by Jenn Svetlik
The recent months have unveiled a variety of staff transitions for Mosaic Conference. These changes seek to respond to needs that the Conference has identified as we continue to live more fully into our missional, intercultural, and formational priorities.
Departures:
Randy Heacock ended his role as Leadership Minister in October 2023, a position he had served in since 2017. As the staff gathered for a Christmas party in December, Heacock was affirmed by the staff and prayed over by fellow staff member Noel Santiago.
Sue Conrad Howes will end her role as Communication Team Lead and editor of Mosaic News at the end of January, a role she has filled since 2020. She will continue in her role as a chaplain at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation.
New Staff:
Andrés Castillo who began working on the communication and intercultural teams in November 2023, began a one-year full-time position as Intercultural Communication Associate in January 2024.
Stacey Mansfield began work with Mosaic in the summer of 2023, providing logistical and administrative support for the Annual Assembly. In December 2023, she began a role as Administrative and Hospitality Collaborator, supporting the work of credentialing leaders and Assembly planning.
Jennifer Svetlik became a member of the Communication team in September 2023. In January 2024, Svetlik is moving into an expanded role as Editor of Mosaic News.
New Roles for Current Staff:
Cindy Angela, who has served as Digital Communication Associate since September 2020, began as the Director of Communication in January 2024.
“My vision for the Communication Team is to continue to provide clear and effective communication of Mosaic’s priorities, making sure to listen intentionally to the different voices and perspectives across the conference,” shares Angela. “We’re such a diverse conference, and I see this as a strength.”
Emily Ralph Servant, who has served the Conference in a variety of roles since 2011, most recently as a Leadership Minister and the Dean of Mosaic Institute, began as the Leadership Minister for Strategic Priorities in January 2024.
Rose Bender Cook will, in February 2024, become the Leadership Minister for Formation, a role she has served in an interim way since October 2023. Since 2021 she has helped to lead Mosaic Institute.
“As a pastor, I am always thinking about formation for the congregation, but in this new role, I will be challenged to think more broadly about creating spaces where we can all be formed by the Word of God and the Spirit’s work in one another,” shares Bender Cook. “I anticipate getting to know congregations and seeing what God is already doing as well as learning what the needs are so we can respond accordingly.”
Eileen Kinch, an editor and writer on the Communication team, will move to the Administrative team in February 2024.
“The strength of Mosaic is committed people. In a time of fluidity and change, our staff is committed to accompanying our diverse communities with integrity and responsiveness” Executive Minister Steve Kriss says. “I’m grateful for both those who are finishing up their time as part of our staff and those who have said yes to increased or new responsibilities.”
The staff of Mosaic Conference is comprised of 22 full-time and part-time persons.
Conference staff accompany and support congregations, credentialed leaders, Conference Related Ministries and ministry partners, serving nearly 100 affiliated Mosaic communities and ministries in eight 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 Communication Associate/Editor for Mosaic. She was born near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in an intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA with her spouse, Sheldon Good. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and Washington Theological Seminary. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA). Jenn has two elementary-school-aged children and loves biking, camping, gardening, and vermicomposting with her family.