Author: Shaquez Dickens
Growing more like Jesus to be conference focus at Hesston College
Save the date: Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, will host the 2019 edition of its Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series Feb. 1-3, 2019. The theme for this conference will be “Growing More Like Jesus from the Outside In: Transforming Heart and Mind.” The conference will seek to answer the question, “Where can we find support to take new risks to…
Service Adventure seeks unit leader
Looking to serve in a mentoring role to young adults? Service Adventure is seeking leaders for its unit location in beautiful Anchorage, Alaska. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a mentor and to foster community with a household of young adults through faith formation, daily living, and house activities. For more information, contact Susan Nisly at Mennonite Mission…
Special delegate assembly for MC USA canceled
The Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has canceled the special delegate assembly which had been planned for Nov. 26, 2018. To learn more about this decision, please see the Letter to MC USA Delegates from MC USA Moderator David Boshart.
Advent worship guide is for families
Anabaptist Faith Formation Network and Mennonite Church USA are offering a free, downloadable guide for family worship during Advent written by Elsie Rempel and illustrated by Megan Kamei. This resource, titled God’s Goodness, is designed for parents to use at home with their children. For use between Dec. 2 and Jan. 6, the worship guide includes Bible readings, short litanies, songs, hands-on…
MyNeighbor program can benefit Ohio Conference
Do you have a credit card through Everence? If so, your purchases can benefit the Ohio Conference. Everence donates 1.5 percent of the transaction total of each purchase made with a MyNeighbor credit card to the charitable organization of your choice. Donations are distributed each January and are based on the card holder’s choice of “neighbor” as of Dec. 31. In January…
CLC — A place to build relationships together denominationally
In the latest episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast, co-hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Conference Minister Dick Barrett and Paula Snyder Belousek, pastor of Salem Mennonite Church in Elida, about their experience at the October meeting of the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC). Snyder Belousek describes the CLC as “a place to build relationships together denominationally.” This episode, which…
Credentialed leaders meet in Upper Sandusky
What does it mean when we say, “Jesus is our Center”? Thirty-six credentialed leaders from across the Ohio Conference came together to discuss that question on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting. The pastors and other credentialed leaders met for a day of discussion and relationship-building at the Upper Sandusky Library in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Since 2015,…
Financial report shared at fall cluster meetings
At the fall 2018 cluster meetings, delegates heard a financial report from the Ohio Conference Stewardship Ministry Team. Copies of the PowerPoint presentation shared at the cluster meetings are available below. You may download the presentation either as a PowerPoint file (.pptx) or as a PDF. 2018 Financial Report – Fall Cluster Meetings (.pptx) 2018 Financial Report – Fall…
The Mennonite seeks submissions on the theme of education
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the January 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “Education: What does a just, equitable and liberated system look like?” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Nov. 26. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteJanuary2018.
AMBS receives $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, has received a $1 million grant to help establish Thriving on the Journey: A Process for Pastoral Leaders. This grant is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with…
Executive director sought for Anabaptist Disabilities Network
Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) is seeking an executive director (.75 FTE) who will promote the vision of ADN to Anabaptist congregations, organizations and individuals. This individual will personally represent ADN with donors and supporters, solicit gifts, and provide oversight to ADN staff and programs. Fundraising and constituent cultivation ability are required. A heart for inclusion of persons with disabilities and…
Workshop to focus on change in business
Everence is sponsoring a Business Families and Community Leaders workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Gardens at Homestead in Mount Hope. “Thriving in a fast-changing world” is the theme of this workshop, which will feature speakers Brian Miller, president of ProVia in Sugarcreek; Leon Wengerd, CFO of Pioneer Equipment in Dalton; and Dan Owolabi,…
What can we learn from others in Mennonite World Conference?
For many North American Mennonites, the words “Mennonite World Conference” bring thoughts of a world-wide gathering of Anabaptists every six years. However, as Ohio Conference Cast hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour learn in this episode of Ohio Conference Cast, there’s much more to Mennonite World Conference than these large events. Helping Thomas and Bill to learn more about Mennonite World…
Pastor-Leadership Team Retreat examines attitudes and behaviors
Forty-one people representing eight Ohio Conference congregations participated in the Pastor-Leadership Retreat held at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bellville Oct. 26-27. Presenter Duane Beck led the event, focusing on the topic “Leadership Matters: Finding God in the Changes.” He encouraged retreat participants to consider attitudes and behaviors in their congregations. Photos by Greg Bowman, Ralph Reinford and Bob Sauder
What does it mean when we say, “Jesus is our center?”
What does it mean when we say, “Jesus is our center?” What are our core beliefs? Ohio Conference credentialed leaders will be discussing these questions on Nov. 8 when they meet at the Upper Sandusky Library in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Dan Hooley, one of…
Giving to Conference increases in September
Congregational giving to the Ohio Conference was higher in September than in the previous month, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Congregational giving in September totaled $24,417, compared to just $18,515 in August. Total receipts for September were $24,753, while expenses totaled $20,974, resulting in a surplus of $3,779 for the month. However, the Conference still is…
Everence offers Safe Church Grants
Everence supports churches in protecting children, teens, and vulnerable individuals from harm with the Safe Church Grant. This grant provides $350 to help reimburse churches for costs they incur to keep people in their care safe from sexual or other forms of abuse. With the grant, Everence supports the healthy development of churches as they contribute to the good spiritual…
Cliff Brubaker to have surgery Oct. 23
Please pray for Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker, who is scheduled for open heart surgery Oct. 23 to replace his aortic valve. He will be having surgery at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Plans are that he will be hospitalized for about one week after surgery, followed by a more extended recovery period at home. While Cliff is recovering from…
Bluffton University to celebrate Spiritual Life Week
BLUFFTON, Ohio – Hannah Troyer, a grassroots community organizer, will speak during Bluffton University’s semi-annual Spiritual Life Week Forum at 11 a.m. on Oct. 23 in Yoder Recital Hall. The title of her presentation is “Grassroots Organizing: Reclaiming and Reimagining the Church.” Troyer, of Akron, Ohio, is the co-founder of a community organization focused around challenging conversations. She is a…
Credentialed leaders to gather Nov. 8
Credentialed leaders: Have you registered for the All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting on Nov. 8? On Nov. 8, we will gather in the conference room of the Upper Sandusky Library for another installment of Gathered. Over the last few years, Ohio Conference credentialed leaders have gathered for fellowship and conversation. In these times we have built stronger relationships as we learned…
Website offers info on service opportunities
Tired of searching all the websites for Anabaptist-rooted service opportunities? Look no further, because www.ChooseService.org has them all! Lots of places, lots of partners, lots of possibilities, on one site!
Churches celebrate World Communion Sunday together
Several Ohio Conference congregations celebrated World Communion Sunday on Oct. 7 with the Akron Swahili Community Church. Central Christian School in Kidron hosted the joint worship service, which was followed by a meal. Photos by Diane Hostetler. For more information about this gathering, see the Daily Record report at http://bit.ly/2018WorldCommunionSunday.
Central Mennonite hosts worship workshop
Central Mennonite Church in Archbold hosted the “Enhancing and Equipping for Worship” workshop Oct. 5-6. Rachel Miller Jacobs, associate professor of congregational formation at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, was the featured speaker. About 30 people participated in this event, which included break-out workshops on music, art in worship, and several other topics. The event was planned with…
The Mennonite seeks original submissions for December issue
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the December 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “Good News, Great Joy.” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Nov. 1. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteDecember2018.
Dove’s Nest offers sample protection policy
Does your church need a protection policy? If so, check out Dove’s Nest’s updated three-page model policy available as a PDF: http://bit.ly/ProtectionPolicyModel. You can also find more resources on the Dove’s Nest website: https://dovesnest.net/policies. You can use this model policy as a guide to create or update your own that works for your church’s context, settings, and values. The 2018…
AMBS event to focus on loving neighbors in tense times
AMBS Pastors and Leaders 2019: “Loving Our Neighbors in Tense Times” — Feb. 25–28. How do we respond to hate, intolerance and systemic racism in productive, transformative ways? What does the gospel of Jesus Christ call us to do in situations like these? We’ll explore the biblical and theological grounding of our call to get involved and become equipped to…
ACA workshop proposals sought
Planners for Annual Conference Assembly are still accepting workshop proposal submissions. Do you have an idea for a workshop which would engage the interest of delegates at Annual Conference Assembly? If so, please submit your proposal as soon as possible. Please use the workshop proposal form. Annual Conference Assembly will take place March 8-9 at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron.
Register by Oct. 12 for Pastors’ Wives Retreat
Ohio Conference will hold a Pastors’ Wives Retreat Nov. 2-4 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. The registration deadline is Oct. 12. Featured speaker Nan Kanagy will focus on the theme “Chosen Yet Chafing at the Servant Calling.” Cost of this retreat will be $115 per person. See the Pastors’ Wives Retreat Brochure for more details.
Ralph returns refreshed — a reflection on time away and re-engaging in ministry
What happened to Ohio Conference Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford during his three-month leave earlier this year, and how were rhinos and crocodiles involved? Listen to this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast to find out. Reflecting on his time away from his Ohio Conference work, Ralph talks with Ohio Conference Cast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn about things he…
Delegate News – Fall 2018 #2
Proposed constitutional changes to be introduced at fall cluster meetings At this year’s cluster meetings, we will be introducing some proposed changes to the Ohio Conference Constitution. In order to make allowance for congregations that wish to remain a part of Ohio Conference, but not the denomination, we have proposed the changes that are found on page six and page…