A Sense of God’s Heart in the Matter

This issue features articles about discernment, a word that Christians sometimes get tired of because it gets used often. I think we use it because we want to take care, and exercise insight, when making weighty decisions like calling people to congregational leadership positions or adopting a budget or planting a new church. On the downside, talking about discernment can…

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Welcome Kelsey!

I’m Kelsey Hilty Troyer and I’m excited to be joining Ohio Mennonite Conference as the new Administrative Coordinator. Prior to OMC, I served as the administrative assistant at Oak Grove Mennonite (Smithville) for the last seven years and I’ve been the administrative assistant at Crown Hill Mennonite (Rittman) since 2018. I graduated from Central Christian School in 2012, where I…

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UPDATED: Staffing positions available

Ohio Conference is looking for a quarter-time bookkeeper. This position makes a significant contribution to the conference’s ability to work toward its mission to love God, love others, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. The Bookkeeper will accomplish tasks such as: Receive and process all revenue and expenses Track activities in financial software File tax forms Create reports that convey…

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How did your congregation celebrate Social Justice Sunday?

Grace & Groundings, Ohio Conference’s racial reconciliation team, would like to hear how you did or did not use the 2024 Social Justice Sunday resources. We would appreciate responses to a short questionnaire whether or not you used, or plan to use, the resources created by Grace & Groundings. The questionnaire is brief and will help Grace & Groundings as they continue their work. Please respond…

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May financial report

Stan Helmuth, Ohio Conference financial coordinator, has finalized the May financial statements; May is the second month of the fiscal year. While congregational giving was higher in May than in April, expenses are still exceeding receipts. Staff continues to keep expenses below budget, but giving also continues to be below budget. As of May 31, the conference has a $12,478…

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Welcome Sháqūez!

New Program and Communication Coordinator to begin on July 1 My name is Sháqūez Dickens. I am originally from Wooster, Ohio, where I previously worked in various roles at The College of Wooster. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with my Bachelor’s in Business and will soon graduate with my Master’s in Organizational Leadership. My husband, Bob, and I live…

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Is God calling you? (Or someone you know?)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 Thank you for the ways you support Ohio Mennonite Conference! The Gifts Discernment Committee is tasked with filling all Conference committee positions. Sometimes their…

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Congratulations, Sue!! Sue Short graduates from AMBS

On April 27, AMBS held its commencement service honoring 22 graduates. One of those honored was Sue Short, pastor at Zion Mennonite in Archbold. Sue anticipates completing her Master of Divinity with a major in Pastoral Ministry this August. Sue completed most of her degree from a distance through the MDiv Connect program. Sue states, “My seminary experience at AMBS…

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Leadership Council gathers for retreat

The new Ohio Conference Leadership Council met  April 24-25 at Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Tiffin, OH. The purpose of our retreat was to get to know one another better and to intentionally set time aside to review the 2024-26 Strategic Plan that was approved at our recent Annual Conference Assembly. As the Leadership Council gathered it…

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Centered around Jesus

By Dan Miller Interim Conference Minister As I’ve been learning about Ohio Conference, hoping to hear the Spirit, and engaging in our work together, Philippians 2:5-11 is a passage that’s stuck out to me. Many scholars think this was a hymn used in early church worship that exalted how he went about his mission. Here are verses 5-8: Let this…

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Oak Grove Mennonite Preschool outreach

By Miriam Zehr Retired associate pastor of Worship and Education at Oak Grove Mennonite Church Oak Grove Mennonite Preschool has been in operation since 1975. It offers programming for three- and four-year-olds on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and for four– and five-year-olds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings during the school year. We have had many connections with community families…

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First month of fiscal year complete

Ohio Conference’s fiscal year began on April 1 and ended its first month with just over a $3,000 deficit. In comparison, the past two fiscal years had over a $14,000 deficit after the first month. While receipts were low, expenses were almost $8000 lower than budgeted. The budget this year is based on $250,000 in contributions from congregations and $40,000…

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Healthy Boundaries 201 Training

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Healthy Boundaries 201 training was held on April 30 with sixty people participating. Led by Nancy Kauffmann and Jon Bohley, credentialed leaders from Ohio Conference and beyond completed the training. All persons with an active (or active without charge) credential from the Ohio Conference are required to complete Healthy Boundaries training once every three years.          

It’s Official! We are Ohio Mennonite Conference!

Conference’s name is now officially Ohio Mennonite Conference. The action that the delegates took at Annual Conference Assembly in March of this year to change the name of Conference from Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA to Ohio Mennonite Conference has been recorded by the State of Ohio, and the bylaws have been amended. This organization’s name is now officially…

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Fiscal year closes with a deficit

Ohio Conference’s fiscal year closed on March 31, 2024, with a $47,192 deficit according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month were $22,440, a $14,695 increase over February. Expenses for March were up slightly over February at $33,298 due to Annual Conference expenditures. The ending yearly deficit is the largest the conference has experienced in…

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Training opportunities in mediation and conflict transformation in ministry

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Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) is hosting Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders in Huron, Ohio, May 27-31 at Christ Episcopal Church. This 32-hour training is for clergy looking to increase or improve their mediation skills. If these dates are not convenient, there will be other trainings in Pennsylvania and Illinois this summer. LMPC is also offering Leadership Development…

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How is your congregation impacting the community?

The new strategic plan that was adopted at Annual Conference Assembly in March, states that congregational stories of “evangelism and community participation” will be included in Ohio Conference’s communications throughout the year. How is your congregation working in the community? Are you beginning something or have you been involved in something for some time now? Would you be willing to…

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Food justice in Ohio

Why do so many Ohioans have difficulty getting food that is affordable, nutritious, culturally acceptable, and accessible? The newest Ohio Conference Cast podcast explores this topic with Dr. Brandy Phipps, associate professor at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr. Phipps works with others throughout Ohio and the Midwest to create new options for people to grow and access food…

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Journey

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Journey is a missional leadership development program from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)  that develops leaders centered in Jesus for ministry. Are you on a journey to ministry? Do you know someone who is on a journey to ministry? Why not tap them to join Journey? To find out more information, check out this link.

Bluffton University announces merger with University of Findlay

At a press conference on March 20, the presidents of Bluffton University and the University of Findlay announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding declaring the intention to pursue a merger of the two universities. This would create one institution with two campuses. Each university would remain affiliated with its denomination—Bluffton with MC USA and Findlay with the…

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Former Ohio Conference pastor passes at age 82

Robert “Bob” Schloneger, age 82, formerly of Ohio Conference, passed away on March 25, 2024, in Goshen, Indiana. Born on April 17, 1941, in Louisville, Ohio, Bob married Enid Miller in 1963. They had three sons and one daughter. Over the course of his life, Bob served in various ministerial roles, including many in Ohio Conference. He pastored at North…

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How We Worship – FMC

On Sunday, August 23, Friendship Mennonite Church in Bedford Heights, Ohio, celebrated a “World Conference Sunday” during our worship service. Several of our church members and attenders were able to attend the July 2015 Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and were eagerly anticipating the chance to share these experiences with the congregation. The worship service had several elements: an…

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My Trip to a Farm

Girl Talk is a ministry of Friendship Mennonite Church in Bedford Heights, Ohio for girls ages 9 to 13.  The majority of the girls who attend are from Bedford Heights Daycare, a 35 year old community daycare that rents space from the church.  Pastor Nan Kanagy leads the group.        My name is Michelle and I am here…

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3 Things I Loved About MWC

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by Dan King Pastor, Beech Mennonite Church Thanks to my church Beech for allowing me (and 14 others) to attend the unforgettable MWC in PA.   Here were my top 3 things I loved most about MWC. The worship. Singing praises to God in many languages, in an arena with 7,000 plus, gave us a very real foretaste of John’s vision…

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Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale

Don’t miss the 2015 Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale

The annual Ohio Relief Sale takes place the first Friday and Saturday of August every year. This year the sale begins Friday, July 31. At 4 p.m. Friday food is available and the booths are open; the evening program begins at 6:30 p.m. Then at 7 a.m. Saturday, breakfast is served. The 5K Run and Walk start at 8 a.m.…

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Ohio Mennonite Conference unveils new website

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Ohio Mennonite Conference unveiled a new website on Friday. The Conference enlisted the help of web designer/developer Greg Yoder and has been working with him over the past few months to give the website a much-needed update. The goal of the redesign is to provide an easier and more intuitive way to access news and information from around the Conference,…

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Location chosen for 2016 ACA

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Central Mennonite Church in Archbold will host the 2016 Annual Conference Assembly March 11-12.

Summer 2015 Delegate News

Leadership Team to seek transitional conference leader A message for delegates from the Ohio Conference Leadership Team: The Leadership Team received the following in a letter from Wanda Stopher, regional pastor, on June 21, 2015: “I have been invited and accepted a call to candidate at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton, Ohio, for the role of Lead Pastor on June…

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