Leadership Team
OC Leadership Team would like to hear from you
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team has begun a process designed to call a person to serve the Conference as a half-time Missional Leader. The first steps are to gather feedback to help shape this new position and to solicit names of potential candidates for this position. The Leadership Team has sent a brief online survey to Ohio Conference pastors and…
OC leadership pays tribute to Naomi Engle
By Bob Sauder On behalf of the Ohio Conference Leadership Team Naomi Engle, Credentialing Ministry Chairperson and a member of the Leadership Team of the Ohio Conference, went to her heavenly home on Jan. 1. At the beginning of their meeting on Jan. 21, the Ohio Conference Leadership Team spent some time remembering who she was, what she brought to…
Gathered and Sent initiative begins
Ohio Conference will merge the focus of the two initiatives of the past year (Year of Covenant and Year of Mission) into one. The combined initiative will be called “Gathered and Sent.” A longer version could be, “Gathered in Covenant, Sent in Mission.” The “Sent” part of “Gathered and Sent” will provide us with resources, tools, training and support to…
Direction statement affirmed
Delegates at the 2017 Annual Conference Assembly affirmed the following direction statement proposed by the Ohio Conference Leadership Team: Setting Direction for the Next Chapter of the Ohio Conference As we prayerfully consider God’s leading into the future, we commit ourselves to the following: We will continue our affiliation with Mennonite Church USA. Three changes would trigger a review of…
Cliff Brubaker takes on new assignment
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team has agreed to employ Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker for a special half-time assignment beginning in April. Since September 2016 Brubaker has been serving half time as regional pastor and half time with the Year of Covenant process and focusing on trust-building between congregations and the Conference. That second half-time position concluded at the end of…
Delegates affirm direction statement
Delegates overwhelmingly affirmed a direction statement presented by the Ohio Conference Leadership Team at the 2017 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) of the Ohio Conference. Those gathered at Central Christian School in Kidron on March 24-25 numbered 217, including delegates from 46 congregations. Ninety-three percent of delegates affirmed the Leadership Team’s direction statement for Ohio Conference. Vote totals were as follows:…
Where are we going next?
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour discuss the Leadership Team’s proposed direction for Ohio Conference, which includes a strong focus on mission. Delegates will be learning about this statement at regional meetings. Joining Thomas and Bill for this discussion are members of the Ohio Conference Leadership Team and Stewardship Ministry. https://ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-02-15-13.34-Stewardship-Ministry-Team-meeting_01.mp3Podcast: Play…
Remembering Naomi Engle: A tribute
By Regina Wenger Naomi sang. Her voice exhibited confidence and a rich tonality. It was the first thing I noticed when Naomi and I sang together in choir. We were both second sopranos, but it was clear which one of us was the superior vocalist. I’ve always had to work to distinguish harmonies, whereas Naomi exhibited a well-practiced ease at…
Task force wants to hear from you
At Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) 2016 the delegate body affirmed an Ohio Conference “Statement on Remaining with MC USA.” One key element of this statement was that Ohio Conference would “remain a part of MC USA in order to articulate to the denomination our perceptions of differences in doctrine and practice.” The Ohio Conference Leadership Team…
Group to continue Year of Covenant process
George O’Reilly, who has served the Ohio Conference as transitional conference leader and more recently as the Year of Covenant facilitator, has taken a full-time position as one of the pastors at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. He will continue his work on the Year of Covenant on a one-quarter-time salary through September. He is working on composing a group…
Conference prayer session set for Jan. 28
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is committed to focusing on prayer for the Conference. As part of this emphasis on prayer, the Leadership Team has planned a “GoToMeeting Prayer Session” for Thursday, Jan. 28, from noon to 12:45 p.m. EST. Everyone is invited to join the Leadership Team in prayer at that time. If you would like to join the…
Prayer session is planned for Dec. 17
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is committed to focusing on prayer for the Conference. (See the Leadership Team’s statement for additional information.) As part of this emphasis on prayer, the Leadership Team has planned a “GoToMeeting Prayer Session” for Thursday, Dec. 17, from 12 noon to 1p.m. EST. Everyone is invited to join the Leadership Team in prayer at that…
People or Paper
December 2015 How do we decide whether to honor the contracts we have? In our daily lives, we decide whether to honor our contracts with the ambitions we have for work, our expectations to provide for our children, a commitment to serve on a committee, planning for our education or for our retirement, etc. Time and funds are limited, and we have to make choices. As a Leadership…
Leadership Team reflects on year so far, commits to focus on prayer
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team met on Tuesday, Nov. 17. As a conference we are about three quarters of the way through our calendar year, and Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) begins to appear closer on the horizon. In the months since the last ACA, LT has attempted to work faithfully to lead and to listen to Ohio Conference. At the Nov. 17 meeting…