Three congregations have withdrawn from Mosaic Mennonite Conference in recent months, each for different reasons and with different hopes for their future ministries.
In Philadelphia, Iglesia Cristiana Peña de Horeb concluded its membership in Mosaic and Pastor Dania Hernandez withdrew her ministerial credentials effective April 1, 2026. Over the past several years, the congregation has developed growing relationships with Spanish-speaking churches throughout Central and South America and has discerned a call to build an independent network of congregations.
Although Pastor Hernandez expressed deep appreciation for Mosaic Mennonite Conference and Anabaptist faith and practice, she and the congregation’s leaders determined that their evolving vision was best pursued outside the conference structure.
“I have enjoyed walking with Pastor Dania and the leaders of Peña de Horeb, and I pray that God will continue to bless them as they share the gospel of Jesus Christ and form support networks for pastors and congregations,” shared Leadership Minister Marta Castillo.
Deep Run West Mennonite in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, voted on February 8, 2026, to withdraw from Mosaic Conference with 90% support. Congregational leaders cited theological concerns, including disagreement with Mosaic’s approach to congregations that affirm LGBTQ inclusion.
Leadership Minister Jeff Wright expressed sadness regarding the congregation’s decision. “I wish that Pastor Rodger and the leadership at Deep Run West would have engaged with Conference leadership in a more formal discussion around their concerns,” he said. “I continue to hope that churches that self-identify as ‘conservative’ and churches that self-identify as ‘progressive’ can find ways to remain in mission together through a shared confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
A third congregation, Swamp Mennonite, arrived at its decision after several years of discernment and conversation. The congregation began discussing its fit within Mosaic in 2022 through conversations with its Leadership Minister and conference leaders. After more than two years of engagement at the leadership level, Swamp began exploring other Anabaptist communities in 2024 and entered a season of congregational prayer, conversation, feedback, and discernment. Through that process, the congregation concluded that affiliation with LMC was the direction that best fit its next season of ministry.
Swamp’s pastors shared, “We are grateful for our ongoing relationship with Mosaic as we have walked through this process of transferring our congregational membership.”
“We give thanks for the faithfulness, relationships, and witness we have shared together over the years with Swamp Mennonite,” shared Leadership Minister Josh Meyer. “As they begin this new chapter with LMC, our posture is one of blessing: we release them with gratitude, pray for their continued faithfulness to Jesus, and trust that the bonds we share in Christ remain larger than any conference affiliation.”
That spirit of blessing was reflected in Meyer’s prayer during Swamp’s May 31 worship service. In part, he prayed:
“Even as formal conference ties change, may the bonds of Christian fellowship continue. May there be no spirit of rivalry, resentment, or suspicion, but only the generous love of Christ. Teach us to bless one another freely, to release one another faithfully, and to trust that your kingdom is larger than any one congregation, conference, or institution.”
“We are disappointed in the withdrawals of these communities from Mosaic,” shared Executive Minister Stephen Kriss. “They remain our neighbors and friends in Bucks County and South Philadelphia. We hope that as they seek new alignments and relationships, the Spirit will continue to stir and bring life.”
Kriss observed that while the reasons for the withdrawals differ significantly, all three congregations are seeking greater autonomy and ministry relationships that they believe better fit their future direction.
“We will seek to live peaceably and open-handedly as Deep Run West continues to worship alongside Deep Run East; Peña de Horeb continues to worship in the meetinghouse of Indonesian Light Church; and as West Swamp and Swamp continue to be nearby neighbors in Quakertown though with different affiliations again.”
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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.