Plan to attend a regional gathering

As part of our Gathered & Sent initiative Ohio Conference will be holding four regional gatherings this fall. These gatherings are in place of our traditional fall cluster meetings and are intended not just for pastors and delegates but for all persons from our congregations who want to learn about the exciting things that are going on in the congregations around them and throughout the Conference. The gatherings will also be a time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend one of the four.

All regional gatherings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about 90 minutes. Locations are as follows:

• Oct. 22 — Huber Mennonite Church, New Carlisle
• Oct. 24 — Friendship Mennonite Church, Bedford Heights
• Oct. 29 — Martins Mennonite Church, Orrville
• Nov. 5 — Salem Mennonite Church, Waldron, Michigan

 Tony Doehrmann is new regional pastor

The Ohio Conference Leadership Team and the Ministry Development Team are pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Doehrmann as the new regional pastor covering the western half of Ohio Conference, beginning Oct. 1.

Tony served as pastor of Jubilee Mennonite Church in Bellefontaine from 2008 until the end of 2017. During that time, he also served as a chaplain of the local hospital, a clergy representative of the Logan County Critical Incident Stress Management Team and a hospice volunteer.

Tony is a graduate of Hesston College’s Pastoral Ministries program and has also participated in spiritual direction training at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Prior to experiencing his call to pastoral ministry, he worked in manufacturing and administration at Sauder Woodworking Company in Archbold for 20 years. Tony was a member of Lockport Mennonite Church in Stryker where he served as an elder, church chair and in several other positions.

Those who know Tony best describe him as a great listener who is able to help individuals and groups discern the Holy Spirit’s leading. Since ending his time at Jubilee Mennonite Church, he and his wife, Rhonda, have built a new home and moved to Pettisville to be closer to their grandchildren.

Lynn Miller accepts moderator position

The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Lynn Miller of Tedrow Mennonite Church has agreed to serve as our Conference moderator.

Lynn has been a part of Tedrow Mennonite Church all his life, and he has served as a delegate to Ohio Conference in the past both as a member of Tedrow and as a member of the Stewardship Ministry. This summer he served as one of Tedrow’s delegates to the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City. He has also served as an elder at Tedrow.

In 1995 Lynn founded Solana, a software company. The company now has 30 employees at two locations in Wauseon and Toledo. He and his wife, Tami, have one son, Peyton, age 18, and reside in Pettisville. He has a strong sense that this is God’s call on his life at this time and is excited about serving. He feels especially honored and humbled to be completing the term of his late uncle, Bob Sauder, who passed away in April.

ACA set for March 7

Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City will host the 2020 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) on Saturday, March 7. The theme for this assembly will be “Hearts of Wisdom,” based on Psalm 90:12. Please note that this assembly will be only one day long. Registration materials for ACA will be available in January.

Summer festival to focus on mission

Plans are underway for an Ohio Conference missional festival, “Engaging Mission 2020,” to be held at Bluffton University June 26-28, 2020.

This event will be for people of all ages, including family groups. The festival will provide an introduction to missional living where participants will be challenged to create space for mission in their lives.

In the past several years, the Ohio Conference has held a missional conference in March immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly. This gathering in 2020 will be held on a weekend in the summer in order to make it more accessible to people who find it hard to take time off from work during the week.

Delegate tasks listed

As a delegate to Ohio Conference’s Annual Conference Assembly, you serve as an important link between your congregation and the Conference, both sharing your congregation’s perspective with the Conference and keeping the congregation informed about the ministry and mission of the Conference.

Attendance at Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) is very important for all delegates. However, delegates will have the most positive impact by being involved with Conference throughout the year, not just at ACA. A checklist of ways to participate in Ohio Conference appears below:

□ Visit the Ohio Conference website (www.ohiomennoniteconference.org)

□ Attend fall regional gathering (communicate congregational needs)

□ Read Delegate News (emailed directly to you)

□ Attend winter cluster meeting

□ Read Ohio Mennonite Evangel (received through your church office)*

□ Attend Annual Conference Assembly

□ Report to congregation about the work of Ohio Conference

□ Talk with congregational stewardship team and/or treasurer about Ohio Conference giving

*You can also download copies of Ohio Mennonite Evangel from the Ohio Conference website. Go to  http://bit.ly/OhioConfPublications to download the latest issue. If you prefer, you may have Ohio Mennonite Evangel and other Ohio Conference publications sent directly to your email account. To sign up for direct delivery, go to http://bit.ly/OCPublicationSignup.