Author: Shaquez Dickens
Peacebuilding center plans virtual celebration
EMU — The global and domestic impact of Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding will be celebrated June 4-6 at the 25+1 Anniversary Celebration. This event was originally planned for summer 2020, but cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The format switched to all virtual once it became clear not only travel for guests but also on-campus hosting would be…
Webinar to discuss support for mental illness
Anabaptist Disabilities Network and Church of the Brethren Discipleship Ministries are co-sponsoring a webinar with the theme “Providing Mutual Support When People Experience Mental Illness.” This webinar will take place Thursday, June 17, at 2 p.m. EDT. How can we walk with people who are experiencing a mental illness in our congregations and community? Attend this “Mental Health 101” webinar…
Central Christian School Board appoints interim lead administrator
Terry Shue has been appointed interim lead administrator of Central Christian School in Kidron for the 2021-22 school year, effective July 1. He will serve in this role while the Central Christian School Board leads a search to hire a new superintendent. After a new superintendent is hired, he will return to his position as director of development for Central…
The Rest of Micah 6:8
By Dick Barrett, conference minister He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 (NIV) I have now been a part of the Mennonite Church for almost 25 years. Many things attracted me to the…
Climate Ride seeks to raise awareness
The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS) is leading a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness regarding climate change and related issues, as well as to learn and to connect with people along the way. CSCS is a collaborative initiative of Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite University, and Mennonite Central Committee. The Climate Ride started in Seattle May 31 and will…
MennoCon21 newsletter gives convention details
The most recent MennoCon21 newsletter includes information about morning and evening worship at the convention, seminars for youth and adults, and COVID-19 protocols. MennoCon21 will take place July 6-10, both in Cincinnati and online. This newsletter is available here: MennoCon21 MAY Newsletter.
Journal articles focus on healing and health
From AMBS: A new issue of Vision focusing on the theme “Health, Healing and Hope” is available for free online. In the Spring 2021 issue of Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology, authors share about their personal struggles with illness, their experiences as caregivers and their encounters in pastoral or chaplaincy care. Other topics include health as it relates…
Webinars to focus on peace and justice issues
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering a new webinar series titled Shalom: Six Perspectives on Peace and Justice. Each webinar will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time. A variety of topics will be explored: June 8 — Why did Jesus have to die? — led by J. Denny Weaver June 29 — Does our past really matter?…
SENT Conference 2021 recordings are online
Mennonite Mission Network held its Sent Conference 2021 online during April. This event focused on church planting and church vitality. Keynote speakers included Katerina Friesen, pastor of Wild Church in Fresno, California; Tim Amor, pastor of Beatrice Mennonite Church in Beatrice, Nebraska; and Reverends Karen Sethurama and Gordon McDade, pastors and church planters of Soulspace in Belfast, Ireland. If you…
MEA-affiliated schools seek staff members
Central Christian School in Kidron and a number of other schools affiliated with Mennonite Education Agency are seeking staff members. Please see http://bit.ly/MEAJobs5-21 for more information on these positions.
April receipts exceed expenses
Ohio Conference has begun the 2021-22 fiscal year on a positive note, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for April totaled $35,960, including $12,657 in donations from individuals. Expenses for the month totaled $23,546, resulting in a surplus of $12,414 for the month. The Ohio Conference fiscal year runs from April 1, 2021, through March 31,…
Proposed revisions for MC USA bylaws are now online
This year’s delegate assembly for Mennonite Church USA will take place online on Saturday, July 10, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. EDT. Information about this meeting is now available on the Mennonite Church USA website: http://bit.ly/MennoCon21DelegateResources. Included is a copy of the proposed revisions to the Mennonite Church USA bylaws, as well as the schedule for the delegate assembly and…
Leadership Team affirms women in ministry
Several months ago, the Ohio Conference Leadership Development Resource Team surveyed pastors and leaders of Ohio Conference congregations about attitudes regarding women in ministry. The team has shared their findings with the Ohio Conference Leadership Team. Below is a response from the Leadership Team: The Leadership Team has gratefully received the work of the Leadership Development Resource Team’s Summary of…
Love God, love others, make disciples
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. — Romans 13:8 Over the past year or so, Ohio Conference’s Leadership Team, with affirmation from both our pastors and delegates at regional gatherings, has developed a new mission statement to guide us as…
MDS shower trailer ‘restoring dignity and hope’ for homeless individuals in Colorado
From the generous hands of the Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville, Ohio, a shower trailer traveled to Denver, Colorado, where it will help homeless people restore a sense of dignity in their lives. Volunteers from the church built and used the shower trailer in 2012 when they helped Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) rebuild a church in Alabama. When they…
Hymnal-related resources are online
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight a resource from MennoMedia. The publisher has created a special website with information about the new hymnal Voices Together. Found at http://voicestogetherhymnal.org, the website offers a guide for introducing Voices Together to your congregation. In addition, this website has a wide variety of resources related to…
Retreat to focus on equipping youth workers
Coming Oct. 15-17, 2021: Ohio Conference is excited to announce its next youth worker retreat — Equipped for the Journey: The who, what and how for youth leaders. This event will be held at Camp Luz in Kidron. Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, will be leading the retreat. Participants will be challenged to settle into who God is…
Pastor-Spouse Retreat planned for fall
Ohio Conference will hold a Pastor-Spouse Retreat Nov. 12-14 at the Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The theme of this event will be “Live and Laugh.” Pastors and their spouses are invited to find the joy in the everyday through laughter and stories. The weekend will include a show by comedian Shawn Reynolds, as well as free time and…
Giving is more than an expression of gratitude
By Beryl Jantzi Director of Stewardship Education, Everence No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed. —Deuteronomy 16:16 He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. — Luke 1:53 One of the biblical images used to teach generosity is that of hands. Empty hands. And the message is don’t come before God empty-handed. Giving is…
Glen Guyton to lead youth worker retreat
Ohio Conference will hold a youth worker retreat Oct. 15-17, 2021, at Camp Luz in Kidron. Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, will lead the retreat, focusing on the theme Equipped for the Journey: The who, what and how for youth leaders. Participants will be challenged to settle into who God is calling them to be as leaders,…
Free counseling available for pastors
A reminder for all pastors of Ohio Conference congregations: Pastors serving in the Ohio Conference have two options for free counseling sessions. Shalom Counseling and Mediation Center in Archbold, Ohio, offers six free counseling sessions to pastors. Any additional sessions are available at a 50 percent discount. You may contact Shalom at 419-445-1552 for further details or to arrange a…
MCC needs relief kit donations
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) needs more relief kits. MCC reports that its partners have requested 27,000 relief kits this year. But due to the pandemic, MCC’s Material Resources warehouse inventory is significantly lower this year than it was at this time last year. In order to meet this need, MCC needs your help. Learn more at https://mcc.org/get-involved/kits/relief.
MCC seeks summer staff for SWAP
SWAP summer staff needed! Mennonite Central Committee’s Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program is in need of job site coordinators and meals coordinators to support home repair projects in Kimball, West Virginia, or Harlan, Kentucky. Applicants should be at least 19 years old, but these paid roles are not limited to young adults. For more information and to apply, visit…
New Pastor Orientation set for Aug. 15-16
Ohio Conference will hold a New Pastor Orientation Aug. 15-16 at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Mt. Hope. This free event is designed for all pastors new to the Ohio Conference. Spouses are also invited. In addition to being introduced to Conference resources, participants will have the opportunity to get to know other pastors new to the Ohio Conference.…
Missional festival canceled
Engaging Mission 2022: A missional festival for all ages, which was scheduled for June 24-26, 2022, has been cancelled. Ohio Conference will continue to assess its objectives and goals regarding this festival and other missional events. We encourage you to make plans now to join us for our next missional conference, which will be held in March of 2022. More…
Where are you going next on your journey?
Are you paying attention to what the Spirit is saying to you and calling you to do for the next stage of your life? The special guest for this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast, Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, would encourage everyone to consider that question. Jewel Gingerich Longenecker is dean of lifelong learning at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)…
Conference ends fiscal year in the black
The Ohio Conference has ended the 2020-21 fiscal year in the black, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. On March 31, 2021, the Conference finished the 2020-21 fiscal year with an operating surplus of $4,944. In comparison, the Conference finished the 2019-20 fiscal year with a deficit of $7,484. Over the past decade, the Conference has ended…
Voices Together accompaniment edition recalled
Due to a manufacturing defect with the binding, MennoMedia is recalling the accompaniment edition of Voices Together. If you would like a replacement copy, please fill out the online form at http://bit.ly/VTRecall by May 1, 2021. After the May 1 deadline, replacement copies will no longer be provided. If you are unsure if your copy is a recalled version or…
MWC 2022 Assembly to be hybrid event
After deciding to offer the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Indonesia as a hybrid in-person and online event July 5-10, 2022, program committee members and assembly staff are exploring online opportunities. See http://bit.ly/MWC2022Assembly for more information.
Peacebuilding courses to be held online
May 11 is the deadline to register for the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University. SPI will be conducting its May and June courses online this year, due to uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses begin the week of May 17 and run through June 18. SPI is offering courses in the areas of trauma awareness, restorative…