Author: Shaquez Dickens
Pastors’ meeting set for Nov. 8
An All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting will take place Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Upper Sandusky Library in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Everyone attending should bring a packed lunch. Coffee is not available on site, so those desiring coffee should bring their own coffee thermos. For the first all-pastors’ meeting of the year, pastors will focus on…
Four cluster meetings scheduled
Ohio Conference will hold four fall cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about one and a half hours. The following meetings are scheduled: Oct. 2 — South Union Mennonite Church in West Liberty Oct. 4 — Toledo Mennonite Church Oct. 16 — Wooster Mennonite Church Nov. 6 — Summit…
Workshop will focus on healthy conversations
Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron will host a Healthy Conversations Workshop Nov. 9-10. Jes Stoltzfus Buller, the peace education coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, will be the facilitator for this workshop. This hands-on workshop will give participants practice in active listening, centered speaking and healthy process in talking about difficult issues. There is no charge for the workshop, but…
Maple Grove in Hartville seeks lead pastor
Maple Grove Mennonite Church, a congregation of about 116 members in Hartville, Ohio, seeks a full-time lead pastor with a strong commitment to Anabaptist values and theology with skills in preaching, leadership, teaching, and congregational care. M.Div. degree (or equivalent) and pastoral experience preferred. For more information, contact searchcommittee@maplegrovemennonite.org.
Spread the Peace Grants available
To encourage congregations and conferences to “spread the peace” in and beyond Mennonite Church USA, the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA has small start-up grants available. Grants of $1,000 are given as Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) funding allows. These grants are intended to support congregational and conference peace initiatives. The goal is to distribute…
Delegate News — Fall 2018
Four fall cluster meetings scheduled Ohio Conference will hold four fall cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about one and a half hours. The following meetings are scheduled: Oct. 2 — South Union Mennonite Church in West Liberty Oct. 4 — Toledo Mennonite Church Oct. 16 — Wooster Mennonite…
Jessica says farewell
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Ohio Conference Missional Consultant Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, who is moving to Excelsior Springs, Missouri. In addition to reflecting on her 14 years in the Ohio Conference, Jessica affirms the missional work that is taking place in the Conference. She also challenges some assumptions about leadership…
Missional training focuses on growing leaders, communities
In August and September, Ohio Conference Missional Consultant Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg led several missional training events focusing on developing leadership and growing missional communities. In the quest for developing leaders, she emphasized the need to look for people who are teachable and available, and the need to focus on the gifts of the people who are being called, rather than pushing…
Workshop to promote healthy conversations
In a world that seems increasingly polarized, how can we promote healthy conversations? Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron is hosting a Healthy Conversations Workshop Nov. 9-10. Jes Stoltzfus Buller, the peace education coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, will be the facilitator for this free workshop, and all are invited to attend. Many people today bemoan the difficulty of conversing with…
Central Produce Table encourages sharing, raises funds for local food pantry
There are few things better than the taste of a home-grown tomato. But sometimes home gardeners can be overwhelmed with an overabundance of tomatoes, or zucchini, or beans. What to do then? At Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, the answer is simple. Church members have a standing invitation to share the bounty from their gardens each week at the Central…
Event offers resources for new pastors
By Ralph Reinford Regional Pastor Fourteen members of Ohio Conference gathered for a New Pastor Orientation on Aug. 12 and 13, beginning Sunday evening and continuing all day on Monday. The gathering provided a time for new pastors to learn about resources and ask questions about the Ohio Conference. Sunday evening was a time for sharing finger foods and popcorn along with introductions…
Conference deficit increases during August
Ohio Conference’s financial deficit increased during August, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Total receipts for the month were $19,524, including $18,515 in giving from congregations. Expenses for the month totaled $24,772, resulting in an operating balance of -$5,248 for the month. That shortfall added to the year-to-date deficit. At the end of August the operating balance…
Mennonite Disaster Service seeks volunteers for fall and winter
Mennonite Disaster Service is seeking weekly volunteers for October, November and December 2018. Join us as individuals or groups to help those affected by disasters. We are working in the following locations: Lake County, California; Pine Ridge, South Dakota; Victoria County, Texas; La Grange, Texas; Fort Myers, Florida; West Virginia; Williams Lake, British Columbia; and Puerto Rico. Serve with a…
Ministry Development Team awards seven grants in 2018
The Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) has awarded seven grants totaling $21,860. The MDT approved these grants at its Aug. 23 meeting. Funding for these grants comes from surplus funds that had accumulated during years in which the Conference ended its fiscal year with a surplus. Grants will provide funding toward the following projects: The Server — Crown Hill…
Sept. 17 is registration deadline for ‘Reviving Hope’
Sept. 17 is the deadline to register for “Reviving Hope,” a suicide prevention training event sponsored by Camp Luz. The workshop will be held at Central Christian School in Kidron on Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The registration fee, which also covers the cost of lunch, is $15 per person. For more information or to register, go…
Register for ‘Enhancing and Equipping for Worship’
Enhancing and Equipping for Worship” is coming to Central Mennonite Church Oct. 5-6. This event featuring speaker Rachel Miller Jacobs from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, will include a variety of workshops. Register by Sept. 15 to receive the regular registration price, $20 per person. The registration fee is waived for participants ages 20 and under. For more…
The Mennonite seeks submissions on theme of health care
The Mennonite Inc. invites your original submissions for the November 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on health care. Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Oct. 1. For more details, please see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteNovember2018.
A conversation with Dick Barrett
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Dick Barrett, the new conference minister for the Ohio Conference. Listen to this conversation to learn more about Dick’s background, his journey to becoming an Anabaptist, and his hopes for the Ohio Conference in the coming years. As a bonus, this episode also…
MC USA Executive Director coming to Ohio
Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, is coming to Ohio. He will visit Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City on Sunday, Sept. 23. The day’s events will include worship with Glen Guyton preaching, a question-and-answer session with Glen Guyton, a cornhole tournament with lunch provided, and an evening meeting, “Talk Back and Conversation with Glen.” If you plan to…
Dick Barrett hired as conference minister
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team has hired Dick Barrett of West Liberty to serve as conference minister of the Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Dick comes to the conference minister position after serving Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty, Ohio, for 16 years, the first four as associate pastor and the last 12 as lead pastor. After being…
The Wheelhouse to hold Blessing Event
The Wheelhouse — A Christian Bicycle Cooperative will hold a Blessing Event for its new building on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 1:30 p.m. The event will take place at Elm Street Church of the Brethren, 619 E. Elm St., Lima, Ohio. There will be a time of blessing and thanksgiving for the new building. Afterward participants are invited to enjoy a…
MC USA encourages focus on immigration justice
Mennonite Church USA encourages people and congregations to “Learn, Pray, Join” together for immigration justice in August and September. Please visit the MC USA website to learn more about this initiative.
Putting ‘love your enemies’ into action
The Mennonite, Inc., invites your original submissions for the October 2018 print magazine issue and corresponding online content. The theme of this issue: What does it look like to put “love your enemies” into action today? Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite.org no later than Aug. 26. For more details, see http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteOctober2018.
MWC prepares worship planning materials for Peace Sunday
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) invites all Mennonite congregations to observe World Peace Sunday on Sept. 23. The theme for the 2018 World Peace Sunday is “A Renewed Peace Church Welcomes the Stranger.” MWC has developed worship planning materials for this special Sunday. To download these materials, go to www.mwc-cmm.org/peacesunday.
Videos have tips for leading adult Bible studies
Central Plains Mennonite Conference has produced a series of short videos with tips for leading adult Bible study groups. The series, titled “Open the Book,” features presenter Keith Slater, who has worked for SIL International and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is a member of West Union Mennonite Church in Parnell, Iowa. The title of each video in the series refers…
Marriage Encounter coming in September
Open Arms Hispanic Ministry and several Wayne County congregations are planning a Mennonite and Brethren Marriage Encounter on Sept. 28-30 at the Comfort Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Berlin. Please see the Marriage Encounter flier for more information. You may also contact Raul Tadeo at 330-828-0040 or Haroldo Nunes at 330-933-9376 for more information and a registration form. Registration…
Giving increases during July
Congregational giving to the Ohio Conference increased during the month of July, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Congregations gave $28,513 to Ohio Conference during July, the highest one-month amount for this fiscal year. Total receipts for the month were $29,018, and expenses were $25,640, resulting in a surplus of $3,378 for the month. That one-month surplus…
Meeting Mennonites in Akron — Congolese church seeks connections
Did you know that there is a growing immigrant Mennonite congregation in Akron, Ohio? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, host Thomas Dunn and his guest co-host, Hannah Troyer, find out about this congregation, which is composed of Congolese refugees who have resettled in Akron. Helping Thomas and Hannah learn more about this congregation is Rollin Mukanza, a social…
Stronger giving is needed to meet budget
A reminder from the Stewardship Ministry Team: At our Annual Conference Assembly in March delegates strongly affirmed the 2018-2019 budget. This budget allows us to hire a full-time conference minister. Currently, our congregational support is not adequate to support our budget for 2018-2019. Please consider increased support of our Conference needs, both as a congregation and as individuals. Your prayer…
Please pray for conference minister interview process
The Conference Minister Search Committee has scheduled its first round of interviews for Monday and Tuesday, July 30 and 31. Please pray for the candidates and the search committee as they seek God’s guidance in this process. — Bob Sauder, Ohio Conference moderator