Mennonite Church USA
Anabaptist World reports on MC USA delegate assembly
On July 7 Mennonite Church USA delegates narrowly rejected a recommendation to lengthen the delegate assembly cycle from two years to three. See the report from Anabaptist World for more details about the 2023 delegate assembly: https://bit.ly/DelegateAssembly2023Report.
MC USA to continue abuse prevention work
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA has named Nancy Kauffmann, former board president of Dove’s Nest and longtime Mennonite church leader, as the interim denominational minister of Church Safety for MC USA’s Church Vitality office, effective June 26, 2023. This new position was created so that the denomination could address the need for continued abuse education and…
MC USA Executive Board peace and justice ministries to include Mennonite Creation Care Network
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Executive Board is strengthening its ongoing commitment to creation care and climate justice by expanding its Peace & Justice ministries to include Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN). The transition is the result of a mutual agreement with Everence®, an agency of MC USA that has previously provided administrative services…
MC USA delegate to consider three resolutions
The Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Executive Board met in Los Angeles April 13-14, 2023. The board voted to forward three proposed organizational resolutions to the Delegate Assembly, including one that recommends shifting the Delegate Assembly to a three-year, or triennial, cycle. See a full report on the MC USA website: https://bit.ly/4-23ExecutiveBoardMeeting.
MennoCon23 registration has begun
Online registration is open for MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s (MC USA) leading faith formation event, at the Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center, July 3-6, 2023. Registration is also open for the Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, and the Delegate Assembly, July 7-8. Please see the MC USA website for more information and a registration link: https://bit.ly/MennoCon23Registration. The…
MC USA shares new resolutions process
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Executive Board staff has posted new “Guidelines for Developing Organizational Resolutions and Church Statements in Mennonite Church USA” on the MC USA website: https://bit.ly/2022DevelopingResolutions. The guidelines are effective immediately and apply to proposed organizational resolutions or church statements submitted for consideration by the 2023 Delegate Assembly (Kansas City, Missouri, July…
Initiative focuses on mass incarceration
Elkhart, Indiana — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has launched “Learn, Pray, Join: Mass Incarceration,” an initiative to raise awareness about the injustices in our criminal legal system that cause pain and suffering, especially for poor people and people of color. For more information, see https://bit.ly/LPJMassIncarceration.
MC USA webinar recording available
Mennonite Church USA recently held a webinar titled “Special Session of the Delegate Assembly: What now?” A recording of this webinar is available online at https://bit.ly/WhatNowWebinarRecording.
Ohio Conference Cast Update
Ohio Conference Cast returns! In this episode Jacob Dodson and Thomas Dunn share ideas for the podcast in a new season, announce a number of upcoming Ohio Conference events, and reflect on the recent gathering of Ohio Conference pastors and credentialed leaders in Plain City. Thomas says, “I think Ohio Conference is at its best when we are listening to…
MC USA invites applications for Justice Fund grants
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is seeking applicants for its Justice Fund grants. The Justice Fund supports MC USA congregations that are working to combat poverty, dismantle racism, address immigration reform or reimagine policing. For more information, see the MC USA website: https://bit.ly/2022JusticeFundGrants.
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…
MC USA webinar to discuss ‘what now?’
What do the decisions made at the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Special Delegate Assembly mean for conferences, congregations and individuals? MC USA will hold a webinar titled “Special Session of the Delegate Assembly: What Now?” on July 18 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This webinar will be hosted by MC USA Executive Director Glen Guyton, assisted by Linda Dibble,…
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…
MC USA launches Welcoming EveryBODY initiative
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), in partnership with Anabaptist Disabilities Network, has launched “Learn, Pray, Join: Welcoming EveryBODY,” an initiative that celebrates the many gifts that people with disabilities bring to our church communities. During May and June, MC USA will seek to engage people in this initiative by offering resources, prayers and ways…
Please join us in prayer
Times of Prayer and Fasting for Ohio Conference’s Year of Review and the MC USA Delegate Assembly As we have recently begun our Year of Review working with a process consultant and with the upcoming Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly scheduled for May 27-30, 2022, it is very important that we are grounded in the spiritual disciplines as we try…
Prayer requested for delegate assembly
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has created a prayer guide and a sign up for congregations to commit to pray for the denomination’s special delegate session, which will be held May 27-30 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The prayer guide, “One Body, One Church,” is written by Leo Hartshorn. A copy is available here: 2022-Delegate-Assembly-Prayer-Guide. This guide is designed for use by all delegates, congregations, and individuals during the special delegate session May 27-30.
MC USA is inviting all congregations to commit to praying for the delegate assembly. To make this commitment, complete the form found at https://mcusa.formstack.com/forms/call_to_prayer_and_fasting.
For more information about the special delegate session, see https://bit.ly/2022SpecialDelegateSession.
MC USA to host online call to prayer
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is hosting an online call to prayer and fasting for the upcoming special delegate session, which will take place May 27-30 in Kansas City, Missouri. This online gathering will take place May 2 at 7 p.m. For more information and to register, go to https://bit.ly/May2CalltoPrayer.
Mennonite Church USA releases guidelines for Special Session of Delegate Assembly
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has released guidelines for allowable actions and procedures during its Special Session of the Delegate Assembly, May 27-30 in Kansas City, Missouri. According to the guidelines, delegates must submit suggested amendments to the proposed resolutions by Monday, May 6. For a full news release about the guidelines, please see https://bit.ly/MCUSASpecialSession.
Bible study series explores diversity
Mennonite Church USA has produced “Diversity: God’s Design,” a new four-week Bible study aimed at young adults (but appropriate for intergenerational audiences) that celebrates diversity and intercultural competence. “Diversity: God’s Design” features voices from across the Mennonite church who share biblical narratives and personal experiences that invite participants to explore how and why they should join the journey of celebrating…
MC USA webinars offer preparation for delegates
Mennonite Church USA is hosting a series of educational webinars to prepare delegates and their conferences/congregations for the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly, May 27-30, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. All webinars will be recorded and available on the delegate resource page: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/special-delegate-session-22. Please see the delegate resource page for more information.
Retreat center offers respite for pastors
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has formalized a relationship with the Kineo Center, a newly developed ecumenical Christian retreat center in Puerto Rico, to help MC USA pastors experiencing burnout. See the news release from MC USA for more information: https://bit.ly/MCUSA-KineoCenter.
Resources for Special Delegate Assembly are online
Online resources related to the Mennonite Church USA Special Delegate Assembly in Kansas City, Missouri, May 27-30 are available at https://bit.ly/May2022AssemblyResources.
Transformation is theme of blog post
“As I look at the ways in which I have been transformed, it is always a result of who I am close to.” Thomas Dunn, co-pastor of Crown Hill Mennonite Church in Rittman and member of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board, reflects on the theme “Be Transformed” in a blog post for Mennonite Church USA: http://ow.ly/8r4m50GVQey.
Webinar to discuss upcoming delegate assembly
Register today! Join Michael Danner, Mennonite Church USA associate executive director of church vitality, on Monday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. for the first in a series of webinars to help conferences and congregations prepare for the 2022 Delegate Assembly (May 27-30, Kansas City, Missouri). He will provide an overview of MC USA’s structure and decision-making, including conversation about how…
Mennonite Church USA seeks communications staffers
Mennonite Church USA is seeking a full-time multimedia news editor and a full-time marketing, communications and engagement associate. See the announcements below for more information: Mennonite Church USA is seeking a full-time marketing communications and engagement associate to assist in all levels of project execution, including research, coordination of online and in-person events, handling constituent inquiries, writing, production, newsletter/collateral distribution and analytics/reporting. This…
MEA suspends executive director search, pursues collaboration with MC USA Executive Board
ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Education Agency, Mennonite Church USA) — The Board of Directors of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) has suspended its six-month search for an executive director to pursue a possible leadership collaboration with the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Executive Board, according to Dick Thomas, MEA board chair. MEA is an agency of MC USA. MEA has a history…
Proposed revisions for MC USA bylaws are now online
This year’s delegate assembly for Mennonite Church USA will take place online on Saturday, July 10, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. EDT. Information about this meeting is now available on the Mennonite Church USA website: http://bit.ly/MennoCon21DelegateResources. Included is a copy of the proposed revisions to the Mennonite Church USA bylaws, as well as the schedule for the delegate assembly and…
Registration is open for MennoCon21
Registration is open for MennoCon21, which will take place July 6-10, both online and in Cincinnati, Ohio. An early bird discount is available through April 30. See https://convention.mennoniteusa.org/registration/ for more information.
Newsletter includes info about MennoCon21
Wondering about this summer’s denominational convention? The latest MennoCon21 Newsletter includes information about this year’s convention, which will be a hybrid event with an in-person gathering in Cincinnati as well as an online option. The online experience will use a virtual event platform called Pheedloop, which is specially designed for conferences. Registration for MennoCon21 opens April 6. See the MennoCon21 Newsletter…
Conference holds first virtual Assembly
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio Conference held its 2021 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) virtually rather than in person. On March 6 delegates from all around the Conference met on Zoom for business sessions and worship. One hundred thirty-three people registered for ACA, including 122 delegates from 32 congregations. Day includes worship In addition to business sessions, the online annual…