Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Board Updates

Mosaic Conference Board Update – January 2025

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The Conference Board supervises the business of the conference, including conference committees, and does strategic planning to ensure that the conference is maintaining alignment with its vision and following the lead of the Spirit into areas of growth and change. 

Report from the January 27, 2025, Board Meeting 

The board welcomed Haroldo Nunes (Seguidores de Cristo [Sarasota, FL]), the new Chair for the Conference-Related Ministry Committee, to the board.

Board member Maati Yvonne Platts (Nueva Vida Norristown [PA] New Life) opened the meeting with prayer and centering devotions around Romans 12: 9-16.

Strategic Plan Updates

The board reviewed the ongoing work on the strategic plan, including updates on the first Vibrant Mosaic cohort; the May Oasis Nations and Generations Retreat; and the core priority guides that staff are working on.

2025 Budget

The board unanimously approved the 2025 budget of $1.425M, pending modifications that more clearly display the Vibrant Mosaic program funds.

2025 Spring Assembly  

The board unanimously approved a 2025 Spring Assembly. The format will be similar to the delegate prep meetings, with multiple regional gatherings in multiple languages.  

The disbursed gatherings will be for equipping delegates on centered-set church models and the core priority guides as part of the strategic plan’s clarity and identity work. These gatherings are being held in response to the expressed need for more face-to-face dialogue and relationship building across the Conference. There will be no delegate decision making at the Spring Assembly.

These gatherings will take place in April and early May (more information will be coming soon in Mosaic News and to delegates). Though intended for 2024 and 2025 delegates, anyone is welcome to attend.  

Intercultural Committee Update 

The intercultural committee shared a recommendation for ongoing equipping on intercultural practices, as well as antiracism and intercultural development inventory onboarding for new board members, committee members, and staff, in addition to ongoing training. 

MC USA-Mosaic Partnership Update 

The Mosaic Conference Moderators have been in conversation with and have meetings planned with other area conference moderators as well as the MC USA moderators and executive board and will bring updates for the March Mosaic Board meeting.  

Affirmation of Committee Minutes 

The board affirmed the minutes of numerous recent committee meetings, including the Ministerial Committee minutes, which included a recommendation that restores Beth Yoder’s credentials to active as of December 4, 2024, after a two-year probation following the process outlined in the Giving and Receiving Council document.  

Board reorganizes, sets budget and affirms new positions at January meeting

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BOARD UPDATES

Mosaic Conference Board met on January 30 in a hybrid session with members joining from the Lansdale (PA) offices as well as on Zoom from Vermont, Florida and California. The first meeting of the new year often includes some elements of reorganization. The board meets on a bi-monthly basis usually in a hybrid format with some members on Zoom while others are present together. 

This was the first board meeting for Emmanuel Mwaipopo from Nueva Vida Norristown New Life congregation, who now serves as the Intercultural Committee chairperson. Angela Moyer Walter (Ripple congregation, Allentown, PA) began her term as moderator following Ken Burkholder’s term (Souderton congregation). Roy Williams (College Hill congregation, Tampa, FL) moved from his role as intercultural committee chair to assistant moderator. Moyer Walter and Williams were both affirmed in their roles at the Mosaic Annual Assembly in November 2022.   

The board affirmed the addition of Rose Bender Cook from Whitehall congregation in Allentown, PA to the Ministerial Committee. 

The board approved a budget of over $1.084 million for 2023-24, balancing increased contributions from properties, partners, and individual donors with decreased congregational giving. Staff adjustments include increased time for the pathway process and for Spanish language capacity, along with young adult leadership formation initiatives. This represents a slight increase from the $1.070 million budgeted for 2022-23.

The board acknowledged the decision of Mennonite Bible Fellowship of Morris, PA to suspend membership in Mennonite Church USA while remaining a full member of Mosaic Conference. 

Mosaic Annual Assembly was set for November 4, 2023, at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church.  More details will be available soon, including theme and speaker for our annual gathering time together.   

The next board meeting is set for March 20, 2023. 

Conference Board Update: September 2021

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The Mosaic Conference Board met September 20, 2021 to prepare for the annual Assembly and to review a process for conversation with Dock Mennonite Academy in response to allegations of misconduct in March 2021. The Conference board meets bimonthly. Most meetings are a hybrid combination of virtual and in-person attendance, so that members can attend across the Conference’s wide geography.

Process with Dock Academy

The Board reviewed a process prepared by the Ministerial Committee and the Conference Related Ministries (CRM) Committee for further conversation with the leadership of Dock Mennonite Academy. The Board affirmed the proposed process to move forward, rooted in the Conference’s agreement with CRMs (of Community and Accountability) and the Giving and Receiving Counsel document for credentialed leaders.

Conference leaders will be meeting with leaders from Dock Academy in October to review the process. More information will be available in the coming weeks as this process continues.

New member congregations and ministries

In preparation for Assembly, the Board affirmed Iglesia Menonita Pena de Horeb (Philadelphia, PA) and Faith Chapel (Los Angeles, CA) as new member congregations and The Midian Project (Charleston, WV) as a new Conference Related Ministry (CRM). These memberships will be officially affirmed and blessed in the annual delegate session in November. Information to introduce these congregations and ministries to the Conference will soon be available through the Mosaic Newsletter and website.

Annual Assembly pivot to online

The Board approved a change from in-person to virtual Assembly participation with localized watch parties due to the current COVID conditions, our geographic spread, and our diverse constituency. The delegate sessions will be held on Zoom from 1-3pm Eastern/10am-12pm Pacific on Saturday, November 6. The annual worship will be broadcast from a central location with watch parties for delegates across the Conference community at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific. More information regarding opportunities to gather as small groups for Conference worship will be coming in the next few weeks.