News & Stories
Rural ministry webinar to feature Brad Roth
For those interested in rural ministry: Brad Roth, the featured speaker for Ohio Conference’s 2021 missional conference, will be one of the presenters for a free webinar, “Cultivating Rural Ministry.” This webinar, sponsored by Luther Seminary, will take place Thursday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. CST. Other presenters include Allen Stanton, pastor and author of Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural…
Giving increases during December
Giving to the Ohio Conference increased greatly during December, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for December totaled $54,889. Of that amount, $25,089 came from congregational giving. During December giving from individuals also was very strong. In response to a year-end appeal from Conference Minister Dick Barrett, individuals gave a total of $29,775 to Ohio Conference.…
Leadership Team makes statement on direction of Conference
One of the agenda items at winter cluster meetings is a statement from the Ohio Conference Leadership Team regarding the future direction of the Conference. A copy of this statement is available here: 2022-01-18 L.T. Statement to delegates at Winter Cluster Meetings.
Learn the practical side of being a good neighbor
Immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly, Zion Mennonite Church will host a missional conference March 3-4 featuring speakers Howard and Cathy Wagler. The Waglers serve as network directors for South Central Mennonite Conference. In this conference they will focus on the practical side of being a good neighbor, based on Luke 10:25-37. For more information about the 2022 missional conference,…
Study to focus on disability and ministry
A note to church leaders from the Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN): If you are interested in $100 in exchange for 60-90 minutes of your time talking about disability in your congregation, then read on. Erik Carter, professor of special education at Vanderbilt University, and his team are hoping to speak with hundreds of people across the country who are actively involved in…
Video explores last summer’s Climate Ride
The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS) has produced a brief documentary video about last year’s CSCS Climate Ride across the United States. Climate Rider Loren Friesen recorded footage throughout the ride which he has compiled into a half-hour video. The documentary will premiere Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. EST on Zoom and Facebook Live. Following the showing will be…
Seminary scholarships available
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) has several merit-based scholarships for new graduate students from the United States or Canada, whether they pursue studies at a distance or on the AMBS campus. Application deadline is March 15. For more information, please see https://bit.ly/AMBSScholarships.
Register for Women in Leadership by Jan. 28
Last call for registrations: Jan. 28 is the registration deadline for Ohio Conference’s Women in Leadership Retreat, which will be held Feb. 18-19 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin. The theme of the Women in Leadership Retreat is “Empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead like yourself.” Rebecca Slough, academic dean emerita and professor emerita of worship and…
Delegate News — Winter 2022
Winter cluster meeting dates set Ohio Conference is planning five winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly, beginning this week. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Locations are as follows: Jan. 18 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty Jan. 27 — Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron Feb. 1 — Tedrow Mennonite Church, Wauseon…
Zion Mennonite to host Assembly
Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold will host the 2022 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) of the Ohio Conference March 4-5. The theme of this year’s gathering, based on Luke 10:25-37, will be “Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor?” Ohio Conference also will hold a missional conference at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold immediately prior to ACA, on March 3-4.…
Borderlands Learning Tour: No easy answers
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister November 7th through the 14th of this past year I had the privilege and opportunity to participate in a Borderlands Learning Tour sponsored by the Great Lakes office of Mennonite Central Committee. The tour focused on the border between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Mexico, approximately 120 miles southeast of Tucson. Both Ohio Conference’s Leadership…
Winter Read offers place for discussion
We would love to have you join us for the Ohio Conference Winter Read, which is currently underway. This winter Ohio Conference is trying something new, a Conference-wide book study offered via Zoom. We are studying Latasha Morrison’s book Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. As of mid-January, 58 people are participating in the Winter Read. Discussion leaders…
‘Little Liturgies’ can nurture faith
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate If you are looking for ways to nurture faith at home, take a look at the free resources available online at The Soil and the Seed Project: https://www.thesoilandtheseedproject.org. This group has created “little liturgies” with downloadable music, art, prayers, scripture, and discussion prompts which can be used by individuals, families, or small communities.…
Conference to focus on how to be a good neighbor
Ohio Conference will hold a missional conference March 3-4 at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, immediately prior to the 2022 Annual Conference Assembly. The theme of the missional conference, based on Luke 10:25-37, will be “Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor?” Presenters will be Howard and Cathy Wagler, church planters from Hutchinson, Kansas. The Waglers currently are serving…
Loving my neighbor and forbearance
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister There is an old saying that goes something like, “We get to pick our friends, but we don’t get to pick our family.” Well, I would add, “We don’t get to pick our neighbors.” In the Great Commandment(s) Jesus tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your…
Women in Leadership Retreat to feature Rebecca Slough
There’s still time to register for Ohio Conference’s Women in Leadership Retreat, which will be held Feb. 18-19 at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin. Retreat planners are encouraging every Ohio Conference congregation to send at least one woman to this retreat. Has your congregation tapped someone to attend this retreat? The theme of the Women in Leadership Retreat…
Everence scholarship application deadline is Feb. 28
GOSHEN, Indiana ─ Everence Financial® is accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year until Feb. 28. Everence will award 45 regional scholarships of $1,000 to students chosen by local Everence offices. Three students also will receive national scholarships ─ one of $2,000 and two of $1,000 ─ so the top three recipients will have Everence scholarships totaling…
Register now for ACA, missional conference
Online registration is open for the 2022 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA). Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold will host the 2022 ACA March 4-5. The theme of this year’s gathering will be “Befriending the Neighborhood: Am I a Good Neighbor?” For more information about ACA, please see https://bit.ly/2022ACAInfo. To register online, go to https://bit.ly/2022ACARegistration. Register for ACA by Feb. 11. Zion…
MWC opens registration for Indonesia 2022
Mennonite World Conference has opened registration for online participants for its 17th global assembly July 5-10 in Semarang, Indonesia, at indonesia2022.mwc-cmm.org. For more information about the assembly, see https://bit.ly/MWC2022AssemblyOnline.
Lancaster Mennonite seeks middle school principal
Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Mennonite School has a full-time opening for a middle school principal, starting July 2022. For more information, please see https://bit.ly/LMSMiddleSchoolPrincipal.
Resources for Special Delegate Assembly are online
Online resources related to the Mennonite Church USA Special Delegate Assembly in Kansas City, Missouri, May 27-30 are available at https://bit.ly/May2022AssemblyResources.
Delegate News – December 2021
Five fall cluster meetings scheduled Please plan to join us: Five fall cluster meetings have been scheduled for delegates to the Ohio Conference Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Locations are as follows: Jan. 18 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty Jan. 27 — Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron Feb. 1 —…
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! We find ourselves nearing the end of what has been another difficult year in the life of the nation, our churches, individuals and families. The year began with violence at the Capitol Building that left many wondering just how secure America as a nation is. The COVID pandemic waned and spiked throughout the year, resulting in continued deaths…
Winter cluster meetings set
Ohio Conference is planning five winter cluster meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. Each meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. Locations are as follows: Jan. 18 — Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty Jan. 27 — Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron Feb. 1 — Tedrow Mennonite Church, Wauseon Feb. 10 — Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Hartville…
Deficit grows during November
Ohio Conference’s deficit grew substantially during the month of November, according to figures provided by Finance Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for November totaled $19,855, including $18,262 in giving from congregations. Expenses for the month totaled $43,146, resulting in a deficit of $23,291 for the month. As of the end of November, the Conference’s operating balance was -$48,150. The 2021-22 fiscal…
Girl Named Tom wins The Voice
Congratulations go to Girl Named Tom, the sibling trio from Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold! The trio was named the winner during the season finale of NBC’s The Voice on Dec. 14. To learn more, see https://bit.ly/TheVoiceFinaleGNT and https://anabaptistworld.org/girl-named-tom-wins-the-voice.
MDS plans tornado response
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has Early Response Teams investigating several of the sites of last week’s tornadoes to help determine how and where MDS will respond. Many of their partners via the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) which specialize in search and rescue, damage assessment and cleanup are already responding. Together with their NVOAD partners and local officials,…
Ohio MCC Comforter Bash set for April 22-23
Save the date for the Ohio MCC Comforter Bash on April 22-23! A handmade comforter provides not only warmth, but also a tangible message to people that their needs are not forgotten. Join others of all ages for this two-day event in Kidron to knot comforters that Mennonite Central Committee will distribute around the world. We invite you to make…
Conference seeks Regional Pastor
Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA is seeking a half-time Regional Pastor for the Eastern region of the state beginning April 2022. The individual will primarily serve as pastor to the pastors and as a liaison between the Conference and congregations. Previous pastoral experience required. Women and men from all cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For a full job description, please see…