By Jennifer Svetlik
The summer and fall months have brought numerous staff transitions for Mosaic Conference. These changes seek to respond to needs the Conference has identified as we continue to live more fully into our missional, intercultural, and formational priorities, through the Pathways Strategic Plan and the Vibrant Mosaic Program.
Departures:
Mike Clemmer ended his role as Leadership Minister in August 2024, a position he had served in for nearly nine years.
Mary Nitzsche will retire and end her role as Leadership Minister in September 2024. From 2017-2022 she served as Associate Executive Minister.
Conrad Martin will retire at the end of October after nearly 24 years serving as Mosaic’s Director of Finance and the FMC Properties Board’s Chief Operating Officer.
New Staff:
Javier Marquez began in July 2024 as Mosaic Conference’s first staff person in Colombia, serving as Communications Coordinator for Mosaico Colombia. In 2019-20 he worked as the Conference Communications Intern through Mennonite Central Committee’s International Volunteer Exchange Program.
Jaye Lindo began in August 2024 as Hospitality Coordinator, supporting the Vibrant Mosaic program, Mosaic Institute, and Assembly planning by coordinating logistics for events and classes, including travel and lodging.
Gary Alloway began in September 2024 as a Leadership Minister and serves as pastor of Redemption Church of Bristol (PA).
Tim Weaver began in September 2024 as an interim Leadership Minister and is a retired Chaplain from The Community at Rockhill (Sellersville, PA).
Paulus Thalathoti began in September 2024 as the incoming Director of Finance. He is the director of the Conference-Related Ministry Peace Proclamation Ministries International and a pastor.
Sue Conrad Howes who had previously served as Communication Team Lead and editor of Mosaic News from 2020 to January 2024, has returned temporarily as Assembly Registrar and Translation Coordinator.
New Roles for Current Staff
Danilo Sanchez, Mosaic’s Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation, and Emily Ralph Servant, Mosaic’s Leadership Minister for Strategic Priorities became the Co-directors of the Vibrant Mosaic Program in July 2024.
Brendan Sagastume became the Intercultural Communication Associate in August 2024, after his time as a summer Ambassador with Mosaic ended.
Brooke Martin became the Leadership Minister for Administration in September 2024, a change that reflects her increasing responsibilities for the growing staff and programing of Mosaic Conference.
Ertell Whigham, Leadership Minister, has increased his time in accompanying congregations in their missional, formational, and intercultural transformation.
“I’m so grateful for the gifts and commitments of our staff team,” shared Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister of Mosaic Mennonite Conference. “We have been blessed through the years of leadership and service of those moving toward retirement. Mike, Mary, and Conrad have been true servants and stewards of the church with a posture of hard work, deep care, and sincere humility.”
Kriss continued, “Our new staff members are also persons with deep experience and commitment. I’m grateful for the diversity of their gifts and their willingness to step in to the complexities and possibilities of Mosaic. We continue to be blessed with persons who feel a sense of call into our shared work together.”
The staff of Mosaic Conference is comprised of 26 full-time and part-time persons.
Conference staff accompany and support congregations, credentialed leaders, Conference-Related Ministries and ministry partners, serving over 100 affiliated Mosaic communities and ministries in nine states along with partnerships in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Staff members work regularly in English, Spanish, and Indonesian languages.
Jennifer Svetlik
Jennifer is Editor & Development Coordinator for Mosaic.
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.