News
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…
Giving increases in June
Giving to the Ohio Conference was slightly greater than expenses during June, according to figures supplied by Finance Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for June totaled $24,751, while expenses for the month totaled $24,349. The resulting surplus of $402 for the month helped to improve the operating balance for the first three months of the Conference fiscal year. As of June…
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…
Cliff Brubaker joins Ohio Conference as regional pastor
Cliff Brubaker has accepted a call from the Ohio Conference Leadership Team to serve as a regional pastor for the western part of the conference, beginning April 1. This half-time assignment is for a one-year interim period. A resident of Hillsdale, Mich., Brubaker has a long history of ministry in the Ohio Conference. He was pastor of Salem Mennonite Church…
Conference to begin Year of Mission
By Jacob Dodson Pastor, Wooster Mennonite Church Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA exists to nurture healthy congregations in worship, faith and witness. One of the best ways for the Conference to fulfill this purpose is by engaging in a Year of Mission in 2016-17. During this year the Conference will encourage members of local congregations to do mission in…
‘Becoming Missional’ training session to precede Annual Conference Assembly
Coming in March: This year before Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) you have the opportunity to grow in your knowledge and passion for God’s mission right in your own neighborhood. On Thursday and Friday, March 10-11, immediately prior to the start of ACA, Brad Brisco and Lance Ford of Forge Network will lead a training workshop focusing on how we can…
Central Mennonite to host ACA
Central Mennonite Church in Archbold will host the 2016 Ohio Conference Annual Conference Assembly (ACA), which will take place March 11-12. “Holy Ground: Founded on Christ, Flourishing in Faith,” based on I Corinthians 3:6-11, will be the theme of this year’s Assembly. This year ACA will be preceded by a special training session led by Brad Brisco and Lance Ford…
Everence members help with Affordable Christmas Project
KIDRON, Ohio – Members of Everence Financial in Northeast Ohio recently purchased and donated children’s gifts to support the Affordable Christmas Project at Lighthouse Ministries in Canton. Gifts were collected throughout November at Everence Financial offices in Kidron and Hartville, and Everence staff delivered the presents to Lighthouse Ministries. The Affordable Christmas project is an annual event that makes it…
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…
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…
Joy and Reflection at Pastor/Spouse Retreat
Pastors and their spouses experienced times of fun and personal reflection at the 2015 Pastor Spouse Retreat which was held at Mohican State Park.
Salem receives National Clergy Renewal Grant
Salem Mennonite Church in Elida has received a grant of $50,000 to enable its pastor, Paula Snyder Belousek, to participate in the 2015 National Clergy Renewal Program. Salem Mennonite is one of 144 congregations across the country selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis,…
Leadership Team works on next steps
On Sept. 23, 2015, the Ohio Conference Leadership Team met with a full agenda. The Leadership Team discussed the Sept. 2 All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting which was held in Bellville, Ohio, and the review of the Five-Year Plan which had been submitted by Myron Weaver, Paula Snyder Belousek, Wes Graber and Doug Zehr. At the Sept. 2 All-Ohio Conference Pastors’ Meeting,…
Pastors meet for trust building, give recommendations
Pastors representing 53 churches in the Ohio Conference met at Bellville, Ohio, to discuss their future recommendations relative to the relationship of the Ohio Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). Pastors were divided into table groups with table leaders who used a modified Circle Process. The Leadership Team facilitated the meeting in a process of trust building, listening and direction…
Transitional Conference Leader hired
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team interviewed potential candidates for the Transitional Conference Leader position on Aug. 7 and have hired George O’Reilly. George is currently ending a transitional pastorate at First Mennonite Church in Canton and will start full time with Ohio Conference on Sept. 1. George’s primary role will be to help the Leadership Team in listening, trust building…
Leadership Team interviews candidates
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team met Friday, Aug. 7, and interviewed two candidates for the position of transitional Conference Leader. The Leadership Team is now checking references and will have a conference call on Aug. 12. The staff and Leadership Team will meet for a farewell meal with Conference Minister Tom Kauffman and Regional Pastor Wanda Stopher on Aug. 17. Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford, Thomas Dunn,…
Celebrating 50 years of raising funds for MCC
The annual Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale was held July 31-Aug. 1 at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, Ohio. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this fundraising sale for Mennonite Central Committee, everyone in attendance on Saturday was invited to have a free piece of cake. Fundraising results from the weekend sale will be posted on the Ohio Mennonite…
Mennonite World Conference Concludes in Harrisburg, Pa.
Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania came to a close on Sunday, July 26. Many who attended reported hope and appreciation for seeing and hearing stories of God’s faithfulness from around the globe.
Don’t miss the 2015 Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale
The annual Ohio Relief Sale takes place the first Friday and Saturday of August every year. This year the sale begins Friday, July 31. At 4 p.m. Friday food is available and the booths are open; the evening program begins at 6:30 p.m. Then at 7 a.m. Saturday, breakfast is served. The 5K Run and Walk start at 8 a.m.…
Ohio Mennonite Conference unveils new website
Ohio Mennonite Conference unveiled a new website on Friday. The Conference enlisted the help of web designer/developer Greg Yoder and has been working with him over the past few months to give the website a much-needed update. The goal of the redesign is to provide an easier and more intuitive way to access news and information from around the Conference,…
Tom Kauffman accepts call from N.M. congregation
Conference Minister Tom Kauffman has accepted a call to a new pastoral position in Albuquerque, N.M. He will be serving as transitional pastor for the Albuquerque Mennonite Church, starting during the month of September 2015. He will conclude his work as conference minister for the Ohio Conference on Aug. 31, 2015. The following is an excerpt from Tom Kauffman’s letter…
Sisters to share at OMW Retreat
“Where’s the Pause Button? Making Space for God in Every- day Life” will be the theme of the Ohio Mennonite Women’s Retreat Sept. 18-20 at Camp Luz in Kidron. In our busy lives, sometimes finding time to connect with God can feel like just one more thing on a long “to do” list. And when we do carve out some…
New pastors learn about Conference
Five of the new pastors serving Ohio Conference congregations, along with their spouses, took part in the New Pastor Orientation June 7-8. Sixteen new pastors and their spouses were invited, but only five couples were able to participate. The two-day orientation began with an overnight stay at the Comfort Inn in Berlin. Following breakfast the next morning, Regional Pastor Ralph…
Leadership Team plans for transition
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team is making plans for a transition in Conference staffing. On June 21 Regional Pastor Wanda Stopher informed the Leadership Team that she is a candidate for the role of lead pastor of First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. She anticipates ending her work with Ohio Conference effective Aug. 31, 2015. In recognition of Wanda’s resignation and…
Aug. 17 deadline for Ministry Grants
Is your congregation looking for ways to fund a ministry that impacts your community? Aug. 17 is the deadline to submit a grant proposal to the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT). For the fourth year in a row, the MDT is accepting proposals from Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. This year the MDT has…
Transitional Leader Search
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team will be accepting applications until Aug. 1 for the position of transitional conference leader. Please see the job description (PDF) for details. If you have interest in this position, please submit your name to the Ohio Conference Office using the form below. If you are applying and your MLI (Ministerial Leadership Information form) is not…