News & Stories
2023 Missional Workshop has been canceled
The 2023 Missional Workshop scheduled for April 15 has been canceled. Registration fees are being refunded.
Sharon work camp to focus on local service
Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City is hosting its annual work camp June 18-24. Work camp participants, middle school age and older, work at service projects in the local area. People from other congregations, both adults and youth, are welcome to participate in work camp. Youth work camp participants need to have finished at least sixth grade. Youth from other congregations…
Register for missional workshop by March 31
Update: This workshop has been canceled. All registration fees already paid will be refunded. The registration deadline for Ohio Conference’s missional workshop is approaching quickly! Do you have ideas for ministering to your community, but need motivation to begin making those ideas come to life? Then plan now to attend Ohio Conference’s 2023 missional workshop at the St. Francis…
Giving increases but deficit remains
Giving to Ohio Conference increased during February, but that increased giving did not completely eliminate the Conference’s year-to-date operating deficit. According to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth, receipts for the month totaled $47,672, including $45,248 in giving from congregations. Expenses for February totaled just $21,671, resulting in a surplus of $26,001 for the month. That surplus helped to…
New journal issue explores topic of ‘uncertainty’
The Spring 2023 issue of Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology, edited by Karl Koop, PhD, of Canadian Mennonite University, looks at uncertainty from personal, ecological, biblical and societal angles. Writers explore how to move away from self-centered conceptions of certainty and control and move toward notions of trust and mystery. You can download this free publication online at…
MWC requests prayer for victims of cyclone
Mennonite World Conference is requesting prayer for Anabaptist-Mennonite church members in Malawi and Mozambique who have been affected by Cyclone Freddy, an exceptionally long-lived tropical storm that battered the region for more than five weeks with heavy rains and high winds. See https://bit.ly/PrayerRequestCycloneFreddy for more details.
Summit Mennonite Church is meeting in new location
Summit Mennonite Church, formerly located in Barberton, is now meeting nearby in Norton. The congregation is renting space at the Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak, 3285 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Norton. Summit Mennonite’s email address is summit2mennonite@gmail.com. The congregation’s mailing address is as follows: Summit Mennonite Church, PO Box 296, Wadsworth OH 44282. To contact Summit Mennonite…
MDS March newsletter is now available
The March edition of On the Level is now available from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). In this issue: Executive Director Kevin King shares his experiences of working on an MDS project in Dulac, Louisiana; a home dedication in Kentucky provides visible reminders that God cares; and MDS Canada returns to Cape Bretton to repair damage from Hurricane Fiona. To read this…
‘Dealing with Crises’ is webinar topic
“It’s not a matter of if, but when a crisis will happen.” — Dr. Curt Bechler Anabaptist Communicators is hosting a webinar on the topic “Dealing with Crises.” This webinar featuring Dr. Curt Bechler, a specialist in crisis and conflict management, will take place on Thursday, March 30, from noon to 1 p.m. EST. The webinar is free to all,…
Relief sale board to hold kick-off meeting March 28
The Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction Board will hold its annual kick-off meeting Tuesday, March 28, at 6 p.m. This meeting will take place the home of board member Leroy Yoder at 1865 State Route 62, Wilmot, Ohio (located just outside of Winesburg). This year the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction will have a new date and new…
ACA report: Affiliation resolution not adopted
At the 2023 Annual Conference Assembly (ACA), a resolution for Ohio Conference to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA and become temporarily independent did not receive enough votes from delegates to be adopted. The Ohio Conference Leadership Team proposed the resolution to delegates on March 4 at ACA after several sessions of group spiritual discernment. Eighty-one delegates (54.7 %) voted to…
Study groups sought for Anabaptist Community Bible
HARRISONBURG, Virginia — The Anabaptism at 500 project is looking for 500 study groups from a broad spectrum of Anabaptist communities to participate in creating the first-ever Anabaptist Community Bible. People from all Anabaptist traditions are invited to form study groups and submit their insights for this once-in-a-generation project. Participating is easy. Volunteers can form their study group and register…
Check out these new Lenten resources
By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate 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-6. For more information about the Soil and The Seed Project, see https://www.thesoilandtheseedproject.org/about. Another resource for Lent comes from…
Church is not a democracy
By Dick Barrett Conference Minister I find myself writing this just a few days after our 2023 Annual Conference Assembly where the theme was “Rooted and Grounded in Love,” based on Ephesians 3:16-21. The Assembly was a time of good fellowship, worship and learning about different spiritual practices. It was also a time of hard work, as the delegates continued…
Ohio MCC Comforter Bash set for April 21-22
Mennonite Central Committee will hold the second annual Ohio MCC Comforter Bash on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22, in the recreation building at the Kidron Community Park, 4434 Kidron Road, Kidron. Everyone is invited to knot comforters for Mennonite Central Committee at this event. A handmade comforter provides not only warmth but also a tangible message to people that their…
Gilead Mennonite Church holds final service
On Jan. 29th Conference Minister Dick Barrett worshiped with Gilead Mennonite Church as the congregation worshiped together as a church for the last time. Located in the rural area of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, the church began in 1952 when several Mennonite families moved to the community with a desire to plant a church that was committed both to the Anabaptist/Mennonite…
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 Team, the Ministry Development Team, the Credentialing Ministry, the Stewardship Ministry and…
Pastor-Spouse Retreat to offer time and space for couples to rest, refresh and reconnect
Ohio Conference will hold a 2023 Pastor-Spouse Retreat Nov. 10-12 at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, about 32 miles south of Columbus. The theme of this weekend event will be “Fill My Cup.” This retreat has been designed to provide an affordable time away for pastors and their spouses. The retreat will offer…
What’s next after ACA 2023?
To: Ohio Conference credentialed ministers, delegates, and congregations From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: What’s Next after ACA 2023? Date: March 9, 2023 The Leadership Team of Ohio Conference would once again like to take the opportunity to thank all of our credentialed ministers, delegates and congregations for your active participation in the first year of our two-year review process…
ACA photos are online
Photos from the 2023 Annual Conference Assembly are posted online at https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos. You also can view them on the Ohio Conference Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OhioConferenceMCUSA. A brief summary video of ACA 2023 will be available by the end of this week. The video also will be posted on Facebook and at https://bit.ly/ACAPhotos.
Affiliation resolution at ACA not adopted
At last weekend’s Annual Conference Assembly (ACA), a resolution for Ohio Conference to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA and become temporarily independent did not receive enough votes from delegates to be adopted. The Ohio Conference Leadership Team proposed the resolution to delegates on March 4 at ACA after several sessions of group spiritual discernment. Eighty-one delegates (54.7 %) voted to…
Register by March 31 for missional workshop
Do you have ideas for ministering to your community, but need motivation to begin making those ideas come to life? Plan now to attend Ohio Conference’s 2023 Missional Workshop at the St. Francis Spirituality Center in Tiffin on Saturday, April 15. The theme of this interactive workshop is “Outward Church: Mobilizing the church wherever you are.” During this one-day workshop, teams…
Pastor-Spouse Retreat to be held Nov. 10-12
Ohio Conference will hold a 2023 Pastor-Spouse Retreat Nov. 10-12 at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, about 32 miles south of Columbus. The theme of this weekend event will be “Fill My Cup.” Cost for this retreat is $250 per couple. Registration is due by Sept. 1, 2023. For more information or to…
MennoCon23 registration has begun
Online registration is open for MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s (MC USA) leading faith formation event, at the Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center, July 3-6, 2023. Registration is also open for the Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, and the Delegate Assembly, July 7-8. Please see the MC USA website for more information and a registration link: https://bit.ly/MennoCon23Registration. The…
Development conference set for Oct. 3-5
The 2023 Everence Development Conference will take place Oct. 3-5 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This conference is a biennial event designed to equip fundraisers, development professionals, leaders and board members with the tools they need to fund and care for their organization’s mission and vision. Registration for this event opens on April 4. For more…
ACA delegates adopt resolutions of thanks
Ohio Conference’s Annual Conference Assembly took place March 3-4 at Central Christian School in Kidron. Delegates at Annual Conference Assembly adopted two resolutions of thanks during Saturday’s last business session. The resolutions are below: We thank Ohio Conference Staff, leadership, and Jeanne Zimmerly Jantzi for their work and support of Ohio Conference churches and pastors this past year. We appreciate…
A message to delegates from the Leadership Team
To: Ohio Conference Credentialed Ministers, Delegates and Congregations From: Ohio Conference Leadership Team Subject: Thank You and Update from 2023 Annual Conference Assembly Date: March 7, 2023 The Ohio Conference Leadership Team would like to thank all of our credentialed ministers, delegates and congregations for the hard work of Christian discernment that has taken place over the past year, beginning…
Delegate News – Here is a copy of the resolution which delegates voted on at the 2023 ACA
We have heard that many delegates would like the text of the resolution that delegates voted on at Annual Conference Assembly. Below is a copy of the resolution: Ohio Conference of Mennonite Church USA ACA Resolution March 4, 2023 RESOLVED, that Ohio Conference withdraws from Mennonite Church USA; RESOLVED, that Ohio Conference will amend its Constitution (which must be approved…
Check out these new Lenten 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-6. For more information about the Soil and The Seed Project, see https://www.thesoilandtheseedproject.org/about.
Giving to Conference increases in January
Giving to Ohio Conference increased during January, according to figures provided by Financial Coordinator Stan Helmuth. Receipts for the month totaled $40,911, including $14,769 in giving from individuals. Expenses during January totaled $29,671, resulting in a surplus of $11,240 for the month. Even so, as of Jan. 31, the Conference had an operating balance of -$44,212 for the current fiscal…