Mosaic Mennonites

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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.

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.