News & Stories
Living the dream!
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister One of the responses that I seem to get more and more frequently from people whom I encounter, after asking them how they are doing is, “I am (just) living the dream!” Of course, for almost all of them that response is meant to be sarcastic and negative. What they really want me to know…
Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale will be an in-person event this year
Wooster, Ohio — For 56 years, the Mennonite, Brethren, Apostolic and Amish churches of northeastern Ohio have worked together to create a festive event that raises funds for the work of Mennonite Central Committee. After a COVID-limited virtual auction in 2020, the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale will return in person Aug. 6 and 7. The event will take place in…
Resources deal with considerations for in-person worship
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate As the COVID-19 pandemic enters a new phase and many local health restrictions are lifted, how should our congregations approach in-person worship? Anabaptist Worship Network has explored this topic in a recent webinar titled “Worship and Reopening Churches.” If you would like to watch a recording of this webinar, you can find it online…
Climate Riders seek to raise awareness
The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS) is leading a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness regarding climate change and related issues, as well as to learn and to connect with people along the way. CSCS is a collaborative initiative of Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite University, and Mennonite Central Committee. The Climate Ride started in Seattle May 31 and will…
Registration is open for OC retreats
Online registration is open for three upcoming events sponsored by the Ohio Conference. Ohio Conference will hold a New Pastor Orientation Aug. 15-16 at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Mt. Hope. This free event is designed for all pastors new to the Ohio Conference in the past several years. Register online at http://bit.ly/2021NewPastors. Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite…
Concert to feature ‘Songs and Stories of Peace, Hope, and Justice’
Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville will host a concert featuring Anthony Brown on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. The theme of this concert will be “Songs and Stories of Peace, Hope, and Justice.” An offering will be taken to help cover expenses. Please see the event flier for more details: Anthony Brown Concert at Oak Grove.
Everence to hold development conference
Registration is open for the Everence Development Conference, which helps charitable organization leaders stimulate and nurture generosity to strengthen their missions. The event, Invest in What Lasts, is scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can register now at everence.com/devcon21. The event is offered every two years.
MDS program offers travel reimbursement for pastors
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) welcomes active, constituent pastors and their spouses to a hands-on MDS experience at an MDS project site in the U.S. or Canada. To encourage pastor participation, the Pastors to Projects program offers travel reimbursement. To learn more, see https://mds.mennonite.net/pastors-to-projects.
Anabaptist Disabilities Network offers suggestions for dealing with hearing loss
The Summer 2021 e-newsletter from Anabaptist Disabilities Network focuses on inclusion of those who are deaf or who have hearing loss. The newsletter includes information about technology for making audio during worship services more accessible for people with hearing loss. Go to https://bit.ly/ADNSummer2021 to read this newsletter.
Military service from a Mennonite perspective
Picture this scene: Three Mennonite pastors, two of whom are military veterans, sit down for a discussion of Mennonites and the military. This scenario may sound unlikely, but it’s actually a description of the latest episode of the Ohio Conference Cast podcast. In this podcast episode, hosts Corben Weaver Boshart and Ramon Lianez talk with Lucas Johnson, pastor of Valley…
MDT to award Ministry Grants
Ministry Grants are back! Aug. 6 is the deadline to submit a grant proposal to the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT). The MDT is accepting proposals from Conference congregations and related organizations for projects and mission initiatives. The MDT has $19,630 available for grants in 2020. Since 2012 the MDT has awarded grants each summer, providing funds for a wide variety of projects…
Leadership development opportunities available
Ohio Conference has two opportunities for leadership enrichment and development beginning in September. The first, a Thriving in Ministry cohort, is for pastors who are already serving in a congregation. It will run from September 2021 to April 2022 and will focus on the well-being of pastors, effective practices in ministry, and leadership development. Please see the description of the program and…
Giving to Conference drops in May
Giving to the Ohio Conference was significantly lower in May than in April, according to figures provided by Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth.
Receipts for May totaled just $20,720, compared to $35,960 in April. Giving from congregations totaled $20,481, down somewhat from the $23,264 received in April. However, giving from individuals dropped to $200 for the month, compared with the $12,657 received in April.
Expenses for May totaled $27,719, resulting in a deficit of $6,999 for the month. Even so, as of the end of May, the Conference had an operating surplus of $5,415 for the year to date. The Conference fiscal year ends March 31, 2022.
Open Arms fundraiser set for July 17
Save the date! Open Arms Hispanic Ministries is sponsoring a Summer Fiesta Picnic on Saturday, July 17, at 4 p.m. at Oak Grove Mennonite Church, located at 7843 Smucker Road, Smithville. After more than a year of COVID-related restrictions, we will enjoy a safe, enjoyable time in Oak Grove’s beautiful picnic area. Activities include live music, a program at 5…
MCC offers virtual tour of borderlands
Mennonite Central Committee is offering a Virtual Borderlands Learning Tour June 28-July 2. Sessions will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. each day. This virtual learning tour is designed to engage participants with the reality of immigration from a different perspective. The Ohio Conference Immigration Resource Team is encouraging everyone to consider participating in this learning tour. See http://bit.ly/VirtualBorderlandsLearningTour for…
All-Ohio Conference Pastor Gathering set for Aug. 5
The next All-Ohio Conference Pastor Gathering will be Thursday, Aug. 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Upper Sandusky Community Library. Pastors, if you still need to RSVP, you can do so by sending an email message to Conference Minister Dick Barrett at ohioconferenceminister@gmail.com.
Anabaptist World article focuses on women in ministry in Ohio Conference
Anabaptist World has published an article about women in ministry in the Ohio Conference. You can read it at http://bit.ly/AWorldWomeninMinistry.
MDS newsletter details partnership with the Brethren Church
The June edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In the current issue: MDS and the Brethren Church formalize a partnership of caring, the last houses in the Land of Hope are dedicated, bringing to completion a three-year effort, and youth across the U.S. are packing their bags to embark on MDS Summer Youth programs.…
Showing God’s love to immigrants: Will you join us?
The Immigration Resource Team of Ohio Conference is aware of many immigrants seeking asylum at our southern border. We ask: “How can we here in Ohio show them God’s welcoming love?” We remember the amazing way a dozen or so Ohio Conference churches came together to assemble 175 immigration welcome kits in the fall of 2019. Covid-19 precautions prevent this…
Workshop recordings available
Ohio Conference held a series of online workshops during March and April. If you missed them, don’t worry. You can watch recordings of the workshops. See the Workshops page for the recordings. Watch the Recordings
MWC webinars will focus on baptism
On Sunday, June 6, and Sunday, June 13, Mennonite World Conference will be sponsoring a two-part webinar series titled Believe and Be Baptized: A Global Conversation on Baptism. Each webinar is 90 minutes long, and both webinars will be offered twice (at 7 a.m. EDT and 1 p.m. EDT) in order to make the event accessible to members of the…
Peacebuilding center plans virtual celebration
EMU — The global and domestic impact of Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding will be celebrated June 4-6 at the 25+1 Anniversary Celebration. This event was originally planned for summer 2020, but cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The format switched to all virtual once it became clear not only travel for guests but also on-campus hosting would be…
Webinar to discuss support for mental illness
Anabaptist Disabilities Network and Church of the Brethren Discipleship Ministries are co-sponsoring a webinar with the theme “Providing Mutual Support When People Experience Mental Illness.” This webinar will take place Thursday, June 17, at 2 p.m. EDT. How can we walk with people who are experiencing a mental illness in our congregations and community? Attend this “Mental Health 101” webinar…
Central Christian School Board appoints interim lead administrator
Terry Shue has been appointed interim lead administrator of Central Christian School in Kidron for the 2021-22 school year, effective July 1. He will serve in this role while the Central Christian School Board leads a search to hire a new superintendent. After a new superintendent is hired, he will return to his position as director of development for Central…
The Rest of Micah 6:8
By Dick Barrett, conference minister He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 (NIV) I have now been a part of the Mennonite Church for almost 25 years. Many things attracted me to the…
Climate Ride seeks to raise awareness
The Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS) is leading a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness regarding climate change and related issues, as well as to learn and to connect with people along the way. CSCS is a collaborative initiative of Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite University, and Mennonite Central Committee. The Climate Ride started in Seattle May 31 and will…
MennoCon21 newsletter gives convention details
The most recent MennoCon21 newsletter includes information about morning and evening worship at the convention, seminars for youth and adults, and COVID-19 protocols. MennoCon21 will take place July 6-10, both in Cincinnati and online. This newsletter is available here: MennoCon21 MAY Newsletter.
Journal articles focus on healing and health
From AMBS: A new issue of Vision focusing on the theme “Health, Healing and Hope” is available for free online. In the Spring 2021 issue of Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology, authors share about their personal struggles with illness, their experiences as caregivers and their encounters in pastoral or chaplaincy care. Other topics include health as it relates…
Webinars to focus on peace and justice issues
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering a new webinar series titled Shalom: Six Perspectives on Peace and Justice. Each webinar will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time. A variety of topics will be explored: June 8 — Why did Jesus have to die? — led by J. Denny Weaver June 29 — Does our past really matter?…
SENT Conference 2021 recordings are online
Mennonite Mission Network held its Sent Conference 2021 online during April. This event focused on church planting and church vitality. Keynote speakers included Katerina Friesen, pastor of Wild Church in Fresno, California; Tim Amor, pastor of Beatrice Mennonite Church in Beatrice, Nebraska; and Reverends Karen Sethurama and Gordon McDade, pastors and church planters of Soulspace in Belfast, Ireland. If you…