Author: Ann Leaman
Conference deficit decreases slightly in August
Ohio Conference’s year-to-date deficit decreased slightly during August. Ohio Conference’s income totaled $25,105 during August, including $24,973 in giving from congregations. Expenses during August totaled $24,737, resulting in net income of $368 for the month. Despite the small surplus during August, the Conference continues to run a deficit in 2023-24. As of Aug. 31, the Conference’s operating balance for the…
Register online for Women in Leadership Retreat
One role of ministry leaders is to notice and affirm the gifts of those in your congregation. The planning committee of this winter’s Ohio Conference Women in Leadership Retreat would like you to begin thinking now about women in your congregation that you could encourage to attend. We would love to see each congregation send at least one woman, preferably more!…
Seminary short course to focus on resisting Christian nationalism
Online Short Course: Resisting Christian Nationalism with the Gospel of Peace: Oct. 25 – Nov. 21. Join Drew Strait, Ph.D., in this four-week online short course from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary to deepen your understanding of White Christian nationalism and explore practical and effective nonviolent strategies for resisting it — drawing insights from how Jesus countered oppression. No grades, no…
Christian organizations join together in prayer and action against world hunger
Mennonite World Conference is one of 14 Christian organizations joining hands with World Vision International in prayer and action against world hunger. The third annual Weekend of Prayer and Action Against Hunger will be observed Oct. 14-16, 2023, coinciding with World Food Day, which falls on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2023WorldHunger.
Missional videos are now available
Ohio Conference now has a series of mission-focused videos on the Conference website. These videos, originally designed for a missional workshop, are available for your use. The following videos are included: Matt Pritchard — Considerations for Emerging Faith Communities Wild Church — Innovation/Creative Church Planting Piedra Viva Mennonite — Partnership Homestead Mennonite Church Experience — Revitalization For more information and…
Explore a call to ministry with Journey
When God calls someone to leadership, a journey begins. Perhaps you are on that journey. Perhaps you are looking for mentors and companions along the way. Ohio Conference invites you to join Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program. This program is for lay leaders, pastors, church planters, and other emerging leaders who are called without specific training for ministry or…
Young adult perspectives sought
Ohio Conference’s racial reconciliation resource team, Grace & Groundings, is working on actions related to social justice. However, the team wants to address those issues that are of utmost concern to young adults in particular. Please encourage the young adults in your congregation to let us know what topics they would be most interested in. Please encourage them to reach…
Grateful
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister As I look toward finishing my time of serving as conference minister, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to have worked with all the many great people of Ohio Conference — the leadership teams, the staff, the pastors and other credentialed leaders, delegates, and congregational members and attenders. In the midst of challenging…
Grants will support local ministries
The Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) has awarded four grants totaling $7,395 for local ministries. The MDT approved these grants at its meeting on Aug. 22, 2023. Grants will provide funds toward the following projects: Millersburg Mennonite Church Refugee Resettlement Program — Several members of Millersburg Mennonite Church are making plans to support a family of Congolese refugees to…
Putting the focus on social justice
By Nathanael Hofstetter Ressler Note: This year Grace & Groundings, Ohio Conference’s racial reconciliation resource team, invited Ohio Conference churches to set aside Sunday, June 18, as Social Justice Sunday. The Grace & Groundings team provided worship planning resources for Social Justice Sunday. Below, Nathanael Hofstetter Ressler, pastor of Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville, reflects on his congregation’s experience…
Webinar series focuses on giving
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight a resource about giving and a resource from Anabaptist Disabilities Network related to baptism. Provident Giving Sessions This fall MennoMedia is partnering with Everence to provide a free webinar series about generosity, “The Provident Giving Sessions.” The first webinar, held in August, explored why people give.…
Women in Leadership Retreat planned for February
Ohio Conference is planning a Women in Leadership Retreat to be held Feb. 2-3, 2024. The retreat will be held at a new location in northwest Ohio, the Lial Renewal Center in Whitehouse. The intent of this retreat is to encourage women in current church leadership as well as to tap and encourage all women with leadership gifts, not just…
Goshen College grad creates sculpture for Mennonite Church USA offices
By Jolene VonGunten Mennonite Education Agency ELKHART, Ind. – At first look, Emma Zuercher’s sculpture invokes fire. That is precisely the theme she envisioned for “Forged Spirit,” an 11-foot sculpture she designed and created of recycled aluminum materials. The towering, colorful structure was a striking image in the late afternoon sunshine as it was installed at the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA)…
Camp Luz to host Women’s Retreat
Camp Luz in Kidron will hold its annual Women’s Retreat Oct. 13 and 14, with an option to extend the experience through Oct. 15. The speaker will be Sarah Short, focusing on the theme “Abide in Me.” Register on the Camp Luz website: https://bit.ly/10-23WomensRetreat.
CommonWord offers resources for World Communion Sunday
CommonWord, a collaboration of Mennonite Church Canada and Canadian Mennonite University, has curated a collection of resources for World Communion Sunday, which is traditionally observed on the first Sunday in October. To see these resources, go to https://bit.ly/WorldCommunion.
Retreat about climate designed for pastors, leaders
Anabaptist Climate Collective (ACC) is partnering with several other organizations to sponsor an ecumenical retreat on climate change for pastors and congregational leaders in Ohio and Kentucky. The theme will be “Pastoral Influence in a Climate Changed World.” This retreat will take place Oct. 16-18 at Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. Applications are due Sept. 24. ACC is working…
MMN seeks regional director for Africa and Europe
Mennonite Mission Network is hiring a Regional Director of Africa and Europe. This staff member will oversee the logistics involved in long-term service work in Africa and Europe. The regional director will foster collaboration, implement strategies, and innovate for partnership, as well as represent Mennonite Mission Network around the world. For more information or to apply, see www.MennoniteMission.net/about/Employment. If you…
Leadership Team appoints interim pastoral staff
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is pleased to announce the appointment of an interim conference minister and a half-time interim regional pastor for the eastern portion of the Conference. The Leadership Team has appointed Dan Miller to serve as full-time interim conference minister for 12 months, beginning Dec. 1, 2023. Dan has enjoyed various roles over the years, at congregational…
2024 ACA theme and speaker announced
Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City will host the 2024 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) March 1-2, 2024. The theme of the 2024 ACA will be “Following Jesus Together with a Common Mission,” based on Philippians 2:5-11. The gathering will include input from Meghan Larissa Good, who will be presenting on her soon-to-be published book Divine Gravity: Sparking a Movement to…
EMS to offer seminar on family systems Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia, is offering continuing education options for pastors and Christian educators. Beginning in October, the seminary is offering an online continuing studies seminar in Bowen Family Systems Theory. This seminar is intended for those with some acquaintance with Bowen Theory and who welcome the opportunity to deepen their…
Transition to Leadership is for new pastors
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is offering a Transition to Leadership program. This two-year program guides and nurtures new pastors during the crucial first years of ministry through one-on-one mentoring, biannual learning events, and specialized coaching sessions throughout the year. The Fall 2023 cohort starts Nov. 9; apply by Oct. 9. See https://www.ambs.edu/transition-to-leadership for details.
AMBS to offer Ministry Integrity Circles
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is offering Ministry Integrity Circles. Pastors, do you need help with ministry transitions or significant challenges? The seminary’s Ministry Integrity Circles program provides the support of consultants within a community of peers. Two cohorts will begin this fall: one will be meeting once in person Sept. 25-26 and then three more times on Zoom. Another…
Delegate lists requested
A note for congregational administrators and pastors: Please send your delegate lists to Judy King at the Ohio Conference office (ohmc@zoominternet.net) soon. The first fall cluster meeting for delegates is Sept. 19. Ohio Conference leadership is hoping that once delegates have been chosen, those same delegates will remain engaged in the work of reviewing Conference structure throughout the fall and winter…
Sept. 1 is registration deadline for Pastor-Spouse Retreat
Last call for registrations: Sept. 1, 2023, is the registration deadline for the Ohio Conference Pastor-Spouse Retreat. The retreat will take place Nov. 10-12 at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. For more information, see https://bit.ly/2023Pastor-SpouseBrochure. To register, go to https://bit.ly/2023Pastor-SpouseRetreat.
Deficit increases during July
Ohio Conference’s year-to-date deficit increased during July, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. However, giving to the Conference was higher in July than in the previous month. Receipts during the month of July totaled $24,297, compared with just $13,531 in June. Even so, expenses for July were greater than receipts, resulting in a deficit of $3,529 for…
Pastors meet for discussion and discernment
On Aug. 16 Ohio Conference hosted its annual all pastors gathering at the Upper Sandusky Community Library. There were 32 credentialed ministers in attendance, representing 24 of our congregations. The day was facilitated by our process consultant, Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi of Design Group International. Jeanne’s focus was on helping the pastors discern God’s future vision for Ohio Conference and…
MCC Seek program is for young adults
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is accepting applications for Seek, its newest young adult program for 18- to 20-year-olds who want to do six months of service, discipleship training and cross-cultural sharing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Starting in January 2024, Seek participants from around the world will stay in the Southeast Asian country, considering together what it means to live, love…
Series to explore generosity and stewardship
Starting this month MennoMedia is offering three online sessions focused on generosity and stewardship, featuring input from consultants at Everence. Beginning Thursday, Aug. 17, the monthly sessions will unpack the “why” behind our giving and provide input on specific charitable tools that you can use to support the causes and organizations that are important to you. All sessions begin at…
Register now for Pastor-Spouse Retreat
Sept. 1, 2023, is the registration deadline for the Ohio Conference Pastor-Spouse Retreat. The retreat will take place Nov. 10-12 at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. For more information, see https://bit.ly/2023Pastor-SpouseBrochure. To register, go to https://bit.ly/2023Pastor-SpouseRetreat.
MCC canning planned for Oct. 13, 14 and 16
MCC Canning for Relief will take place Oct. 13, 14 and 16 at the Gerber Building, located behind Central Christian School in Kidron. The plan is to can 30,000 pounds of boneless cooked turkey over the three days. The canned meat will be distributed by Mennonite Central Committee, both globally and to domestic disaster areas. To volunteer, call or text…