Noel Santiago, Executive Minister
Blaine Detwiler, Conference Board Chair
The Vision and Mission of Franconia Mennonite Conference is to: “Equip Leaders, to Empower Others, to Embrace God’s Mission” (E3) so that we have: “More and Better Leaders, Churches, Disciples and Connections.” (click) to view online document
Board Members:
* Blaine Detwiler, Conference Board Chair, Conference Moderator
* Randy Heacock, Conference Board Vice Chair, Conference Assistant Moderator
* Vina Krisnadi
* John Landes, Chair of Finance Committee
* Jim Laverty
* Karen Moyer
* Yvonne Platts
* Rina Rampogu
* Noel Santiago, Executive Minister
* Nelson Shenk, Chair of Ministerial Committee
Executive Committee Members:
* Rina Rampogu
* Randy Heacock
* Blaine Detwiler
* Noel Santiago
Purpose:
The Conference Board provides leadership when the Assembly is not in session. It seeks to ensure alignment with the vision and mission as affirmed by the Delegate Assembly. It also provides oversight to the Ministerial and Finance Committees.
The Executive Committee provides oversight leadership to the Executive Minister who is accountable to the Moderator.
2008 Updates/Activities:
This has been a year of transitions. With a new Executive Minister in place, staff has sought to live into the vision and mission affirmed by the delegates as framed in the Vision and Financial Plan Recommendations.
Through its various committees and staff teams, the Vision and Financial Plan Recommendation has been progressing. This will be part of the conferring time at this year’s assembly.
The Conference Board has met in various locations throughout the conference (Spruce Lake Retreat, Doylestown Mennonite Church, Lakeview) as a way to remain close to Conference Related Ministries and congregations’ life and ministries. Upcoming meetings will be held at Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church as well as Blooming Glen Mennonite Church.
Adjustments in Executive Committee meetings have included “skyping.” Skype is an Internet-based phone and video system that allows participants to meet from scattered locations. While this is used occasionally, face-to-face meeting remains the preferred way of gathering.
The Ministerial and Finance Committees updates that follow are a significant part of this report.
New this year are Ministry Updates from conference staff. We hope this provides you with a broader perspective on what conference leaders actually are involved in and the intersection between congregations, conference related ministries and partners in mission.
This year the Partners in Mission will be highlighted through workshops at Conference Assembly, as a way to share what has been happening with these exciting ministries. We note especially the relational connections that exist among many Franconia Conference congregations and these partners. There is much to celebrate even as we acknowledge that there is much more to do.
Gratitude:
As your Conference Board, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve you in this way. We remain humble and open to being transformed as God continues to broaden and deepen our community of faith as expressed through the new ministries, congregations and leaders of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, young adults and women among us.
We also cherish the faithfulness and legacy of those who have been faithful to God and God’s people over the generations in this region. We are seeking to bring forth into the future this spiritual inheritance that has been entrusted to all of us even as we make room for those that God is adding daily (Acts 2:47b).
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.