At the Fall 2026 Mosaic Mennonite Conference Delegate Assembly, delegates will be invited to affirm several Board members and Committee Chairs for three-year terms beginning in January 2027. Get to know each of these leaders and their roles below.
The Conference Board supervises the business of the conference, provides leadership to conference committees, and engages in strategic planning to ensure that the conference stays aligned with its vision and responds to the Spirit’s leading into areas of growth and change.
The Nominating Committee ensures that those who fill these roles reflect the gender, racial, cultural, geographic, and historic diversity of the Conference, while also embodying a high level of intercultural competency and diverse giftings.
JANET PANNING
Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA)
Role: Moderator
Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Janet Panning became a Christian at age 14. After graduating from Michigan State University, she was introduced to the Mennonite church through the Inter-Menno Program, and spent a year in the Netherlands. Janet and her husband Steve served with Mennonite Central Committee for nine years in Jamaica and three years in Kentucky. After returning from service, Janet spent 18 years helping resettle refugees through a Lutheran social service agency. She later worked for the Montgomery County Health Department, including serving as interim director during the COVID pandemic. She now works with the PA Lead-Free Promise Project, which seeks to reduce the impact of lead poisoning on Pennsylvania’s children. Janet and Steve have two adult daughters and three grandsons. The Pannings have been part of Plains Mennonite Church since 1987 and became members in 2004.
JESSICA CLOPTON ROBINSON
College Hill Mennonite (Tampa, FL)
Role: Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
Jessica Clopton-Robinson has served as Worship Leader at College Hill Mennonite Church in Tampa, Florida since 2017. Music has been an important part of her life for more than 30 years, and she enjoys creating spaces where people can experience God through worship. She also serves as a member of her church’s Council, contributing to the leadership, discernment, and overall life of the congregation. Professionally, Jessica brings more than 17 years of experience in the finance and insurance industry, with a background in claims, leadership, problem-solving, and helping people navigate difficult moments. She has served on the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Finance Committee since July 2023. She views stewardship as faithfully and transparently caring for what God has entrusted to us. Through music, leadership, fitness, and ministry, Jessica seeks to serve others, build authentic relationships, and use her gifts to strengthen the church and wider community.
WAYNE NITZCHE
Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA)
Role: Ministerial Committee Chair
Wayne Nitzsche’s roots are in the fertile soil of NE Nebraska. He keeps his connection to the land by returning to help with the fall corn harvest. He was baptized at age thirteen in the family-oriented Beemer Mennonite. After Hesston College, he spent two years in development work in Ghana. He completed an undergraduate degree at Goshen College and an MDiv at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Wayne has served in three Mennonite conferences in youth and conference ministry. His heart is in being a pastor, having served churches in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, retiring from Perkasie (PA) Mennonite after sixteen years. He recently completed a wonderful year as Bridge Pastor at Salford (PA) Mennonite. Wayne is married to Mary, former Associate Executive Minister, in Franconia and Mosaic Conferences. They have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.
GEORGETTE KOUTTJIE-PEREZ
Ark of Christ (Anaheim, CA)
Role: Member-at-Large, 1st term
Georgette Kouttjie-Perez serves at Ark of Christ in Westminster, California. She and her husband, Larry, live in Mission Viejo and have both spent nearly 30 years teaching mathematics in Southern California public schools. Having grown up in Indonesia, Australia, and the United States, Georgette brings a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and Christian community. Faith and ministry have been central to her life, including serving in music ministry at GKII Zion (affiliated with Southwest Pacific Conference), where her father was pastor. She looks forward to bringing her experiences in education, multicultural communities, worship, and ministry to her service on the Conference Board.
RON WHITE
Church of the Good Samaritans (Holland, PA)
Role: Member-at-Large, 1st term
Ron White was born in Jackson, Michigan and is a graduate from Purdue University. He has worked several jobs on the east coast in test engineering and systems engineering and currently works in Mt. Laurel, NJ as an Engineering Technologist for BAE System. Ron was the Eastern District Conference Moderator from 2011 to 2013. He is an Elder, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher, and the Everence Advocate at the Church of the Good Samaritans in Holland, PA.
Ron is married to Janet White, a retired Registered Nurse who worked at Germantown Hospital for 13 years and worked as a consultant in support and installation of medical software for 24 years.
At Assembly, the Nominating Committee will also make forms available for nominations for the role of Assistant Moderator, along with all Mosaic committees. All are invited to share their nominations with the committee at any time.
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.