Mosaic Mennonites

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Anabaptism at 500: What Anabaptism Means to Me – December 2025

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As Mosaic Mennonite Conference commemorates the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism in 2025, here is the final installation of a variety of Mosaic voices reflecting on the question, “What does Anabaptism mean to me?” 


Submission from

Pastor Ertell Whigham, Mosaic Conference Leadership Minister

As a Christian who was a Marine combat veteran, focusing on what it means to be Anabaptist demands serious reflection on both the call (designation) and conviction.  

I am moved to think deeply about both peace and nonresistance. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have a responsibility to examine my views on Just War theology. 

Aside from the most obvious values of Anabaptism such as community, discipleship, service, and my personal challenge for deeper, transformative intercultural connection, being Anabaptist convicts me to surrender to the teachings of Jesus.  

Despite what I’ve lived and experienced in various battlegrounds of bias and cultural exclusion within the Anabaptist community, the tenets of Anabaptism continue to influence and encourage me to reflect on the life of Jesus and what he calls and enables me to be. 
 
In the simplest terms, Anabaptism calls and convicts me for peace and nonresistance no matter the battleground. It invites the Holy Spirit to help me be authentic in my expression that Jesus is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life. 


Submission from

Pastora Dania Hernández, Peña de Horeb (Philadelphia, PA) 

En mis propias palabras, el anbautismo significa amor rotundo. Rebautizados era como se llamaba aquellos cristianos que durante la Reforma rechazaron el bautizo de niños. Demostraron valentía y amor hacia el Evangelio porque sabían que tendrían que pagar con sus propias vidas y familias. También creemos en un solo Dios, Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo. Creemos que la salvación es por gracia y que podemos aprender de los demás si somos amables y tratamos de seguir a Jesús. Para mí, el anabaptismo es el amor que practicamos. Amo esta comunidad de fe, como Jesús es el centro de nuestra vida. Esta comunidad me abrió los ojos hacia otras culturas, razas e idiomas. Hoy, como anabaptista, me siento comprometida a seguir honrando a Dios y a todos nuestros mártires. 

English translation: In my own words Anabaptism means absolute love. Rebaptized was what the Christians were called who during the Reformation rejected baptizing children. It showed courage and a love of the Gospel because they knew they would have to pay with their own lives and family. We also believe in one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that salvation is by grace, and that we can learn from others as we are kind try to follow Jesus. For me Anabaptism is love that we practice. I love this community of faith with Jesus is the center of our life. This community opened my eyes to other cultures, races, and languages. Today as an Anabaptist I feel committed to continue honoring God and all our martyrs.  


Submission from

Steve Lindsey, CEO of Garden Spot Communities, affiliated with Conference-Related Ministry Frederick Living (Zieglerville, PA). 

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.   

Honoring the Trailblazing Women in Ministry

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by Donna Merow

When I saw the announcement about the Women in Ministry presentation at the Mosaic Conference-Related Ministry Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville, PA), I rearranged my schedule to be there. 

Mary Nitzsche introduced the oral history project she and Beth Yoder began in 2022. As their ministerial careers were winding down, they had the time and recognized the need to gather and preserve the stories of women in the former Franconia and Eastern District Conferences, now in their 70s and 80s, who “plowed the ground” for women in leadership. Several of these trailblazing women had already passed, so they wasted no time in formulating questions, scheduling visits, and conducting interviews. 

During the event, Yoder and Charlotte Rosenberger shared the history of what became the Franconia Women’s Council on Leadership. The movement began in April 1987, when a group of women began gathering monthly on Saturday mornings at Souderton (PA) Mennonite to share their stories and gifts, to support one another, and to challenge existing limits. They were mothers, teachers, professors, social workers, students, writers, counselors and those in ministry. Together, they wrestled with finding a name, claiming an identity and defining their purpose.  

Drawing from meeting minutes, journal entries, and sermons, Yoder and Rosenberger captured the spirit of that era, when issues such as the head covering were debated in various venues. 

Following their presentation, three women in leadership offered first person accounts: Marty Kolb-Wyckoff (the first women ordained by Franconia Conference); Donella Clemens (who moved from local church ministry to positions in the conference and denomination); and Charlene Smalls (the first African American woman ordained by Mosaic Conference who serves at Ripple Church [Allentown, PA] and Alpha [NJ] Mennonite). Each woman brought a distinct voice to the morning.  

Marty Kolb-Wyckoff speaks to those gathered. Photo by James Mast.

After two painful failed candidacy experiences, Kolb-Wyckoff was called as pastor at Taftsville (VT) Chapel Mennonite Fellowship in 1987 and ordained in 1990. Clemens, an inquisitive child, fondly remembered asking her farmer father theological questions while they tended cows together. Smalls shared how her baptism was delayed 20 years because of a hole in the baptismal pool. She credited her three grandmothers for shaping her into the woman of faith standing before us. 

Certain themes also wove these stories together. Supportive men were named, such as Willard Swartley, Richard Detweiler, Duane Kauffman, and Merlin Hendrick. Other pioneer women were also mentioned, like Polly Ann Brown, Barbara Shisler, Helen Lapp, Mary Jane Hershey, and Dawn Ruth Nelson.  

Themes of doubt and disappointment, patience and perseverance, and a willingness to experiment, explore, take risks, and change course were recurrent. Several women expressed the tension they felt between their deep commitment to motherhood and a restlessness of spirit often prompted by others’ observations and questions. 

I wasn’t the only one in the audience who has been a direct beneficiary of the groundbreaking efforts of these courageous women. Hearing their stories was an inspiring reminder of the faith, hope and love of our foremothers, which continues to shape us today. 

Donna Merow

Donna became a Mennonite when she was rebaptized at Methacton (PA) Mennonite in 1979. She began attending Ambler (PA) Mennonite while teaching at Germantown Academy and was called as pastor there in 2009.  She left in 2018 for a chaplain residency program at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. At the conclusion of her residency, she served as director of pastoral care at Conference-Related Ministry Living Branches. She returned to Danville in 2022 to accept a pediatric chaplain position and regularly interacts with fellow Anabaptists (Amish, Old Order and other Mennos, German Baptist Brethren).  She maintains her membership at Methacton Mennonite.

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 Lamb in the Briar: A Soul Journey to Zurich

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by James Mast

Editor’s Note: This reflection was originally published in Conference-Related Ministry Dock Mennonite Academy’s The Lamplighter in Fall 2025 and reprinted with permission.  

Why did I go to Zurich?

In some ways, my reasons were probably like the 4,000 other Anabaptists from around the world who made the journey: I wanted to be in the place where our story began. And perhaps, like many of them, I wanted to find myself within that story.

I care deeply about stories. They don’t just describe life—they shape it. The stories we tell—about ourselves, about the world, about God—are the golden road to meaning. And meaning matters. It answers the why of our lives—not just the how or what, but the why.

In the months leading up to my trip, I began to wonder: What is the fundamental Anabaptist story? Is there such a thing? And if so, how can I better understand it—not just for myself, but for my community?

Because if there’s a shared story, then perhaps there’s also a shared psyche—a collective inner-world shaped by that story. And what does that story say about how we face suffering, evil, and death?

Some of us have looked to the Gospels. Others to church history. As a psychotherapist, I brought one more lens: psychoanalysis.

That’s why I spent part of my time in Zurich meeting with Jungian analysts—to explore whether the Anabaptist story could be approached through the deep language of symbol and psyche. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded this school of thought, took the idea of God more seriously than any other branch of psychology I’ve encountered. One of Jung’s key insights is that symbols are not just created by people—they emerge from people. They carry numinous meaning.

I began asking fellow Mennonites: what images or stories come to mind when you think of our people? Two symbols stood out to me—symbols that I believe speak deeply to the Mennonite soul.

The first is the lamb caught in the briar. The lamb suggests: Innocence, Goodness, Life, Sacrifice, Jesus himself. And the briar? Pain, Entrapment, Helplessness, The inescapability of suffering. 

This image feels essential. That which is innocent is caught in something painful. It’s a visual parable of the human condition. No matter how faithfully we live, suffering still finds us. No one is immune to illness, grief, injustice, or betrayal. The question becomes: how do we respond to the thorns?

For Anabaptists, that question isn’t theoretical. The early Anabaptists in Zurich were tortured, drowned, and burned at the stake. The persecution was so thorough that when thousands of us returned to Zurich this year, many residents had never even heard of the Anabaptists. 

Out of that trauma emerged another symbol: the Martyrs Mirror. It’s more than a book—it’s a memory vault. A soul-map of suffering and faith. Many people I spoke with named it as one of the defining artifacts of our tradition.

While visiting historic sites—places of exile, execution, and outlawed baptisms—I also met with Dr. Renate Daniel, a Jungian analyst who specializes in interpreting mythic stories. Naturally, we discussed Dirk Willems.

You know the story: Dirk escapes prison across the ice. His pursuer falls through. Dirk turns back to save him—only to be captured again and executed.

When I shared the story, Dr. Daniel paused and said, “Isn’t this also a story of evil triumphing? A good man died.”

That stopped me. 

Because yes—it is a story of love and courage. But also… a good man died. Joel Nofziger, director of the Conference-Related Ministry the Mennonite Heritage Center (Harleysville, PA), reminded me that even among the brutal stories in the Martyrs Mirror, Dirk’s story stands out as particularly gruesome. 

So, which is it? Evil triumphing, or love triumphing?

The answer, I think, is: both. And perhaps that’s what makes it a true symbol. It doesn’t resolve neatly. It holds paradox.

Fast forward to May 29. Roughly 1,200 Anabaptists gathered in the Grossmünster—the very church where our ancestors were once condemned. 

It was emotional. I don’t know if you watched it online, but being there was something else entirely. What moved me most were the acts of reconciliation. 

Leaders from the Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic Churches joined us. Also in attendance were representatives of the local Swiss government. These were the very institutions that once oversaw our people’s deaths. And yet there we were. Together. Praying. Singing. Blessing.

It struck me: 500 years is not that long ago. And like many communities who have suffered atrocities, we haven’t forgotten. But that day wasn’t fueled by resentment. It was fueled by grace.

And maybe—just maybe—that grace is precisely what our symbols have been preparing us for. 

The lamb in the briar teaches us that suffering is not proof of failure, nor a reason for vengeance. The Martyrs Mirror tells us that love may cost everything, but it still passes something forward.

These are not just stories of the past. They are the soul-shaping symbols of a people who, even in the face of death, chose peace.

So perhaps it should not surprise us that when we entered the Grossmünster, we did not demand retribution. We offered blessings. Not because we forgot, but because we remembered who we are.

That day, the Grossmünster became a strange, holy place. A glimpse of an upside-down kingdom—the kind of world Jesus imagined. Where peacemaking isn’t weakness, but wisdom. Where history doesn’t trap us but opens us. 

James Mast

James Mast is member of Methacton Mennonite Church and an alum of Dock Mennonite Academy (05). His therapy practice is located in Lederach, PA. 

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.   

Rev. Joshua So, A Faithful Servant Remembered

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Rev. Dr. Joshua So’s life and ministry left a lasting impact on many who walked alongside him in faith. As a pastor, mentor, and friend, he nurtured both individuals and the broader church community with humility, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to God. 

Wendy Kwong, a Mosaic Conference representative and member of Souderton Mennonite Church, worked closely with Rev. So and San Francisco Chinese Mennonite Church (SFCMC) after they joined the conference in 2019. “Rev. So was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather—and a faithful servant of the Lord,” she shared. “I remember how, during the pandemic, he stepped out of his comfort zone at age 74 to learn how to lead online worship and Bible study, with help from his daughter. His devotion moved me deeply.” She added that she continues to attend the weekly Chinese Bible study that Rev. So began, describing it as a spiritual blessing she never expected to experience. 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.” (Psalm 116:15 NIV) 

Rev. So’s Memorial Service. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual.

David Pang, deacon’s chair at SFCMC, first met Rev. So in 1993 and was shaped by his support and mentorship over three decades. “He was shepherd who dedicated his life to advancing God’s Kingdom, teaching through both word and deed,” Pang said. “His passion for the gospel was evident as he led the congregation to nursing homes and senior centers to evangelize. In 2016, I joined SFCMC at his sincere invitation, and through his trust and support, I grew in creativity, confidence, and spiritual maturity while serving the Lord.”  

Pang recalled that Rev. So preached one final time at SFCMC just weeks before his passing. “Though we grieve, we rejoice knowing he now rests in the Lord’s embrace. His legacy lives on, and the fruit of his labor will endure.” 

Lucy Xiao, a former deacon at SFCMC, remembered Rev. So’s compassion and the personal support he offered during her time of grief after immigrating to San Francisco. “He truly lived out ‘weep with those who weep,’” she said. “He was a bridge—especially during the pandemic—connecting people across churches and regions through online Bible study. His heart for the elderly, the isolated, and the spiritually hungry was evident in everything he did.” 

Hendy Matahelemual, Wendy Kwong, John Goshow, Kam Wong, Jeff Wright, Stephen Kriss, Joshua So, Anita So. Photo courtesy of Hendy Matahelemual.

“I am grateful for the ministry and friendship of Rev. Dr. Joshua So. His commitment to the church was unwavering,” reflected Mosaic Conference Executive Minister Stephen Kriss. 

“His life was committed to serving, leading, learning, and caring for people. I am grateful for his and Anita’s hospitality that helped me to learn to love San Francisco and embrace the possibilities and struggles for ministry there in the way of Christ’s peace.”    

Rev. So cared deeply about the lives, families, and spiritual needs of his congregation. He was always willing to help, no matter the hour, and when beyond his ability, he sought support through his network to ensure others received the care they needed. Many believers have said they chose SFCMC because it feels like home. Rev. So was a pastor we deeply respect. 

Below is Rev. So’s obituary:  

Rev. Joshua So, a faithful servant of God, has entered the glorious rest of the Lord

The founding pastor of San Francisco Chinese Mennonite Church, Rev. Dr. Joshua So was called home to be with the Lord on the afternoon of October 1, 2025, having sojourned on this earth for 79 years. 

Rev. So was born in 1946 in the rural village in the outskirts of Guangzhou, China. He was the oldest of four siblings and the first in his family to follow Christ. As a young man, he moved to Hong Kong with his grandfather and a younger cousin, hoping to immigrate to Canada. Life in Hong Kong was tough for him, yet by God’s grace, he came to faith in Jesus and remained steadfast in attending Sunday worship. Even when he returned home to an empty table, his devotion never wavered. But God had other plans-plans that led him to a lifelong calling in ministry. 

In 1966, he began seminary training at Alliance Bible Seminary in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong and Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. After graduation, while he was serving at a local church, a generous donor sponsored him with $1,000 USD, enabling him to come to America as a foreign exchange student to continue his theological and social work studies. He studied at Azusa Pacific University, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, and San Francisco Theological Seminary. 

In 1980, Rev. So faithfully founded San Francisco Chinese Mennonite Church. Over the decades, he pastored many churches across the Bay Area and actively partnered with Chinese Christian organizations. His willingness to help others with no reservations led him to touch the lives of many people. Rev. So was always available to help—day or night. He didn’t believe in “business hours” when it came to serving others. His phone was always nearby, ready to answer the call of someone in need. Even after retiring from full-time ministry in 2023, he continued to serve as a hospice chaplain, lead Bible studies, and preach on Sundays. Hours before the Lord called him home, he had messaged many brothers and sisters saying he was ready for God to continue to use him. 

Rev. So was a loving husband and father, loyal friend, and a fervent and faithful servant to the Lord. Though his passing was sudden to us, we trust that nothing is ever a surprise to God. In His perfect timing, our gracious Heavenly Father saw that Rev. So had finished his work on earth and called him Home. Rev. So now stands joyfully before the throne of God, praising, “To God be the glory.” We give thanks to God from the depths of our hearts, for he has received the crown of life in the presence of the Lord. As Scripture reads, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34, ESV) 

May the Lord Himself bring comfort to his wife, Mrs. Anita So; daughter Sharon; son-in-law Josiah; and granddaughter Emi. May we continue to remember them in our prayers. 

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.   

Introducing the Mosaic Priorities Guide: Living Our Intercultural, Formational, and Missional Priorities

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Hard copies of the Priorities Guide were distributed during the Friday night equipping session at the 2025 Conference Assembly.

At Mosaic Conference, our three core priorities—Intercultural, Formational, and Missional Transformation—guide how we grow as communities of faith. The Mosaic Priorities Guide: A Bible Study to Reflect on Our Shared Identity was created to help congregations, leaders, Conference-Related Ministries (CRMs), and Partners in Ministry (PIMs) move beyond simply naming these priorities to truly living them out in their unique contexts. 

The guide includes seven interactive lessons with a biblical story, discussion questions, and activities and spiritual practices in which those gathered can engage. Facilitators have access to outlines, resources, and handouts to make leading easier. The appendix provides sermon starters and additional activities.  

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND INDONESIAN at mosaicmennonites.org/leadersresources/ 

Why the Guide Exists 

Resources for reflection, growth, and shared discernment 

The guide was created to make space for listening to God, to one another, and to the diverse communities in which we serve. It is not an instructional manual, but offers invitations to slow down, notice God’s presence, and reflect together on how the Spirit is at work. Designed to be flexible, the guide allows formation and mission to emerge naturally from relationships, dialogue, and shared discernment. It can be used in a small group, Bible study, or as a sermon series.  

Intercultural Priority 

Loving with the eyes and heart of Jesus 

The Intercultural Priority helps communities grow in seeing and valuing people as God sees them. The guide encourages participants to love with the eyes and heart of Jesus, noticing the gifts, experiences, and perspectives of others with compassion and humility. By practicing empathy and attentive love, congregations, leaders, CRMs, and ministry partners create spaces where God’s Spirit shapes us together, fostering understanding, connection, and mutual care. 

One of the Spiritual Practice for the Intercultural Lesson: How to Create an Intercultural Community.

Formational Priority 

Knowing Christ and Growing in Christ 

One of the Spiritual Practice for the Formational Lesson: The Vineyard Coloring and Journaling Sheet

The Formational Priority focuses on how God is shaping us as followers of Jesus. The guide invites participants to know Christ and grow in Christ, using Scripture, reflections, spiritual practices, and conversation questions. This priority emphasizes personal and communal transformation, helping participants embody Jesus’ love and wisdom in everyday life, while encouraging mutual growth through shared experience. 

Missional Priority 

Living like Jesus: Sent to Connect and Share 

The Missional Priority explores what it means to live as people who are sent into the world in everyday life. Mission is not only about going somewhere far away, but about noticing God’s movement in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and daily relationships. The guide encourages communities to act with openness and compassion, living like Jesus through connecting with others and sharing God’s love, fostering mutual transformation as God’s work unfolds among us. 

One of the Spiritual Practice for the Missional Lesson: The Missional Lanes

Using the Guides 

Flexible tools for congregations, leaders, CRMs, and ministry partners 

The guides can be used in congregations, ministry teams, small groups, or intergenerational gatherings. They work best when participants share experiences, listen deeply, and notice the transformation happening in the process. 

The Mosaic Priority Guides are available on the Mosaic website. We invite communities to engage with them in ways that fit their language, culture, and rhythm of life. As we journey together, may we continue to be formed as communities for God’s mission, carried by the Spirit, and sent with the good news of Jesus, right where we are. 

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND INDONESIAN at mosaicmennonites.org/leadersresources/ 

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.   

Ministerial Committee Update – September 2025

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The Ministerial Committee makes decisions on ministry credentials and policies that promote the support, health, and training of credentialed leaders and safe church practices for congregations. They meet quarterly to act on recommendations from the credentialing committee, review and revise current policies around credentialed leaders, and provide leadership in cases of misconduct.

Report from the September 3, 2025, Ministerial Committee Meeting  

Committee Actions   

Credentialing

License Toward Ordination (LTO) – grants the person all the privileges and responsibilities accorded to an ordained person, except to ordain someone else. This license is issued for a three-year period with the purpose of testing the inner and outer call to ministry, further discerning of ministerial gifts, abilities and aptitude and may or may not lead to ordination.  

  • Zacharie René, Pastor of Outreach, Lakeview Mennonite (North East, PA) 

Ordination – grants the person the full range of ministerial privileges and responsibilities. This is a long-term, leadership ministry credential appropriate for all pastors, area conference ministry staff, chaplains, missionaries, evangelists, and those determined by the church to have a continuing ministerial-leadership role in, and on behalf of, the church. 

  • Angelia Susanto, Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA)  

Transfer of Retired Credentials – held by those who have retired from active ministry.

  • Robert Petersheim (transfer retired from ACC)  

Reactivation 

  • Jenny Fujita (license towards ordination process) 

License Extension – This LTO is issued for a three-year period with the purpose of testing the inner and outer call to ministry, further discerning of ministerial gifts, abilities and aptitude and may or may not lead to ordination. It is extended for three more years as needed. 

  • Héctor Quiñones – Garden Chapel (Victory Gardens, PA)  

License Extension for Specific Ministry – is time, location, or ministry specific and is extended every three years as needed. 

  • Joe Paparone – Bethany Mennonite (Bridgewater Corners, VT) 
  • Yakub Limanto – Bethany Elevation (Elmhurst, NY)  

Retired – held by those who have retired from active ministry. 

  • Roy Williams, North Tampa (College Hill) 

Active without Charge – held by those not presently holding a ministry assignment 

  • Mike Ford, resigned from Zion Mennonite 

Credentialing Status Renewal Update 

  • 100% complete! The board thanks Marta Castillo and Stacey Mansfield for their work. 

Upcoming Conversations 

  • Healthy Boundaries Training for pastors
  • Review of Credentialing Procedure Update 

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.   

Considering One Another

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by Noel Santiago

In these days of transition and reflection across our Mosaic community, Hebrews 10:24 gently invites us to “consider how we might stir one another toward love and good works.” This call reminds us that even amid uncertainty, we are invited to notice, support, and encourage one another. 

We recognize that recent decisions regarding community life and ministry directions have stirred a wide range of feelings, including grief, anger, and confusion for some, and peace or renewed direction for others. Wherever we find ourselves, God’s Spirit meets us in honesty and love.  

Scripture reminds us that our first calling is to stay rooted in Jesus and to be present with one another in care. Simple acts such as listening deeply, offering a word of encouragement, or sharing a meal can embody this presence. 

In this context of varied emotions, because of Jesus, we have a “new and living way” into God’s presence, a way marked by grace rather than fear and by mercy rather than striving. In times of uncertainty, we are invited again to draw near, resting, listening, and being renewed in God’s presence. Participating in shared prayer, small group reflection, or quiet moments of attentiveness to one another are ways we can practice this nearness. 

From this closeness flows our capacity to love. To “consider one another” means slowing down enough to truly see and know each other, listening to the joys and burdens that shape our shared life. This attentiveness nurtures us as a faith family, helping us serve, witness, and grow together in empathy, patience, and mutual encouragement. 

As we continue forward, may we choose to be a people who encourage, challenge, and bless each other in love. While the world often amplifies division, we have the gift of practicing reconciliation, patience, and hope together through conversations, acts of service, and gentle presence in each other’s lives. 

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant us the grace to live in such harmony that, with one voice, we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5–6). 

Noel Santiago

Noel Santiago is the Leadership Minister for Missional Transformation for Mosaic Conference.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Noel Santiago, please email nsantiago@mosaicmennonites.org.

Breathing Deep as We Move Forward Together as Mosaic

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by Stephen Kriss

A few weeks ago, my blood pressure reading was high at the beginning of my doctor’s visit. The provider said, “We’re going to take it again after you settle into the office.” Toward the end of the appointment, she told me to take a few deep breaths and repeated the reading. It was down significantly. 

The next thing for us as Mosaic is to take a deep breath. The past months have been intense for many of us. While there’s a sense of urgency around us, I hope our leaders, board, staff, and delegates can lean into a peaceable Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas season. Our church and sociopolitical landscape have been overwhelming for many of us, and I hope we can rest in the Advent themes of watching and waiting, hope and joy.

The board’s recommendation on affiliation was a both/and statement. It recommended discontinuing our membership with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) and moving toward healthy, mutual partnerships. Orienting toward health and mutuality requires that we begin to process our collective anxiety and grief. 

For Mosaic’s congregations that wish to maintain formal membership in Mennonite Church USA, we’ve begun initial conversations with Allegheny and New York Conferences about ways to do that. Dual affiliation will require extra energy—holding onto Mosaic while connecting with another conference—but it is possible.   

Just as we offered lovingkindness several years ago to congregations that wished to detach from MC USA, we will offer the same gesture of navigating to those who desire to remain connected. If the MC USA structure allowed congregations to directly affiliate with MC USA, we would be open to that arrangement too. At this point, it does not. 

Mosaic will need to continue to invest in building relationships across differences. Our conference is full of all sorts of diversity. Our centering document provides a foundation for commonality amid our unique Anabaptist expressions. It is the way forward that also hearkens back to some of the earliest shared Anabaptist practices (like some of those that Stuart Murray Williams highlights in The New Anabaptists).  

Our ongoing work includes living out our commitment to being an intercultural community, creating space for every form of diversity to be brought into the kin-dom of God toward transformation and flourishing.  

Practically speaking, we will begin conversations in the new year around membership with Mennonite World Conference. This process will likely include some mediation with Mennonite Church USA (if they agree), and discernment to find our place at the global Anabaptist table. This will require patience and intentionality—we cannot barge our way in. In the meantime, we’ll work to strengthen relationships with other conferences and Anabaptist expressions to broaden our connections.  

For credentialed leaders, your credentials are already held by Mosaic. The Corinthian Plan remains in place for those enrolled. While MC USA-appointed board and committee terms will end this month, our board and committee work with Mennonite Central Committee, Everence, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University remain unchanged. We are working our way toward how we will partner with MennoMedia and Mennonite Mission Network.   

Amid these changes, we will honor the Spirit’s work in us by celebrating what is good amid what is hard. I’m grateful for the new congregations that joined us this fall. We rejoice in the new leaders that have been called and sent to our Mosaic communities. We celebrate the gathered time at Souderton (PA) Mennonite, where our diversity becomes real life for a day in all its complexity and wonder. 

Paul reminds us in the first letter to the church at Corinth that the Spirit brings life—and that the Spirit is also breath. To my siblings in Mosaic: for now, let us breathe deeply, embrace the Spirit around us, within us, and within those different from us. Let us move toward God’s dream for us all, though we are broken and beautiful.  

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To share your thoughts with Stephen Kriss, contact him at skriss@mosaicmennonites.org.