Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

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Ministerial Committee Update – June 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 June 4, 2025, Ministerial Committee Meeting 

Committee Actions  
Credentialing

Licensed 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.    

  • Dave Moyer – Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) 
  • Michael Marpaung – Ark of Christ (Westminster, CA) 

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.  

  • Kevin Opett – Church of the Good Samaritans (Holland, PA) 
  • Jaye Lindo – 7 Ways (Bowie, MD) 
  • George Makinto – Los Angeles Faith Chapel 
  • Mukarabe Makinto – Los Angeles Faith Chapel

Transfers

  • Karl McKinney – Nueva Vida Norristown New Life (PA), from Illinois Conference/LMC to Mosaic Conference 

License Extension – An extension of the 3-year license towards ordination for credentialed leaders who need additional time for the process. 

  • Gary Alloway  
  • Dania Hernandez  

Retired – held by those who have retired from active ministry. The credentialed leader must be over the age of 55 to hold this status. This credential is valid for performing ministerial functions and is to be exercised in consultation with Mosaic Conference. Mosaic Conference is not responsible for the actions of a person holding this status. 

  • Samuel Claudio Sr. 

Inactive – held by those who have been without a ministerial assignment for more than three consecutive years. 

  • Mary Beth Benner  

Withdrawn – is given when a ministry credential is ended for non-disciplinary reasons 

  • Michael Clemmer is currently serving with LMC (Lancaster) and they hold his credentials. 
Pastoral Transitions 
  • Jordan Luther, Methacton (PA) Mennonite, joins the pastoral team. 
  • Carl Walcott, North Tampa (FL) Mennonite will go on sabbatical for his health 
  • Roy Williams will pastor at North Tampa Mennonite. 
  • Lydia de Jesus, Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL) is on a two-year sabbatical for her health. 
  • Artemio de Jesus, Luz y Verdad (Lakeland, FL) is in a pastoral position during Pastor Lydia’s sabbatical. 
  • Wayne Nitzsche, Salford (PA) Mennonite, bridge pastor 
  • Dave Greiser, Salford (PA), moves to Active without Charge  
  • Haroldo Nunes will move from ministry at Seguidores de Cristo (Sarasota, FL) to Resplandece Mennonite (Pembroke Pines, FL/Colombia/hybrid) 

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.      

Be My Witness

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2025 MOSAIC FALL DELEGATE ASSEMBLY THEME 

“Those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?” 
Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:6-8 CEB

at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church  
November 1, 2025 9am – 4:30pm  
Primary Preacher:  Dr. Meghan Larissa Good 

In May the Mosaic board affirmed the scripture for the 2025 Mosaic Fall Delegate Assembly, which highlights the theme:  Be My Witness.

Our focus will be on the present realities and future of Anabaptism, while recognizing 500 years of Anabaptism in 2025.  

“Our guiding scripture reminds us that we are called to be witnesses for the gospel in our churches and in our communities,” shared Danilo Sanchez, Mosaic Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation.  

“As our planning team discussed possibilities for the theme this year, there was a sense of being called together by God and being sent out by God, which fits well with our Mosaic identity.” 

We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Meghan Larissa Good as the primary preacher for the Delegate Assembly worship.  

Good is currently the Faculty of Record for Teaching Leadership in the Doctor of Ministry program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She is a frequent speaker and workshop leader around such topics as biblical hermeneutics, contemporary preaching, and the peacemaking role of the church in an age of polarization. 

Her latest book Divine Gravity: Sparking a Movement to Recover a Better Christian Story explores contemporary distortions in how the Christian story is told that have left many people adrift or deconstructing their faith and suggests how a recentering of theology on Jesus can revitalize the Christian movement for generations to come. 

Dr. Meghan Larissa Good

“Delegate Assembly is a joyful space to gather and hear the stories of Mosaic,” shares Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “Come see old friends and meet new ones. Embodying the reconciling love of Jesus looks different in each of our congregations and communities, and when we gather, we create a beautiful tapestry that is a testimony of God’s faithfulness, love, and power.” 

On Friday prior to the Delegate Assembly, a time of equipping will be offered.  

This year, the Fall Delegate Assembly is being planned by a team that includes Stacey Mansfield (Mosaic Administrative and Hospitality Collaborator); Jaye Lindo (Mosaic Hospitality Coordinator); Cindy Angela (Mosaic Director of Communications); Danilo Sanchez (Mosaic Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation); Stephen Kriss (Mosaic Executive Minister); Maati Yvonne (Mosaic Board Executive Committee); Joel Horst Nofziger (Mennonite Historians of Eastern PA); and Makinto (LA Faith Chapel).  

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.      

Rooted in Love, Reaching Across Borders

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Reflections from Anabaptism@500 and the Global Youth Summit

by Brendan Sagastume

From May 29 to June 1, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the 500th Anniversary of Anabaptism in Zurich, Switzerland, followed by the Mennonite World Conference Global Youth Summit, which took place in a small town in southern Germany.  

The Anabaptism@500 event was a full day of connection and reflection. We took part in smaller workshop sessions on a variety of topics, historical walking tours, exhibits, performances from different choirs, and a powerful worship service. The day was centered around the theme of “The Courage to Love.” 

After writing notes and prayers, youth gather to pray over the world as a whole. Photo by Brendan Sagastume.

One of the sessions I attended was titled “Testimonies of Hope.” I heard moving stories from people who chose to love others in circumstances that made it incredibly difficult to do so. One of the most impactful insights shared by a speaker was, “The courage of love is the courage to overcome shame; to reach out to someone you feel you cannot embrace.”  

As I talked with others who attended different sessions, it was inspiring to hear the wide range of ideas, stories, and lessons being shared. The main worship service took place in the historic Grossmünster church, with live streams happening simultaneously in three other churches across Zurich. Nic Morales (Souderton [PA] Mennonite) and I were fortunate to be among the last people allowed into the Grossmünster. Even though our view was obstructed, the experience of being in that space and worshiping alongside everyone there is something I will never forget. Throughout the day, I was reminded of some of the core values of Anabaptism: a deep commitment to seeking God, reconciliation, nonviolence, and, of course, love. 

Worship service at the Global Youth Summit led by young anabaptists from Asia. Photo by Brendan Sagastume.

The next day, Nic and I made our way to Germany for the Global Youth Summit. After a few train delays and cancellations, and an unexpected 30-minute uphill hike, we finally arrived at the Schönblick Christian Guest Center in Schwäbisch Gmünd.  

Each morning and evening, we were led in worship by groups from different continents, followed by a speaker. Worshiping in such a wide variety of styles and languages was an incredible experience. After each session, we broke into small groups to reflect on what we had heard. There were also plenty of opportunities to attend workshops, play games, or simply hang out and talk with others.  

Danisa Ndlovu sharing during the Testimonies of Hope workshop session. Photo by Brendan Sagastume.

What struck me most throughout the weekend was how much I had in common with other young Anabaptists from around the world. Despite our different upbringings and the physical distance between us, we all share a deep desire to seek God, love others, and create a world with peace at the center. 

To close out the weekend, we shared communion in small groups and then came together to pray for the world. It was deeply moving to witness the many ways people were praying over different regions and concerns.  

Attendees from around the world gather before the day begins at the Grossmünster church. Photo by Brendan Sagastume.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of these two events. Being surrounded by such a diverse and passionate community of believers reminded me of the beauty and depth of the Anabaptist tradition. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible. It is one I will carry with me for a long time. 

Brendan Sagastume

Brendan Sagastume is a member of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. He is studying at Messiah University and is a part of Mosaic’s 2025 Ambassador Program.   

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.      

A Foretaste of Heaven Through Intercultural Worship at Anabaptism@500

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by Rashard Allen

A little over two years ago, I was asked to serve as the Music Coordinator for the Anabaptism@500 Celebration in Zürich, which occurred on May 29, 2025. The role included choosing five musical ensembles, one representing each continent where there are Mennonite World Conference member churches.  

The role also included serving as co-worship leader for the 100th Anniversary of Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in Schwabish Gmünd, Germany on May 25, as well as being part of the worship team for the closing worship service on May 29. While I knew it was a great honor to be asked, I could not have known what a life-changing experience serving in this role would be. 

The groups chosen for the event were the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) Chamber Singers from Virginia (North America); The Indonesian Anabaptist Pe(R)forming Arts (TIARA) from lndonesia (Asia), Agape from Paraguay (South America), The Eastleigh Fellowship Center Choir (EFC) from Kenya (Africa), and Songs of Peace from Switzerland (Europe). Each group performed two concerts, one indoors (at the Predigerkirche or Friedenskirche) and one outdoors (in front of the Grossmünster cathedral), on May 29th.  

Additionally, all the groups participated in the closing worship service at the Grossmünster, with each group helping to lead at least one congregational song, as well as singing the anthem “We Want Peace”, which was written by Dennis Thielmann from Songs of Peace.  

The EMU Chamber Singers (front) with the other featured ensembles.
The EMU Chamber Singers (front) with the other featured ensembles.

The indoor concerts were filled to capacity, with each group reflecting their unique expression of Anabaptism culturally and in musical style, while the outdoor concerts were a beautiful addition to the overall festive atmosphere of the historic day in Zürich.  

TIARA creatively mixed traditional Javanese music with more modern Indonesian and Western musical styles. EMU’s concert seamlessly weaved American, European, Latin American, and African music into a beautiful tapestry of choral music, all while staying true to the overall theme of the event: “The Courage to Love”. EFC masterfully sang an exciting program of traditional four-part East African choral music, complete with dancing and African drumming. Songs of Peace presented a lovely three-part liturgy based on the themes of “Faith, Hope, and Love”, with an acoustic, percussion-heavy style that is sweet and whimsical. Agape finished the day of indoor presentations with an exciting, high-energy pop-rock concert with Latin flair. All of the concerts, regardless of the music style or language, faithfully represented the wide breadth of what Anabaptist music is now.  

The closing worship service is available on MWC’s YouTube channel in English, French, Spanish, and German. The concerts will be available to watch online in the coming weeks. All these groups are featured as part of the Global Anabaptist Music Ensembles Playlist on YouTube.  

The five ensembles were housed together at the Bienenberg Hotel, which is also an Anabaptist theological seminary in Liestal, Switzerland, about an hour from Zürich. There, we ate together, worshipped, and rehearsed together, and were bussed to and from Zürich together. In the process, the Holy Spirit united and bonded us together in ways none of us could have anticipated.  

Dr. Rashard Allen, top left.

Not only was beautiful music made, but lasting relationships were formed across cultures and languages. We learned each other’s songs, along with each other’s stories, and each other’s hearts. We even wrote songs together with brothers and sisters from multiple continents at our songwriting workshop the day after the Zürich event. Instagram Reels featuring mashups of each other’s songs were being made at the hotel, on the bus, and in Zürich.  

Rich conversations were had between people who had never previously met but now are inextricably linked together. I have often said that when we get to heaven, we will worship together with every person in Christ who has ever lived, complete with all their varied traditions, songs, and expressions. The days we spent together felt like a foretaste of what we can expect when that day comes for us, a beautiful snapshot of the mosaic that is the Kingdom of God. 

It would not be hyperbolic to say that this may have been the most significant intercultural worship experience of my life. It was remarkable to witness all these musicians, about 80 in total, embrace being together and sharing with one another., I am still in awe of the fact that God gave me the opportunity and honor of coordinating such an event.  

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one for which I will be forever grateful. After all, the next time we celebrate another 500 years of Anabaptism, we will all be in heaven celebrating for eternity. 

Dr. Rashard Allen

Dr. Rashard Allen is the Director of Music and Worship at Neffsville Mennonite (Lancaster, PA). He is a graduate of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (Doctorate of Worship Studies) among other institutions. He has over 25 years of professional experience in worship ministry in Presbyterian, Methodist, and Mennonite churches and served in Pentecostal, Non-Denominational Bible, Episcopalian, and AME Zion churches. In 2022, Dr. Allen was a member of the International Ensemble for the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Indonesia. He is also the Director of the Global Worship Training Project for Faith and Learning International, having led seminars on Worship and Indigenous Songwriting in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana.   

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 Holy Spirit’s Movement in Mosaic Congregations at Pentecost and Beyond

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A few weeks prior to Pentecost 2025, Sandy Drescher-Lehman, Pastor of Methacton (PA) Mennonite, reached out to 13 other Mosaic pastors, asking them to share how they see the Holy Spirit alive in their congregation. Many of them wrote back, and Mosaic communication staff reached out to some additional pastors for their congregations.  

On Pentecost Sunday, Methacton lit a candle and prayed for many Mosaic congregations who had shared about where the Holy Spirit was moving in the congregation.

Here are the responses of some of the congregations, along with a few photos of other joint Pentecost worship services. 

The Holy Spirit is alive among us in welcoming the congregation into a new day of multiplying our pastoral leadership as the congregation has unanimously invited Jordan Luther to become a co-pastor with me, beginning June 1. We’re excited about how the Spirit will use the combination of our ages, giftedness, interests and vision to lead us into the weeks and years ahead in mission and ministry. – Sandy Drescher-Lehman, Pastor of Methacton (PA) Mennonite 

We have experienced the Holy Spirit’s nurture and care through provision and some new and committed members. We have enjoyed partnering with multiple Mosaic congregations and the two Spanish speaking congregations that also use our building. A new intergenerational Bible study on Wednesday nights has been a blessing. Our Friday prayer team not only prays for our congregational members but has been called on to pray for many beyond our doors. And God keeps surprising us with new situations and people we didn’t know to expect or pray for. – Rose Bender Cook, Pastor of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite 

God is sending more children to our Sunday school, so that we need a bigger space for them. Many individuals take part in serving the community. The Spirit is comforting many families who are vulnerable. They show up every Sunday, praising Jesus and are active in the church.  – Aldo Siahaan, Pastor of Philadelphia (PA) Praise Center 

Ambler (PA) Mennonite worshiped with the Church of the Good Samaritans (Holland, PA). Pastors Michelle and Jacob Curtis (from Ambler) and Pastor Kevin Opett (from Good Sam) each preached one part of a three-part sermon and co-led communion on Pentecost Sunday.
The two congregations’ leadership groups prayed for each other.

We felt the Spirit’s nudge as we coordinated a second annual End Gun Violence walk and Memorial to the Lost t-shirt display with Zwingli UCC in Souderton. It was a rainy day, and we were wondering if attendance would be low, but at least 100 people came out to join publicly witness for peace and to write letters advocating for reasonable gun control legislation. The diversity of the group, and the various faith traditions represented, reminded us that in a time of division and polarization, a testimony shines through when we work together to proclaim peace and justice. – Mike Ford, Pastor of Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA)  

We’ve seen the Holy Spirit leading us to fruitful partnerships and connections with our neighbors and local organizations as we’ve hosted the reopening of the Ambler Community Fridge in March.  – Michelle Curtis, Pastor of Ambler (PA) Mennonite 

We have been experiencing the Holy Spirit’s nudging us to spend the fifth Sundays as an opportunity to be more involved in community engagement. In March our members visited six mostly Mosaic congregations. We hope the fifth Sundays can continue to grow and that others can find it to be a fruitful way of discovering what the Holy Spirit is doing in the community and throughout the world. – Bev Benner Miller, Pastor of Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA) 

Homestead (FL) Mennonite and Encuentro de Renovación (Miami, FL) celebrated joint worship on Pentecost Sunday.
Homestead (FL) Mennonite and Encuentro de Renovación (Miami, FL) celebrated joint worship on Pentecost Sunday.

We have been experiencing the movement of the Spirit through the voices and energy of our children. They ask good questions, share their enthusiasm during worship, and bless us with their artwork on our bulletins each Sunday. I’m also experiencing the Spirit move through our older persons and the way they share about God’s faithfulness in the past that gives us hope for our future. – Laura Alderfer, Director of Music at Salford (PA) Mennonite 

Refuge has experienced the Spirit when we explore gospel stories together. Every time we gather, even when we feel tired or stressed, we experience the Spirit’s whisper through the stories of Jesus, imaginative prayer, and silence. We see the things we hear from God taking root in our lives and neighborhoods—changes in our relationships, ways of relating to our community, and expectations of ourselves. Often, we hear God reminding us we are loved! – Emily Ralph Servant, Pastor of Refuge (virtual)

At Alpha we know that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our church in the ways God is revealing our spiritual gifts and reconnecting us to our community. 
At Ripple we know the Holy Spirit is at work in our church in the many ways we witness and experience transformation in the lives of our members and in our own lives. – Charlene Smalls, Pastor of Ripple Church (Allentown, PA) and Alpha (NJ) Mennonite 

I see the Holy Spirit at work in our congregation by changing people from the inside out—healing hearts and shaping lives. – Stephen Zacheus, Pastor of Jemaat Kristen Indonesian Anugerah (Sierra Madre, CA)  

Resplandece Mennonite (Pembroke Pines, FL, Colombia, and hybrid) gathers for worship on Pentecost Sunday.

I see repentance and a longing to pray and draw closer to God and others, regardless of ethnicity, race, or background. As the Holy Spirit moves, we have added more prayer meetings to our schedule and church collaboration.  – Hendy Matahelemual, Pastor of Indonesian Light Church (Philadelphia, PA) 

I know the Holy Spirit is alive and well through guidance, comfort, and inspiration. As a very small congregation, it’s easy to question whether you are valued and even to wonder if you will make it another year. Yet in times of struggle there have been glimpses of the Spirit’s encouragement, in the form of a small group new folks joining the congregation, new possibilities for connecting with our community, and people’s willingness to share their gifts with the church and try new things. The congregation is actively pursuing physical upgrades to make the meetinghouse more accessible, which will allow the space to be a “meetinghouse” for church and community.  – Chris Nickels, Pastor of Spring Mount (PA) Mennonite 

God’s Spirit is stirring in many ways at Souderton Mennonite: we celebrate Spirit’s work within our women’s Bible Studies and in the lives of loved ones who are passing to their eternal home; we celebrate the addition of new families, young adults and friends from various countries in Africa; and we look forward to an interdenominational worship service in the Souderton Park.  – Jenifer Erikson Morales, pastor at Souderton (PA) Mennonite 

Our congregation is blessed with prayer warriors. It is a gift to see and feel the Holy Spirit at work as we pray for each other, our families, the community, and the world. Our time of Selah, reflection, and sharing during our “Words From The Lord” time in our service enriches our lives. – Beth Davco, pastor at Wellspring Church of Skippack (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.    

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.