Over 300 people gathered for Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s annual Assembly on November 1, 2025, at Souderton (PA) Mennonite’s meetinghouse. Centered on the theme “Be My Witnesses” (Acts 1:6-8), the day opened with worship and opportunities to deepen relationships (a report on more of the Assembly, including worship, is available here).
During the morning delegate session, attendees shared communion, recognized board and committee members, and affirmed incoming board members and committee chairs:
- Roy Williams, Conference Moderator (3-year term, beginning Jan. 2026) (College Hill Mennonite, Tampa, FL)
- Janet Panning, Assistant Moderator (3-year term, beginning Jan. 2026) (Plains Mennonite, Hatfield, PA)
- Jim Musselman, Board Secretary (3rd term, beginning Jan. 2026) (Zion Mennonite, Souderton, PA)
- Haroldo Nunes, at-large member (1st term) (Resplandece Mennonite, Florida, Colombia and hybrid)
- Jenny Fujita, at-large member (1st term) (Blooming Glen [PA] Mennonite)
- Lucy Hananto Parsono, at-large member (2nd term) (International Worship Center, San Gabriel, CA)
- Michael Howes, Ministerial Committee Chair (1st term) (West Swamp Mennonite, Quakertown, PA)
- Lindy Backues, Conference-Related Ministry Committee Chair (1st term) (Philadelphia [PA] Praise Center)
- Emmanuel Mwaipopo, Intercultural Committee Chair (1st term) (Nueva Vida Norristown [PA] New Life)
Board Recommendation on Affiliation
The Mosaic Executive Committee shared with delegates the rationale for the recommendation “to discontinue Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s membership with Mennonite Church USA and cultivate healthy mutual partnerships with Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite World Conference, and other Anabaptist communities.”
“The board does not make this recommendation lightly,” said Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “For some of us the relationship has been healthy, and we are experiencing significant loss and disorientation, and for others of us it has been painful, and we were ready to discontinue membership last year. Our task as your leaders is to make a recommendation on what is best for the whole of Mosaic.”
Moyer Walter noted that efforts to explore new partnership structures with MC USA revealed significant tensions. “Our current membership excludes too many and cuts us off from relationships that are emerging and flourishing,” she said. “When we addressed these issues with MC USA, we were met with dismissiveness, minimization, and rigidity rather than creative collaboration.”
“MC USA counseled reconciliation, and that requires all parties involved to be willing to be honest, listen to understand, and make the necessary changes for healing to take place. MC USA has remained rigid in their responses to us, telling us what to do rather than finding solutions together, and writing letters rather than speaking to us face to face.”
Assistant Moderator Roy Williams added, “This has been a sad year because MC USA is no longer what I helped put together in the late 90s. From the start, it needed tending and updates because there were so many concessions that were made for it to get off the ground. But they never happened. Now they are in desperate need to update their structures, but rather than working with us to find solutions, they chose to stick with those structures….We cannot allow their rigidity and unwillingness to navigate the changing demographics in the church and world to negatively influence the health and life we find in Mosaic.”
Delegates engaged in table conversation around the board’s recommendation around affiliation, and table leaders were invited to report back what was shared within their groups.
“It is decision time,” shared Jeannine Adams of Garden Chapel (Victory Gardens, NJ), “Going forward, we need to listen, whatever happens, and the leadership at all levels needs to listen and be supportive.”
In the afternoon, delegates were asked to vote on the board’s recommendation, using a green-yellow-red system. Of the 165 delegates from congregations and Conference-Related Ministries (CRMs), 64% of delegates voted “green” (affirm the recommendation); 10% voted “yellow” (yield to the recommendation); 23% voted “red” (do not affirm); and 3% abstained (according to Mosaic Conference bylaws, abstentions are counted as “no” votes).
With 74% overall support, the vote passed—exceeding the two-thirds majority required for bylaw changes.
Before announcing results, Leadership Minister for Missional Transformation Noel Santiago invited reflection, “Our story together is larger than any one decision. Whatever we may feel—joy, grief, anger, uncertainty—God welcomes that and holds us in mercy and grace. When the results are announced, we invite everyone to hold this time gently, letting our response be quiet and prayerful, so we can stay attentive to God and to one another.”
Moving Foward
Following the vote, Williams, who begins his term as Moderator in January 2026, affirmed his commitment: “I am trained to serve where I am called, and I will do that with Mosaic.”
Executive Minister Stephen Kriss thanked delegates for their discernment and acknowledged the gravity of the moment. “We have done serious and historic and painful work today,” he said. “I am committed to us living into our vision and mission, and to creating space where you all can flourish as communities and individuals.”
Kriss emphasized that congregations who wish to maintain a connection to MC USA should inform their leadership minister. “We will work alongside congregations who wish to maintain that connection, and I am committed to helping those congregations who wish to maintain dual memberships to have that option even though it does not currently exist in our bylaws.”
He highlighted the spirit in which Mosaic hopes to move forward: “We will continue to be people of Christ’s peace. We will continue to have to work at difficult things. This gives us space and challenge to continue to navigate who God is calling us to be.”
Calling the outcome a “both/and vote,” Kriss noted that the decision was not only to end membership but also to build new, healthy partnerships. “The work for us now is to stay at the table and extend those relationships further.”
Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s formal discontinuation of membership with MC USA took effect on November 3, 2025.
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.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish) Indonesia (Indonesian)
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish) Indonesia (Indonesian)