by Jennifer Svetlik
More than 170 people gathered across the country and online this spring as Mosaic Mennonite Conference held a series of Spring Assembly gatherings designed to deepen relationships, explore shared identity, equip leaders, and receive feedback.
Throughout April and early May, seven Spring Assembly events took place in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and via Zoom, with an additional equipping session held in South Texas for Partners in Ministry from Colombia and Texas. These gatherings were offered in English, Spanish, and Indonesian, with interpretation provided in many settings.
Recognizing a widespread desire for more in-person dialogue, these regional assemblies offered a relational and formational touchpoint for Mosaic Conference participants. All credentialed leaders, 2024 and 2025 delegates, and any interested individuals were invited to participate. Unlike Mosaic’s fall Assembly, the spring gatherings did not include decision-making votes but focused instead on equipping and working toward greater clarity and a strengthened sense of identity.
“Meeting together with other South Florida Mosaic pastors and leaders in Lakeland for Spring Assembly was a very precious time,” reflected Pastor Pavel Gailans of Homestead (FL) Mennonite. “We are learning about shared spaces and how to welcome people where Jesus is already present to heal their broken lives. Thank you for the Spirit filled fellowship.”
Each Assembly opened with worship and prayer led by board members, who also shared Mosaic’s vision and mission. Conference staff introduced a sample lesson from the new core priority guides, tools being developed to bring some clarity and a common vocabulary around Mosaic’s vision, mission, and priorities, as well as to support Mosaic congregations in their formational, intercultural, and missional work.
Participants experienced a lesson from one of the three priority guides:
- Formational: Becoming like Jesus (shaped in the image of Christ)
- Intercultural: Loving like Jesus (transformed by relationships with others)
- Missional: Living like Jesus (engaged in the healing of the world)
Each lesson incorporated a circle reflection question, an encounter with scripture, and a spiritual practice.
Feedback from these sessions is informing the final versions of the guides, which congregations will be invited to use in Bible studies, small groups, retreats, or alongside sermon series to further their formational, missional, and intercultural growth.
In addition, congregations, partners in ministry, and Conference-Related Ministries who are exploring a connection or membership with Mosaic will be able to utilize these guides to better understand Mosaic Conference.
Equipping was also offered during the Assemblies on the concept of Centered-Set Church — a theological approach that orients community life around movement toward Jesus, rather than fixed boundaries of belief or behavior.
Staff members helped participants reflect on how this framework—characterized by high expectations, accountability, and wide welcome—can reshape church identity and witness. It was developed in a missional context, as a way of making it easier to reach out to people who are not yet part of the traditional church structure.
Leadership Minister Josh Meyer noted, “In a time when polarization and boundary-making often define the Church, equipping Mosaic leaders with a Centered-Set approach helps us orient around Jesus as the true center.”
He added, “Centered-Set theology reflects the heart of the Gospel — that discipleship is less about who’s ‘in’ or ‘out’ and more about walking together toward Jesus with humility, grace, and shared discipleship. We trust that mutual transformation comes as we fix our eyes on Christ and invite others to do the same.”
While many found the Centered-Set model compelling, participants also expressed a desire for more concrete examples of what it looks like in everyday congregational life—particularly in moments of tension, disagreement, or ambiguity.
Mosaic Conference extends deep gratitude to our hosts for these gatherings, for their hospitality and support: Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite, JKI Anugerah (Sierra Madre, CA), Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA), and Iglesia Menonita Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL).
Jennifer Svetlik
Jennifer is Director of Community Engagement & Editor for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA).
Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts or send a message to the author(s), contact us at communication@mosaicmennonites.org.
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.