162 / The Role of Conference in Transitions and Expansions

Ventures such as publication and education were, it would seem, cautiously entered into. In 1907 S. H. Miller was appointed to an exploratory task to look into whether the church should own and control religious publishing. Miller was subsequently appointed to the Publication Board.

Education was a developing enterprise in Mennonite circles during the first decade of the twentieth century and the conference expressed itself on this topic." In 1893 the conference was asked whether it approved of a higher education for ministers and "if not, why send for ministers having a higher education to hold a series of meetings?" The answer to the question was, "Education is an advantage, but we rather approve of the higher qualifications as given in I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9." In 1911 the following resolution was passed:

Resolved that we recommend and urge that the Faculty Committee and Religious Welfare Committee of Goshen College and Hesston Academy and Bible School make such examination of existing conditions and recommend to the Mennonite Board of Education such measures which they believe, if carried out, would keep our church schools in harmony with the Mennonite General

Conference in faith and practice.

The growing vision of the conference is reflected in its election and appointment (by 1911) of delegates and members to the Mennonite General Conference, the Mennonite Publication Board, and the Mennonite Board of Education." Fraternal delegates were also elected to attend the Indiana-Michigan and Western District Amish Mennonite conferences.

One of the unifying forces in the conference was the formulation of a set of Rules and Discipline in 1904. The document set forth articles of orthodox faith on the inspiration of the Scriptures, the person and work of Christ, and the calling of the ministers. The ordinances included water baptism, communion, washing of the saints' feet, the devotional covering, the Christian salutation, anointing with oil, and marriage.

Also a part of the confession was a statement of obligation to the government. Regarding relations to the world there were the traditional articles of nonconformity, nonresistance, nonswearing of oaths, and opposition to secret societies and life insurance. Missions both home and foreign were generously approved. Finally, a section dealt with the plan of salvation with emphasis on faith,