Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Articles

Plains Turns Fifth Sundays into a Journey Beyond Their Walls

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by Beverly Benner Miller

At Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA), a simple question sparked a powerful shift: What if the months with five Sundays became more than just a calendar quirk? Instead of following the usual rhythms of worship, leaders saw these occasional Sundays—four this year—as opportunities to step outside their building and experience worship with others.  

In early 2025, the congregation was invited into this vision. Fifth Sundays, leaders explained, could be a time to lay aside familiar routines, cherished rhythms, and spiritual nurturing to be open to new, different, and possibly uncomfortable experiences, with the hope of encountering God in fresh and inspiring ways.   

“I have always thought it is a blessing to get outside of our own church gatherings and have new experiences with other believers,” said Rachel Mateti, Children and Youth Pastor at Plains. She and Heather Gingrich generated the idea of spending fifth Sundays in deeper community engagement and intercultural worship. 

On March 30, 2025, Plains members were invited to visit one of six local, mostly Mosaic Conference congregations: Indonesian Light (Philadelphia, PA), Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA), Philadelphia Praise Center, Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life, Whitehall (PA) Mennonite Church, and Evangelical Center for Revival (a Congolese group that meets at Hatfield (PA) Church of the Brethren).  

A group from Plains visits the Evangelical Center for Revival (which meets at Hatfield Church of the Brethren) for worship. 

“More than 40 friends of Plains took part in these visits and many of them enjoyed a delicious fellowship meal afterwards,” commented Pastor Mike Derstine.  

What followed were rich experiences and lasting impressions. Congregants returned with stories of warmth, hospitality, and new spiritual perspectives: 

  • “We were warmly welcomed, and I think it was appreciated that we came to support them in this time of uncertainty with immigration and the current government administration.”
  • “It was one of the few bilingual services I ever attended, and I was glad I went.” 
  • “We had an enjoyable worship in Whitehall and enjoyed the diversity!” 
  • “The worship style is quite different from Plains. They sing all praise music for an extended period at the beginning of the service. They have the words projected, so it’s pretty easy to follow along even if you don’t know the songs. They had translation devices for the sermon so that English speakers could follow along.” 
  • “I was glad for my many years of studying Spanish eons ago so I could understand most of the projections of Spanish for all parts of the service-music, sermon, Scripture, prayers, etc.” 
  • “I enjoyed the baby dedication. It was encouraging to see so many single young adults participating.”  
  • “We had a good time at Philly Praise Center this morning!” 
  • “We were met with warm Indonesian hospitality. In a time when many of our brothers and sisters wonder if they are truly welcome in the US, we can do our part to let them know they are siblings in Christ.”  
  • “I wish we could have a fellowship meal like that every Sunday at Plains!” 
The fellowship time at Indonesian Light with Richard Lichty, Marina Setyati, Ken Miller, and Mary Lichty. 

Many in the congregation felt blessed to try a new way of engaging in Sunday morning worship. Hopefully, fifth Sundays can continue to be a time of growth, exploration, and experiencing what the Holy Spirit is doing in the community and throughout the world.  

The Plains congregation grasped in a unique way Mosaic Conference’s intercultural priority to “acknowledge, own, and celebrate our cultural differences, allowing ourselves to be changed by the relationships we build across cultures while we work together for racial justice.” 

Beverly Benner Miller

Beverly Benner Miller is an Associate Pastor at Plains Mennonite Church and taking Clinical Pastoral Education courses from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. She has a Doctorate in Higher Education from Temple University.

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 Courage to Love

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By César García, Mennonite World Conference General Secretary 

An excerpt of this interview with García has been reprinted with permission. Read the full interview. En español. En français. 

Some of us have a tendency of thinking that we should define right doctrine and from there go to practice. Scripture first; experience next. But in many ways – in our history and in our current reality – experience pushes us to think theologically to make sense of what is happening.  

Consider the Council of Jerusalem. They were asking: Can we include Gentiles or not?  

That was not clear in the Bible of their time.  

The fact that Gentiles were receiving the Holy Spirit pushed the church to think in a new way – without contradicting the foundation that they had.  

Their experience led them to raise the question to Scripture and develop new understandings.  

As Anabaptists, we have historically emphasized the local congregation and the centrality of the local congregation as the foretaste of God’s kingdom.  

But that doesn’t help us to answer why there is a need of a regional or global church.  
 
At the beginning of MWC, it was experience that pushed Mennonite churches to think about a global body.  

Can you speak about the similarity between today and some of the trends from 100 years ago when MWC started?  

There was a global pandemic at that time. And many countries had just gone through the First World War. There is of course a financial impact which drives governments to try to find a scapegoat. So that was an important component of increasing nationalism in Europe.  

And then our churches were also affected by the Russian Revolution and subsequent violent persecution in Ukraine where we had a large concentration of our churches at that time.  

So, with the mix of nationalism, cultural differences, languages and both the recent and more distant past of violence between their countries, it was complicated for Mennonite church leaders in 1925 to think about being one.  

Some people spiritualize the idea of unity and say: We are going to be one in heaven.  

Or say: yes, we are fighting violently with each other, but we are one in spirit.  

Both then and now, some churches think about other Christians with suspicion – even inside a denominational family.  

But the Bible doesn’t speak in that way.  

The Bible speaks of unity in a very practical way –visible even for the world. There is a level of unity that is a kind of miracle.  

MWC founder Christian Neff and others were speaking and writing about the need for a global body for some time before 1925, but it was not easy to overcome lack of trust.  

Finally, Christian Neff found a good excuse to bring people together: let’s celebrate the 400 years of the Anabaptist movement.  

And it was in that context that the church from Ukraine sent a letter to the people in this first global Anabaptist gathering asking for the formation of a global body that would coordinate the work of education, mission and support churches that are under persecution and suffering, among other things.  

When the church leaders gathered, the experience of being together opened up their eyes to the need of a communion to emphasize that the centre is not political nor a national state nor even a culture. The source of our identity is Jesus.  

The context then was very similar to the context today after a pandemic, amid rising nationalism and experiences of suffering from violence and persecution.  

It is interesting and sad at the same time to see how history repeats itself.  

What has changed is that that experience has invited us to think theologically. Do we want to be one only because of pragmatic issues? Or because of our understanding of the gospel demands it?  

What were some key moments where we leaned into becoming truly global?  

To be a global family, we need some levels of reconciliation and forgiveness for our history of divisions.  

We were not ready to think that way 80 years ago.  

At first, leaders said let’s have an Assembly only. And that was the way during the first 40 or 50 years.  

But more and more churches from the Global South were becoming members. And churches that are suffering see with more clarity the need for a global church. You cannot face violent persecution or natural disasters if you are alone.  

By the 1970s, presidents were beginning to be appointed from the Global South. The executive, C. J. Dyck said: if we want MWC to continue, it should be more than a global gathering. It should be part of the mission Mennonites are being called to in this world, a place where they clarify the meaning of faith in their diverse cultural contexts.  

That vision was the result, among other things, of input from Global South churches who were asking for more interdependence.  

Pushed by those experiences, we have made theological developments of understanding the church as something that goes beyond the doors of my local congregation.  

Are we where we should be?  

I think we are going in a good direction, but we have theological challenges when we speak about the global church.  

For many of the leaders and pastors in our global church, we are just starting to build a clear understanding of unity.  

Too many times, our understanding of purity in our Anabaptist tradition has pushed us to fragment because we think to be holy or to be pure, we need to separate from those we deem are not.  

Our history of divisions requires real reconciliation. There are some historic wounds that have not been healed, and we continue to observe some divisions happening in real time.  

The challenges of racism and colonialism are there. There’s a tendency to have some sectors of the church make decisions without consulting others and imposing their points of view.  

There are challenges of privileging our own interests over the interests of others. To say we need to protect our budget first before thinking about other churches.  

In addition, we have ambition and the desire to control, dominate, and conquer others.  

The kingdoms of the world are very appealing to us. We love the sense of being superior to other groups.  

But God invites us to live in contrast to the kingdoms of the world. God’s kingdom is a real alternative. We must recognize that we need the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Read more here.

Keeping the Movement Alive Another 500 Years  

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By Stephen Kriss 

Anabaptism begins with a protest action—deeply spiritual, yes —rooted in faithful reading of Scripture. But it is a protest, whether intentional or not, against the commingling of the state and the church. It’s both a deeply personal and a communal response. While we often highlight the movement’s Swiss genesis, it emerges across Europe in different but similar ways as the Scriptures become available to the masses through the newly invented printing press. 

We take on the name “Mennonites” from a former Dutch priest, Menno Simons. This naming comes only after the movement had begun to take shape and Simons had time to write and attempt to organize the chaos, amidst martyrdom and the fallout of the Münster Rebellion, where Anabaptists attempted a violent takeover of a Dutch city. We were not always a peaceable people. But through that lesson, the movement embraced a decisive turn toward nonviolence. 

The first Anabaptist baptisms in Zurich, Switzerland took place in this spot. Narration by John L. Ruth (Salford [PA] Mennonite).

Mosaic Mennonite Conference has existed for only about one percent of this movement’s history, though our predecessor conferences span 350 of those 500 years. The future of the movement is increasingly global and challenges us to balance history and trajectory. While our story begins in Europe, more of our future is emerging in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. 

As Mosaic Conference finds its way, too, we are shaped by the emergence of global connectivity and community. Our story begins with European migrations to Pennsylvania, and our trajectory includes movement in the Americas and global connections that defy political boundaries—just as Anabaptism always has done.  

Movements of the Spirit and of the people continue to bustle and at times bristle with institutional boundaries. This requires us to reimagine both ourselves and our relationships with each other. For some, it’s an invitation to examine our own power and our need to be right, while allowing the Spirit to lead, direct, and disrupt. 

At its best, Anabaptism is contextual and responsive—traits that keep movements alive. When Mosaic was formed five years ago, those involved envisioned a flexible and sturdy structure that would allow us to keep moving together. My former colleague, Noah Kolb, talks about the balance of ballast and sail to keep ships afloat and responsive. Philosopher Simone Weil calls this the work of gravity and grace. 

Our Mosaic Mennonite Conference commitments to the Anabaptist vision (in our bylaws, we draw from Palmer Becker’s Anabaptist Essentials: Jesus is the center of our faith, community is the center of our life, and reconciliation is the center of our work) and our deep history of practiced Mennonite belief and values give us both root and vine.  

The “Anabaptist essentials” painted on the wall at Lakeview Mennonite (Susquehanna, PA). Photo by Stephen Kriss.

We remain deeply rooted in this 500-year-old movement, in the vision of early leaders to engage the Scriptures and to respond faithfully to Jesus’ calls and the Spirit’s movement, and in our own story of ongoing migration and mission. The Anabaptist identity shapes us, and we in turn also shape that identity through our particular mosaic conference of congregations, ministries and partners. 

To live this identity out together requires one of the most difficult disciplines of our time: to yield to God and to each other. In that yieldedness there is both opportunity and responsibility: to acknowledge the pains of the past, while proclaiming the possibilities of the future. Holding onto the foundation that is Christ (Menno Simon’s hallmark verse from 1 Corinthians), we embrace our contexts with faith, hope and love.  

We seek to respond with faithfulness, not fear, believing that God, who began this good work 500 years ago—though it’s both beautiful and broken—will sustain it, and us, through faithful struggle and ongoing holy inbreaking and surprise. 

Stephen Kriss

Stephen Kriss is the Executive Minister of Mosaic Conference.

Mosaic Conference Board Responds to MC USA’s Denial of Ministry Partnership Proposal 

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From May 16-18, 2025, the Mosaic Conference Board held its annual in-person retreat in  Homestead, FL. Meeting six times a year, the Conference Board, supervises the business of the conference and conference committees, and ensures that Mosaic remains aligned with its vision and attentive to the Spirit’s guidance in areas of growth and transformation.

In addition to times of prayer, worship, and deepening relationships, Executive Committee member Maati Yvonne led the group on Saturday morning in a time of learning about and practicing circle process.

Circle process led by Maati Yvonne.

“I love how circles bring people together, deepen relationships, and increase understanding,” reflected Maati Yvonne. “Amidst all that the board needed to discern, it was essential to pause and use the circle to reflect on how we were each feeling and being impacted. My hope is that we take the time to use circle process more and more to resolve issues and allow the Holy Spirit to bring restoration, in our families and youth groups, our communities and congregations, and at the conference level.” 

The board retreat opened with a devotional on Acts 1:8. Board members shared testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s activity and the reconciling love of Jesus.  

Strategic Plan Updates and Reflections on Spring Assembly 

The board reviewed progress on the five pillars of Mosaic’s strategic plan: Clarity/Identity, Communication, Leadership Development, Reconciliation, and Relationship-Building. They also reflected on how the recent Spring Assembly equipping sessions connected with these pillars. Feedback on Spring Assembly highlighted a desire for clear, more tangible teaching on Centered-Set church concepts, and for more images and fewer words in Mosaic’s equipping sessions to accommodate various learning styles and cultures.  

Other strategic plan updates included the launch of the Learning/Living Mosaic podcast, the first Vibrant Mosaic cohort, and 14 youth participating in the summer 2025 Ambassadors leadership development. The board had the chance to meet one of the incoming Ambassadors, Hensley, from Homestead Mennonite.  

The board meets one of the 2025 Ambassadors from Homestead (FL) Mennonite. 

Additional Board Business and Learning 

The board acknowledged receipt of a letter from Spruce Lake Mennonite Camp (Canadensis, PA) indicating its decision to remove itself as a Conference-Related Ministry. 

Plans and themes for the November Delegate Assembly were discussed.  

Glenn Nemath, Director of Real Estate for FMC Properties, shared updates on Conference properties. 

On Sunday morning, Joe Manickam, currently serving as a consultant with Mosaic Conference, shared on clarifying healthy structures and relationships.   

Responding to MC USA’s Denial of Ministry Partnership 

The Board reflected on the process around its proposal to the Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), requesting to formalize a ministry partnership by becoming a Program Entity (a designation already existing in MC USA’s bylaws). This proposal followed a delegate action in November 2024, which called for Mosaic to redefine its relationship with MC USA as a healthy ministry partnership.  

The proposal included services Mosaic would offer to MC USA at no cost, in youth formation, church planting accompaniment, and intercultural leadership development. It also proposed possible ways to manage credentials within this new framework.    

Throughout the process over the past year, Board members expressed frustration that their voices and concerns felt minimized. These long-standing issues were articulated in a formal written response to MC USA, submitted at MC USA’s request earlier this spring. 

On May 8, MC USA’s executive board unanimously voted to deny Mosaic’s proposal to become a Program Entity of MC USA. They proposed a “mediated conversation between the full (MC USA) Executive Board and Mosaic Board.” 

While Mosaic leadership has previously expressed openness to third-party mediation with MC USA, the Board shared several concerns about entering mediation at this point in the process: 

  • Mediation tends to emphasize interpersonal dynamics. While the Board values healed relationships, it also seeks organizational transformation to address deeper systemic issues.
  • Leaders of color across Mosaic have contributed substantial effort and emotional labor to this process. Many feel unheard and dismissed by MC USA. Entering mediation now would require some of them to revisit these experiences and continue retelling their stories in a context marked by power imbalances, both historic and ongoing.
  • The Board emphasized the need to prioritize living into Mosaic’s vision and mission and discern the Spirit’s leading, rather than rush into a mediation process before there has been an acknowledgement of the existing difficulties within the MC USA structure.
  • The proposal process required significant time and energy from both Mosaic board members and staff. With the rejection of this proposal by MC USA, the Board must now redirect its focus toward discerning next steps and clarifying ministry partnerships to the delegates prior to the November Assembly. 

After prayerful discernment, the board acted to: Decline the board-to-board mediation process offered by MC USA executive board at this time. 

“We remain saddened and disappointed by the structures within MC USA that are rigid and painful for many of us,” said Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “Our world and nation are changing rapidly, and so the church must adapt to the shifting realities in our communities and congregations. The inflexible response to the perspectives of Mosaic congregations has been disheartening, especially given that relationships with sibling conferences are mutual and supportive.” 

“Despite this disappointment, I find joy and hope when we gather to listen and share together. The reconciling love of Jesus is at work amongst us, and I look forward to us living in to our vision together.”

Next Steps

The Mosaic Executive Committee will meet in June, followed by a full Mosaic board meeting in August. In line with the charge given at last year’s assembly, the Board will develop and present recommended bylaw amendments for delegate discernment at the 2025 Mosaic Delegate Assembly. 

Mosaic remains committed to nurturing healthy partnerships with sibling Mennonite conferences and other Anabaptist communities. 

In June, the Mosaic Board will host four sessions for conversation and two-way communication for the future trajectory of partnership conversations with MC USA. Three of these sessions will be on Zoom, and one will be held at the Mosaic Conference offices (Lansdale, PA), with options in Spanish, Indonesian, and English. Dates and times for these conversations will be available next week.  

In the meantime, Mosaic Conference credentialed leaders and delegates are encouraged to reach out to their Leadership Minister with questions and to follow updates through Mosaic News. 

** The most recent print edition of Anabaptist World includes a reporting error about this process. The online version is correct. 

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.

Community Prayer Nights Gather Christians for Hope and Healing

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by Brenda Oelschlager

Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) welcomed neighbors from across the region on May 4 for the first of a series of Community Prayer Nights. This heartfelt evening of unity, worship, and intercession was held to lift up individuals, families, and organizations impacted by acts of chaos and injustice beyond their control. 

Rooted in Christ’s call to love God and neighbor (Mark 12:30-31), the evening invited participants to share in song, prayer, and communion—asking God to bring peace to anxious hearts and hope to troubled communities. 

This new series of prayer services draws inspiration from a pre-election prayer and communion gathering that Zion Mennonite hosted with local congregations in November 2024. With a broader vision, the current initiative now includes invitations to Christian churches in nearby towns, building a growing circle of support and spiritual solidarity. 

Four area faith leaders offered prayers throughout the night, each woven between hymns and reflective worship: 

  • Steve Godsall-Myers, retired Lutheran pastor, Advent Lutheran, (Harleysville, PA)
  • Jenny Fujita, member of Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite
  • David Heckler, Lutheran pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran and Christ UCC, (Quakertown, PA)
  • Mike Hendrick, retired chaplain and member of Zion Mennonite 

The presence, prayers, and voices of the community made the evening deeply meaningful as a time to seek God’s presence and strengthen bonds of fellowship. 

Upcoming Community Prayer Services: 

  • Sunday, June 1, 7 p.m. at Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church
  • Saturday, September 14, 7 p.m. at Zwingli UCC in Souderton 

Additional dates for July and August will be announced soon. All are welcome to attend these ecumenical gatherings. 

Brenda Oelschlager

Brenda Oelschlager attends Zion Mennonite. Her past work has included community relations positions in the Pennridge and Souderton Area School districts and also with the Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton, 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.   

Mosaic Conference Receives Funding for Current Initiatives

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Mosaic Mennonite Conference (Lansdale, PA) has received a $10,000 charitable distribution from the Schowalter Foundation, and a $6,000 Mustard Seed Grant from the United Service Foundation to help fund the summer 2025 Ambassadors Youth Leadership Development initiative.   

Ambassadors provides summer ministry experience to gifted young adults (ages 18-24) impacting their local communities. The initiative builds on a 20-year commitment by Mosaic (previously Franconia) Conference to develop young adult leaders through ministry experience.   

For 10 weeks from early June to August, the Ambassadors will serve in their congregations’ Vacation Bible Schools and peace camps, at Conference-Related Ministry community centers, and more. 

In 2025, 14 young adults are participating in the Ambassadors program (half and full time), hosted by their congregation or Conference-Related Ministry. Each year recently, the program has experienced considerable growth in applications and in total participants, and funding from Foundations and generous individuals has allowed Ambassadors to flourish. 

The program seeks to cultivate young adults’ commitment to Christian service, foster opportunities for Anabaptist witness and spiritual growth in their local communities, and inspire young adults to develop their leadership skills.  

Javier Márquez, Associate for Communications and Community Engagement for Colombia, is the Program Coordinator for Ambassadors this year, and a former participant of the Mennonite Central Committee youth leadership development initiative IVEP.  

“I have also served as a church volunteer, so I understand that the Ambassadors are moved by a willing heart to serve as they learn and grow in connection with the community and with the Lord,” reflected Márquez. “I’m confident that we will experience all of that—and even more—this year.” 

They receive guidance from their pastor or another supervisor and mentor to discuss goals, receive support, and reflect on their experiences. The Ambassadors receive a stipend for their impactful work.   

In addition to the service opportunities, there are monthly virtual cohort gatherings for participants to build relationships, pray, and develop leadership skills. At the end of the program, there is a 2.5 day in-person retreat, which this year will take place in California.  

Mosaic Conference has also recently received a $5,000 charitable distribution from the Schowalter Foundation to support the ongoing work accompanying immigrant congregations in navigating current realities.  

“We are grateful for the generosity of both the Schowalter Foundation and the United Service Foundation, and their affirmation of the Conference’s initiatives,” stated Jennifer Svetlik, Director of Community Engagement. “Their support has allowed us to continue to expand the Ambassadors Youth Leadership Development opportunities again this year, as well as grow our capacity to respond to emergent needs among our congregations.” 

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.    

Together in Courage and Faith: Janet Panning’s Call to Serve

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by Jennifer Svetlik

Janet Panning has dedicated her life to serving both the church and the broader community through a deep commitment to faith, justice, and leadership. In March 2025, the Mosaic Conference Board voted to approve Panning as the next Assistant Moderator of Mosaic Conference. Her term will begin on January 1, 2026, when Roy Williams of North Tampa (FL) Christian Fellowship will become Moderator. 

Reflecting on this new calling, Panning shared, “I feel honored and humbled to be asked to serve in this role. I feel that Mosaic Conference is able to celebrate the faith of our Mennonite ancestors while learning from the example of our newcomer congregations. Together we are called to see and to serve the vulnerable among us.” 

The Assistant Moderator serves as vice chair of the Conference Board and Chair of the Nominating Committee. Additionally, the Assistant Moderator chairs Board and Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the Moderator and fulfils other duties as assigned. The position is for a three-year term, with the expectation that the Assistant Moderator will then serve as Moderator, pending approval by the Conference Board. Panning’s appointment will be presented for affirmation by the Delegate Assembly in November. 

Panning with her husband and grandson at her daughter’s house in Montana.

Panning brings a lifetime of leadership and service experience to this new role. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, she became a Christian at 14 through a Young Life Club and then grew increasingly involved in her Episcopalian church. Her journey with the Mennonite church began at Michigan State University, where she discovered a brochure for the InterMenno program, sparking a life-changing year of service in the Netherlands.  

Together with her husband Steve, Janet served with Mennonite Central Committee for 12 years in Jamaica and Kentucky before settling in Pennsylvania. Since 1987, the Pannings have been part of Plains Mennonite Church (Hatfield, PA), becoming members in 2004. Janet is deeply involved in the life of the congregation—she currently serves as Chair of the Elders and contributes through children’s music, choir, playing piano during worship, serving as a host family, and participating in a small group. 

Panning has also served extensively at the Conference level. She has been a member of the Ministerial Committee for many years, with Franconia and Mosaic Conference, and has served as Chair of the committee since 2019. 

Panning retired in 2024 from the Montgomery County (PA) Office of Public Health. She continues her advocacy and health work as a consultant with Children First’s PA Lead-Free Promise Project. Earlier in her career, she spent 18 years working in refugee resettlement, on a staff team helping thousands of individuals from Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, the DRC, Ethiopia, and beyond find new homes and employment in the region.  

When asked about her hopes for joining the Executive Committee of the Board, Panning responded, “That together we can find the courage to follow Jesus in our broken and beautiful world. My hope is that we can discern together what the reconciliation of Jesus means in our families, our neighborhoods, our church communities, our countries and our world, and that together we can have the courage to follow Jesus in challenging times.” 

Outside of her professional and church commitments, Panning enjoys biking with her husband, reading, and spending time with their three grandsons. A recent highlight was an Amtrak journey across the country, where she particularly cherished the hours spent following the Colorado River through the Rocky Mountains. 

Mosaic Conference requires all Board members to be 18 years or older and active members of a Mosaic congregation. While no other criteria are formally outlined in the bylaws, desired qualities include a commitment to following Jesus, spiritual discernment, active involvement in church life, and experience in leadership, with an emphasis on representing the geographic and cultural diversity of the Conference. 

With her decades of dedication, cross-cultural experience, and spiritual depth, Panning will bring a strong foundation of leadership and compassion to the role of Assistant Moderator. 

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Director of Community Engagement & Editor for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, 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.   

Mosaic Conference’s Spring Assemblies Nurture Identity and Dialogue

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by Jennifer Svetlik

More than 170 people gathered across the country and online this spring as Mosaic Mennonite Conference held a series of Spring Assembly gatherings designed to deepen relationships, explore shared identity, equip leaders, and receive feedback. 

Throughout April and early May, seven Spring Assembly events took place in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and via Zoom, with an additional equipping session held in South Texas for Partners in Ministry from Colombia and Texas. These gatherings were offered in English, Spanish, and Indonesian, with interpretation provided in many settings. 

Recognizing a widespread desire for more in-person dialogue, these regional assemblies offered a relational and formational touchpoint for Mosaic Conference participants. All credentialed leaders, 2024 and 2025 delegates, and any interested individuals were invited to participate. Unlike Mosaic’s fall Assembly, the spring gatherings did not include decision-making votes but focused instead on equipping and working toward greater clarity and a strengthened sense of identity. 

“Meeting together with other South Florida Mosaic pastors and leaders in Lakeland for Spring Assembly was a very precious time,” reflected Pastor Pavel Gailans of Homestead (FL) Mennonite. “We are learning about shared spaces and how to welcome people where Jesus is already present to heal their broken lives. Thank you for the Spirit filled fellowship.” 

The Florida Spring Assembly took place on May 3, 2025 at Iglesia Menonita Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL).

Each Assembly opened with worship and prayer led by board members, who also shared Mosaic’s vision and mission. Conference staff introduced a sample lesson from the new core priority guides, tools being developed to bring some clarity and a common vocabulary around Mosaic’s vision, mission, and priorities, as well as to support Mosaic congregations in their formational, intercultural, and missional work.  

Participants experienced a lesson from one of the three priority guides: 

  • Formational: Becoming like Jesus (shaped in the image of Christ) 
  • Intercultural: Loving like Jesus (transformed by relationships with others) 
  • Missional: Living like Jesus (engaged in the healing of the world) 
Those who participated in the Spring Assembly on April 26 at JKI Anugerah (Sierra Madre, CA).

Each lesson incorporated a circle reflection question, an encounter with scripture, and a spiritual practice.  

Feedback from these sessions is informing the final versions of the guides, which congregations will be invited to use in Bible studies, small groups, retreats, or alongside sermon series to further their formational, missional, and intercultural growth.  

In addition, congregations, partners in ministry, and Conference-Related Ministries who are exploring a connection or membership with Mosaic will be able to utilize these guides to better understand Mosaic Conference.  
 
Equipping was also offered during the Assemblies on the concept of Centered-Set Church — a theological approach that orients community life around movement toward Jesus, rather than fixed boundaries of belief or behavior. 

A visualization of a sample of the responses to the question, “What does being intercultural mean to you?”

Staff members helped participants reflect on how this framework—characterized by high expectations, accountability, and wide welcome—can reshape church identity and witness. It was developed in a missional context, as a way of making it easier to reach out to people who are not yet part of the traditional church structure. 

Leadership Minister Josh Meyer noted, “In a time when polarization and boundary-making often define the Church, equipping Mosaic leaders with a Centered-Set approach helps us orient around Jesus as the true center.” 

He added, “Centered-Set theology reflects the heart of the Gospel — that discipleship is less about who’s ‘in’ or ‘out’ and more about walking together toward Jesus with humility, grace, and shared discipleship. We trust that mutual transformation comes as we fix our eyes on Christ and invite others to do the same.” 

While many found the Centered-Set model compelling, participants also expressed a desire for more concrete examples of what it looks like in everyday congregational life—particularly in moments of tension, disagreement, or ambiguity. 

The group gathered at Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA) for Spring Assembly on April 30, 2025.

Mosaic Conference extends deep gratitude to our hosts for these gatherings, for their hospitality and support: Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite, JKI Anugerah (Sierra Madre, CA), Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA), Iglesia Menonita Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL), and Iglesia Menonita del Cordero (Brownsville, TX).

Jennifer Svetlik

Jennifer is Director of Community Engagement & Editor for Mosaic. She grew up near Houston, TX and spent a decade living in intentional community in Washington DC, before moving to Lansdale, PA. She serves as Children’s Faith Formation Director at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, 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.