Mosaic Mennonites

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Mennonite Church USA Executive Board response to all boards meeting

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mc-usa-logo.jpgWe are grateful for the call at the all boards meeting for the executive board to demonstrate visionary and inspirational leadership within Mennonite Church USA and through its relationships with its churchwide agencies. We recognize that all of the board members of our churchwide agencies love Mennonite Church USA and have served it faithfully.

We believe that we are building on a strong foundation as a church. Jesus is our center and we are strongly committed to sharing the good news of Jesus with our neighbors.

We believe that God is calling us as a church to be something more than we are today. Our understanding of the gospel is one that our communities, our nation and our world desperately long to hear.

Our desire is that the churchwide ministries of Mennonite Church USA work with the executive board to prioritize our goals as a church so that we can more fully help equip our conferences, congregations and members to be witnesses in the world.

We are committed to:

  • Our Vision Healing & Hope: God calls us to be followers of Jesus Christ and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to grow as communities of grace, joy and peace so that God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.
  • Our missional intent to be a church that seeks to understand what God is doing in the world and to join in those efforts
  • Integrated churchwide priorities which drive program and practices of the denominational structure
  • Built-in intersections through relationships and practices which are intentional and become a routine part of the denominational structure
  • Intentional and focused resource allocation which is in line with the integrated priorities of the denomination
  • Simplifying the system to benefit the missional church efforts of congregations, conferences and their leaders

The June 19, 2008 working draft of our plan outlines our continuing desire to integrate the communications and development work of the denomination and to designate a churchwide operations person to give leadership to the points of intersection in the operations of all of our churchwide ministries.

While we continue to believe that one leadership board is the most effective way to organize to help us reach our goals, we have heard the call from agency boards to slow down this process. At this time, we are ready to defer the model of one leadership board, provided that we can find an alternative route for integrating our churchwide priorities and can make progress on reaching the communications, development and operations goals outlined in the working draft of our earlier plan.

These initiatives depend upon clear accountability of agency board leadership to executive board leadership and upon the accountability of agency executive directors to the executive director of Mennonite Church USA. These accountabilities will be clarified by the executive board.

The executive board will take responsibility in conversation with others for setting churchwide priorities, approving agency budgets and giving oversight to human resources. We are pleased with in-depth conversation between churchwide agency boards and the executive board. We will continue this dialogue.

The executive board is keenly aware of the need to work together with area conferences, racial/ethnic groups and the Constituency Leaders Council to provide support for our congregations to join in the work that God is doing in the world. We look forward to further conversation and collaborative work with all of these groups.

All of this agenda will be primary work for our board and staff and we will continue to assess whether we have made sufficient progress towards our vision, missional intent and commitments stated above. A new draft of our working plan will be available soon.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.
(Ephesians 3:20)

Mennonite Church USA Executive Board
June 22, 2008

related article: Executive Board “ready to defer” on one-board concept
by Marathana Prothro

Dock Woods and Souderton Mennonite homes to affiliate

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The boards of directors of Souderton Mennonite Homes and Dock Woods Community today announced plans to affiliate under a common parent company. Together, the communities serve more than 1,350 residents on campuses in Souderton, Lansdale and Hatfield, Pa.

By joining two strong retirement and family living communities, the boards expect to experience benefits in the areas of employee, leadership and board development; professional expertise; fiscal management; and strategic planning. Through the transition and beyond, both communities are committed to providing consistent, high quality services to their residents.

“We firmly believe we can do more together. Our vision is simple,” explained K. Leon Moyer, board chairperson for Dock Woods. “By joining, we will strengthen these two exceptional communities and enhance the services provided to our residents, while also expanding the reach of Anabaptist senior care services in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

picture.jpgBoth communities are sponsored by Franconia Mennonite Conference, an area conference of Mennonite Church USA which is headquartered in Souderton, Pa. Since the early 1970s, Souderton Mennonite Homes and Dock Woods Community have periodically explored the possibility of joining their efforts to best meet the needs of older adults and families in the Indian Valley and North Penn regions.

James L. Rittenhouse, board chairperson for Souderton Mennonite Homes, noted, “The boards of both communities determined that the time was right to pursue affiliation. After a careful assessment to ensure that a strong fit was possible, both boards enthusiastically endorsed the prospect of turning this enduring vision into reality.”

The new parent company is expected to be formed by the end of 2008. The board of directors will be comprised of seven board members from each community, plus one new board member. K. Leon Moyer will chair the board and James L. Rittenhouse will serve as vice chair. Edward D. Brubaker, president and CEO of Dock Woods Community, will serve as president and CEO of the parent company.

“We are committed to enhancing the ministries of both communities,” said Brubaker. “At the same time, with a growing aging population, we owe it to our region and our churches to expand the reach of Anabaptist senior care services in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We look forward to affirming the distinctives that give each community a unique identity, while being responsive to the increasing need that calls us to respond.”

About Souderton Mennonite Homes

Souderton Mennonite Homes is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community affiliated with the Franconia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Located in Souderton, Pa., Souderton Mennonite Homes has grown since 1917 to offer a wide range of housing, support services, and life enriching activities for approximately 450 residents.

About Dock Woods Community
Dock Woods Community is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community affiliated with the Franconia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Through Dock Manor and Dock Village, Dock Woods Community also offers affordable senior and family housing for those who qualify for rental assistance. Situated on two spacious campuses in Lansdale and Hatfield, Pa., Dock Woods Community offers a wide range of housing, support services and life-enriching activities for more than 900 residents.

Heritage Center event examines Anabaptist spirituality

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by John Tyson

Seven members of Franconia Conference received scholarships to attend a day long symposium entitled, “Pilgrims on a Journey: Exploring Mennonite Spirituality Past and Present.”

forrest.jpgThe symposium, which took place on May 31, “came out of the desire to investigate spirituality in order to preserve and interpret its meaning for today’s church community,” said symposium organizer Forrest Moyer, who works at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Pa. “Spirituality is a relevant topic. There is interest growing in Catholic spirituality, but we want to look at our own heritage.”

The morning session consisted of an overview of Mennonite expressions of spirituality, beginning with its origins in the 16th century and leading up to the 20th century. Several theologians and historians, including Dr. John Rempel, professor of theology at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Salford Mennonite’s Dr. John Ruth, and Dr. Dawn Ruth Nelson, of Methacton Mennonite Church, explored the forms of spirituality used by Anabaptists. Prayer, baptism, hymns, and fraktur were highlighted as the modes often used by Mennonites of the past as they sought to express communal and individual spirituality.

After examing historical roots, the symposium shifted in the afternoon to focus on contemporary Mennonite spirituality. The audience joined in the conversation as it turned towards contemporary Mennonite spiritual experiences within the community. The scholarships from Franconia Mennonite Conference broadened the dialogue and diversified the audience which gathered to further explore spirituality from a Mennonite perspective.

Ken Ray, a scholarship recipient, affirmed the symposium’s value. “I want to broaden my spiritual horizons. I am here with my church family to find discernment for my life,” he said.

Another scholarship recipient, Topher Maddox of NewStart Fellowship, came to the conference–as some others–rather unfamiliar with the how Mennonite spirituality had been expressed in the past. “I desire to understand the history of Mennonite spirituality in this community; I want to hear the stories. It is important, however, to learn how to marry them with new traditions of spirituality. I appreciate and value the emphasis of artistic spirituality as seen in the art of designing fraktur.”

In the midst of the thought-provoking and informative symposium, where almost all forms of spirituality had been discussed, Tamela Prather took the floor and announced, “Every day is sacred.” The conclusion left little else to be said.

MDS gives preliminary report on Iowa flooding

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By Scott Sundberg

KALONA, IA—Most of the flood waters in Iowa have peaked and begun to subside. Rivers such as the Des Moines, Cedar and Iowa, as well as countless smaller rivers, streams and creeks have created widespread damage to farmland and homes. As of Tuesday, June 17, many buildings still had water to their eaves.

mds-flood.jpgHomeowners are gradually being allowed in to assess the damage and remove some valuables. Mennonite Disaster Service has received numerous requests for help, as well as people offering to volunteer. Aside from sandbagging, which continues in an attempt to save farmland and buildings, volunteers have not yet been allowed in to begin cleanup.

On Monday, June 16, more than 50 people, including pastors, Amish representatives, and other Mennonites in the community met at Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite Church in Kalona, Iowa. The meeting focused on responding to the damage done by recent tornadoes as well as the flooding.

Eighty-three out of 99 counties in Iowa have been declared disasters. The storms have left 35,000 people homeless and have caused $2-3 billion in damage. Flood waters crested in some places at 31 feet above flood stage, breaking the previous record of 20 feet.

mds-flood.jpgA survey from the air showed rivers that look like lakes, as well as immeasurable farmland that has been stripped of crops or covered in silt and mud. Some towns, such as Fredonia, appeared to be completely inundated with water, despite many levees and sandbags intended to protect the community.

Pastor Don Patterson from Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church shared at the meeting in Kalona, saying, “This one looks like quite a belly washer.”

“This is an opportunity for us,” said Patterson, “to show our faith by what we do. Lord, guide us to what our response should be in these times, to devise the correct response.”

mds-flood.jpgKevin King, MDS executive director, was asked how the flood compared to Hurricane Katrina. King said that the current season of storms has given him Katrina flashbacks; the storms and flooding are being referred to as “Iowa’s Katrina” and are considered the worst disaster Iowa has ever seen.

As MDS begins to mobilize local volunteers, one participant of the information meeting said, “There will be lots of agencies coming in to help, and more than enough work to go around. We with MDS need to ask, ‘Who’ll need the most help?’ We are not in it to go where all the glory and the glitz and the honor is, but to go help those most in need.”

At present, MDS is not accepting volunteers from outside of the damaged area. Check the MDS website, www.mds.mennonite.net, for updates on volunteer needs.

photos used with permission from http://www.mds.mennonite.net/