Newsletter includes info about MennoCon21

Wondering about this summer’s denominational convention? The latest MennoCon21 Newsletter includes information about this year’s convention, which will be a hybrid event with an in-person gathering in Cincinnati as well as an online option. The online experience will use a virtual event platform called Pheedloop, which is specially designed for conferences. Registration for MennoCon21 opens April 6. See the MennoCon21 Newsletter…

MC USA to hold virtual Delegate Assembly in July

The Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA has voted to hold the denomination’s biennial Delegate Assembly online due to uncertainty around COVID-19 gathering restrictions. Originally scheduled to meet in person on July 6-10, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Delegate Assembly will meet virtually on Saturday, July 10, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. While the 2021 MC USA Delegate Assembly will…

MennoCon21

MennoCon21 will be a hybrid event, with in-person programming in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as virtual programming. For more information, please see https://convention.mennoniteusa.org.

MC USA website has faith formation resources

Looking for faith formation ideas or curriculum? The Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) website now includes all the content from AnabaptistFaithFormation.org. You can find formation resources for people of all ages at MennoniteUSA.org/ff. One resource highlighted on MC USA’s Faith Formation page is a webinar focusing on children’s faith formation during this time of pandemic. The webinar, titled “It Can…

MC USA webinar offers ideas for children’s faith formation

By Ann Leaman Ohio Conference Resource Advocate How is your congregation handling faith formation for children during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you seeking ideas for working with children? Mennonite Church USA is hosting a webinar titled “It can be done! Children’s Sunday school during COVID-19.” This webinar will take place Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 2:30 p.m. EDT. If you haven’t…

MC USA leadership encourages discussion

Save the date: Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is planning a second webinar on the theme “Race, Church and Change.” This webinar is scheduled for July 23 at 6:30 p.m. EDT on both Zoom and Facebook Live. To register for this webinar, please go to https://bit.ly/RaceChurchandChange2. The first “Race, Church and Change” webinar took place on Thursday, June 25, and…

Convention planners seek proposals for seminars

Convention planners are seeking proposals for equipping seminars at MennoCon21, the Mennonite Church USA biennial convention slated to take place in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 6-10, 2021. The deadline for proposal submissions is Oct. 10, 2020. See https://bit.ly/MennoCon21SeminarProposals for more information.

‘Race, Church and Change’ is webinar theme

Save the date: Mennonite Church USA is planning a second webinar on the theme “Race, Church and Change.” This webinar is scheduled for July 23 at 6:30 p.m. EDT on both Zoom and Facebook Live. To register for this webinar, go to https://mcusa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JKz_I1rpS76YxM8QwSvRzg. The first “Race, Church and Change” webinar took place on Thursday, June 25, and featured a discussion…

MC USA releases video series about technology best practices

Mennonite Church USA has released a new video series, Technology Best Practices for Service, that offers best practices for holding virtual meetings and worship services, as well as effective technology tools for working from home. Created by Crystal Washington, a technology strategist and certified futurist, this series is broken into short videos that offer tips and suggestions for navigating today’s leading…

MC USA provides resources for responding to COVID-19

Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has compiled a variety of resources for individuals and congregations responding to the spread of COVID-19. Links to these resources can be found at http://bit.ly/RespondingtoCOVID-19. In addition to news from MC USA and church-related agencies, this web page has links to worship and devotional resources, information about livestreaming platforms, articles about caring and connecting with…

Conference shares recommendations regarding the coronavirus

In an effort to be cautious but not overanxious regarding the spread of the coronavirus, Ohio Conference offers the following recommendations for our congregations to follow at the present time: Limit the practices that could spread germs, such as the shaking of hands and hugs. Make hand sanitizer and/or wipes readily available, and encourage their use. Communion and other activities…

Learn, Pray, Join initiative looks at climate justice

Mennonite Church USA encourages people and congregations to focus on climate justice by highlighting prayers, resources and ways to get involved in February and March. This focus is part of MC USA’s “Learn, Pray, Join” initiative in partnership with Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN) and the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS). To learn more about this focus on climate justice, go…

How do we #BringThePeace? A conversation with Glen Guyton

How do we #BringThePeace to our communities? Mennonite Church USA Executive Director Glen Guyton says, “People say that we are a historic peace church, but I say, hey, we need to be a peace church of today.” Learn more about Mennonite Church USA’s #BringThePeace campaign by listening to this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast. While visiting Ohio this month,…

MC USA Executive Director is coming to Ohio

Come and meet Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA! On Nov. 24 Glen will visit First Mennonite Church in Bluffton and offer the sermon based on John 17:20-23. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Later that day, at 6:30 p.m., Glen will share his vision for the denomination at a reception in First Mennonite’s fellowship hall. All are invited…

Ohio Conference leaders share at Constituency Leaders Council

By Paula Snyder Belousek Assistant Moderator Conference Minister Dick Barrett, Moderator Lynn Miller and Assistant Moderator Paula Snyder Belousek presented information about the Ohio Conference during the Oct. 17-18 meeting of Mennonite Church USA’s Constituency Leaders Council in Glendale, Arizona. Each conference and constituency group gave 10-minute presentations over the two days of the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC). Each group answered…

An Update with Dick Barrett

After a hiatus of several months, the Ohio Conference Cast podcast has returned. In this episode host Thomas Dunn is joined by a guest co-host, Jacob Dodson, pastor of Wooster Mennonite Church, for a conversation with Conference Minister Dick Barrett. “I’m excited about the people we have in Conference….I’m excited about where God is leading us in the months and…

MC USA shares a call to prayer and action

Mennonite Church USA has shared a call to prayer and action in response to gun violence following the mass shootings in Gilroy, California; El Paso, Texas; and Dayton, Ohio. Along with a prayer of lament for the lives lost, the statement includes a list of suggested action items for churches and links to resources from Mennonite Central Committee and RAWtools.…

2019-2020 pastor salary guidelines now online

The 2019-2020 MC USA pastor salary guidelines are now posted on the Mennonite Church USA website at http://mennoniteusa.org/resources. This year there is a new link to the Everence website which will help pastors and/or congregational representatives complete the form, which can be printed out when completed.

MC USA offers Lent At Home guide

(Mennonite Church USA) — Get ready for a holy feast. The Lent At Home resource based on the theme “Blessed Hunger…Holy Feast” is available now with materials for exploring God’s abundance and the season’s themes. The materials begin with Shrove Tuesday on March 5 and continue through Easter Sunday on April 21. The theme and Scriptures in the Lent At Home materials…

MC USA video series looks at leadership, structure

Mennonite Church USA has recently posted three presentations on YouTube addressing the denomination’s leadership, structure and polity. These presentations are from the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) meeting which took place on Oct. 11-13, 2018, in Chicago. The three presenters are Michael Danner, associate executive director for church vitality and engagement; David Boshart, moderator; and Joy Sutter, moderator-elect. Use the links below…

MC USA News Service features Ohio Conference

A new feature article from the Mennonite Church USA News Service looks at the recent history of the Ohio Conference and explores the renewed sense of hopefulness in the Conference. You can find this article at http://bit.ly/OhioConferenceHopefulness.

Special delegate assembly for MC USA canceled

The Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has canceled the special delegate assembly which had been planned for Nov. 26, 2018. To learn more about this decision, please see the Letter to MC USA Delegates from MC USA Moderator David Boshart.

MC USA Executive Director coming to Ohio

Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, is coming to Ohio. He will visit Sharon Mennonite Church in Plain City on Sunday, Sept. 23. The day’s events will include worship with Glen Guyton preaching, a question-and-answer session with Glen Guyton, a cornhole tournament with lunch provided, and an evening meeting, “Talk Back and Conversation with Glen.” If you plan to…

Meetings with MC USA Executive Director Glen Guyton

MC USA releases ‘Pathways’ study guide

Mennonite Church USA has released a study guide, “Pathways,” to invite churchwide engagement in the denomination’s two-year Journey Forward process. The “Pathways” study guide, available online at http://mennoniteusa.org/resource/pathways-study-guide/, invites congregations and groups across Mennonite Church USA to engage in studying Scripture, singing, praying, storytelling, exploring Anabaptist history and values, and discussing how they see God working in their lives. The “Pathways”…

What’s holding us together? — Another conversation with Terry Shue

In this episode of the Ohio Conference Cast, hosts Bill Seymour and Thomas Dunn chat with Terry Shue, who recently completed his work with Mennonite Church USA as director of leadership development. Bill, Thomas and Terry discuss a wide range of topics, including (among other things) new staff members for Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite World Conference, and Terry’s hopes for…

Where does mission begin? Podcast explores MC USA, MMN and mission

Where does mission begin? With denominational leaders, at a mission agency, or in the local congregation? The guests on the latest episode of the Ohio Conference Cast encourage local congregations to be actively involved in mission. “We sense our call to walk alongside and empower churches to accomplish the vision that they have,” says Stanley Green, executive director of Mennonite…

Glen Guyton to be next executive director of MC USA

The MC USA Executive Board has announced that Glen Guyton will serve as the new executive director of Mennonite Church USA. He will begin a three-year term on May 1, 2018. To learn more, see http://bit.ly/MCUSAGlenGuyton.

Shue announces resignation from MC USA role

Mennonite Church USA — Terry Shue has announced his resignation from his position as MC USA director of leadership development. His end date will be no later than June 1, 2018. See the complete news release at http://mennoniteusa.org/news/shue-announces-resignation-executive-board-staff/.

Visual art sought for new hymnal

HARRISONBURG, Virginia — As the Resonate Team gathers material for a new hymnal, they are planning for a first-of-its-kind feature within Mennonite hymnals: including visual images that complement the musical and verbal rhythms of worship found in the collection. The Resonate Team is calling for visual artists to submit content to be considered for inclusion in the new collection. Interested…