Conference minister accepts call to N.M.

Conference Minister Tom Kauffman has accepted a call to a new pastoral position in Albuquerque, N.M. An excerpt of his letter to the Ohio Conference Leadership Team and staff giving details about this call is included below:

I want to thank the Leadership Team for giving me flexibility in determining when my conclusion of ministry with the Conference might take place. I was prepared to serve throughout this Conference year, but the Leadership Team graciously offered me the opportunity to conclude, if another ministry opportunity presented itself, before the end of the Conference year.

I have been asked to serve as the Transitional Pastor for the Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Albuquerque, N.M., and I have accepted that call. We are discussing a beginning date sometime in September 2015, so it seems best for me to conclude my work with Ohio Conference on Aug. 31, 2015.

As I conclude my ministry with Ohio Conference I am profoundly grateful for the dedicated staff with whom I have had the honor to work with for these 20 years. And I am grateful for the dedicated volunteers who have also served the Conference faithfully in capacities such as the Leadership Team. I feel blessed to have served with my brothers and sisters!

Serving Christ Together,

Tom Kauffman, Conference Minister

Wanda Stopher called to ministry in Bluffton

WandaStopherAs was announced in the previous issue of Delegate News, Regional Pastor Wanda Stopher is concluding her time of service with the Ohio Conference. On July 18 congregation members at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton voted overwhelmingly (97 percent affirmation) to extend a call to Wanda to serve as lead pastor.

Leadership Team to interview candidates for transitional conference leader

The Ohio Conference Leadership Team will be interviewing candidates for the position of transitional conference leader at the Aug. 7 Leadership Team meeting in Tiffin, Ohio. The Leadership Team expects to have this position filled by Sept. 1. Individuals interested in applying should contact Judy King in the Ohio Conference office by Aug. 1. If you are interested in applying and your MLI (Ministerial Leadership Information form) is not current, you may submit an up-to-date resume. The person hired will work with the Leadership Team to plan the agenda and questions for the All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting in September.

Pastors’ meeting planned for September

The All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting will take place Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Quality Inn & Suites Conference Center, 1000 Comfort Plaza Drive, Bellville, Ohio, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of this meeting will be for listening, trust building and direction setting for our conference. The Leadership Team will send out the agenda and questions for the meeting at least a week ahead of time.

All pastors planning to attend should contact Judy King in the Conference office at ohmc@zoominternet.net or (330) 857-5421 no later than Aug. 21.