Four meetings planned for delegates

Ohio Conference will hold four winter regional cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. The following meetings have been scheduled:

• Feb. 13 — Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron
• Feb. 15 — West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon
• Feb. 20 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville
• Feb. 22 — Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City

If you are not able to attend the regional cluster meeting closest to you because of a schedule conflict, you are welcome to attend one of the other meetings.

Regional meeting agenda planned

The Ohio Conference Leadership Team will present several business items at the regional cluster meetings:

• Proposed Ohio Conference budget for 2018-19
• Update on the work with Missional Consultant Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg
• Update on the search for the next Conference Minister for Ohio Conference

The remainder of each cluster meeting will be led by members of the Mission Resource Team and will include reporting about the Missional Discipleship Initiative in Ohio Conference, as well as a preview of the Gathered and Sent Missional Conference, which will take place March 8-9 at Bluffton University.

Register for ACA by Feb. 16

The registration deadline for the 2018 Annual Conference Assembly is Feb.  16. This year’s assembly will take place at Bluffton University. The cost to register is $45 by Feb. 16, and $60 thereafter. There is an additional fee for meals.

If you have not already received registration forms from your congregation, you may find them online at http://bit.ly/ACAInformation.

Online registration is available at http://bit.ly/2018ACA. If you register by mail, send your registration form and fee to Judy King, Ohio Conference, Box 210, Kidron OH 44636.

Missional conference to precede ACA

Bluffton University also will host the Gathered and Sent Missional Conference, which will precede Annual Conference Assembly. The missional conference will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, and conclude at noon on Friday, March 9.

Presenters for this conference will be Meghan Good, teaching pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona, and Marvin Lorenzana, discipleship initiatives director at Mennonite Mission Network.

This conference will focus on growing as a good news community. Join us as we grow in our culture of mission, receive practical training in evangelism and discipleship, and cultivate partnership and relationship.

All who are passionate about growing as disciples and those who are frustrated with the status quo of maintenance ministry are encouraged to attend.

To learn more about Meghan Good, listen to the Ohio Conference Cast podcast episode featuring an interview with  Meghan: “Missional Conference Preview with Meghan Good.” You can find all the Ohio Conference Cast podcasts on the Ohio Conference website at http://bit.ly/OhioConferenceCast.

Cost for this event will be as follows:

• ACA Attendee Fee (for those attending Annual Conference Assembly) – $25
• Regular Fee (for those not attending Annual Conference Assembly) – $45
• Young Adult Fee (for those under age 30) – $20

Registration is due by Feb. 16. To register online, go to http://bit.ly/2018MissionalConference. For more details, see the 2018 Missional Conference Brochure.

Conference ends December in the black

Giving to Ohio Conference in December was strong, bringing the Conference’s operating balance into the black for the first time in this fiscal year.

Receipts for December totaled $58,206, including $43,591 in congregational giving. Giving from individuals also was strong in December. In response to a year-end appeal from Moderator Bob Sauder, individuals gave $11,475 during the month of December.

Expenses for the month totaled just $26,513, resulting in a surplus of $31,693 for the month. As a result, the Conference ended December with a  year-to-date operating balance of $17,800. Thank you to all who contributed! The Conference fiscal year ends March 31, 2018.

Delegate News is for you

…if you are a delegate to Ohio Conference’s Annual Conference Assembly. Each Ohio Conference congregation is eligible to send at least two delegates, as well as an additional young adult delegate. In addition, the following people are automatically delegates:

• Credentialed pastors of Ohio Conference congregations
• Ohio Conference staff members
• Ohio Conference Leadership Team
• Ministry Development Team
• Stewardship Ministry Team
• Credentialing Ministry Team
• Gifts Discernment Ministry Team

If you are no longer a delegate for your congregation, please forward Delegate News to the new delegates in your congregation. In addition, please inform Judy King, Conference administrative assistant, of the change. You may contact her at ohmc@zoominternet.net or (330) 857-5421.