by Marathana Prothro, Mennonite Church USA
In an October 9 letter to Mennonite Church USA moderator Sharon Waltner, executive director Jim Schrag made official his plans to retire Nov. 30, 2009. He previously had discussed his plans with the entire Executive Board at its September meeting in Philadelphia. Schrag made the announcement public Oct. 19 at the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) meeting in Santa Fe, N.M. Executive Leadership staff and agency directors were informed prior to the CLC meeting.
“The time has come for me to express my desire to retire from this calling on Nov. 30, 2009,” Schrag wrote in the letter. “In the remaining year, I will continue to serve the cause of Christ through this office and under the direction of the Executive Board.”
The Mennonite Church USA Executive Board will establish a search committee to identify the next leader of Mennonite Church USA. According to Waltner, the committee “will work with deliberate speed, but without a deadline, to find the person who will help us move forward together in the next phase” of the denomination’s life and ministry.
Schrag’s plans to retire in November 2009 coincide with his 65th birthday and come after 35 years of ministry. His wife, Judy, retired earlier this year from teaching special education. Schrag has served in the executive director role since the transformation of Mennonite Church USA in 2001. He was project director for the transformation team from 1999 to 2001 and general secretary of the former General Conference Mennonite Church from 1996 to 1999.
Waltner said October 14 that Schrag has been a key leader and “steadying force” in the denomination’s formative years. His ability to ask difficult questions, she said, has helped Mennonite Church USA more fully embrace and live out its vision to share God’s healing and hope with the world.
“Jim has worked steadfastly to help Mennonite Church USA pursue its vision of becoming a missional church. His efforts have been tireless and sacrificial, and we are deeply grateful for his work,” Waltner said. “Jim was instrumental in the formation of Mennonite Church USA, a critical effort that we simply cannot overlook. The whole of Mennonite Church USA owes a significant debt of gratitude to Jim for his lifetime commitment to our church.”
Schrag’s professional career began in 1966 after he graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and married Judy Nickel the same year. He spent one year as a social studies teacher in Clay Center, Kan., before he and Judy took on a three-year term as teachers in Kenya through Mennonite Central Committee’s Teachers Abroad Program. Upon returning to the United States, the couple moved to Elkhart, Ind., where Schrag attended Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
Shortly after receiving his master’s of divinity degree in 1973, Schrag pursued what would become a 23-year calling to pastoral ministry. Beginning that year, Schrag spent 12 years as pastor of Tabor Mennonite Church in Newton, Kan. Then, in 1985, he began an 11-year stint as pastor at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio.
“I have been privileged to work shoulder to shoulder with many dedicated leaders across the church,” Schrag said. “I trust that our efforts together have resulted in a combined ministry that is a sign and foretaste of the Kingdom of God.”
One of the leaders Schrag has worked “shoulder to shoulder” with in recent years has also made known his plans for ending ministry with Mennonite Church USA. In July 2007, associate executive director Ron Byler made known to the Executive Board and Schrag his decision to complete his employment with Mennonite Church USA between July and December 2009. He has yet to determine the exact date his resignation will become official.
“When I was called to churchwide leadership in 1996 I didn’t think I would serve beyond the transition in 2001. But I learned that transformation is continuing in the church and so I accepted the call to continue,” Schrag said. “It has been both a challenge and a blessing to be in this ministry.”
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.