Many Pieces, One Mosaic

by Rodger Schmell

When the Franconia and Eastern District (EDC) conferences began the process of coming together, some EDC board members were invited to serve on the new Mosaic Board. That’s how I found myself as an at-large member six years ago when Mosaic was in the process of being formed.

Looking back, I’m most proud of helping the two conferences unite. The merger wasn’t initiated from the top down; it was more like two people traveling side by side and realizing they’d fallen in love along the way. After years of working and worshiping near each other, it felt natural, and deeply satisfying, to come together under one umbrella.

For me, it was also personal. I pastor Deep Run West Mennonite (Perkasie, PA) and Deep Run East is just across the road. Years ago, there was a sense of them as the “old Mennonites” and us the “new Mennonites.” To see those divisions dissolve and to stand together again felt like brothers reuniting after years apart.

One of the most rewarding parts of serving on the board has been building relationships across the conference. I already knew several people from the Franconia side, but after the merger we became like family. The challenge came later, especially after Mennonite Church USA’s 2022 resolution that encouraged Mosaic to reexamine our denominational affiliation. It’s been a season of tension for those who wanted to stay, those who wanted to leave, and for the various reasons that have been part of congregations’ stances on affiliation.

At first, I thought the affiliation questions was mainly about human sexuality, but over time that has faded into the background as other issues took center stage. My biggest concern is that we have talked around our theological differences related to human sexuality, but not through them. I believe that will be Mosaic’s next challenge, to face those conversations honestly together.

My decision to step down after two terms comes partly from personal reasons. Life is full; my father passed away, my mother needs more care, and I’m serving as executor for their estate.

But it’s also time for new voices at the table. Mosaic is intentional about board representation reflecting the demographics of our congregations. We need all perspectives represented in leadership.

During my time on the board, we’ve welcomed many new congregations, from Florida, including Homestead Mennonite where I once attended, to California, and beyond. A number of BIPOC congregations have joined. Their energy and perspectives have added flavor to the Mosaic “stew.” Some larger congregations have left, and some smaller ones have joined—but to see that Mosaic is now about 50% BIPOC is remarkable. And to see that diversity reflected on the Board itself has been meaningful.

One of my favorite memories was our 2020 board retreat in the Poconos, where we gathered outdoors (because it was during the COVID-19 pandemic) to craft Mosaic’s mission and vision statements. We brainstormed and listened well to each other. These statements were not something any one person could’ve come up with on their own. Each person brought their identities, backgrounds, and perspectives to the table. When we reached unanimous agreement, it felt sacred and reminded me of the creation story: “God saw all that was made, and it was good.”

Through all the ups and downs, God has always been faithful. God shows up in different ways for different people, but always consistent with God’s character, creativity, and care for the flock.

If my view of leadership has changed, it’s in realizing that Anabaptists sometimes lean too far toward being “nice.” Good leadership needs balance, with neither authoritarian nor hands-off approaches. We often may err too much on the side of grace; we should also be ready to speak truth in love. People deserve clarity as well as compassion.

As I leave the board, my prayer for Mosaic is simple: that Mosaic can have unity amid our diversity. My encouragement to all within Mosaic is this: trust the process and the people God has called to lead. Keep asking your questions, keep engaging, and keep trusting that God is still at work among us. Many people see only a small piece of the work being done; there’s so much that happens behind the scenes through prayer, fasting, and faithful conversation.