Mosaic Mennonites
Missional - Intercultural - Formational
Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) Church was recently highlighted as a “Hometown Hero” on Philadelphia’s 6ABC evening news for the work they are doing to help prevent hunger in their community. To learn more about The Bean Bag Project and to watch the video, click here.
By Kevin Opett
“In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all matters, love.”
“In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all matters, love.” These words left an indelible mark in my understanding of Anabaptism after participating in the Introduction to Mosaic Class, offered by Mosaic Institute and led by Steve Kriss and Rose Bender Cook.
As part of Mosaic’s credentialing process, seven classmates and I spent time on Zoom and in person learning about the development and contributions of the Anabaptist movement to the Christian story. We read books, traveled to rural and urban churches, visited historical places, and talked with memorable people who represent the diverse makeup of Mosaic.
Our cohort was a microcosm of the conference: it included both life-long Mennonites and newcomers to the fold, Americans and immigrants, as well as representations of several racial/ethnic backgrounds. Each of us had our notions of Anabaptism challenged, expanded, and enriched.
We started out as strangers but ended up as brothers and sisters who care deeply for one another. We enjoyed deep discussions and sought to understand our different perspectives as we galivanted around Pennsylvania, to Souderton, Harleysville, Philadelphia, and Lansdale. On the final in-person day of the class, a sabbatical retreat at Fern Rock bonded us together as we sang praises to Jesus and shared what he is doing in our hearts.
I was fascinated to learn that Anabaptists were not always the “Quiet in the Land,” a people who kept to ourselves. Far from being docile, our forebears were radical, urban-based, and adamant that Christians are to spread the gospel far and wide. Relentless persecution from other Christian traditions led to a centuries-old retreat into isolation that only now seems to be turning the tide, as our story widens and deepens with new cultures and people adding their unique perspective to the Mosaic story. We are being reacquainted with the Great Commission to go and make disciples of the nations by the fresh movement of the Holy Spirit in our world.
The course offered a solid foundation to understand the Mosaic vision of being a Conference where homogeneity is not a prerequisite to cooperation. Like a patchwork quilt, no two congregations look or function the same. Mosaic includes both rural, traditional churches as well as urban immigrant congregations. There are multiethnic and multilingual congregations. Some were established 100 years ago, while others are just starting out. This array of diversity makes Mosaic Conference unique and beautiful.
The diversity enables a person like me, whose background resembles a denominational kaleidoscope, to feel welcomed and to thrive just as those who can trace their ancestry back to the earliest expressions of the movement. We can each find our place in Mosaic and mutually support one another as we strive to live out the teachings of Christ and share the Good News to the communities around us.
On behalf of my classmates, Brandon, Chidi, Michelle, Ramona, Scotty, Susan, and Tracey, I wish to convey our sincere appreciation to all who made this class so rewarding. The time you invested in us and the stories you shared allowed us to experience such a meaningful time together. We hope we have been as much of a blessing to you as you have been to us!
Kevin Opett resides in the Philadelphia area and currently serves as pastor of Alpha Mennonite Church in New Jersey. You will usually find him toiling in the yard of his new house or cooking international cuisine when he is not engaged in ministry work. Kevin just celebrated 21 years of marriage to his beautiful wife, Petra.
By Marco Güete, Leadership Minister
On a trip this year to walk the Camino de Santiago, a network of ancient pilgrimage routes in Spain, someone said to my wife, Sandra, and me: “Be prepared, you are going to a town that is an oven with hellish heat.” We were worried about the heat that awaited us. After six hours and 23 km walking on almost flat terrain, we arrived at Hornillos del Camino, a city in the north of Spain.
To our surprise, the weather was not hot; rather, it was a bit cold. It was the month of May. We slept in Hornillos one night. When people have not been to a place, they imagine things. In this case, because of the name Hornillos (meaning kilns), the person thought the city would be as hot as an oven. The reality is that the name of the city came from the many pottery kilns in the ninth century. Today those kilns do not exist.
As we continued our walk, my wife and I thought we would reach a town below sea level. But it was not like that. The town was in a valley on the side of a mountain. We discovered that we had to go up and then down the mountain to follow a path to the next town, Castrojeriz, which was 19 km away. We climbed and climbed at a slow pace to conserve our energy. The summit seemed unattainable, but finally after a long time, we reached the top of the mountain.
The landscape in front of us was otherworldly, almost divine, maddeningly beautiful. There are no words to describe it. My wife could not contain herself. Very excitedly she began to praise God out loud, sang hymns of worship, and danced as we went back down the mountain. Some walkers were motivated by her joy. To see the splendor of God’s creation, we had to suffer going up the mountain, burn energy, sweat, and overcome any discouragement.
The church is similar to an unknown place to which we plan a trip. Before going, we imagine and dream, but when we arrive at the place, we find things differently.
The conferences and institutions of the Mennonite Church are like this. They are not what they were in the past, nor will they be in the future what they are today. God is constantly doing new things by transforming and renewing the old. God also transforms his church, and his church is us. What we imagine about the church disappears when we discover new things and implement changes. And sometimes, like my wife, we cannot contain ourselves when we see what God has done.
Marco Güete is the Leadership Minister for Florida for Mosaic Conference.
by Brooke Martin
For the first time since Eastern District Conference and Franconia Mennonite Conference reconciled and formed a new Conference, we will be gathering IN PERSON for Assembly as Mosaic Conference!
The 2022 Fall Assembly will be held on one day, Saturday, November 5, from 9:30am-6:30pm (ET) at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church. Worship, delegate sessions, fellowship, and food from Mosaic communities will be intertwined throughout the day. The entire Assembly will be on Saturday this year.
I am thankful for the many behind-the-scenes volunteers, Board members, and the Assembly team members over the past few years for their diligence and intentional work to create quality, virtual delegate sessions. This year, virtual participation is not an option. All participants will be in-person at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church.
If your congregation or CRM has not yet submitted their delegate names for the Assembly, please do so soon. The delegate submission deadline is Friday, August 19. Please send your delegate names to: office@mosaicmennonite.org.
Assembly Registration will begin on September 9. Further details will be coming.
Please join us in prayer as we prepare for our Fall Assembly on November 5.
Brooke Martin is the Youth and Community Formation Pastor for Mosaic Conference. Brooke lives in Telford with her husband, Nathaniel, and their two children.
By Jennifer Svetlik, Salford Mennonite Church
The year 2022 marks the 17th year of Salford Mennonite’s (Harleysville, PA) summer Peace Camp. Peace Camp grows out of Salford’s desire to include children in God’s mission of reconciliation all around us and in us. This past June nearly 60 campers from within and beyond the congregation joined for a week of practicing the peaceable way of Jesus while playing and working together. Salford’s Peace Camp is a free offering for the community for elementary-aged children, with youth engaged as junior counselors.
Led by Romans 12:9-13 for the week, campers engaged in meaningful activities to foster awareness of self and others as beloved children of God, practice conflict resolution skills, learn about injustices, care for God’s creation, and cultivate confidence to work for peace through community-building, games, lessons, and art.
Campers planted flowers on the grounds of the meetinghouse and also worked in the Salford Mennonite-Advent Lutheran garden, which yields about 10,000 pounds of produce that is donated to the community each year.
A particular highlight of this year’s Peace Camp was the banner that the campers collaborated to create over three days. The art project was designed by Rachelle Moes and led by Brent Kissel. The banner features the words from Isaiah 2:4 along the border. The center features a silhouette of a broken rifle in a field with a tree growing from it and shovels along the sides. A batik method was used to create the outlines of the images and the text. Younger campers made tie-dyed, multilayered flowers that were attached to the tree.
The banner hung in the sanctuary during the celebration for families on the final night of Peace Camp and for worship the following Sunday. The banner was designed for Salford’s Gardening for Peace event that will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
Gardening for Peace will feature Shane Claiborne and RAWtools forging a gun into a garden tool. Prior to the main event, tours of the Salford-Advent garden and workshops will be offered on gun violence, suicide prevention, food insecurity, prison reform, civil conversations, and more. Shane Claiborne will preach at Salford Mennonite Church on September 25. All are invited to spread the word and participate in this event. More information and registration are available here.
Jennifer Svetlik (she/her) directs children’s education and justice Initiatives at Salford Mennonite Church and works in fundraising and marketing for Roots of Justice. She and her partner Sheldon have two young children and live in Lansdale, PA.
By Randy Heacock, Leadership Minister
On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Rocky Ridge (Quakertown, PA) Mennonite Church gathered for its final worship service. The service was one of encouragement and commissioning, to trust that God will bring to completion the good work that has now begun. Though the congregation is ending, the people were encouraged to continue their journey of following Jesus.
The June 26 service was the final of three special services planned for the last days of the congregation. The first service was one of lament led by Noel Santiago, a Mosaic staff member. The second was a celebration of God’s faithfulness through the years.
While I do not wish to minimize the loss in Rocky Ridge’s decision to close, deep faith and tremendous courage guided the decision. When Franco Salvatori, the most recent Pastor, ended his time in August 2020, the elders faced some hard decisions. Because of a number of factors, including the pandemic, having no pastor, and members being called elsewhere, J.R. Briggs of Kairos Partnerships was hired to facilitate conversations and help the elders lead the congregation. The Rocky Ridge congregation considered many possibilities, but the two that gained most interest were either to graft into another congregation or to work collaboratively with other congregations in order to start something new.
The elders put forth much creative energy in engaging three local Mosaic pastors. Questions of what collaboration could look like and what gifts each congregation could bring were thoughtfully considered. Many exciting possibilities began to emerge as Rocky Ridge elders met with these pastors. After several months of conversation, however, the timing did not seem right for either Rocky Ridge and/or the other pastors. Neither was Rocky Ridge ready to be grafted into another church.
Finally, near the end of consulting time, Briggs shared his observations and considerations for the congregation to discern. Among other things, Briggs asked if it was time for the congregation to go on “hospice.” Rather than prolong its struggling life, what if the congregation decided to end its current way of being church, which would then free up whatever resources it has for Kingdom work.
Because there was little response to this possibility during the meeting, the elders courageously decided to hold private interviews with each member. As Leadership Minister, I was given the privilege to do some of these interviews. Some general themes that came from these interviews were:
As the elders discussed the results of this process and prayed, they decided to recommend to the congregation that the Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church close its doors. A congregational vote in May affirmed this decision. With the recommendation came clarity to hold the three services mentioned above. Deciding what to do with the property will be discerned over the next several months. The desire will be to see how God leads us to use the property for the Kingdom.
Some members have already connected with area churches. Others are waiting to see what new thing God may call them to, and still others are taking a step back to listen for next steps. As Lead Minister, it has been a privilege to walk with this congregation. Though difficult, it was a joy to witness these steps of faithfulness and courage.
Closing Prayer for Rocky Ridge’s Final Service
June 26, 2022
by Randy Heacock, Lead Minister
(based on John 11 & Philippians 1)
Leader: I thank God every time I think of you for your faithful witness and desire to follow Jesus.
People: We give thanks for the many who have called Rocky Ridge home and for the ways we have seen God work through the years.
Leader: Like Mary and Martha, you have experienced grief in losing the church you love.
Elders: We have heard the questions … if only and why can’t?
As Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, so we feel that grief and the pain caused by great loss.
Leader: May you remember Jesus’ invitation to believe that you will see the glory of the God!
People: We believe, Lord. Help our unbelief.
Leader: I am fully confident in the God who called you to complete the good work He has begun. God will produce in you the harvest of righteousness.
People: Let us pray for one another that our love may overflow with knowledge and insight so that we gain clarity as to what to do next. May each one of us have the courage to boldly live into the new future God has for us.
Leader: Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Randy Heacock serves as a Leadership Minister for Mosaic Conference while continuing in his role as pastor of Doylestown Mennonite Church.
By Kris Wint, Pastor, Finland Mennonite Church
Editor’s Note: Mosaic’s upcoming Fall Assembly theme is based on Psalms 116 & 117.
I am not fond of running. Lately, however, I have found myself running four to five times a week to train for an upcoming sprint triathlon. Interestingly, the Holy Spirit has been using these training runs for more than my worldly goal of increasing physical endurance; the Holy Spirit has also been using them to teach and remind me of two foundational truths found in Psalm 116.
First, the Holy Spirit reminds me that the way I run (or walk) matters. Psalm 116 celebrates the faithfulness of the Lord, declaring that he is gracious, righteous, and merciful (v. 5, NRSV). In verse 9, we see the psalmist’s response to this faithful God: “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” This word “walk” has little to do with an actual stride; rather, it implies living and behaving as God directs. Is my posture consistent with that of Jesus?
Second, as runners know, where we run matters. Last week, the track where I normally run was closed, so I opted for plan B on a path I hadn’t run before. Unfortunately, this path had sections of loosely packed stones, obstacles, compacted grass-covered dirt, and a run-down sidewalk. Probably to no one’s surprise, it took more energy to run on these sections than on the straight and smooth track surface. “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 116:9, emphasis mine). The word “before” indicates location in the presence of the Lord. The place where we walk matters, and when we are walking “before” the Lord, we are standing on him as our sure foundation. Are my positions consistent with those of Jesus?
Putting the two words together, then, “walking before” describes both how and where we walk – our postures and positions. This way of walking echoes a previous command of God: “You must therefore be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn to the right or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32, NRS). Division is not a stranger to us. In a country divided by lefts and rights, we hear a different way being commanded for followers of Jesus. Walk straight. Do not turn aside.
How are we guilty of turning aside? We turn aside when we find ourselves believing, teaching, and declaring unbiblical and un-Christlike theological positions. However, we equally veer off the path when we find ourselves acting from unbiblical and un-Christlike postures (see 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 5:1-2, Galatians 5:16-25, James 3:13-18).
So, what are we to do when we realize that we have abandoned the posture and position of Christ? (Spoiler alert: each of us misses the mark daily.) The only faithful response is to confess and repent. We confess to our Lord and to one another. We repent by coming back to the sure foundation, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord. I pray that we all have the courage to run this race together, walking in grace and truth, and training to move forward together with the posture and positions of Christ.
Gracious is the Lord and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
-Psalm 116:5-9 (NRSV)
Kris Wint is the Lead Pastor at Finland Mennonite Church in Pennsburg, PA and is also a Mosaic board member.
The Mosaic Conference Board has called on the Mosaic Ministerial Committee to review conference policy regarding the holding of ministerial credentials for Conference Related Ministries (CRM) leaders.
In September of 2021, Mosaic Conference committed to developing an internal review process in response to allegations of misconduct at Dock Mennonite Academy (Lansdale, PA). Soon after, an official complaint was filed with Mosaic Conference, accusing Dock Academy’s Superintendent, Conrad Swartzentruber, of failing to protect the children in the school’s care. Swartzentruber has been ordained by Mosaic since 2020 and is a member of Plains Mennonite Church (Hatfield, PA).
In accordance with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) policies regarding allegations of misconduct against credentialed leaders, Mosaic Conference responded by placing a hold on internal investigations. Mosaic Conference then moved forward to contract with external investigators to ascertain whether or not the allegation was founded. According to denominational policies, public communication was paused until the external investigation was completed.
In early April 2022, the external team presented a confidential report to the Mosaic Ministerial Committee that recommended Swartzentruber be charged. On April 7, the Ministerial Committee met to discern whether to follow through with this recommendation. The committee considered the evidence that the investigation team had gathered but, in a contested decision, declined to charge Swartzentruber.
The minutes of the Ministerial Committee then went to the Conference Board on May 16 for affirmation. The Board acknowledged a lack of clarity for the charge and requested additional information from the investigation team. This additional information was reviewed at the July 18 Board meeting, concluding the external investigation process.
In considering the conference process, the Board identified some deeper issues within conference polity and structure that need to be addressed. One of the challenges revealed in the external investigation was the potential incompatibility between leadership of a non-profit organization, with its accompanying legal responsibilities, and the commitment that credentialed leaders make with the Giving and Receiving Counsel process, the primary accountability structure for the Conference’s credentialed leaders. In response, the Board has called on the Ministerial Committee to review the Conference policy on holding credentials for CRM leaders.
Additionally, the report emphasized a weakness in the Conference’s leadership minister structure, which primarily provides accountability to the lead pastor of congregations, leaving potential gaps in support and accountability for credentialed leaders in other roles. This structure was developed by the Leadership Minister Team and will be reviewed and revised in conversation with the Ministerial Committee.
Finally, the report identified the need for a clearer communication plan around misconduct investigations. The process, developed within the wider denomination, mandates a shutdown of communication during an external investigation, yet this lack of communication can create mistrust among members of the affected community, particularly survivors of abuse. The report suggested that often the institution is protected using the “guise of confidentiality.” Conference staff have committed to working with Mennonite Church USA to develop a new policy that honors confidentiality while also empowering survivors and providing transparency to the process.
Both Mosaic’s Ministerial Committee and Board agreed that there were significant flaws in the process. “These kind of processes challenge our system and community because of the infrequency of complaints” reflected Mosaic’s Executive Minister, Steve Kriss. “Policies are created for hypothetical scenarios and then, when a complaint is filed, it often doesn’t play out that way in reality,” he said. “This process was imperfect, and we are challenged now to continue to work at issues of restoration and hope for the many who have been involved and affected.”
The events of the last few months have highlighted the need for Mosaic Conference to continue to adjust and change to more fully “embody the reconciling love of Jesus in our broken and beautiful world.” The Board hopes that these learnings strengthen commitments to healthy relationships, mutual accountability, and the cultivation of safe spaces for the vulnerable among us.
Mosaic Conference takes allegations of abuse or misconduct seriously (resources for Safe Churches). If you have information about an instance of child abuse in your ministry context, please report it by calling the child abuse hotline for your state:
CA: list of phone numbers by county
FL: 1-800-962-2873
MD: list of phone numbers by county
NJ: 1-877-652-2873
NY: 1-800-342-3720
PA: 1-800-932-0313
VT: 1-800-649-5285