Pastors and conference leaders gathered at the Mennonite Conference Center for a resourcing time around managing conflict.  Rev. Dr. Barbara Moses, the principal of Philadelphia Mennonite High School, encouraged the leaders to take control of conflict situations in the only way possible: by controlling themselves.

Sheldon C. Good (Mennonite Weekly Review and Salford Mennonite Church) and Stephen F. Kriss (Director of Communication and Leadership Cultivation, Franconia Mennonite Conference) presented on “The Age Convergence: Practical Tools for Effective Inter-generational Leadership.” 

Sheldon and Steve shared personal experiences and best practices of working in inter-generational groups. A panel of intergenerational leadership teams fielded questions and told stories about what makes healthy and growing leaders rooted in missional, intercultural and formational values.

Stuart Murray Williams spoke on the core principles of Anabaptism, as outlined in his most recent book, The Naked Anabaptist. Stuart Murray is chair of the Anabaptist Network in the UK. Based in Bristol, England, he travels widely, consulting with Christian leaders and practitioners of more than twenty denominations in many countries. His areas of expertise include emerging churches, church planting, urban mission, mission after Christendom, and Anabaptist history and theology. Murray has also emerged as England’s leading interpreter of post-Christendom.

Also check out www.anabaptistnetwork.com

A Place to Call Home: Our New Immigrant Neighbors was the topic of the Pastors’ and Leaders’ Breakfast held on Wednesday, September 29, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Mennonite Conference Center in Harleysville.

Peter Pedemonti (New Sanctuary Movement, Philadelphia), Maria Byler (pastoral care staff member of Philadelphia Praise Center), and Bob Walden (Peace & Justice Committee and West Swamp Mennonite Church) led the conversation. Who are the new immigrants in our congregations and communities, and why did they come here? Starting from a biblical framework, the discussion addressed the difficult questions about our undocumented immigrants and provided an overview of immigration issues through personal stories of local immigrants. Also, there was a brief review of resources for sermons and group study.

Resource persons, Todd Hiestand and Scott Hackman, co-founders of MyOhai, led a presentation and conversation about how social media has impacted the way people engage in relationships and how to use it well in ministry, which is so relationally based.

Ted Swartz, creator of Ted & Company, is bringing his Peace, Pies, & Prophets Tour to eastern Pennsylvania next week.  In this episode of Connections, Ted talks about his roots in Franconia Conference, the heart behind his show “I’d Like to Buy an Enemy,” and the cool factor–which he may or may not have.