News & Stories
Delegate News – Winter 2017
Three regional meetings scheduled Ohio Conference has scheduled three regional meetings for delegates to Annual Conference Assembly. The meetings will take place at these locations: Feb. 21 — Tedrow Mennonite Church in Wauseon Feb. 23 — Crown Hill Mennonite Church in Rittman March 7 — Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty All three meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.…
Cliff Brubaker reports on his conversations with congregations
In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn check back in with Regional Pastor Cliff Brubaker to get an update on his conversations with church leaders from around the Conference. Cliff also talks about the Feb. 2 meeting for pastors. Improving relationships is an important goal of both of these endeavors. https://media.blubrry.com/3716337/ohiomennoniteconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Cliff-Brubaker-Second-Interview.mp3Podcast:…
MDS offers Summer Youth Program
The Summer Youth Program (SYP) of Mennonite Disaster Service is now accepting applications. The SYP is a weeklong summer service experience designed for youth and their sponsors to put hands and feet to the gospel by serving others. SYP work is focused on cleanup, disaster mitigation, and repairing homes. The 2017 SYP locations are Detroit, Michigan; Pine Ridge, South Dakota;…
Planners encourage young adult attendance at missional conference
Have you registered for the Missional Conference with Alan and Debra Hirsch? The conference will take place at Kidron Mennonite Church March 23-24, just prior to Annual Conference Assembly. Planners of this event would like to encourage all congregations to cover the cost of registration for their young adults interested in attending. Young adults up to age 30 already receive…
Year of Covenant Meeting for Pastors set for Feb. 2
The third Year of Covenant Meeting for Pastors will take place Thursday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Toledo Mennonite Church. Pastors of Ohio Conference congregations will meet for a day of discussion. The first two Year of Covenant meetings have focused on the nature of covenant making and on the mission of God as a backdrop for…
Deficit continues, but giving in December is up
Giving to the Ohio Conference in December was stronger than in any other month of the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to figures provided by Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Total receipts for the month of December were $42,212, including $8,950 in year-end giving from individuals in response to an appeal from Conference leadership. Our thanks go out to all those…
Remembering Naomi Engle: A tribute
By Regina Wenger Naomi sang. Her voice exhibited confidence and a rich tonality. It was the first thing I noticed when Naomi and I sang together in choir. We were both second sopranos, but it was clear which one of us was the superior vocalist. I’ve always had to work to distinguish harmonies, whereas Naomi exhibited a well-practiced ease at…
Worship resourcing seminar coming to Kidron
Sonnenberg Mennonite Church in Kidron will host a worship resourcing seminar on Saturday, May 6. Primary speaker for the day will be Rachel Miller Jacobs, assistant professor of congregational formation at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. The day also will include workshops. The seminar is for people of all ages, but especially for young adults (high school and…
MCC seeks SWAP location coordinators
Mennonite Central Committee is seeking location coordinators for the Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) site in West Virginia. The location coordinators have overall responsibility for the implementation of the SWAP program within McDowell County. SWAP provides week-long service opportunities for young people and adults, mainly during the summer months, but also some in the spring and fall. The primary focus…
Everence plans clergy tax seminar
Everence is inviting all Ohio Conference pastors to participate in a clergy tax webinar with other pastors from around the country on Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 11:45 to 1:30 p.m. This webinar will take place via a Zoom conference call. Ohio pastors will meet in the conference room of the Everence building at 4136 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio. Lunch will be…
Remembering Naomi Engle
Naomi Engle, who pastored West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon along with her husband, Jess, passed away mid-day on Jan. 1, 2017. Naomi served as chair of the Ohio Conference Credentialing Ministry and was a member of the Ohio Conference Leadership Team from 2011 until late last year after she was diagnosed with brain cancer. An obituary can be found…
AMBS to offer !Explore program for youth
This summer Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, is offering !Explore, a theological program for high school youth in grades 11 and 12. This program includes both congregational experience and a group experience on the AMBS campus. Registration deadline is Feb. 1. To learn more, see http://bit.ly/AMBSExplore.
Ohio Mennonite Women seeking new board members
Attention all women! We are looking for women to serve on the Executive Board of Ohio Mennonite Women. We seek women who believe in our mission to connect Mennonite women in Ohio by planning meaningful spiritual and social events. We coordinate opportunities for women to support missions both locally and globally. Please consider serving in this way. Thank you. Several positions are currently vacant: Vice-Chair/Chair-elect,…
Conference deficit increases during November
Ohio Conference’s financial deficit increased during the month of November, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month were $21,055, and expenses totaled $22,562, resulting in a net loss of -$1,507 for the month of November. For the first eight months of the fiscal year, receipts have totaled $174,781, and expenses have totaled…
2017 convention to offer increased accessibility for persons with disabilities
Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) and planners for Orlando 2017 are collaborating to provide increased accessibility for persons with disabilities attending next summer’s biennial Mennonite Convention, July 4-8 in Orlando, Florida. ADN will serve as the information center and point of access for accessibility services to assist the new convention accessibility coordinator and volunteers. Various accessibility services are planned: Printed maps…
Year of Covenant Meeting postponed
The third Year of Covenant Meeting for Pastors, originally scheduled for Jan. 12, 2017, has been postponed until early February. Pastors will meet Thursday, Feb. 2, at Toledo Mennonite Church.
How does Ohio Conference work?
Podcast hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn are giving listeners something special in the Christmas edition of the Ohio Conference Cast — the chance to win a $25 gift card. To learn more about the contest, listen to this podcast episode, titled “How does Ohio Conference work?” All entries are due by Thursday, Jan. 5. Send your contest entry to…
The Mennonite features online Advent devotions
The Mennonite is featuring online devotions each day during Advent. To see them, go to https://themennonite.org/category/advent.
Men’s Retreat to focus on sharing faith
Church consultant J. David Eshleman will be the speaker at the annual Men’s Retreat at Camp Luz in Kidron March 31-April 2. During the weekend, David Eshleman will focus on material from his newest book, Share the Irresistible Story of Jesus. In the preface to the book, Eshleman states that his purpose is “to motivate Christians and churches to make…
Conference deficit increases during October
Ohio Conference’s financial deficit increased during the month of October, according to figures provided by Ohio Conference Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month were $24,732, including $24,617 in giving from congregations. Expenses for the month totaled $29,266, resulting in a net income of -$4,534 for October. For the first seven months of the fiscal year, receipts have totaled…
New book focuses on evangelism
David Eshleman, who has worked with Ohio Conference congregations to provide revitalization resources, has written a new book, Share the Irresistible Story of Jesus, published by ChurchSmart Resources. Many Christians feel free to talk about the weather, news, cars, sports, or their job but have difficulty verbalizing their faith. Share the Irresistible Story of Jesus seeks to help Christians to…
Everence resource focuses on generous living
By Lois Bontrager Ohio Conference Resource Advocate Here’s a great resource from Everence: Generous Living in a Self-Centered World: Biblical Models of Generosity. This resource is a six-week course in which you will be introduced to a variety of generosity models found in scripture. Our challenge as 21st-century followers of Jesus is to take the lessons described in scripture, understand their context…
LEAD3D focuses on youth leadership
Do you know a junior or senior in high school with budding leadership potential? LEAD3D (Discover, Develop, Disciple) is the leadership development program just for them! During two weekend retreats at Camp Luz in Kidron, students will evaluate their natural leadership tendencies, learn about principles of Christ-centered leadership and take steps toward discovering and developing a personal leadership style. Intentional…
Stories shared at Fall Mission Events
People from all across the Ohio Conference came to three regional gatherings to talk about how God is working in their congregations and communities. Jubilee Mennonite Church in Bellefontaine, Central Mennonite Church in Archbold and Berlin Mennonite Church hosted the three Fall Mission Events in October and November. These events are part of the Ohio Conference Year of Mission, which…
What happens at the Constituency Leaders Council?
Twice a year representatives from each conference in Mennonite Church USA meet as the Constituency Leaders Council, also known as the CLC. But what actually happens when this group of about 70 people gets together? In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Thomas Dunn and Bill Seymour talk to Ohio Conference Regional Pastor Ralph Reinford about the latest…
Bluffton junior explores vocation and faith in Guatemala
Bluffton University — During the summer of 2016, Blake Hershberger ’18, an international peace, justice and conflict studies major from Canton, Ohio, immersed himself in the Guatemalan culture. Hershberger, a member of Beech Mennonite Church in Louisville, lived in Guatemala City for one month with the aid of a $1,500 Summer Discovery Grant awarded by Bluffton University to students who are…
Calling and caring for pastors
By Ralph Reinford Regional Pastor As a regional pastor, a fair amount of my time is spent working with congregational search groups and looking for new pastors. These are uncertain times, and I often get asked if there are available pastors. I also get asked why anyone would want to be a pastor. It is obvious to me that God…
Pastors meet for Year of Covenant discussion
Pastors from around the Ohio Conference gathered Sept. 28 at Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Hartville for a Year of Covenant meeting. David B. Miller, associate professor of missional leadership at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, was the presenter. Covenants contain both privileges and commitments, but it is the commitments which tend to be neglected, Miller said. He noted that in…
Webinar to focus on racial justice
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary will be offering a webinar titled “Changing the Way the Church Views Racism” on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Drew Hart, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology at Messiah College, will provide concrete practices for churches committed to journeying toward solidarity with the oppressed and committed to racial justice. See http://bit.ly/AMBSWebinars for more information.
Camp Luz to host Mother-Daughter Retreat
Camp Luz is hosting a Mother-Daughter Retreat Jan. 20-21. Rhoda Steiner will be speaking on the topic “Radical Faith from a Resting Place.” Visit www.campluz.com for more information and registration forms.