News & Stories
Peace Mennonite merges with North Olmsted church
On Sunday, April 10, Peace Mennonite Church in Elyria held its last service as Peace Mennonite. Over the past several months its members have gone through a discernment process that led the congregation to merge with North Olmsted Evangelical Friends Church. Peace Mennonite’s Church building will become the Elyria campus of North Olmsted Evangelical Friends Church. Conference Minister Dick Barrett…
Resources address challenging issues
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight a new Sunday school resource from Mennonite Central Committee and RAWtools, as well as a webinar from Anabaptist Disabilities Network and Everence. FEAR NOT How do we respond to violence in our homes and churches? Does our faith have anything to say about how we understand…
‘Joy in the Journey’ is retreat theme
Ohio Conference will hold a retreat for wives of Ohio Conference pastors on Nov. 4-6, 2022, at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Miriam Zehr, associate pastor of Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, will be the speaker for this retreat, which will explore the theme “Joy in the Journey.” Using the Psalms, participants will reflect on the…
Conference youth worker webinar series continues
Ohio Conference is continuing its series of free online seminars for youth workers during the month of May. “Jesus as Model: Youth Ministry Reimagined” is the theme of this series, which began in late March. The final three online seminars will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on May 10, 17 and 24. In addition to hearing from presenters, seminar participants…
MCC webinar to explore ‘Gardening for good’
Interested in creation care? On May 26 at 8 p.m., Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) will host a webinar, “Gardening for good: Creation care tips for your backyard and stories from Bolivia.” In this virtual visit, MCC will explore what it looks like to care for the planet ─ from our own backyards to remote Bolivian communities. This presentation will include…
Immigration Resource Team ends its work
Ohio Conference would like to express its appreciation for the work completed by the Immigration Resource Team (IRT) from 2018 to 2022. This resource team was convened to investigate, evaluate and help congregations implement the resolution on immigration which delegates affirmed in 2019. This group created a list of immigration resources as well as a biblical guide to immigration. In…
Conference ends fiscal year with deficit
Ohio Conference ended its 2021-22 fiscal year with a deficit of $12,504, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. The fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The Conference began March with a small positive operating balance of $245. Receipts for March totaled $29,465, including $28,676 in giving from congregations. Expenses for the month totaled $42,214, resulting in a…
Anabaptist Disabilities Network receives grant
Anabaptist Disabilities Network has received Mennonite Health Services’ Innovation Grant. Grant funds will be used for the development of an Anabaptist membership curriculum for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. See https://bit.ly/ADNInnovationGrant for details.
Collaboration seeks to counter military recruitment
Mennonites Against Militarism – a collaboration of Mennonite Central Committee, U.S. (MCC) and Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) – is seeking to launch an initiative to counter military recruitment of U.S. youth. The vision for the project, Alternatives to Military Enlistment Network (AMEN), is to connect young people with volunteer advisors who can help them find non-military career, service and training opportunities. To learn…
AMBS to hold webinar about Christian nationalism
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is hosting a free webinar about Christian nationalism on Wednesday, May 4, from 2 to 3 p.m. Drew Strait, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at AMBS, will provide an overview of the destructive force of White Christian nationalism. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the webinar. Learn more…
MC USA to host online call to prayer
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is hosting an online call to prayer and fasting for the upcoming special delegate session, which will take place May 27-30 in Kansas City, Missouri. This online gathering will take place May 2 at 7 p.m. For more information and to register, go to https://bit.ly/May2CalltoPrayer.
Many work together at MCC Comforter Bash
Many people came together to support Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) at the Ohio MCC Comforter Bash on April 22-23. A total of 129 comforters were knotted during the two-day event at the Kidron Community Park Building, with 150 volunteers participating in the work on Friday and 75 volunteers on Saturday. MCC will distribute these comforters to people in need around…
Pastors to meet June 15
Attention, pastors: Ohio Conference is hosting a Congregational Pastors’ Gathering at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Plain City on Wednesday, June 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This gathering will be a time to pastorally process the MC USA Special Delegate Assembly experience. If you are able to attend, please reserve your complimentary lunch with Judy King at the Conference office…
Youth worker seminar series continues
Next Tuesday, April 12, Ohio Conference will host the second in a series of free online seminars for youth workers. “Jesus as Model: Youth Ministry Reimagined” is the theme of this series, which features a variety of presenters. Seminars are being offered from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Tuesdays. Remaining dates include April 12, 19 and 26, and May 10,…
Register now for enneagram workshop
Last call for registrations: Ohio Conference will host “Exploring the Enneagram as a Ministry Tool,” a one-day workshop for pastors on May 3. The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main branch of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, 43 W. Third St., Mansfield, Ohio. This workshop will explore how Enneagram types affect compatibility, functionality…
Mennonite Church USA releases guidelines for Special Session of Delegate Assembly
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has released guidelines for allowable actions and procedures during its Special Session of the Delegate Assembly, May 27-30 in Kansas City, Missouri. According to the guidelines, delegates must submit suggested amendments to the proposed resolutions by Monday, May 6. For a full news release about the guidelines, please see https://bit.ly/MCUSASpecialSession.
Holy Land tour planned for 2023
Have you ever dreamed of walking where Jesus walked? Of seeing where Jesus died? Of sailing the Sea of Galilee like Jesus and His disciples? Now you have the opportunity! In partnership with Friendship Tours (friendshiptours.com), Pastor Ryan Harker (West Clinton Mennonite) will be leading a group on a 10-day tour of Israel on April 18-27, 2023. A flier with…
MCC to offer webinar on welcoming refugees
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Church World Service (CWS) are planning a webinar on Tuesday, April 12, for people interested in learning more about welcoming refugees in the United States. The hour-long webinar will begin at 2 p.m. During the webinar, Charity Stowell, MCC U.S. newcomer connections coordinator, and Ted Blessing, CWS community engagement organizer, will address several questions: Who…
Voices Together workshop is for worship leaders
Benton Mennonite Church is sponsoring a Voices Together worship leaders’ workshop on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to noon on Zoom. Anneli Loepp Thiessen and Katie Graber will provide background on worship resources in Voices Together and the Voices Together worship leader edition, highlighting uses in worship as well as the styles, cultures, and eras they represent. They will…
Mennonite schools seek staff for 2022-23
Central Christian School has several new open teaching positions. These teachers will become integral in educating students and growing Christian leaders. Please see the job descriptions included in the link below and share with anyone you think might want to join the Central Christian teaching team. Job descriptions can be found at https://www.ccscomets.org/about/employment.cfm. Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) also has a…
Consultant to assist in Conference review
The Ohio Conference Leadership Team has approved entering into an agreement with Design Group International to assist in a three-part Conference review. The Leadership Team is taking this step based on feedback from delegates at the March 2022 Annual Conference Assembly. Delegates overwhelmingly affirmed the idea of using a process consultant to assist the Conference over the upcoming two years.…
Delegates approve new mission statement, Conference to review affiliation with MC USA
For photos from ACA and a summary video, please see https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos. Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA gathered in person for its Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) on March 4-5, 2022, at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio. The theme for the assembly was Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor? The focus was on the story of the Good…
Winter Read starts discussion process
Conversations about race can be uncomfortable for some of us. How do we begin to grapple with issues of racial reconciliation? More than 60 people from around the Ohio Conference committed to discussing racial reconciliation this winter while participating in a new initiative called the Ohio Conference Winter Read. Led by Pastors Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells of Lee Heights Community Church in…
The centrality of Jesus Christ
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ─ 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NRSV) On March 4 and 5, Ohio Conference hosted our Annual Conference Assembly at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold. During the assembly delegates unanimously affirmed our new mission statement – The mission of Ohio Conference of Mennonite…
Barnacles and brownies
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Editor On March 3 and 4, Howard and Cathy Wagler of Hutchinson, Kansas, were presenters for a missional conference at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, focusing on the theme “Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor?” Sixty people from around the Ohio Conference participated in this conference. I was one of those 60 people.…
Volunteers accept Conference positions
Members of Ohio Conference congregations who volunteer their time play a vital role in Conference life. Without the help of numerous volunteers, many of the programs and functions of the Ohio Conference could not take place. Much of the work of Ohio Conference is done by the Leadership Team, the Ministry Development Team, the Credentialing Ministry, the Stewardship Ministry and…
Try these resources during Lent
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate Looking for Lenten resources which you can use at home? The Soil and the Seed Project has released a new free collection of resources for this season. The Soil and the Seed Project: Vol. 2 ─ Lent–Easter–Pentecost is a collection of music, artwork, and “little liturgies” following the liturgical calendar. These resources offer…
Women leading, empowered by the Holy Spirit
By Alysa Short Coordinator of Volunteers Ohio Conference held a retreat for women in leadership Feb. 18-19 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin, Ohio. Twenty-three women from around Conference participated in this overnight retreat led by Rebecca Slough, academic dean and professor of worship and the arts emerita at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Focusing on…
ACA video summary and photos are online
Thanks to all of you who were able to participate in the 2022 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) March 4 and 5 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold! A brief summary video about ACA is now available for viewing. To see photos from ACA, go to https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos or view them on the Ohio Conference Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OhioConferenceMCUSA.
Missional conference recordings are available
Wondering what you missed at the 2022 missional conference? Sixty people from all around the Ohio Conference took part in this event, which was held March 3-4 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold. Even if you missed this gathering, you can still learn from our missional conference presenters, Howard and Cathy Wagler. Video recordings of the conference are available at…