Ohio Conference Cast
A Day in the Life of Ralph
One of the main tasks of an Ohio Conference regional pastor is to serve as a pastor to pastors, but what does that phrase actually mean? And what else does the job entail? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, co-hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford about his work with Ohio Conference — the…
A Vibrant, Disciple-making, Good News Conference
How do we translate the Gospel to our context? Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, who is volunteering as Ohio Conference’s missional consultant, is working to help Ohio Conference consider this question. She has a vision for the Conference to become a vibrant, disciple-making good news conference. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, Bill Seymour and his guest co-host, Jamie Rye, the pastor…
The search is on
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn discuss the search for a new half-time conference minister with Jeff Hochstetler, a member of the search committee. Jeff describes the type of person the search committee is seeking and talks about some of the expectations for this position. Since this episode of Ohio Conference Cast…
Jessica talks about missional VBS (and pigs)
Sometimes, to engage others missionally we need to let go of things that we cherish. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, pastor of Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, about Zion’s experience with reinventing Vacation Bible School this summer. The story includes the local swimming pool, vending machines, the park,…
Missional Work Camp — You can do this!
Many church youth groups go on summer service trips, but this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast features something different — a summer work camp in the local community. Instead of traveling to a far-off location to serve, youth and adults at Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City use the church building as a home base for the week and spend…
Make disciples. Seriously. Here’s one way how.
The Missional Discipleship Initiative is coming to the Ohio Conference! The Conference is partnering with Mennonite Mission Network to offer the Missional Discipleship Initiative (MDI) to congregations, starting this fall. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Jacob Dodson talk about MDI with Mennonite Mission Network staff members Marvin Lorenzana and Karla Minter, as well…
Ohio Conference Cast features Orlando podcasts
The Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando (July 4-8) was a busy time full of discussion, workshops and worship. But for one person, Bill Seymour, host of the Ohio Conference Cast, the week was even busier. In between all the other convention activities, Bill and several co-hosts interviewed people participating in the convention as part of the Ohio Conference Cast…
Ohio Conference Cast Orlando – Young adults share their reflections
In this final podcast from the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando, host Bill Seymour talks to Jared Chase, youth pastor at Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City, and four post-high young adults from Sharon Mennonite: Mandy Miller, Emily Miller, Josh Yoder and Megan Colwell. These young adults reflect on their convention experience and share their hopes for Mennonite Church USA. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17_07_07_PlainCity_Submitted_00.mp3Podcast: Play in…
Ohio Conference Cast Orlando – Doctrine of Discovery, or “Hey! It’s Ted Swartz!”
What exactly is the Doctrine of Discovery, and how has it shaped North American culture and society? Ohio Conference Cast host Bill Seymour and his guest co-host, Jeff Hochstetler, talk with Ted Swartz and Alison Brookins about Ted & Company’s new play about the Doctrine of Discovery called Discovery: A Comic Lament. Also participating in the discussion is Peace Lab Podcast* host…
Ohio Conference Cast in Orlando – Delegates reflect on first sessions
Following a very busy day at the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando, Ohio Conference Cast host Bill Seymour talks with three delegates to the convention — Danae King, Charles Bontrager and Leanna Teodosio. They reflect on the first delegate session, which focused on a resolution about seeking peace in Israel and Palestine. They also give their impressions of the first session of…
Who are the Dones, and why do we care?
Why do some people describe themselves as “done” with the church, even if they haven’t given up on their faith? This episode of the Ohio Conference Cast is the first in a series of podcasts from the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando, Florida. Host Bill Seymour and guest co-host Jamie Rye, pastor of Millersburg Mennonite Church, talk with Dr. Josh…
Interview with Ervin Stutzman
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, has a challenge for the Ohio Conference: “Stretch yourself a bit by hanging around with people sometimes who have a different perspective than you. You don’t have to be like them. You don’t have to make your church like theirs, but expect that there’ll…
Coming soon: Ohio Conference Cast, Orlando edition
Ohio Conference Cast is going on the road. We will be podcasting from Orlando each night of the MC USA Convention, which means, if all goes according to plan, a new podcast will be available each morning from Wednesday, July 5, through Sunday, July 9. This is only possible because we have terrific support people. Norm Sohar is the reason…
What does it mean for Ohio Conference to be Gathered and Sent?
In this episode of Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker about Gathered and Sent, a new focus which brings together the work of two previous initiatives, the Year of Mission and the Year of Covenant. Cliff describes what planners are envisioning for both the “Gathered” and “Sent” parts of this process. Hint:…
Learning more about The Mennonite
What exactly is the relationship between Mennonite Church USA and The Mennonite? In the latest episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour explore that question with Hannah Heinzekehr, executive director of The Mennonite Inc. During the podcast, they also learn more about the online presence of The Mennonite, and they hear a bit about Hannah’s…
Talking with Terry Shue
Hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Terry Shue, director of leadership development for Mennonite Church USA, about a wide range of topics in this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast. They talk about the upcoming retirement of Mennonite Church USA Executive Director Ervin Stutzman, and they learn about the Future Church Summit, which will take place at the…
Kingdom Living Amidst Political Divisiveness
Hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour chat with Sean Swanson, pastor of First Mennonite Church in Canton, in this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast. They learn a bit more about Sean, who is one of the newer pastors in Ohio Conference, and talk with him about a group from First Mennonite which engaged with some of their neighbors to…
What happened at CLC this time?
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk to Ohio Conference’s representatives to the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC), Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, Ralph Reinford, and Bob Sauder. They discuss what happened at the March meeting of the CLC and they preview the Future Church Summit, which will take place at the denominational convention in Orlando…
ACA wrap-up – Hope for the future
“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s exciting work.” So says co-host Thomas Dunn in this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast. Thomas and his co-host, Bill Seymour, take a few minutes to reflect on happenings at the 2017 Ohio Conference Annual Conference Assembly (ACA). They talk about ACA with someone fairly new to Ohio…
Talking with Alan and Debra Hirsch
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Alan and Debra Hirsch, the presenters at Ohio Conference’s missional conference. They discuss broadening our understanding of ministry roles, bi-vocational ministry, the future of the church and the Hirsches’ impression of the people they have met in the Ohio Conference. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/12_03_24_Alan_Debra_Hirsh_Submitted-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window…
Missional Conference Musings from Joel Shenk, Hannah Troyer, and Karla Minter
Ohio Conference Cast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with three participants of the Ohio Conference’s missional conference featuring Alan and Debra Hirsch. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tom-and-Bill-hear-from-Hannah-and-Karla-and-Joel-final.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
A good neighbor
The Ohio Conference Cast is continuing to highlight stories of congregations engaged in mission in their local settings. In this podcast episode, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Craig Strasbaugh and Kris Nussbaum of Kidron Mennonite Church about the blessings and challenges of ministry in a local trailer park. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Kidron_Nussbaum_Final_01-1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
How to process difficult decisions
How can congregations work through difficult issues together? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with pastor Doug King of Tedrow Mennonite Church and congregation member Lynn Miller. They learn about the process Tedrow Mennonite has used to work with questions about affiliation. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/17_02_22_Tedrow_Working_02.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Dollars, Donuts, and Milk – Missional Stories from the Northwest
In this episode, Ohio Conference Cast hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour travel to a regional meeting in Northwest Ohio at Tedrow Mennonite Church. They hear stories of mission from members of three congregations — Salem Mennonite in Elida, Lockport Mennonite in Stryker and Central Mennonite in Archbold. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/NW-Regional-Gathering-Podcast-Final.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
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://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-02-15-13.34-Stewardship-Ministry-Team-meeting_01.mp3Podcast: Play…
Jessica breaks things
Back in a November podcast, Ohio Conference Cast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn learned that one Ohio Conference pastor, Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, had addressed the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) of Mennonite Church USA.* Jessica spoke to the CLC as one of four co-authors of a paper titled “An Appeal for Healing and Hope for the Future of Mennonite Church USA…
Cliff Brubaker reports on his conversations with congregations
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn check back in with Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker to get an update on his conversations with church leaders from around the Conference. Cliff also talks about the Feb. 2 meeting for pastors. Improving relationships is an important goal of both of these endeavors. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Cliff-Brubaker-Second-Interview.mp3Podcast:…
How does Ohio Conference work?
Podcast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn are giving listeners something special in the Christmas edition of the Ohio Conference Cast — the chance to win a $25 gift card. To learn more about the contest, listen to this podcast episode, titled “How does Ohio Conference work?” All entries are due by Thursday, Jan. 5. Send your contest entry to…
What happens at the Constituency Leaders Council?
Twice a year representatives from each conference in Mennonite Church USA meet as the Constituency Leaders Council, also known as the CLC. But what actually happens when this group of about 70 people gets together? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk to Ohio Conference Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford about the latest…
What does being “missional” mean?
This year in Ohio Conference the word “missional” is being used A LOT. In this podcast Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn interview Jacob Dodson to discuss what being missional actually means and what the implications could be for our individual congregations and for Ohio Conference. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Jacob-Dodson-Interview-2.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS