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Ohio Mennonite Conference is…

By Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi Process Consultant Metaphors engage us in new ways with imagery for exploration. In the last session of the 2024 Ohio Mennonite Conference meetings, I invited delegates and other attendees to unleash their creativity to brainstorm metaphors to describe Ohio Mennonite Conference (OMC) as they currently see it. This article contains a sampling of the many imaginative…

Working and worshipping together

By Dan Miller Interim Conference Minister Heading into Annual Conference Assembly, I was both excited and nervous. Excited, because I find such gatherings to be fun. At the end of the day, I can be so energized that it’s hard to go to sleep! Nervous, because I am still learning about Ohio Conference. This might be hard to believe, but…

Check out these Lenten resources

By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate This month I would like to highlight some Lenten worship and devotional resources. The Soil and The Seed Project has released a new collection of free resources for Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Included are a new album of music, “Little Liturgies,” art, and lyrics/chord/lead sheets. To download these resources, go to https://www.thesoilandtheseedproject.org/vol-9. CommonWord, a…

Northwest Ohio churches work together, supporting refugees from Ukraine

By Bill Holdsworth The Resettlement Support Team (RST) is a joint group of Central and Zion Mennonite churches in northwest Ohio. Our team formed in mid-2022 in response to seeing hundreds of thousands of people displaced all over the world by war and violence and a desire to offer our time and community resources to help immigrants settle in a…

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 Council, the Credentialing Committee, the Stewardship Committee, the Gifts Discernment Committee, and…

Podcast series focuses on shalom

Grace & Groundings, Ohio Conference’s resource team focused on racial awareness and reconciliation, is sponsoring a series of monthly podcasts about social righteousness and shalom. The series began in January, with plans to publish one episode each month through May. Each episode focuses on a different topic designed to draw listeners into deeper conversations about issues of social righteousness and…

Jesus Collective to hold Unite Conference

If you are interested in exploring further the ideas about a Jesus-centered faith that featured speaker Meghan Larissa Good presented at ACA, consider attending Unite, a conference hosted by the Jesus Collective. This event will take place April 24-26 in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, see https://jesuscollective.com/unite.

Webinar to focus on women in ministry

In honor of Women’s History Month, Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is sponsoring a webinar, “The Hope-Filled Persistence of Women in Ministry,” on Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. This webinar will look at the lives of MC USA women in ministry across the generations and today. Rev. Amy Zimbelman, conference minister of Mountain States Mennonite Conference, and Elizabeth Johnson,…

Bluffton to offer new environmental science major

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Starting in fall 2024, Bluffton University students will have the opportunity to major in environmental science. Housed in the department of health sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, the program will provide students a broader understanding of the natural and built worlds around them through classes in biology, chemistry, geology, and soil, water and climate sciences. See the…

Missio Dei issue features Latin American women

The 32nd issue of Missio Dei, a publication of Mennonite Mission Network, describes 20 years of Movimiento de Mujeres Anabautistas Haciendo Teología desde América Latina (Movement of Anabaptist Women Doing Theology from Latin America — MTAL). Spanish and English versions of the booklet, Women, 20 years of paving the way between dreams and hopes, a collaboration between Mission Network and…

Delegate News – Looking Forward to ACA

Looking forward to seeing you at ACA Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) is almost here! We are looking forward to seeing many of you at Sharon Mennonite Church on March 1-2. This issue of Delegate News includes many last-minute reminders to help you prepare for our annual gathering. Registration is still open If you are planning on attending ACA, please make…

Deficit shrinks during January

Strong congregational giving to Ohio Conference during January resulted in the Conference’s highest monthly receipts by far for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Receipts for January totaled $60,875, including $50,397 in giving from congregations. In comparison, congregational giving in December totaled just $21,569. Expenses for January totaled $36,417, resulting in a surplus of $24,458 for the month. As of the end…

Camp Luz seeks program director

Camp Luz is seeking a leader who is passionate about seeing people growing in their faith in Jesus Christ to serve as program director. Use your skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children, young adults, and families. This position is available immediately. See the Camp Luz news release for more information. A full…

Healthy Boundaries refresher training planned

Ohio Conference will hold a Healthy Boundaries 201 training on Tuesday, April 30, at Wooster Mennonite Church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training also will be available online through Zoom. For those meeting in person, lunch will be provided. Healthy Boundaries 201 is designed for credentialed pastors who have previously completed Healthy Boundaries 101. Please note: All persons…

Seminary programs offer support for pastors

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, is offering programs which support pastors currently serving in the church. The Transition to Leadership program guides and nurtures new pastors during the crucial first years of ministry. This two-year program includes monthly one-on-one mentoring sessions, biannual Learning Events with other new pastors and their mentors, and optional consultations with consultants with…

Fairlawn Mennonite to host MCC Comforter Bash

This year the Ohio MCC Comforter Bash will take place at Fairlawn Mennonite Church, 8520 Emerson Road, Apple Creek, Ohio. Hours are as follows: Friday, March 8 – 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 9 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. See the Ohio Conference website for more information: https://wp.me/p6vGMi-4eD.

Delegate News – Resignation Announcement

Feb. 21, 2024 Greetings to members of Ohio Conference, Ann Leaman, conference editor for Ohio Conference, has informed the Conference leadership that she intends to end her work with Ohio Conference at the end of the fiscal year, March 31, 2024. Ann joined Ohio Conference staff in October 1998. During those years Ann worked with the Conference to adapt from…

Ohio MCC Comforter Bash brings together volunteers to help others around the world

By Jennifer Steiner MCC Great Lakes Individuals and groups from northeast Ohio will gather on March 8-9 for a hands-on project to bring warmth and comfort to people they will likely never meet. The Ohio MCC Comforter Bash will take place at Fairlawn Mennonite Church, 8520 Emerson Road, Apple Creek, Ohio. Hours are as follows: Friday, March 8 – 9:30…

ACA Preview – Talking with Meghan Larissa Good

“What would it take for us, for our churches to get on board with what the Spirit is doing and making possible in this period of turmoil and change?” — Meghan Larissa Good In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, host Alex Dye talks with Meghan Larissa Good, who will be the featured speaker at the 2024 Annual Conference…

The Soil and the Seed offers resources for Lent

The Soil and The Seed Project has released a new collection of free resources for Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Included are a new album of music, “Little Liturgies,” art, and lyrics/chord/lead sheets. To download these resources, go to https://www.thesoilandtheseedproject.org/vol-9.

Lent at Home guide is now available

“Christ Among Us” is the theme of the Lent at Home 2024 worship guide, now available for free from the Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) website: https://bit.ly/2024LentatHome. This guide uses weekly and daily Scriptures as a basis for worship rituals, prayers, and activities designed to help individuals and households of all ages prepare for the season of Lent.

Please help cover ACA in prayer

Ohio Conference’s Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) is quickly approaching on March 1-2, 2024. Even if you are not attending ACA, you can still participate! We invite you to sign up to help cover all of ACA in prayer. We are looking for willing individuals to commit to praying 20 minutes during the ACA weekend. You can do this from anywhere…

POTC focuses on non-military career options

Peaceful Options for Training and Careers (POTC), an independent initiative formed by Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), has begun training volunteer counselors to help young adults find non-military career, service and training opportunities. Titus Peachey, a retired MCC peace educator, led the most recent training session on Jan. 18, 2024, via Zoom. To learn more, see the…

Orientation sessions will be held online

Orientation sessions for new delegates to Annual Conference Assembly (ACA) and for table group leaders at ACA will be held on Zoom prior to ACA. The new delegate orientation will take place Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. To attend, use this link: https://bit.ly/2024NewDelegateOrientation. The table group leader orientation will take place Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. To attend, use this…

Building a new life in Ohio

What is life like for refugees who come to Ohio? The latest episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast tells the story of one immigrant family that has ended up in Kidron, Ohio, after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Listen to this episode to hear the conversation between host Kevin Himes and his two guests, Alex Murza and Terry Shue.…

Twenty-five women attend Women in Leadership Retreat

All photos by Alysa Short Twenty-five women attended the Ohio Conference Women in Leadership Retreat Feb. 2-3 at the Lial Renewal Center in Whitehouse, Ohio. Speaker Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, dean of lifelong learning at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, led group sessions focusing on the theme “Finding Your Voice.” The retreat format also included time for worship, spiritual practices, quiet…

Churches work together at NW Ohio Comforter Bash

Volunteers from area Ohio Mennonite churches came together Jan. 10 to support Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) at the NW Ohio Comforter Bash, which was held at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold. This event was sponsored by Central Mennonite Church, Lockport Mennonite Church, PEACE Mennonite Fellowship and Zion Mennonite Church. All photos by Alysa Short, Ohio Conference coordinator of volunteers …

Delegate News – 1-30-24

Here are resources for presenting our shared work to your congregation January 30, 2024 Ohio Conference Delegates, Thank you for the comments, edits and questions at the five cluster meetings. Being present at each meeting was valuable for me. Hearing that many felt the strategic plan was familiar was heartening. The facilitator and Strategic Planning Team listened intently to capture…

Delegate News – Retirement Announcement

Greetings to members of Ohio Conference, Tony Doehrmann, regional pastor for the western region of Ohio Conference, has informed the Conference’s Leadership Team that he intends to retire at the end of March 2024. Pastor Doehrmann began as a regional pastor on Oct. 1, 2019. In that time, he has been a meaningful Conference connection with pastors and congregations in…