence - 1971
5. Correspondence - 1972
6. Correspondence - 1973
7. Correspondence - 1974
8. Correspondence - 1975
9. Correspondence - 1976
10. Correspondence - 1977
11. Correspondence - 1978
12. Correspondence - 1979
13. Correspondence - 1980
14. Correspondence - 1981
15. Correspondence - 1982
16. Correspondence - 1983
17. Correspondence - 1984
 
Volume 5127
1. Correspondence - 1985
2. Correspondence - 1986
3. Correspondence - 1987
4. Correspondence - 1988
5. Correspondence - 1989
6. Correspondence - 1990
7. Correspondence - 1991
8. Correspondence - 1992
9. Correspondence - 1993
10. Correspondence - 1994
11. Correspondence - 1995
12. Correspondence - 1996
13. Correspondence - 1997
14. Correspondence - 1998
15. Correspondence - 1999

16. Correspondence - 1957-2000. (Acc. No.  2010-085)

Volume 5128
1. Correspondence and Information re. 1975 USSR Tour - 1975.
2. Discover Your Heritage Tour (August 4-25, 1976) - 1976.
3. Holy Land Tour (December 27, 1977 - January 7, 1978).
4. Discover your Heritage Tour held August 6-27, 1978 - 1976-1978.
5. Discover Your Heritage Tour (September 16 - October 7, 1979) - 1979.
6. Tour Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and Germany - 1980-1982.
7. Discover Your Heritage Tour - 1981.
8. Discover Your Spiritual Heritage Tour: the Holy Land (October 30 - November 14, 1982) -1982.  Includes personal diary of unknown person and tour leader instructions.
9. Holy Land Travel - 1982; 1989; 1994.
10. Discover Your Heritage and Mennonite World Conference Tour (1984) - 1982-1984.
11. Various Tour Information - 1982; 1987; 1994-1995.
12. Post "Bethlehem '93" Tour (August 7-13, 1983) - 1983.
13. Discover Your Heritage Tour: the USSR (June 26-July 16, 1983) - 1983.
14. Circle the Globe/Around the World Tour - 1985.
15. Trip to South America (October 24 - December 2, 1985) - 1985.
16. Trip to Central and South America (October 24 - December 2, 1985) - 1984.
17. Trip to Israel (May 31 - June 1986).
18. Discover Your Heritage Tour: the Holy Land, Egypt and Greece (May 1987) - 1987.
19. Discover Your Heritage Tour: the USSR - 1987.
20. Middle East Tour - 1987.
21. USSR Tours - 1987; 1989; 1993.
22. South America Tour (November 10-30 1988) - 1988.
23. USSR Tour - 1989.
24. August 1990 Tour to Eastern Europe - 1989-1990.
25. 1992 Tour to USSR and Tour to South Africa - 1981-1982.
26. August 1-22, 1993 Tour to Former USSR III and Three Personal Diaries - 1966; 1978; 1983-1989; 1993-1994.
27. Greece - 1995
28. Greece Tour - 1996.
29. Devotionals for Rejoice - 1994 - 1999
30. Assorted Church Bulletins, Correspondence, Programs, and Certificates (1982, 1993, 1996-99)
31. Certificates, Programs, newsletters, Church Bulletins, and Tour Itineraries (1972, 1979-80, 1988-96)
32. Church Bulletins, Newspaper Clippings, Correspondence, and Pamphlets (1977-79, 1983-90)

33. Freeman Junior College & Academy Celebrating 100 Years program (1999)

Volume 5129
1. Queen Mary Memorial School – Bernie Wiebe's Teacher's Daily Plan and Record Book (1956-57)
2. Queen Mary Memorial School – Bernie Wiebe's Teacher's Daily Plan and Record Book (1957-58)
3. Practice Preaching Evaluation Sheets
4. Various Church Boards Information -- 1959-1965
5. Green Center E.U.B. Church -- 1961-1962
6. "Green Center Echoes" Newsletters -- 1961-1962
7. Bergthaler Church Information -- 1961-1963
8. Financial Notebook, Various School Material -- 1963-1965
9. Provincial Sunday School Convention -- 1964
10. Gretna Bergthaler Mennonite Church -- 1964-1968
11. Radio Sermons, Reports, and Other Presentations -- 1965-1977
12. Christian Home Hour -- 1966-1968
13. Manitoba Mennonite Youth Org. 1967
14. United Methodist Churches -- 1972-1974
15. Confirmation Class -- 1972-1973
16. UND Counseling Interview Case Notes 1973
17. Bulletins Programs and Personal Notebook -- 1982-1984
18. Correspondence, Personal Resume, Salary Records, and Employment Agreements -- 1876-85, 1988-92
19. Family Memorabilia
20. Glen Wiebe's School Work, etc.
21. Misc. Newspaper Clippings -- 1967-1995
22. School Notebooks -- 195-
23. Hockey Scrapbook -- 195-
24. Music Dictation Books of Marge Letkeman -- 195-

Volume 5295 (some restrictions apply) (Acc. no. 2008-009)
1. Menno Simons College consultations / G.K. Epp. -- 1985-1992.

2. Menno Simons College consultations / George Richert. -- 1992-1999.

3. Crossroads. Mennonite Introduction Service correspondence. -- 1986-1994.

Volume 5296 (some restrictions apply)
1. Burrows Bethel Church. -- 1988-1989.

2. Burrows Bethel Church. -- 1996-1997.

3. Carman Mennonite Church. -- 1992-1993.

4. Grace Mennonite Church (Brandon). -- 1993-1994.

Volume 5297 (some restrictions apply)
1. Krahn/Peters. -- 11 Apr. 1991, 10 Nov. 1996.

2. Northdale Mennonite Fellowship. -- 1992.

3. Niverville Mennonite Church. -- 1991.

4. Nordheimer Mennonite Church (Winnipegosis). -- 1991.

5. Swift Current Bible Institute. -- 1989-1990.

6. Winkler (Community conflict). -- 1989.

7. Martens, Wes & Sheryl. -- 1999. (Acc. No. 2010-085)

8. Plett, Cornie. -- 1992. (Acc. No. 2010-085)

    Collection     602    Bernie Wiebe photograph collection
602:1    Bernie and Marge Wiebe. - 1956. - 13x18cm.
             This photograph shows Bernie and Marge standing outside in front of a tree.
602:2    High School class photograph. - 195-. - 15x10cm.
602:3    Bernie and Marge Wedding Photograph. - 1956. - 12.5x9cm.
             This photograph shows Bernie and Marge on their wedding day.  Also shown are the parents of the bride  and groom and the flower girl.
602:4    Bernie Wiebe Office. - 196-. - 7x7cm.
             This photograph shows Bernie Wiebe sitting in his office with his library behind him.
602:4    Bernie Wiebe Radio. - 196-. - 10x10cm.
             This photograph shows Bernie Wiebe speaking into a microphone.

Audio Cassettes

   2566    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 1 of 6. -- March 31, 1983 .   

   2567    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 2 of 6. -- April 1, 1983 .

   2568    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 3 of 6. -- April 2, 1983 .   

   2569    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 4 of 6. -- April 3, 1983 .   

   2570    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 5 of 6. -- April 4, 1983 .   

   2571    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 6 of 6. -- April 5, 1983 .

   2594    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 1 of 2. -- April 2, 1985.

   2595    Inter-Mennonite Passion week Services in Saskatoon , SK , / Bernie Wiebe, 2 of 2. -- April 5, 1985.