Announcements
Healthcare students invited to submit essays
Healthcare Student Essay Project: Anabaptist students in all healthcare disciplines are eligible to submit an essay in connection with the Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF) Annual Gathering 2018, June 22-24, 2018, at Bluffton University. Share your perspective on the theme “Stories of Healing.” This contest is open to those currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, professional, residency, fellowship, or internship program…
Have you registered for ACA yet?
The deadline to register for Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) is approaching quickly. Have you registered yet? ACA will take place March 9-10 at Bluffton University, and the Gathered and Sent Missional Conference will take place immediately prior to ACA on March 8-9, also at Bluffton University. Registrations for ACA and the Gathered and Sent Missional Conference are both due by…
Mediation training to be offered
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center will be offering its Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders March 12-16 in Columbia, South Carolina. To receive the discounted registration rate, register by Feb. 9. See http://bit.ly/2018MediationTraining for details.
OC viewpoints shared at EMU meeting
During January all Ohio Conference congregations were asked to complete a Mennonite Colleges Survey. Thanks to all congregations who completed to survey. The survey responses provided valuable information for Keith Hostetler as he represented Ohio Conference at Eastern Mennonite University’s Constituent Conferences Committee meeting on Jan. 18. To learn more about what was discussed at this meeting, see his report: 2018…
Shue announces resignation from MC USA role
Mennonite Church USA — Terry Shue has announced his resignation from his position as MC USA director of leadership development. His end date will be no later than June 1, 2018. See the complete news release at http://mennoniteusa.org/news/shue-announces-resignation-executive-board-staff/.
AMBS to offer Prepare/Enrich training
Prepare/Enrich: A Premarital and Marital Workshop will be held Feb. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana. Led by Delores Friesen, Ph.D., this workshop prepares pastors, counselors, spiritual directors and mentors to help couples strengthen and enrich their relationships. See tinyurl.com/ambs-prepare-enrich for details or to register.
Everence offers financial planning grants to more pastors
Everence is expanding its efforts to help pastors take advantage of the benefits of comprehensive financial planning. Beginning January 2018, credentialed and active pastors from any churches affiliated with Everence are eligible to receive a Pastoral Financial Plan Grant toward the cost of a first-year Everence comprehensive financial plan. For details, see http://bit.ly/EverenceFinancialPlanning.
Immigration workshop planned in Millersburg
Millersburg Mennonite Church will host a workshop, “Immigration Myths, Realities and Public Policy,” on Saturday, Jan. 27, 1-2:30 p.m. This workshop will seek to bring clarity around immigration issues, as well as share the impact that immigration policy has on families affected by it. If you are interested in having your immigration questions answered, learning creative ways to respond or…
‘Reading the Bible with Jesus’ coming to Ohio
Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron will host “Reading the Bible with Jesus,” an inspirational four-session Bible study on the book of Mark with Bryan Moyer Suderman Feb. 16-17. What can followers of Jesus today learn from Jesus’ approach to scripture? What if today’s Christians not only sought to imitate how Jesus lived and how he treated people, but also how…
Healthy Boundaries training rescheduled
Because of inclement weather, the Healthy Boundaries training scheduled for Jan. 13 in Bluffton was canceled. This training event has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24, at the same location, First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. If you registered for the Jan. 13 training and cannot attend on Feb. 24, please contact Judy King, Ohio Conference administrative assistant, at ohmc@zoominternet.net or…
Scholarship deadline extended for SPI
The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University offers a variety of scholarships for individuals interested in the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI). Matching and partial scholarships are offered on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. The deadline for SPI’s dedicated scholarship and fellowship opportunities has been extended to Jan. 29, 2018. See http://bit.ly/SPIScholarships for details.
Hesston conference to feature Dr. Drew Hart
Registration is open for the 2018 Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) conference Feb. 23 to 25 at Hesston College. With the theme “Before the Unthinkable Happens: Confronting our Role in Injustice,” the conference will explore how participants can become effective change agents in their churches and communities as they stand against “the troubles of this world.” Dr. Drew G.I.…
All congregations asked to complete survey
Keith Hostetler has agreed to represent the Ohio Conference as part of Eastern Mennonite University’s Constituent Conferences Committee. To help him more accurately represent the viewpoints of Ohio Conference congregations, he is asking a representative from each congregation to complete a brief survey, which can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PZLZPGT. The Constituent Conferences Committee will meet Jan. 18. Please complete the…
Register for pastors’ meeting by Jan. 11
Berlin Mennonite Church will host a meeting for Ohio Conference pastors Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All credentialed leaders of the Ohio Conference are encouraged to attend. There is no registration fee for this meeting, but lunch will be provided on a donation basis. Registrations are due Jan. 11. To register, contact Judy King at the Ohio…
Four regional meetings scheduled
Ohio Conference will hold four winter regional cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. The following meetings have been scheduled: Feb. 13 — Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron Feb. 15 — West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon Feb. 20 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville Feb.…
Using your Everence credit card 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.…
The Mennonite solicits submissions
In February 2018, The Mennonite magazine will celebrate its 20th anniversary in its current form as the official publication of Mennonite Church USA, and The Mennonite wants to hear from you. Send your memories of The Mennonite: reflections on your favorite stories, authors that have been important or reasons you’ve relied on this publication. You can send your short reflections…
Pastors and leaders to focus on hope
ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — In a time when many people are experiencing anxiety, trauma and upheaval, how can church leaders sustain hope among the people they serve, even when they might struggle with fear, hopelessness and exhaustion themselves? Pastors and Leaders 2018 — an annual leadership conference formerly called Pastors Week — aims to help participants explore…
School for Leadership Training to focus on brokenness, thriving
Proclaiming God incarnate even in brokenness – within themselves, in their congregations and neighborhoods, and nationally – is no small task for pastors. Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s 2018 School for Leadership Training (SLT) participants will explore themes of thriving and succeeding in ministry even in the context of so much reason to lose heart. The Jan. 15-17 training event, titled “Broken Vessels,…
MCC Great Lakes offers new way to donate
As families around the world face disaster and crisis, kits and comforters from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) remind them that their needs are not forgotten. There is a new, easy way for you to get involved! MCC Great Lakes has put together a list of most needed items on Amazon.com. Simply purchase the pre-selected items on the wish list, and the items…
Everence to award scholarships
GOSHEN, Ind. – Everence is accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year through the end of February. A college scholarship is one of the potential benefits of doing business with Everence. The Everence scholarship program encourages young people to explore the integration of faith and finances while helping them on their educational journeys. Eligible students can be…
Register for January Healthy Boundaries training by Jan. 5
Friday, Jan. 5, is the deadline to register for the Jan. 13 Healthy Boundaries training event at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. This training is mandatory for continued credentialing in the Ohio Conference. The Conference is also holding this training event Dec. 9 at SpringHaven Counseling Center in Dundee and April 21 at Shalom Counseling and Mediation Center in Archbold.…
The Mennonite seeks next executive director
The board of The Mennonite, Inc. is accepting applications for the position of executive director. The executive director functions as chief executive officer for The Mennonite, Inc. The executive director brings broad vision to The Mennonite as a content delivery system for MC USA constituents and beyond, helping the organization to develop programs and services appropriate for the digital age.…
Missional conference to precede ACA
Meghan Good and Marvin Lorenzana will be the featured speakers at Gathered and Sent, the missional conference at Bluffton University March 8-9, 2018, immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly. To download the event flier, click here: 2017 Missional Conference Flier.
Doctrine of Discovery programs come to Bluffton
BLUFFTON, Ohio – Erica Littlewolf, coordinator of the Indigenous Visioning Center for Mennonite Central Committee (Central States), will bring two programs to Bluffton University on Nov. 28. Littlewolf will present “Doctrine of Discovery: A Living History” during Forum at 11 a.m. in Yoder Recital Hall. During the presentation, Littlewolf, who is Northern Cheyenne, will explain how the 15th century Christian…
Laypersons encouraged to participate in Healthy Boundaries training
The Ohio Conference Credentialing Ministry is encouraging all congregations to send a layperson to the Healthy Boundaries training being held by the Conference. Attendance is mandatory for all credentialed persons. The Credentialing Ministry would like to stress that in all congregations which have a Pastor Congregation Relations Committee, at least one representative from that group should attend the Healthy Boundaries…
Camp Luz to host Jr. High Retreat
Glenn Nofziger, associate pastor at Martins Creek Mennonite Church, will be the featured speaker at the Jr. High Retreat at Camp Luz Jan. 12-14. The theme for the retreat will be “Rooted,” based on Colossians 2:6-7. The retreat will begin with check-in at 7 p.m. on Friday and conclude at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Cost of the retreat is $90 per…
AMBS offers spiritual guidance seminar
Spiritual Guidance Seminar: Jan. 9 – July 20, 2018. Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s Spiritual Guidance Seminar is a supervised program for people who want to become spiritual directors. It will be offered in a low-residency, hybrid format (both online and on campus) led by Dan Schrock, D.Min. Graduates of this training have used their skills not only in spiritual direction,…
Peacebuilding institute offers variety of courses
Registration is now open for the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. SPI 2018 offers two seven-day sessions and two five-day sessions, each with several courses running at the same time. Participants can take one course per session. Courses can be taken for professional skills training or academic credit. Courses are open to all people interested…
Healthy Boundaries training required for credentialed leaders
Ohio Conference is providing Healthy Boundaries training for all credentialed persons in the Conference. This training will be offered three times during 2017-18: Dec. 9, 2017 — SpringHaven Counseling Center, Dundee (near Mount Eaton, Ohio) Jan. 13, 2018 — First Mennonite Church, Bluffton April 21, 2018 — Archbold area (specific location yet to be confirmed) The training will last from…