News
Immigration event to include care kit assembly
You’re invited to share God’s love and give your support to immigrant detainees on our southern border. Open Arms Hispanic Ministries invites you to come Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. for an immigration information update and MCC Immigration Detainee Care Kit assembly at Orrville Mennonite Church, 1305 W. Market St., Orrville. A representative from Mennonite Central Committee will provide…
Developing leaders is a ‘Journey’
Ohio Conference is partnering with Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, to provide a part-time long-distance leadership development program. Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program is a three-year certificate program designed for people exploring a call to ministry. The program is also for pastors and other congregational leaders who have already been called to serve but who lack…
Credentialed ministers to meet Sept. 12
Credentialed ministers in Ohio Conference will gather Thursday, Sept. 12, to continue their discussion and connect with one another. This meeting will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the library in Upper Sandusky. Everyone attending should plan to bring their own coffee (if needed) and lunch. Light refreshments will be provided. All credentialed leaders are asked to…
Regional pastor sought for western Ohio
Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA is seeking a part-time (50 percent) Regional Pastor for the western region of the state beginning in September. The individual will primarily serve as pastor to the pastors and as a liaison between the Conference and congregations. Previous pastoral experience required. Women and men from all cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For a full job description consult: http://bit.ly/OCRegionalPastorWest.…
Cliff Brubaker to end his term as regional pastor on Sept. 13
It was with considerable sadness but also with a clear sense of direction that Cliff Brubaker recently submitted his notice of resignation from serving as a regional pastor of Ohio Conference, effective Sept. 13, 2019. In his notice Cliff shared, “I count it an honor to have served the Ohio Conference for these 3+ years. This stretch of time in…
Pine Grove’s closing service marks 70 years of ministry
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister On June 9 Pine Grove Mennonite Church, just outside of Stryker, Ohio, held its last worship service. It was a time of both grief and celebration. Many recent and former members shared memories of God’s faithfulness during the congregation’s 70 years of ministry in the community. Pastors Gary and Sandy Stuckey led the service with…
Conference begins 2019-20 with a deficit
Ohio Conference is beginning its 2019-20 fiscal year with a deficit, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month of April totaled just $13,253, including $12,305 in giving from congregations. Expenses for the month totaled $27,705, resulting in an operating balance of -$14,452 for the month. Even so, expenses were well below the amount budgeted…
Former OC missional consultant to develop new ministry program at Hesston
Hesston College has hired Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, who formerly served on the pastoral team at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, as the director for a new ministry program that will begin in development stages this spring. The new ministry program will provide Anabaptist theology and nurture missional leadership for pastors and other church leaders in a distance-based format. It comes as…
Pastor-Spouse Retreat planned for Nov. 15-17
Ohio Conference will hold a Pastor-Spouse Retreat Nov. 15-17 at the Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The theme of the retreat will be “Rest. Rejuvenate. Reconnect.” Because of the number of rooms available at this venue, the retreat is limited to the first 22 couples who register. For more information, please see the 2019 Pastor-Spouse Retreat brochure. To…
Pine Grove Mennonite Church to close June 9
Recently the Pine Grove congregation in Stryker, Ohio, discerned God’s will that it was time to close the church after 70 years of faithful ministry in its community. A final worship service marking the closing and celebrating God’s faithfulness over the 70 years will be held Sunday, June 9. Please keep the congregation and its pastors, Gary and Sandy Stuckey,…
Remembering Bob Sauder
It is with deep sadness that Ohio Conference of MC USA announces the sudden passing of its Conference moderator, Robert “Bob” Sauder, on Tuesday, April 9. Bob had served as Conference moderator for the past three years. Visitation and funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation will be held Friday, April 12, 2019, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to…
Berlin to host Healthy Congregations Workshop
Berlin Mennonite Church will host a Healthy Congregations Workshop April 5-6. Bill Blank, associate director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, will lead the workshop. This workshop is designed for pastors, church staff, lay leaders and congregation members. Participants will learn how they can influence the health of their congregations, and how to detect and avoid unhealthy patterns of living…
Salem congregation moves into new building
Two and a half years after breaking ground for a new church building, the Salem Mennonite Church congregation in Waldron, Michigan, has begun worshipping in its new facility. The first worship service in the new building took place on Sunday, Dec. 9. On that day, the congregation met in the lobby of the old church building and marched out together,…
MC USA News Service features Ohio Conference
A new feature article from the Mennonite Church USA News Service looks at the recent history of the Ohio Conference and explores the renewed sense of hopefulness in the Conference. You can find this article at http://bit.ly/OhioConferenceHopefulness.
Everence program benefits Ohio Conference
In January the Ohio Conference received a check for $747.24 from Everence Federal Credit Union as part of its MyNeighbor credit card program. With the MyNeighbor program, individuals and businesses generate reward dollars for their favorite nonprofits every time they use their MyNeighbor credit cards from Everence. Everence donates 1.5 percent of each purchase to the card user’s chosen nonprofit…
Credentialed ministers’ meeting set for Feb. 12
Credentialed ministers in Ohio Conference will gather again Tuesday, Feb. 12, to continue their discussion and connect with one another before Annual Conference Assembly in March. This meeting will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library in Upper Sandusky. Everyone attending should plan to bring their coffee (if needed) and lunch. Light refreshments will be provided.…
Giving increases during December
Giving to Ohio Conference increased greatly during December, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. In fact, the amount received in December was more than double the amount received in any other month of the current fiscal year. (See the chart below for details.) Receipts for December totaled $60,171. Of that amount, $41,174 came from congregational giving. During…
Credentialed leaders meet in Upper Sandusky
What does it mean when we say, “Jesus is our Center”? Thirty-six credentialed leaders from across the Ohio Conference came together to discuss that question on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting. The pastors and other credentialed leaders met for a day of discussion and relationship-building at the Upper Sandusky Library in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Since 2015,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Missional Network training begins
How can we live as missionaries in our own communities, sharing the Good News with those we meet and discipling people who are already in our lives? And how does that mindset differ from the “church as usual” model that many of our congregations currently use? Participants in the Ohio Conference Missional Network are beginning to consider the details of…
Berean Fellowship Church hands the baton to another congregation
The members of Berean Fellowship Church have decided to close the congregation after more than 50 years of ministry in Youngstown. The congregation was founded in 1961. The congregation held a closing worship service on Sunday afternoon, July 1. During the worship service, Pastor Samuel Olarewaju talked about how the congregation decided to close and sell the building to another…
Missional consultant to move out of state
July 2, 2018 Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg’s Resignation Announcement Dear Ohio Conference, On Sunday, July 1, I announced my resignation from Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, effective Oct. 1. My husband is purchasing a business and will be moving out of state soon. The children and I will be moving at Christmas break. (We are unable to say more at this time.)…
Conference operating deficit continues
Ohio Conference’s expenses were greater than receipts during May, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Expenses for the month were $27,878, while receipts totaled just $21,455, resulting in an operating balance of -$6,423 for the month. For the first two months of the fiscal year, the Conference’s operating balance stands at -$18,111.
Chestnut Ridge shares memories at closing service
Members of Chestnut Ridge Mennonite Church in Orrville gathered Sunday morning, June 3, to hold a final worship service in the Chestnut Ridge church building. Those attending shared many memories of the congregation’s life, and several people mentioned the support that the congregation gave to other ministries, including the way that Chestnut Ridge supported the founding of Dayspring Christian Fellowship.…
Training begins for Missional Network
The Ohio Conference Missional Network is beginning this summer. Ohio Conference Missional Consultant Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg is conducting an initial training session for participating congregations. This training session will be offered on four dates in June and July. Participants are encouraged to choose the date which best fits their schedule: June 24 — 6-9 p.m., First Mennonite Church, Canton June 26 — 9:30…