Members of Ohio Conference congregations who volunteer their time play a vital role in Conference life. Without the help of numerous volunteers, many of the programs and functions of the Ohio Conference could not take place.

Much of the work of Ohio Conference is done by the Leadership Team, the Ministry Development Team, the Credentialing Ministry, the Stewardship Ministry and the Gifts Discernment Ministry. Delegates at Annual Conference Assembly affirmed the following individuals for service:

Moderator
Name:
Bob Sauder
Home congregation:  Salem Mennonite Church, Waldron, Michigan
Occupation: Retired teacher, coach, sports official/self-employed carpenter/cooper
Previous service: In congregation — Church council, elder, Sunday school teacher, Church Chair, preach occasionally; in Conference — delegate, moderator
Family Information: Wife, Pamela Ruffer Sauder (married 45 years); children, Mary Sauder and Kelly Sauder Neff; seven grandchildren (six boys and one girl)
Goals: Install Conference Minister, continue to develop Gathered and Sent initiatives, engage with Mennonite Church USA in the Journey Forward process
Hobbies/special interests: Spending time with the grandkids, woodworking, construction manager for Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, working as interpreter at Sauder Village, reading when I can find time

Gifts Discernment Ministry — Chair
Name: Mel Hathaway
Home Congregation: Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron
Occupation: Pastor
Previous Service: Gifts Discernment Ministry chair and member, Resolutions Committee
Family Information: Wife – Dottie Hathaway
Goals: Working with the Gifts Discernment Ministry Team and Conference Leadership Team to call forth the many gifts and abilities God has blessed us with, to strengthen the Conference and to build God’s Kingdom
Hobbies/Special Interests: Reading, yard work and home improvement projects

Ministry Development Team —Worship Focus
Name: Steve Schmid
Home congregation: Wooster Mennonite Church
Occupation: Retired leader of SmithFoods Inc. in Orrville, Ohio
Previous service: Member of Ministry Development Team; At Wooster Mennonite Church — treasurer, Sunday school teacher, MYF sponsor; Long time ago — summer volunteer service in Colorado, voluntary service in Philadelphia, Mississippi
Family Information: Married to Cathy, who has been very active in our church.  She was our lead elder, taught Sunday school, led the team planning worship services. Our children are Nathan and his wife, Ashleigh, who have our only grandson, Kai; Cullen and her husband, Jeremy; and Amanda.
Goals: To participate actively in meetings so I can contribute to Ministry Development Team’s challenges and activities
Hobbies/special interests: Bike riding, reading, learning more about and participating in activities addressing solar and bio-energy and global warming, working outside in our yard

Ministry Development Team — Faith Focus
Name:
Ken Sims
Home congregation: Sharon Mennonite Church, Plain City
Occupation: Everence client services representative
Previous service: Two years serving on the Ministry Development Team of Ohio Conference; six years serving on the Spiritual Leadership Team at Sharon Mennonite Church
Family information: Blessed to be married to Grace (48 years in April); three wonderful adult children; seven fantastic grandchildren
Goals: Continue to serve God as he calls me to be his bondservant for Jesus Christ
Hobbies/special interests: Avid book reader, endurance sports car racing fan, gearhead

Ministry Development Team
Name:
Nancy Roynon
Home congregation: Central Mennonite Church, Archbold
Occupation: Registered nurse
Previous service: Worship Team member, Congregational Board Chair, Ohio Mennonite Women Chairperson (which placed me on Conference Council), MC USA delegate
Family information: Widowed, four married children and nine grandchildren
Goals: To understand the needs of the Ohio Conference congregations which can be enhanced by the Ministry Development Team, to vision with them and develop at least two programs specific to those needs
Hobbies/special Interests: Visiting family, running, gardening, and creative cooking

Credentialing Ministry
Name:
Vickie Yoder
Home congregation: Sharon Mennonite Church, Plain City
Occupation:  Board certified chaplain, pastoral counselor
Previous service: Member of Credentialing Ministry; served two terms on the Gifts Discernment Ministry; vice president of Ohio Mennonite Women; Ohio  Conference ACA Planning Committee; Mennonite Chaplains Association, President; Mennonite Health Services, Planning Committee
Family information:  Spouse — Bob Yoder, retired pastor; two daughters, Mary (Jason) Sims and  Bobbi (Jason) Watkins; seven grandchildren, Reign Yoder, Josiah and Levi Sims, Abigail, Eliza, Jonas, and Crist Watkins
Goals: Participate, encourage, and instill hope as we do the work of the Credentialing Ministry in humbleness and courage, as the Holy Spirit leads us
Hobbies/special Interests: K9 Handler for Therapy/Service Dog:  Shadow (85#) and Therapy Dog: Princess  (4#); Member of Madison County Crises Response and NOVA (National Organization of Victims Assistance); crocheting; knitting; reading

Credentialing Ministry
Name: LaVerne Yousey
Home congregation: Summit Mennonite Church, Barberton
Occupation: Professor of Respiratory Care Emeritus, department head of Allied Health Department at University of Akron, program director for the Respiratory Therapy Program
Previous service: Volunteer with MCC Connections, served Summit Mennonite Church as church moderator, chair of Stewardship and Finance Commission, chair of Worship and Nurture Commission, church treasurer, and Conference delegate
Family information: Widower; two children; three grandchildren
Goals: To serve Ohio Conference in the work of this Commission
Hobbies/special interests: Knitting, reading, glass blowing, volunteering with Barberton Area Community Ministry, American Lung Association, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, preparing material to weave at MCC Connections

Stewardship Ministry — Co-chair
Name: Dean Falb
Home congregation: Martins Mennonite Church, Orrville
Occupation: Retired banker and church treasurer
Previous service: Elder and congregation chair, Conference Ministry Development Team and Stewardship Ministry Team member
Family information: Married to Jan; one son, Matt; and two grandchildren
Goals: Continue evaluating ways of efficient use of Conference resources and seek ways to financially support emerging programs to strengthen congregational life
Hobbies/special interests: Study and application of organic practices to our farming operation, travel, and service projects, including Mennonite Disaster Service

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Stefani Hathaway
Home congregation: Toledo Mennonite Church
Occupation: Psychologist
Previous service: Ohio Conference Gifts Discernment Ministry for the past two years. I’ve been in different positions at Toledo Mennonite Church over the years — Leadership Team, Council, youth sponsor, etc.
Family information: Single. Family includes parents, three sisters, two brothers-in-law, four nephews, and two nieces in Missouri, Ohio, and California.
Goals: To build up my connections with people in other congregations across the Conference
Hobbies/special Interests: Travel, reading, cooking, dance (tango and ballroom), photography

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Larry Short
Home congregation: Zion Mennonite Church, Archbold
Occupation: Currently semi-retired farmer, raising corn and soybeans; previously was in human resource management at Sauder Woodworking, Archbold, Ohio
Previous service: Over the years was privileged to serve in a variety of church positions, including Sunday school teacher, elder, Discernment, Finance and many other church activities. I was also honored to serve as delegate to Ohio Conference and Mennonite Church USA.
Family information: Married to Elaine; three adult children; two wonderful grandchildren
Goals: I am committed to the Mennonite Church and the Ohio Conference and will work with the others to fulfill the mission of the Conference.
Hobbies/special interests: Travel — I love visiting other countries and cultures.  A sports fan, especially following the Buckeyes.

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Eldina Nussbaum
Home congregation: Crown Hill Mennonite Church, Orrville
Occupation: Retired elementary teacher, current co-custodian at church with her husband
Previous service: Conference delegate, served as secretary for the state WMSC in the ’70s, at Camp Luz was a summer staffer, board member and worked in the camp office
Family information: Husband, David Nussbaum
Goals: To find willing volunteers to fill Ohio Conference positions
Hobbies/special interests: Gardening, including raising calla lilies and sharing them with friends; volunteering at World Crafts in Kidron, Ohio

Stewardship Ministry — Stewardship Focus
Name:
Marion Beyeler
Home congregation: Orrville Mennonite Church
Occupation: Retired volunteer
Previous service: Member of Stewardship Ministry, Moderator
Family Information: Spouse, Jane; four adult children
Goals: To experience OMC conference and congregations as healthy Jesus followers
Hobbies/special Interests: Grandchildren, outdoor activities, travel

Stewardship Ministry — Finance Focus
Name:
Christine Yoder
Home congregation: Oak Grove Mennonite Church, West Liberty
Occupation: Wife/mother/grandmother/farm hand/staff accountant
Previous service: Church treasurer for 18 years, member of Stewardship Ministry
Family information:
Husband — Steve; four adult daughters; one granddaughter
Goals: To share my gifts in making decisions regarding Ohio Conference’s resources
Hobbies/special Interests:  Traveling to visit my family, lawn care, walking my dog, reading