Peacemaking representatives from Ohio Conference sought

On Tuesday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., just prior to the start of the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, there will be a gathering of peacemakers from across the denomination. The gathering planners are looking for two or three representatives from each conference. If you are planning on attending the convention, have a passion…

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Register now for Peacebuilding Institute courses

The 2019 Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, starts in less than one month. Space is still available for additional participants in many of the courses being offered. Matching and partial scholarships are still available, as well as organizational discounts for organizations that send three or more people to SPI. For more information about SPI, please see the…

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The Mennonite seeks submissions about congregational peace witness

The Mennonite Inc. invites your original submissions for the June 2019 print magazine issue and corresponding online content focusing on the theme “Congregational peace witness.” Submissions are due to Editor@TheMennonite no later than May 3. For more details, please see  http://bit.ly/TheMennoniteJune2019.

MCC plans Peace Camp for young adults

Coming this summer: Peace Camp. Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes is offering a week-long Peace Camp at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan, July 21-26. This experience is for young adults ages 18-22 who are interested in learning about a biblical approach to peace and justice. During Peace Camp, young adults will explore the theme of “Responding to Violence” through hands-on…

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Bluffton peace lecture to tell story of MJ Sharp

BLUFFTON, Ohio — John E. Sharp will present “Changing the World One Life at a Time: The MJ Sharp Story” at 11 a.m. on March 26 in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. Sharp will reflect on the life of his son MJ Sharp who died in his prime as a peacebuilder in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On March…

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Spread the Peace Grants available

To encourage congregations and conferences to “spread the peace” in and beyond Mennonite Church USA, the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA has small start-up grants available. Grants of $1,000 are given as Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) funding allows. These grants are intended to support congregational and conference peace initiatives. The goal is to distribute…

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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…

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God is doing a new thing in Central America

By Dan King Instead of a luxury cruise to some tropical paradise this year, consider an “Anabaptist Church Tour” in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras this fall. Charles Geiser will be leading this tour Oct. 19-30, and it will highlight what Anabaptist churches in the region are doing. Experience firsthand and up close how God’s Spirit is working among Anabaptist believers…

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Stories from Tanzania – seeking peace and dealing with difficult issues

“We have been praying for you [Mennonite Church USA],” says Bishop Amos Muhagachi, a leader in the Tanzanian Mennonite Church who is currently studying at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn talk with Bishop Amos Muhagachi about his experiences with seeking peace on the national level…

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Peacebuilding institute offers variety of courses

Registration is now open for the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. SPI 2018 offers two seven-day sessions and two five-day sessions, each with several courses running at the same time. Participants can take one course per session. Courses can be taken for professional skills training or academic credit. Courses are open to all people interested…

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Peace center offers conflict transformation training

You are invited to attend the one-day workshop Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches on Oct. 21 in Indianapolis, Ind. This workshop will focus on the biblical basis for conflict transformation, styles of responding to conflict, communication skills necessary to resolve conflict peacefully, strategies to prevent destructive conflict in churches, and a model for working at congregational decision-making in a win-win…

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MWC Peace Sunday worship materials are now available

Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is encouraging congregations to celebrate Peace Sunday on Sept. 24. The theme for Peace Sunday in 2017 is “A  Renewed Peace Church Builds Bridges.” This theme picks up on two elements. The first builds on the Renewal 2027 process which MWC has embarked on. Second, in light of the rising nationalisms around the world, which separates…

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Voices for Peace Tour coming to Ohio

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The Jewish and Palestinian Voices for Peace Tour, sponsored by Mennonite Church USA, is coming to Ohio in May with stops at three Ohio congregations. Dates and locations are as follows: May 7 — Columbus Mennonite Church, 9:30 a.m. May 8 — Lima Mennonite Church, 7 p.m. May 10 — Zion Mennonite Church, 6:30 p.m. At these programs Amy Shuster,…

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Grant supports event in Toledo

In August the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team awarded a grant to Toledo Mennonite Church and several partnering organizations to help sponsor a Guns into Garden Tools Event in Toledo. That event took place Oct. 29 at the University Church in Toledo. To see a video featuring this event, go to http://bit.ly/GunsintoGardenToolsToledo.

Spread the Peace grants available

To encourage congregations and conferences to “spread the peace” in and beyond Mennonite Church USA, the Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA has small start-up grants available. Grants of $1,000 are given as Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) funding allows. The goal is to distribute $5,000 annually. PJSN will accept applications through Dec. 31, 2016. For…

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Peace Center plans peacemaker’s pilgrimage

Richard Blackburn, executive director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, will be leading “A Peacemaker’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land” Jan. 11-22, 2017. Please see www.lmpeacecenter.org/events/a-peacemakers-pilgrimage-to-the-holy-land/ for more information. Credentialed pastors, please note:  Mennonite Church USA’s “Come and See Fund” will provide a minimum of a $500 scholarship for any credentialed MC USA leaders who join the pilgrimage. To apply…

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