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 Council, the Credentialing Committee, the Stewardship Committee, the Gifts Discernment Committee, and the Program Committee. Delegates at Annual Conference Assembly affirmed the following individuals for service:

Moderator

Name: Paula Snyder Belousek

Home   congregation: Salem Mennonite Church (Elida)

Occupation: Pastor

Previous service: Assistant moderator/chair of Ministry Development Team for five years, Constituency Leaders Council representative, mentor for several pastors in ordination process, planning committee for numerous retreats

Family information: Married to Darrin. Mom to Liam and Yago, our exchange student from Spain.

Goals: To assist the Conference through this season of transition
Hobbies/special interests: Learning about new cultures and people, ethnic cooking/foods, exploring the Johnny  Appleseed Park System with my family, reading cozy mysteries, singing loudly in the shower

Gifts Discernment Committee Chair

Name: Glenn W. Nofziger II

Home congregation: Grew up in Northwest Ohio and home congregation was Lockport Mennonite Church.

Occupation: Pastor at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron since 2022

Previous service: Graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 2002.  After college farmed for seven years and became a delegate for Ohio Conference. Served on Ohio Conference Gifts Discernment Committee two years (2007-2009) and Ministry Development Team two years (2009-2011). Earned MDiv from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2015, served seven years at Martins Creek Mennonite Church in Holmes County as associate pastor until 2022.

Family information: Married to Erin (Kauffman) Nofziger since 2004. Erin grew up at Orrville Mennonite. We have three children, Mattea -15 (10th grade), Luke – 13 (7th grade), and Karis – 8 (2nd grade), and they all attend Central Christian. Other family includes three brothers, Galen (of Lockport), Wendell (of  Vidanet, Costa  Rica), and Kevin (of Lancaster), and parents, Nancy Nofziger and the late Cloyce Nofziger.

Goals: I feel passionate about and called to gifts discernment. I hope to encourage everyone to faithfully discern where and how God is calling each one of us to serve and use our gifts.

Hobbies/special interests: I love being immersed in great stories! Some favorites beyond Narnia and Middle Earth — Enders Game and Dune, the Wingfeather Saga series (family favorite), Marvel Cinematic Universe, musicals (Les Mis, Phantom,  Wicked),  The Chosen and many more. Please ask me about them and share your favorites with me! Loving great stories and paying attention to details and overarching themes helps us get into, learn, and share God’s grand story portrayed throughout the Bible. I love participating and interacting with others as we each are characters playing our parts living out this grand narrative God is writing through each of us!

Credentialing Committee

Name: Rebecca Kauffman

Home congregation: Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty

Occupation: Pastor

Previous service: In Ohio Conference, I have served on the Resolutions Committee and the Leadership Development Resource Team.

Goals: As a member of the Credentialing Team, we are seeking to make our credential-related documents and resources available in each of the languages represented in Ohio Conference.

Hobbies/special interests: I enjoy hiking, biking, and kayaking with my husband. I also enjoy singing.

Credentialing Committee

Name: Danae King

Home congregation:  Orrville Mennonite Church

Occupation: Donor and Church Engagement Associate, MCC Great Lakes

Family information: Married to Charles Bontrager

Hobbies/special interests: Reading, cooking, gardening

Program Committee

Name: Rosalind Young

Home congregation: Lee Heights Community Church (Cleveland)

Occupation: Program Director, MCC Great Lakes

Previous service: Serving currently as Interim Pastor at First Mennonite Church (Canton)

Family information: Married to Rev. Derrick Young, DMin, for 30 years; three adult children, and seven grandchildren

Goals:  To work collaboratively and diligently with the team to support congregations in their endeavors to be healthy and whole emotionally and spiritually, walking alongside them as they engage in spiritual practices, activities and events as they engage in deepening their relationships with God individually and collectively.

Hobbies/special Interests: Bowling, traveling

Stewardship Committee

Name: Steve Schmid

Home congregation: Wooster Mennonite Church

Occupation: Retired business executive

Previous service: At Wooster Mennonite I served as its financial person for many years along with other commitments. Have served on Ohio Conference’s Ministry Development Team and Stewardship Ministry Team.

Family information: Cathy is my wife. We have three married children and five grandkids.

Goals: To actively contribute on the Stewardship team

Hobbies/special interests: Woodworking, volunteering at People to People Ministries in Wooster, connecting with junior high students through OHuddle, mentoring entrepreneurs through SCORE, provide budgeting input to individuals through Love INC

Stewardship Committee

Name: Bruce Breckbill

Home congregation: Salem Mennonite Church (Kidron)

Occupation: Managing  Director of Everence – Northeast Ohio

Previous service: Member of Ohio Conference Stewardship Ministry Team

Family information: Married over 30 years, three grown children, live in Kidron, Ohio

Goals: To help people understand better the services that Ohio Conference provides so that they are more excited about giving to and supporting Ohio Conference.

Hobbies/special interests: Gardening, reading, making hot sauce

Gifts Discernment Committee

Name: Ken Neuenschwander

Home congregation: Sonnenberg Mennonite Church (Kidron)

Occupation: Retired from management at Kidron Electric

Previous service: Served on several nonprofit boards and committees over the years. Currently I’m serving on Canton Lighthouse and Open Arms boards, and I chair the Outreach and Service ministry at Sonnenberg.

Family information: Married to Connie; three adult children — one son and two daughters; four grandchildren — two girls and two boys ages 7-14; and one deceased daughter.

Goals: To better understand the roles and qualification needed in the positions to be filled and then to find willing, qualified individuals to serve.

Hobbies/special interests: My children always have projects for me in their homes. I also seem to find projects related to the nonprofits I’m connected to, including my church. I enjoy small woodworking projects, specially making things for the grandchildren. “Helping” to make pinewood derby racers seems to be in my job description. I enjoy doing Sudoku, and Connie and I love to compete doing the Jumble every day.