News & Stories
Relief sale board releases preliminary results from 2022 sale
The Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale took place Aug. 5-6 in Wooster, Ohio. The preliminary total for funds raised at this year’s sale is $330,000, according to the treasurer for the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale Board.
Study guide focuses on accessibility
After the Mennonite Church USA Accessibility Resolution passed at a special delegate session in May 2022, Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) created a Study Guide for the MC USA Accessibility Resolution. This study guide was written for ADN by Joanne Gallardo, a conference minister of Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference of MC USA in Goshen, Indiana. The study guide is a resource for congregations to…
Online book study planned for fall
Elaine Enns, co-author of Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization, will be leading an online intensive book study this fall for the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition. This book encourages personal and collective work toward decolonization. It asks those of us who are settlers, immigrants and displaced peoples to do our own pre-work of integrating our ancestral…
MCC requests material resource donations
Mennonite Central Committee’s inventory of material resources is getting low. Needed items include comforters, soap and towels as well as dignity, hygiene, infant care, relief, school and sewing kits. Your donations will provide relief and a tangible sign of hope for people in difficult situations around the world. To get involved, please visit mcc.org/kits.
Column shares thoughts on words for worship
Darrin Snyder Belousek, a member of Salem Mennonite Church in Elida, shares thoughts about the words we use in worship in a recent “Menno Snapshots” column on the MC USA website. Read his column at https://bit.ly/WordsforWorshipColumn.
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.
Mentor/Mentee registration deadline is Aug. 16
Aug. 16 is the deadline to register for the Mentor/Mentee Retreat. This event, which is designed for newer pastors and their mentors, will take place Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin. Terry Shue will provide input, along with representatives from Ohio Conference. To register, go to https://bit.ly/2022Mentor-MenteeRetreat.
You’re invited to Dwell in the Word with us
As Ohio Conference enters into a period of review and discernment, Conference Minister Dick Barrett is inviting all members of Ohio Conference congregations to read through the entire New Testament. To download a copy of the scripture reading schedule, go to https://bit.ly/OCDwellingintheWord.
Ministry Grant proposals due Aug. 1
Last call: Aug. 1 is the deadline to submit a grant proposal for an Ohio Conference Ministry Grant. The Ministry Development Team (MDT) is accepting proposals from Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. The MDT has $15,225 available for grants this year. Learn more and apply online at http://bit.ly/MinistryGrants.
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…
Register for Mentor/Mentee Retreat by Aug. 16
Ohio Conference will hold a Mentor/Mentee Retreat for pastors on Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin. Terry Shue will provide input, along with representatives from Ohio Conference. Registration is due by Aug. 16. For more details, see the 2022 Mentor-Mentee Retreat flier.
Fall delegate gathering dates set
Please mark your calendar: Ohio Conference is planning five fall delegate gatherings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If a delegate from your congregation is unable to attend one of these meetings, the Conference is encouraging your congregation to send an alternate delegate. These delegate gatherings are a part of…
MWC Assembly 17 report and photos available
Mennonite World Conference’s Assembly 17 in Semarang, Indonesia, concluded on July 10. For a report on Assembly 17, see https://bit.ly/MWCAssembly17Report. An album of photos from Assembly 17 is available on Flickr: https://bit.ly/Assembly17Photos.
Workshop to focus on conflict transformation
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering a one-day workshop, “Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches.” This training event will be held in person in September and online in November. “Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches” will be offered in person on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, the same training will be…
MEA-affiliated schools seek staff members
Central Christian School in Kidron and a number of other schools affiliated with Mennonite Education Agency are seeking staff members. Please see https://bit.ly/MEAJobs7-7-22 for a listing of these job positions.
MCC raises $8.8 million for Ukraine relief work
Thanks to the donations of many individuals, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has raised $8.8 million to respond to the needs of the people of Ukraine. See MCC’s website for details: https://bit.ly/MCCUkraineDonations.
CommonWord offers tutorial video with tips for using its website
CommonWord now has a brief video tutorial designed to help you browse its collection of resources more easily. You can watch the video on YouTube at https://bit.ly/CommonWordWebsiteTutorial.
Please join us as we Dwell in the Word
On July 2 Paula Snyder Belousek (Assistant Moderator), Dan Hooley (Prayer Coordinator) and I met to discuss some spiritual practices that we might be able to engage in as a Conference during the course of our review/discernment process. We looked at what was recommended by the delegates at our Annual Conference Assembly back in March. Four spiritual practices were recommended…
Dwelling in the Word
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister As we are early in this season of trying to discern God’s will for us together as a conference of Mennonite churches across Ohio and our neighboring states, it is very important to make sure that each of our hearts, minds and souls is prepared for the process. Even as individual Christians, discerning God’s will…
Explore these webinar offerings
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight a variety of webinars being offered by various church-related agencies. The first is an upcoming webinar, and the other three are recordings of previously offered webinars. Housing Mennonite Central Committee will host “Creative Housing Solutions for Refugees and Asylum Seekers” on Tuesday, July 26, at 2…
Conference deficit continues
Ohio Conference’s financial deficit increased during the month of June, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts during June totaled $32,307, including $27,238 in giving from congregations. Expenses during June totaled $32,870, resulting in a deficit of $563 for the month. As of June 30, the Conference’s operating balance for the 2022-23 fiscal year was -$25,538. The…
Immigration forum coming to Columbus
Interested in learning more about immigration issues? Immigration advocate Christy Staats is extending an invitation to Ohio Mennonites to attend Ohio 2022: A New Consensus on Immigration. This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, at Scarlet City Church in Columbus. Staats notes, “During Lent of 2021 I had the privilege of joining…
Congregational pastors gather on June 15
On June 15, 2022, Ohio Conference hosted a gathering for congregational pastors at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Plain City. It was a time of fellowship and a chance to debrief after Mennonite Church USA’s special delegate assembly in Kansas City, Missouri, which was held May 27-30. There were 30 pastors present, representing 24 congregations. Ohio Conference was represented by our…
Expenses outpace giving during May
Ohio Conference’s expenses exceeded receipts during May, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $19,443, including $19,124 in giving from congregations. Expenses during May totaled $29,917, resulting in a deficit of $10,474 for the month. As of the end of May, the Conference’s operating balance was -$25,020. The 2022-23 fiscal year ends March…
Ohio MCC Bike Ride to raise relief funds
This July a group of bike riders in Ohio will be raising funds for Mennonite Central Committee’s emergency response in Ukraine. Participants in the Ohio MCC Bike Ride will be riding on July 23 and 24. The group of riders will leave Summit Mennonite Church in Barberton and ride 100 miles over two days (approximately 50 miles each day) to help…
AMBS offers Transition to Leadership Program
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is offering a Transition to Leadership Program. This program guides new pastors during the crucial first years of ministry through one-on-one mentoring, regular gatherings with peers, and learning sessions. It is free to participants who begin in Fall 2022. The Fall 2022 cohort starts Nov. 10; apply by Oct. 10. Learn more at https://www.ambs.edu/transition-to-leadership.
2022 Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale schedule set
The Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale will take place Aug. 5-6 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster. For a schedule of events, please see the 2022 Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale Poster.
Golf event to benefit Adriel
Adriel will hold a benefit golf scramble Monday, Sept. 12, at 12:30 p.m. at the Eagle Rock Golf Club in Defiance. Proceeds benefit children in Northwest Ohio and throughout the state through Adriel’s foster care and adoption, clinical services, family preservation, and training programs. For more information, see https://www.adriel.org/adriel-golf-outings.
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…