Articles

To our Mosaic Mennonite Conference delegates and constituents: 

I recommend voting a respectful RED (No) vote at the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Assembly. 

The Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board and the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) Board have been in very difficult circumstances since the November 2024 Mosaic delegate vote. That vote, which passed with 40% affirmation (and 31% yielding, for a total of 71%), directed the Mosaic Board to establish a partnership with MC USA, while Mosaic is still a member conference. Throughout this past year, MC USA continued to relate to Mosaic as a member conference, and communication was difficult for both entities.  

The Mosaic Board has partially followed through on the directive given by the action of the November 2024 delegates by bringing the proposal to withdraw from MCUSA to this November 2025 assembly. They have not been able to follow through on the directive to establish a robust partnership with MC USA. However, it can be recognized that they tried to do so, and their November 2025 proposal still hopes to establish a partnership. 

Several significant things have occurred since the November 2024 delegate vote which the delegates of the November 2025 assembly can carefully consider: 

1. MC USA Executive Board has offered to engage in mediation with the Mosaic Board. That offer remains open.
2. Leaders at the MC USA Assembly in July 2025 informed us as members of MC USA that we will be engaging in a restructuring process, which is something that the Mosaic board and staff have stated that MC USA needs to do. 

A respectful RED (No) vote: 

1. Is appreciative of the difficult work of the Mosaic Board in the past year.
2. Is appreciative of the difficult weight placed on the Mosaic Board to decide what action to bring to the delegate assembly this November 2025.
3. Frees the Mosaic Board to engage in mediation or not engage in mediation with MC USA. It does not require a timeline for this possible engagement. The Mosaic Board can focus on the work of being Mosaic, which is what they stated in May that they want to do. They can do so without needing to make major transitions to absorb the work that MC USA has been doing for us.
4. Frees us as people who are part of congregations who are part of Mosaic and part of MC USA to participate in both the conference and the denomination. We will continue to be able to: 
   • Relate as a sibling conference with the other 14 conferences of MCUSA. Mosaic members are approximately 1/6th of the membership of MCUSA. We can bless and receive blessings by being part of this wider church together with all the other MC USA members.
   • Send representational delegates to the Mennonite Convention, and whether we are delegates or not, we can enjoy the opportunities for spiritual growth and relationship building through workshops, Bible studies, worship services, and service opportunities for children, youth, and adults.
   • Send leaders to be a part of the Constituency Leadership Council for the purpose of fellowship and support, and to give counsel to the MCUSA executive board, staff, and broader church.
   • Receive resources and collaborate in the making of resources in Mennonite education, Christian life and faith, singing, Hispanic ministries, church planting, women in leadership, undoing racism, and climate justice.
   • Receive the benefits of pastoral search and pastoral transition leadership that MC USA provides.
   • Apply for scholarships for BIPOC students attending Mennonite schools. 
   • Jointly witness for peace with our siblings across the Mennonite Church in the U.S.
   • Support and participate in the restructuring process for MC USA. This is really important – we can be a part of this process.  

A respectful RED (No) vote recognizes that there is an opportunity for reconciliation to take place and invites God’s creative work within the people who have been part of Mosaic and part of MC USA who have experienced brokenness. 

A respectful RED (No) vote is freeing, bringing us to a new place which is not stuck in the same jam that we have been in during the past year. 

I write this with humility, knowing that I do not fully understand all the factors involved for everyone in this situation. This is simply my best analysis of the circumstances that we are in during this time.  

Reflections from the Mosaic Conference Indonesian Mennonite community 

by Hendy Matahelemual

The Indonesian Mennonite immigrant community living in the United States has experienced great blessings and real challenges. Living in a new culture has stretched us, sometimes in difficult ways. Cultural tensions, microaggressions, and racism are part of our daily experience, even in Christian circles. Yet we continue to find strength in God and in our church community. The church has become the center of our lives—a place where we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and where we find belonging, healing, and hope. 

Amid these challenges, our connection with the broader U.S. Mennonite community has been a valuable source of encouragement and support. Our relationship with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) was once positive and meaningful, but in recent years it has become more complicated and difficult.  

My journey in this fellowship began when I joined the Franconia Conference (now Mosaic) and attended my first Mennonite Convention in Orlando, Florida, in 2017 through the Servant Leader program. In 2021, I had the honor of serving as one of the worship leaders at MennoCon in Cincinnati, Ohio. I also participated in Hope for the Future, a national gathering of leaders from racial and ethnic minority groups, and became involved in Mennonite Men, where I serve as a board member. These experiences strengthened my commitment to the broader Mennonite community. 

It is deeply unfortunate that much of the good that had been built over the years was overshadowed by the way the Resolution for Repentance and Transformation was introduced and approved in Special Delegate Session in Kansas City in 2022. The process lacked intercultural sensitivity and felt one-sided. Conversations were cut short because of time limits, leaving little room for genuine dialogue—especially among people meeting for the first time. As someone whose first language is not English, I experienced this process as exclusionary and, in many ways, discriminatory.  

The resolution imposed a particular cultural framework and language—using terms and words that did not always reflect our context, culture, or beliefs. As Indonesian immigrants, we often felt powerless under the dominant influence of white majority, which pressured us to affirm values that conflicted with our culture and convictions. 

What has been done cannot be undone. The question now is: what can we, the Indonesian Mennonite community, do? Our response is to depend on those who are willing to listen and walk with us.  

While many congregations have chosen to leave Mosaic Conference or MC USA, we chose to stay with Mosaic. We need spiritual covering, care, and support. We are deeply grateful for Mosaic Conference, who has shown understanding, compassion, and genuine intercultural awareness. The Indonesian Mennonite community in the U.S. feels that our voices are truly heard by Mosaic, and we feel a closer connection to Mosaic than to MC USA. 

There are many things I cannot put into writing here. In our culture, some matters are inappropriate to express in written form, but that does not mean they cannot be discussed in person. One of the challenges for the dominant white American culture is learning to hear what is not spoken and to see what is not written, and to understand that these unspoken and unwritten realities exist. 

MC USA does not represent the voice of the Indonesian Mennonite immigrant community in the U.S. Therefore, we believe that discontinuing our membership is the right decision. We do not see this as a division but rather as an opportunity for Mosaic to grow—building relationships that sharpen one another as equal siblings in Christ.  

For this reason, the Indonesian Mennonite community in Mosaic requests to join Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and invites them to act as a mediator between Mosaic and MC USA, helping unite us under the broader family of MWC, so that together we can walk in unity, remain centered on Jesus, and continue to bear witness to his peace in a world that desperately needs it. 

During the Mosaic Conference 2025 Fall Delegate Assembly worship, we will recognize the credentialed leaders who have died within the past year, those congregations and Conference-Related Ministries who have left, congregations who have joined Mosaic, and the new leaders among us. Below are those who will be recognized on Saturday, Nov. 1.  

Those who have passed: 

• Paul Long – longtime leader at Ambler (PA) Mennonite 
• Joshua So – founder of San Francisco (CA) Chinese Mennonite 
• Luke Beidler – former Franconia Conference staff and pastor of Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life Mennonite 
• Carl Walcott – pastor of North Tampa (FL) Christian Fellowship  
• Bob Walters – founder of Whitehall (PA) Mennonite 

Congregations and Conference-Related Ministries who have left Mosaic:    

• Salem Mennonite (Quakertown, PA)
• Vincent Mennonite (Spring City, PA) 
• Spruce Lake Retreat (Canadensis, PA) 

Welcoming new member congregations to Mosaic: 

• Redemption Church of Bristol (PA) 
• Iglesia Menonita del Cordero (Mennonite Church of the Lamb) (Brownsville, TX) 
• Iglesia Menonita Fuente de Agua Viva (Fountain of Living Water Mennonite Church) (Los Fresnos, TX) 

Recognizing New Leaders

Approved three-year license toward ordination (LTO) for:  

• Karen Bergey, Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA) 
• Carlos Sánchez, Comunidad Anabautista de Medellín  
• Manuel García, Resplandece Mennonite (Pembroke Pines, FL, Colombia and hybrid) 
• Zacharie René, Lakeview Mennonite (Susquehanna, PA) 
• Dave Moyer, Zion Mennonite (Souderton, PA) 
• Michael Marpaung, Ark of Christ (Anaheim, CA) 
• Beverly Benner Miller, Plains Mennonite (Hatfield, PA) 

Approved ordination for:  

• Angelia Susanto, Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA) 
• Makinto, LA (CA) Faith Chapel  
• Mukarabe Lysianne Makinto, LA (CA) Faith Chapel  
• Kevin Opett, Church of the Good Samaritans (Holland, PA) 
• Jaye Lindo, 7 Ways (Bowie, MD and hybrid) 

Approved transfer into Mosaic Conference:  

• Matthew Peterson, Deep Run East (Perkasie, PA), transfer ordained  
• Karl McKinney, Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life  
• Robert Petersheim, retired transfer from Atlantic Coast Conference 

Credentials reaffirmed:   

• Beth Yoder, Active without charge 

As Mosaic Mennonite Conference prepares for the Fall Delegate Assembly on November 1, which includes a vote on whether to discontinue membership with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) and cultivate healthy mutual partnerships with MC USA, Mennonite World Conference and other Anabaptist communities, the Mosaic board and staff hosted a series of eight delegate preparation meetings in late September and early October 2025.  

These gatherings, held in person in Pennsylvania and California and on Zoom, in English, Spanish, and with Indonesian interpretation, offered space for information sharing, reflection, clarification, and feedback for over 130 participants, representing the diverse body of Mosaic congregations. 

In line with Mosaic’s commitment to two-way communication, we thank delegates for their thoughtful engagement. This article highlights key themes, shared insights, and questions that arose during the sessions. 

Overview of the Delegate Sessions 

The sessions each began with a prayer and a reflection on the Fall Delegate Assembly theme text, Acts 1:6-8, followed by presentations from Mosaic Conference board and staff. These presentations (see accompanying slides in English) reviewed the timeline of the affiliation discernment process and outlined the rationale for the recommended discontinuation of membership in MC USA. 

Mosaic board members shared frustrations with MC USA’s lack of acknowledgement and responsiveness to concerns around polity, intercultural practices, and global partnerships. They also referenced the use of power dynamics, communication gaps, and inconsistent dynamics between private and public discourse. The board shared updates that have transpired since the board was tasked with implementing the recommendation to seek partnership, rather than membership, with MC USA, including MC USA’s unanimous denial—with minimal explanation—of Mosaic’s proposal to become a program entity within the denomination, and MC USA leadership’s unwillingness to meet in August or September to discuss next steps.  

Delegates were reminded that this recommendation does not seek to sever relationships but seeks new forms of partnership. 

The sessions also introduced the ballot process, including the meaning of abstentions and the use of colored ballots, with attention to ensuring clarity for non-English speakers. 

Mosaic staff also introduced the Centering Document, which helps articulate the Conference’s “centered-set” relational posture, with Jesus as our center.   

Delegate Feedback and Reflections 

The tone of the eight meetings varied significantly. Some gatherings were marked by grief over the potential shift in long-standing denominational ties. Others were marked by affirmation, with few questions or concerns raised. Others focused on practical questions of implementation.  

Overall, delegates expressed trust in Mosaic leadership and an appreciation of honesty, even as tensions persist around identity, inclusion, and future direction. 

Regina Valensia, a member of Philadelphia (PA) Praise Center and of the Pathway Steering Team, reflected on the diversity of voices during the Oct. 5 meeting. “I shared insights into the communication struggles we had with MC USA throughout the Pathway process that persist until today.” 

She continued, “Experiencing each other’s emotions, convictions, and doubts sparked new perspectives. When we come together to discuss difficult topics and can coexist with love, it is a sign that the Holy Spirit is with us.” 

Jordan Luther, a pastor at Methacton Mennonite (Eaglesville, PA), reflected on the palpable tension in the room at the Sept. 30 in-person meeting, saying, “Many delegates shared concerns with the Board’s recommendation to discontinue membership with MC USA and the anticipated consequences. It is hard to know how to hold the impasse between the leadership of MC USA and Mosaic as a delegate and the uncertainty following Assembly, whatever the delegates decide.” 

He shared a challenge that has emerged for him, “What does faith that seeks understanding look like in this context? How can I both respect church leadership while also prophetically holding space for those who are often marginalized by our U.S. church systems—immigrants, queer and trans folk, non-English speakers, and the poor?” 

Tomás Ramírez, pastor of Iglesia Menonita Luz y Vida (Orlando, FL), expressed affirmation for the Sept. 25 meeting’s clarity and vision. “The board is giving us a clear idea of who we want to be as a Conference. The meeting felt productive because it helped put us on the same page and gave us a space to imagine the future of Mosaic.”  

Regarding affiliation, Ramírez added, “The Pathways Team was clear in their recommendation. Working beyond a U.S.-based denomination, with a broader global reach, looks more promising.”  

He continued, “The challenge of Mosaic is that it is trying to unite people of many perspectives and colors. We still need to organize together. The MWC Shared Convictions can be our guide. Mosaic will grow, we will have challenges, and we may fail. But we must allow the Spirit to guide us. God will help us.” 

Questions Raised  

Delegates asked a range of thoughtful and challenging questions, such as: 

• How does the Centering Document interact with existing theological and policy documents?
• How will Mosaic maintain theological and structural coherence in a “centered set” model?
• Does Mosaic intend to clarify its stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion?
• What resources (financial, relational, institutional) would Mosaic lose by discontinuing MC USA membership?
• Has MC USA already left Mosaic in spirit?
• If the vote fails, what happens next? (answer: Mosaic remains a member conference of MC USA)
• Could Mosaic operate as a “parallel entity” to MC USA?
• What would mutual partnership with MC USA look like in practice? 

In response to some of the most-asked questions, Mosaic created a FAQ Document for 2025. Articles in Mosaic News also continue to address some of these questions and concerns.  

As the November 1 Delegate Assembly approaches, Mosaic delegates have an important responsibility to discern the way forward for Mosaic in relating to MC USA and its broader identity as a global Anabaptist community. 

During worship, three new member congregations (Iglesia Menonita del Cordero [Brownsville, TX]; Iglesia Menonita Fuente de Agua Viva [Los Fresnos, TX]; and Redemption Church of Bristol [PA]) will be welcomed. We will also recognize newly credentialed leaders, honor those among us who have died, and remember those who have left Mosaic in the past year.  

The morning delegate session will follow worship, and each delegate will be seated at a table group with a table leader. All table participants will be asked to commit to Mosaic’s Respectful Communication Guidelines. There will be times of singing praise and sharing communion. 

There will be an opportunity to discuss the board’s recommendation: “to discontinue membership in Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) and cultivate healthy mutual partnerships with MC USA, MWC, and other Anabaptist communities,” followed by a vote (utilizing green, yellow, and red colors). (The ballot text is available in the docket, and more information is available on the FAQ document).  

There will also be an opportunity to reflect in diverse table groups on Mosaic Conference’s new Centering Document (see: A Mosaic Identity: Clarifying our Center).  

Due to space limitations and to maintain a quiet working space for delegates, all non-delegate guests will be seated in chairs rather than at tables and asked to be quiet observers. For guests who wish to talk to others during the session, the delegate sessions will also be livestreamed in the sanctuary.

Makinto, Associate Pastor of LA (CA) Faith Chapel and Co-Director of Conference-Related Ministry Amahoro International, will again lead us in a peacebuilding drumming ritual. Please bring a handheld rhythm instrument, such as a djembe, bongos, shaker, or a bucket and drumsticks, for the peacemaking and drumming time during our afternoon session. If you don’t bring something, your hands work great too! 

There will be an extended period for lunch and relationship building, including time to visit the Exhibit Hall, to visit Mosaic Conference-Related Ministries and other agencies. This space will be open prior to worship and throughout the lunch period for visiting before or after eating. At 2 p.m., the Exhibit Hall will close.  

There will be prayer room available for reflection, located off of the sanctuary and main foyer.