On August 2, 2025, the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board met in person in Lansdale, PA and online. Board member Kiron Mateti led a devotion around 1 John 4:15-19, a text which inspired the theme of “The Courage to Love”.
“Scripture gives us a simple truth—God is love, and perfect love casts out fear,” Mateti shared. “Like in my work as a software engineer, the simplest solution is often best. But we tend to complicate what could be clear and powerful.”
As part of their reflection, the board read excerpts of an interview from Mennonite World Conference General Secretary César García titled “The Courage to Love,” and discussed three guiding questions:
- What do we mean by unity?
- How is The Courage to Love guiding and shaping our thinking?
- How can we recognize our weaknesses in the midst of an uncertain future?
Strategic Plan and Program Updates
The board reviewed feedback from the June and July Board and Delegate conversations, and reviewed updates on multiple initiatives tied to Mosaic’s strategic plan:
- Priority Guides to be released this fall at the Delegate Assembly, offering tools for adult education, small group conversations, or a sermon series, focused on Mosaic’s identity and three priorities
- Learning/Living Mosaic podcast
- Affinity groups and use of circle process
- Vibrant Mosaic initiative, including the first Oasis gathering held in late May
- The Summer Ambassadors
“As we live into the strategic plan, we are finding more clarity in how we become, love, and live like Jesus together as Mosaic,” shared Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter.
“We are being mutually transformed by one another. This can be disorienting at times, and yet Jesus continues to faithfully lead and form us when we are faithful to the Spirit’s work amongst us.”
Fall Delegate Assembly Preparation
The board reviewed the overall schedule for the Fall Delegate Assembly:
- Delegate Equipping Event: October 31, 2025, at Zion Mennonite Church (Souderton, PA)
- Delegate Assembly: November 1, 2025, at Souderton Mennonite Church (PA)
The board also approved a hybrid participation model for the Fall Delegate Assembly. Congregations and Conference-Related Ministries with a mailing address that is 300 or more miles from the Mosaic office in Lansdale, PA and who have named delegates that both the congregation and their lead minister have determined are unable to travel in person to the Mosaic Delegate Assembly on November 1, 2025 are permitted to participate in worship and delegate sessions fully.
The board also shared updates and a time of prayer related to membership with Mennonite Church USA.
Welcoming New Congregations
Additionally, the board unanimously approved the request to receive three new congregations for membership with Mosaic Conference. They will be introduced in Mosaic News prior to the Fall Delegate Assembly:
- Iglesia Menonita del Cordero (Mennonite Church of the Lamb) of Brownsville, TX
- Iglesia Menonita Fuente de Agua Viva (Fountain of Living Water Mennonite Church) of Los Fresnos, TX
- Redemption Church of Bristol (PA)
Board members who have visited these congregations shared their experiences and the relationships being built.
Board Transitions and Committee Appointments
The board affirmed that Jim Musselman will serve a third term, which will begin in January 2026, as board secretary.
Newly approved members of the Credentials Committee are:
- Tomás Ramírez (Iglesia Menonita Luz y Vida [Orlando, FL]) – moving from Ministerial
- Kevin Opett (Church of the Good Samaritans [Holland, PA])
- Hilda Vinces (Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer [Souderton, PA])
- Viviana Ávila (Resplandece Mennonite [Pembroke Pines, FL, Colombia, and hybrid])
“The board took a number of historic and seemingly ordinary actions that represent the changing realities of what it means to be Mosaic,” reflected Executive Conference Minister Stephen Kriss.
“These include ensuring that there are enough Spanish-speaking committee members to work with our credentialing processes, creating guidelines for virtual participation in our fifth Mosaic Delegate Assembly, and granting membership to two Texas congregations and a Bucks County (PA) congregation. The decisions represent who we are and who we are becoming as a mosaic of people and communities in the way of Christ’s grace, justice and peace.”
Looking Ahead
The next board meeting is scheduled for September 15. Following that meeting, more details will be shared about the Fall Delegate Assembly. The board invites continued prayers for wisdom in discernment during this time.
Following the Sept. 15 board meeting, delegates will be asked to attend the delegate preparation sessions. Stay tuned for dates and locations that will be released soon!
Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact the author(s) of this article, please email 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.