March 23rdFreeChurch Joins MCEC
FreeChurch is a congregation with a mission to be a light in their city – Toronto, ON.
They have a vision of seeing prodigals come home and Christ followers formed in a community empowered for the flourishing of their city.
Planted in 2001, FreeChurch began meeting in the heart of downtown Toronto. They are a young and dynamic congregation. They have an active children and youth ministry, serve communion every Sunday, have launched an Intentional Community home in Kensington Market, and have assisted in planting two other congregations in their brief history.
In 2015, FreeChurch began a formal affiliation with the Mennonite Brethren denomination. That affiliation ended in March 2023, due to the approach and posture of FreeChurch towards same-sex marriage and queer inclusion.
“Our conversations with Norm Dyck and with the pastors at Toronto United Mennonite Church have been helpful and encouraging,”
FreeChurch meets at the Centre for Social Innovation on Bathurst Street in Toronto. The pastoral team of Jon Osmond, Steve MacDouell and Misha Ursula lead the congregation.
Over the past 10 months, FreeChurch has been searching for a new denominational home. “Our conversations with Norm Dyck and with the pastors at Toronto United Mennonite Church have been helpful and encouraging,” writes Jon Osmond. After a significant amount of prayerful discernment and conversation, FreeChurch has asked to join MCEC.
As they live out their faith within their neighbourhoods, they have a vision of seeing prodigals come home and Christ followers formed in a community empowered for the flourishing of their city.
FreeChurch has been accepted into provisional membership in MCEC by the Executive Council. They will be welcomed at the Annual Church Gathering in April 2024 in Leamington, ON.