News & Stories
School for Leadership Training to focus on brokenness, thriving
Proclaiming God incarnate even in brokenness – within themselves, in their congregations and neighborhoods, and nationally – is no small task for pastors. Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s 2018 School for Leadership Training (SLT) participants will explore themes of thriving and succeeding in ministry even in the context of so much reason to lose heart. The Jan. 15-17 training event, titled “Broken Vessels,…
Deficit increases slightly during November
The Ohio Conference’s deficit increased slightly during November, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $27,886, including $24,237 in congregational giving. Total expenses for the month were $28,559, resulting in a -$673 operating balance for the month. At the end of November, the Conference’s year-to-date operating balance for 2017-18 was -$13,892.…
Merry Christmas from Ohio Conference Cast
The last Ohio Conference Cast episode of 2017 includes Christmas greetings from co-hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn, as well as a look back at the previous 32 episodes. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/17_12_19_YearEnd_Submitted.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
A Day in the Life of Ralph
One of the main tasks of an Ohio Conference regional pastor is to serve as a pastor to pastors, but what does that phrase actually mean? And what else does the job entail? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, co-hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk with Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford about his work with Ohio Conference — the…
MCC Great Lakes offers new way to donate
As families around the world face disaster and crisis, kits and comforters from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) remind them that their needs are not forgotten. There is a new, easy way for you to get involved! MCC Great Lakes has put together a list of most needed items on Amazon.com. Simply purchase the pre-selected items on the wish list, and the items…
Everence to award scholarships
GOSHEN, Ind. – Everence is accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year through the end of February. A college scholarship is one of the potential benefits of doing business with Everence. The Everence scholarship program encourages young people to explore the integration of faith and finances while helping them on their educational journeys. Eligible students can be…
Register for January Healthy Boundaries training by Jan. 5
Friday, Jan. 5, is the deadline to register for the Jan. 13 Healthy Boundaries training event at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. This training is mandatory for continued credentialing in the Ohio Conference. The Conference is also holding this training event Dec. 9 at SpringHaven Counseling Center in Dundee and April 21 at Shalom Counseling and Mediation Center in Archbold.…
A Vibrant, Disciple-making, Good News Conference
How do we translate the Gospel to our context? Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, who is volunteering as Ohio Conference’s missional consultant, is working to help Ohio Conference consider this question. She has a vision for the Conference to become a vibrant, disciple-making good news conference. In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, Bill Seymour and his guest co-host, Jamie Rye, the pastor…
The Mennonite seeks next executive director
The board of The Mennonite, Inc. is accepting applications for the position of executive director. The executive director functions as chief executive officer for The Mennonite, Inc. The executive director brings broad vision to The Mennonite as a content delivery system for MC USA constituents and beyond, helping the organization to develop programs and services appropriate for the digital age.…
Missional conference to precede ACA
Meghan Good and Marvin Lorenzana will be the featured speakers at Gathered and Sent, the missional conference at Bluffton University March 8-9, 2018, immediately prior to Annual Conference Assembly. To download the event flier, click here: 2017 Missional Conference Flier.
Doctrine of Discovery programs come to Bluffton
BLUFFTON, Ohio – Erica Littlewolf, coordinator of the Indigenous Visioning Center for Mennonite Central Committee (Central States), will bring two programs to Bluffton University on Nov. 28. Littlewolf will present “Doctrine of Discovery: A Living History” during Forum at 11 a.m. in Yoder Recital Hall. During the presentation, Littlewolf, who is Northern Cheyenne, will explain how the 15th century Christian…
Laypersons encouraged to participate in Healthy Boundaries training
The Ohio Conference Credentialing Ministry is encouraging all congregations to send a layperson to the Healthy Boundaries training being held by the Conference. Attendance is mandatory for all credentialed persons. The Credentialing Ministry would like to stress that in all congregations which have a Pastor Congregation Relations Committee, at least one representative from that group should attend the Healthy Boundaries…
Advent At Home guide is for families
Central Plains Mennonite Conference and www.AnabaptistFaithFormation.org are offering a free, downloadable guide for family worship during Advent written by Elsie Rempel. This resource, titled Yes! Let it Be!, is designed for parents to use at home with their children. For use between Dec. 3 and Jan. 6, the worship guide includes a daily Bible reading, short litany, songs, hands-on activities and…
Conference deficit grows during October
For the second month in a row, expenses outpaced receipts for the Ohio Conference during October, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $24,691, including $21,360 in congregational giving. Total expenses for the month were $26,391, resulting in a -$1,700 operating balance for the month. At the end of October, the…
The search is on
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn discuss the search for a new half-time conference minister with Jeff Hochstetler, a member of the search committee. Jeff describes the type of person the search committee is seeking and talks about some of the expectations for this position. Since this episode of Ohio Conference Cast…
Pastor-Spouse Retreat offers time away for couples
Twenty-five couples took part in the Ohio Conference Pastor-Spouse Retreat at Mohican State Park on Nov. 10-12. Resource speakers for the weekend were James Lapp and Miriam Book, and Tim Shue led music. The weekend also included a chance for couples to enjoy the outdoors in the state park during free time. Photos by Cliff Brubaker
Learning more about mental illness
By Alysa Short Members of Amish and Mennonite communities are helping researchers learn more about bipolar disorder. On Nov. 5, more than 100 people attended a presentation of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) held at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio, to learn more about this research. The event, coordinated by Bev Miller from Central, featured Dr. Francis…
Sending comforters with love
By Ellen Nussbaum It all began during this past summer with a vision: Ken Neuenschwander, leader of the Outreach and Service Ministry at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church (Kidron), and his daughter, Sara Obri, who attends Lee Heights Mennonite Church (Cleveland) and is on the MCC Great Lakes Board, began talking together about doing a joint comforter knotting bee with the two…
Credentialing Ministry shares its mission
Our mission as a team is to license and ordain pastors and chaplains who serve in Ohio Conference and provide them with encouragement, support, and accountability. The ordination process takes 2-5 years and includes meeting with a mentor, completing leadership and psychological testing, and participation in a pastor peer group. We want our pastors and chaplains to be healthy as…
Litany of Lament, Celebration and Hope
Ohio Mennonite Women — A Patchwork Quilt Litany of Lament, Celebration and Hope Sept. 16, 2017 Leader: Lord God, Designer and Creator, Quilter and Weaver of all, We come to you in lament, celebration and hope. Women: We are your patchwork quilt, fabrics and pieces, all brought together, intricately interwoven, Leader: Quilted together by the love of God. Women: You…
Quilting the memories of time
Ohio Mennonite Women celebrate together Photos by Willie Stoltzfus and Heidi Childs By Willie Stoltzfus Quilts were the theme of the Time of Celebration during Women’s Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Camp Luz — a time of celebration and closure for the Ohio Mennonite Women (OMW) as an organization. The Camp Luz chapel was decorated with various…
Camp Luz to host Jr. High Retreat
Glenn Nofziger, associate pastor at Martins Creek Mennonite Church, will be the featured speaker at the Jr. High Retreat at Camp Luz Jan. 12-14. The theme for the retreat will be “Rooted,” based on Colossians 2:6-7. The retreat will begin with check-in at 7 p.m. on Friday and conclude at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Cost of the retreat is $90 per…
AMBS offers spiritual guidance seminar
Spiritual Guidance Seminar: Jan. 9 – July 20, 2018. Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary’s Spiritual Guidance Seminar is a supervised program for people who want to become spiritual directors. It will be offered in a low-residency, hybrid format (both online and on campus) led by Dan Schrock, D.Min. Graduates of this training have used their skills not only in spiritual direction,…
Peacebuilding institute offers variety of courses
Registration is now open for the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. SPI 2018 offers two seven-day sessions and two five-day sessions, each with several courses running at the same time. Participants can take one course per session. Courses can be taken for professional skills training or academic credit. Courses are open to all people interested…
Promoting Healthy Boundaries
How can we make sure our congregations are safe places for everyone? In a blog post on the Mennonite Church USA website, Terry Shue, director of leadership development for Mennonite Church USA, said, “Recent episodes of ministerial misconduct in our system have again alerted us to the ongoing task of making our congregations a safe place for everyone — both…
Healthy Boundaries training required for credentialed leaders
Ohio Conference is providing Healthy Boundaries training for all credentialed persons in the Conference. This training will be offered three times during 2017-18: Dec. 9, 2017 — SpringHaven Counseling Center, Dundee (near Mount Eaton, Ohio) Jan. 13, 2018 — First Mennonite Church, Bluffton April 21, 2018 — Archbold area (specific location yet to be confirmed) The training will last from…
Conference deficit grows during September
Expenses outpaced receipts for the Ohio Conference during the month of September, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $25,067, including $21,417 in congregational giving. Total expenses for the month were $29,783, resulting in a -$4,716 operating balance for the month. At the end of September, the Conference’s year-to-date operating balance…
Website lists service opportunities for older adults
LANCASTER, Pa. — You’re 55 or older, and you want to put your faith into action. Wondering where to go? Visit Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) and Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC’s) newly created Anabaptist Service Opportunities Portal at ASOPortal.org to discover all the short-term, international service opportunities being offered by both EMM and MCC for volunteers ages 55 and older.
Seminar to focus on mental health
Central Mennonite Church in Archbold will host a free seminar, “Bipolar Disorder and Families: Genetics and Mental Health,” on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. Staff from the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, will be sharing research developments from studying Mennonites and the Amish. In addition, Wauseon resident Bev Miller will share about her personal…
Faith and values workshop planned
Everence is sponsoring a “Faith and Values in the Marketplace” workshop on Monday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Gardens at Homestead Furniture in Mt. Hope. Co-sponsors for this event are Mennonite Economic Development Associates and the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center. Speakers will include Beryl Jantzi, Everence stewardship education director; Ernest Hershberger, owner of Homestead Furniture;…