Delegate News
Delegate News – Looking Forward to ACA
Looking forward to seeing you at ACA Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) is almost here! We are looking forward to seeing many of you at Sharon Mennonite Church on March 1-2. This issue of Delegate News includes many last-minute reminders to help you prepare for our annual gathering. Registration is still open If you are planning on attending ACA, please make…
Delegate News – Resignation Announcement
Feb. 21, 2024 Greetings to members of Ohio Conference, Ann Leaman, conference editor for Ohio Conference, has informed the Conference leadership that she intends to end her work with Ohio Conference at the end of the fiscal year, March 31, 2024. Ann joined Ohio Conference staff in October 1998. During those years Ann worked with the Conference to adapt from…
Delegate News – 1-30-24
Here are resources for presenting our shared work to your congregation January 30, 2024 Ohio Conference Delegates, Thank you for the comments, edits and questions at the five cluster meetings. Being present at each meeting was valuable for me. Hearing that many felt the strategic plan was familiar was heartening. The facilitator and Strategic Planning Team listened intently to capture…
Delegate News – Retirement Announcement
Greetings to members of Ohio Conference, Tony Doehrmann, regional pastor for the western region of Ohio Conference, has informed the Conference’s Leadership Team that he intends to retire at the end of March 2024. Pastor Doehrmann began as a regional pastor on Oct. 1, 2019. In that time, he has been a meaningful Conference connection with pastors and congregations in…
Delegate News – Winter 2024 Cluster Meeting Materials
Please review these documents in preparation for cluster meetings Dear Ohio Conference Delegates, Thank you for your diligent work over the last 20 months! Your involvement has been important. This is the home stretch for the strategic planning process approved by delegates in 2022. In the upcoming January delegate cluster meetings, we will work in groups to address three items:…
Winter cluster meetings scheduled
Five winter cluster meetings have been scheduled for Ohio Conference delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about two hours. Locations are as follows: Jan. 9 — Tedrow Mennonite Church, Wauseon Jan. 11 — Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville Jan. 16 — Crown Hill Mennonite Church, Rittman Jan. 18 — Oak Grove Mennonite Church, West Liberty Jan.…
Delegate News – 7-25-23
Delegates are an important part of the discernment process As Ohio Conference works through its second year of the discernment process, delegates from congregations have an important role in the discernment. Ideally, each congregation’s delegates should be individuals who are able to participate in the entire discernment process, including the fall delegate meetings, winter delegate meetings, and Annual Conference Assembly…
Delegate News – 7-14-23
Conference Minister Dick Barrett to retire in October Greetings Conference Pastors, Credential Ministers, Congregations and Delegates, It is with profound sadness that the Leadership Team of Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA received and accepted the official notification of retirement for Conference Minister Dick Barrett. Dick will officially retire from his Conference Minister role and all ministerial duties on Oct.…
Five fall delegate meetings scheduled
Please note: The schedule has been updated. The Sept. 19 meeting will be held at Bethel Mennonite Church in West Liberty. Five fall delegate cluster meetings have been scheduled for Ohio Conference delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours. Locations are as follows: Sept. 19 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West…
Delegate News – 4-24-23
April 24, 2023 Dear Ohio Conference credentialed ministers, delegates and congregations, The Leadership Team of Ohio Conference met for our annual retreat on April 13 to fellowship with one another, pray, and to discern together God’s leading of Ohio Conference over the next year. We want to let you know how we plan to move forward after Annual Conference Assembly…
What’s next after ACA 2023?
To: Ohio Conference credentialed ministers, delegates, and congregations From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: What’s Next after ACA 2023? Date: March 9, 2023 The Leadership Team of Ohio Conference would once again like to take the opportunity to thank all of our credentialed ministers, delegates and congregations for your active participation in the first year of our two-year review process…
A message to delegates from the Leadership Team
To: Ohio Conference Credentialed Ministers, Delegates and Congregations From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: Thank You and Update from 2023 Annual Conference Assembly Date: March 7, 2023 The Ohio Conference Leadership Team would like to thank all of our credentialed ministers, delegates and congregations for the hard work of Christian discernment that has taken place over the past year, beginning…
Delegate News – Here is a copy of the resolution which delegates voted on at the 2023 ACA
We have heard that many delegates would like the text of the resolution that delegates voted on at Annual Conference Assembly. Below is a copy of the resolution: Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA ACA Resolution March 4, 2023 RESOLVED, that Ohio Conference withdraws from Mennonite Church USA; RESOLVED, that Ohio Conference will amend its Constitution (which must be approved…
Delegate News – Resources for ACA
We look forward to seeing you at ACA ACA is almost here! We are looking forward to gathering together for Annual Conference Assembly on March 3 and 4 at Central Christian School in Kidron. More than 180 people have registered for ACA so far. If you still haven’t registered, please do so soon. You can register online at https://bit.ly/2023ACARegistration. Please…
Congregational Discernment Information and Request for Prayer and Fasting
I want to thank all our delegates for your active participation in the gatherings we have had over the past year as we continue to discern God’s will for us as a Conference as we move into the future. As communicated at our winter gatherings which just concluded this past Monday evening, this issue of Delegate News includes documents prepared…
Delegate News — 12-27-22
Winter cluster meetings start Jan. 17 Five winter cluster meetings have been scheduled for Ohio Conference delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours. Locations are as follows: Jan. 17 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Hartville Jan. 19 — Toledo Mennonite Church Jan. 24 — Sharon Mennonite Church, Plain City Jan. 26 — Orrville…
Delegate News – 12-5-22
Winter cluster meetings start Jan. 17 Five winter cluster meetings have been scheduled for Ohio Conference delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last between 1.5 and 2 hours. Locations are as follows: Jan. 17 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Hartville Jan. 19 — Toledo Mennonite Church Jan. 24 — Sharon Mennonite Church, Plain City Jan. 26 —…
Registration open for cluster meetings
Five winter cluster meetings have been scheduled for Ohio Conference delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last between 1.5 and 2 hours. Locations are as follows: Jan. 17 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Hartville Jan. 19 — Toledo Mennonite Church Jan. 24 — Sharon Mennonite Church, Plain City Jan. 26 — Orrville Mennonite Church Jan. 30 — Online…
Delegate News — Leadership Team shares update on review process
To: Ohio Conference Credentialed Ministers, Congregational Delegates, Members and Attendees From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: Update on Review Process Date: Nov. 7, 2022 At our Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) on March 4-5, 2022, Ohio Conference delegates affirmed the use of a consultant to help us with strategic planning, including visioning for the future and reviewing our affiliation with Mennonite…
Cluster meeting dates set
Mark your calendar: Ohio Conference will hold five winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Locations are as follows: Jan. 17 — Maple Grove Mennonite (Hartville) Jan. 19 — Toledo Mennonite Jan. 24 — Sharon Mennonite (Plain City) Jan. 26 — Orrville Mennonite Jan. 30 — Online via Zoom
Missed the delegate gatherings? You can still participate in our online meeting
Thanks to all who have participated in fall delegate gatherings over the past two weeks. We thank you for taking the time to share your ideas and you vision for Ohio Conference. If you were unable to attend one of the four in-person delegate gatherings, you still can share your ideas. Next Tuesday, Oct. 4, Ohio Conference will hold an…
Delegate News – Fall 2022 #2
Please join us in prayer As a spiritual practice during this time of discernment for the Ohio Conference, we are committing to pray together as a Conference. Please join us each Wednesday at noon for a time of communal prayer on Zoom. We will be using Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book as the resource for…
Delegate News – Fall 2022
Delegate gatherings begin Sept. 20 Delegates: Have you registered to attend one of the fall delegate gatherings? Ohio Conference is planning five fall gatherings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Meeting dates and locations are as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 20 ─ Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville Thursday, Sept. 22 ─…
Fall delegate gathering dates set
Please mark your calendar: Ohio Conference is planning five fall delegate gatherings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If a delegate from your congregation is unable to attend one of these meetings, the Conference is encouraging your congregation to send an alternate delegate. These delegate gatherings are a part of…
Staying the Course
With affirmation from our delegates at our Annual Conference Assembly on March 4-5, 2022, at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio Conference embarked on a review/discernment process looking at our vision based on our new mission statement1, our structure, and our future affiliation with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). Also with affirmation from our delegates, we contracted with a process…
Leadership Team releases statement regarding MC USA Special Delegate Assembly
To: Ohio Conference Pastors, Delegates and Congregations From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: Statement regarding MC USA’s Special Delegate Assembly, May 27-30, 2022 Date: June 6, 2022 MC USA’s delegates met May 27-30 for a special delegate assembly in Kansas City, Missouri. Of the 502 delegates who participated, 47 represented Ohio Conference or one of our congregations. We met to…
New regional pastor appointed
It is with much anticipation and excitement that the Ohio Conference Leadership Team announces the appointment of Sherah-Leigh Gerber to serve as regional pastor – east. Many people will remember Sherah-Leigh from when she served as our coordinator of volunteers from 2009 to 2014, prior to moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia. While in Virginia, she was the associate pastor for worship,…
Conference minister reappointed for another term
In January the Ohio Conference Leadership Team reappointed Conference Minister Dick Barrett to another three-year term as conference minister. Interim Conference Moderator Paula Snyder Belousek said that the Leadership Team expressed a strong affirmation of Dick’s ministry and the excellent work he has done to build relationships and to stabilize the Conference after several years without a permanent conference minister.
Leadership Team makes statement on direction of Conference
One of the agenda items at winter cluster meetings is a statement from the Ohio Conference Leadership Team regarding the future direction of the Conference. A copy of this statement is available here: 2022-01-18 L.T. Statement to delegates at Winter Cluster Meetings.
Delegate News — Winter 2022
Winter cluster meeting dates set Ohio Conference is planning five winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly, beginning this week. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Locations are as follows: Jan. 18 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty Jan. 27 — Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron Feb. 1 — Tedrow Mennonite Church, Wauseon…