September 15, 2025 Board Meeting
At its meeting on September 15, 2025, the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board voted to recommend that the Conference discontinue its existing membership with Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). This recommendation will be brought to delegates for discernment and a vote at the 2025 Mosaic Delegate Assembly.
The approved ballot language reads:
To discontinue Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s membership with Mennonite Church USA and cultivate healthy mutual partnerships with Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite World Conference, and other Anabaptist communities.
Mosaic board members carefully considered the clarity and translatability of the wording before approving it. At the Assembly on Nov. 1, 2025, Mosaic delegates will vote using a red (does not affirm), yellow (yield to the recommendation), or green (affirm) scale. Per Mosaic’s bylaws, any abstentions will be counted as “does not affirm.”
Mosaic’s relationship with MC USA has been challenging for years. Despite years of conversation, Mosaic and MC USA have been unable to reconcile significant differences around polity and intercultural practices—issues that affect Mosaic’s day-to-day realities.
“Due to our connections in other places, Mosaic has been growing quickly, organically, and in relational ways in Colombia, Mexico, and beyond,” said Mosaic board member Haroldo Nunes.
“When we share these realities with MC USA, including the challenges that our non-English speaking pastors have, they are not readily responsive to our needs. By staying within this limiting structure and continuing to wait, our vision and mission is being impacted.”
The board’s decision follows years of prayerful discernment and attempts at dialogue and understanding with MC USA. Mosaic Conference’s Moderator Angela Moyer Walter reached out in late July requesting further conversation with MC USA’s executive committee and was informed that the executive committee was not available for such a meeting.
“We deeply value our history and the relationships we’ve built with our sibling Conferences and church agencies,” Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter said.
“MC USA leadership has shown minimal willingness to address structural issues related to polity, intercultural practices, and global partnerships that significantly impact Mosaic. While the denomination was once open to change, that momentum has stalled. Our existing status within MC USA is not healthy, and the board believes moving toward a mutual relationship will allow Mosaic to flourish.”
Moyer Walter noted that Mosaic’s Pathway Steering Team recognized and discerned the need for a more mutual way of relating to MC USA.
“We took an additional year to explore new possibilities, asking for a partnership relationship in which Mosaic would become a ‘program entity’ within MC USA,” she said. “I lament that MC USA did not see this as a possibility. I look forward to the ways in which healthy and mutual partnerships will emerge with Mennonite World Conference, MC USA, and other Anabaptist communities.”
Centering Document Clarifies Identity and Direction
As Mosaic looks to the future, the board also unanimously affirmed a new Centering Document (read in English, Spanish, Indonesian or Haitian Creole) to help articulate the Conference’s identity, and relational posture as “centered set,” with Jesus as our center. This document was informed by other work that Mosaic Conference has done this year to work toward the Clarity/Identity pillar of our strategic plan, including the Respectful Communication Guidelines and the Priorities Guide that will be released in full during the Friday Equipping Event at Assembly weekend.
Reflecting on the new document, Leadership Minister Josh Meyer said, “This document calls us back to the center—Jesus—and invites us to embody both gracious hospitality and high expectations. My hope is that together we live this out, so our communities become living witnesses to Christ’s reconciling love.”
The Centering Document will serve as a guiding framework for how Mosaic engages within its own diverse community and in its relationships with other Anabaptist bodies. It orients towards the Seven Shared Convictions of Mennonite World Conference and Palmer Becker’s Anabaptist Essentials.
“This document is important so we can know who we are as Mosaic Conference and align with our purpose,” said Leadership Minister Aldo Siahaan. “It’s also important that this document be understood by everybody, from every background, culture, faith tradition, and theological perspective, so that we can share the same perspective even amid differences.”
In both the recommendation on discontinuing membership with MC USA and in the creation and affirmation of the Centering Document, the Mosaic board requested and took staff and Leadership Minister feedback seriously.
Financial Health and Stewardship
Mosaic Conference continues to operate from a position of financial strength, due to property acquisition, funds from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. for Vibrant Mosaic, the growth of investments, and continued strong congregational giving.
At the September board meeting, Bruce Thomas of Detweiler Hershey presented the results of the recent financial review, which was formally approved by the board.
“We are grateful for the thorough work of the accounting firm, the Finance Committee, and the Conference staff,” shared Cory Longacre, Chair of the Finance Committee. “Solid stewardship and transparency have positioned Mosaic well to support its vision going forward.”
Additional Updates
- The board approved the 2025 Assembly schedule for the docket.
- The board reviewed and finalized delegate preparation meeting dates and agendas
- The board approved minutes from several committees and previous meetings without changes.
The board meeting opened with devotions led by Assistant Moderator Roy Williams, centered on Philippians 2:1–5, encouraging board members to reflect on the strength and comfort found in Christ and the call to care for one another.
As Mosaic enters a pivotal season, the board’s actions reflect a commitment to spiritual discernment, clarity of mission, and a hopeful vision for the future.
“We lamented, we laughed, we cried, we listened, and we prayed,” reflected Executive Committee member Maati Yvonne. “What would the Lord have us to do? As believers in Christ, we trust the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide as we continue to pray and live into this decision.”
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.
