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Conference Board

Listening Task Force Recommendations Presented to Board

October 4, 2022 by Cindy Angela

The Mosaic Listening Task Force culminated their work by presenting findings and recommendations to the Mosaic Board last week. The recommendations, which were received and affirmed, emerged out of weeks of listening, praying, and reflecting on feedback collected from Mosaic congregations and Conference related ministries.  

The nine recommendations, which can be described as prayerful, relational, transparent, and transformational, are intended to guide the Board as they lead us through this time and into Mosaic’s future.  In this way, the recommendations can be seen as an opportunity that has grown out of a complex challenge.  The nine actions ask us to fast and pray, discern, walk together, clarify, focus on what unites us, build relationships across differences, communicate with MCUSA, plan, and roll out. 

Mosaic Listening Task Force members will be present at upcoming Assembly scattered sessions, in which the Mosaic family can further reflect and discern together. The Task Force recommendations are linked here for all to review before our upcoming gatherings. 

Watch the video in English, Spanish and Indonesian:

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Conference Assembly 2022, Conference Board, Listening Task Force

Mosaic Board Affirms, Laments, and Moves

September 29, 2022 by Cindy Angela

by Emily Ralph Servant

On Monday, September 26, Mosaic Conference’s Board met for their bimonthly meeting. Over the course of a packed agenda, the board acknowledged and lamented the loss of two Mosaic congregations, welcomed and affirmed a new congregation and Conference Related Ministry (CRM), blessed an outgoing board member, and moved on the recommendations of the Listening Task Force. 

Acknowledging Losses

On July 24, Covenant Community Fellowship (Lansdale, PA) voted to withdraw from Mosaic Conference, effective immediately, in response to Mennonite Church USA delegates’ decision to retire MC USA’s membership guidelines and to adopt “A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation.”  Likewise, Finland Mennonite Church (Pennsburg, PA) voted on August 28 to withdraw from the Conference, effective September 30.  Both congregations are entering into a time of discernment about future affiliation; for the next year, Mosaic Conference will continue to hold the credentials of their pastors until the congregations’ next steps have been determined. 

“I have appreciated working with the leadership of both Covenant and Finland congregations,” reflected Leadership Minister Noel Santiago.  “I am grateful for the ways they have pursued God’s Kingdom among us and I’m saddened that we’ll miss who they are and the gifts that they bring to our Conference community.” 

I am grateful for the ways they have pursued God’s Kingdom among us and I’m saddened that we’ll miss who they are and the gifts that they bring to our Conference community.

NOEL SANTIAGO

Finland’s Lead Pastor, Kris Wint, has served on the Conference Board as a member-at-large since 2016.  The Board offered words of appreciation and prayed with Wint, whose board departure came as a result of Finland’s decision. “I’ve appreciated Kris’ heart for Christ, passion for God’s kingdom work, his strong convictions, and willingness to ask challenging questions,” shared Moderator Ken Burkholder, Souderton (PA) congregation.  “He’s been an asset on the Board, having served well.  We will miss his voice.” Wint’s Board position will be filled by an affirmation of delegates at Mosaic’s Assembly on November 5. 

Welcoming New Members

At the same meeting, the Board accepted into membership a new congregation, Iglesia Evangélica Menonita de Oración y Adoración (Evangelical Mennonite Church of Prayer and Worship) in Northeast Philadelphia.  The congregation, pastored by Nicolas Sandoval, began as a prayer meeting five years ago and grew into a congregation that continues to prioritize prayer and evangelism, virtual connections, and street outreach. Sandoval had previously been a pastor of Iglesia Menonita Ebenezer, a Mosaic congregation in Souderton, PA. “IEMOA brings joy, energy, and faithfulness into this new relationship with Mosaic,” observed Associate Executive Minister Marta Castillo.  “They are ‘us’—an Anabaptist, Jesus-centered, Spirit-led community of believers that seek to share the Good News for the growth of God’s kingdom.” 

They are ‘us’—an Anabaptist, Jesus-centered, Spirit-led community of believers that seek to share the Good News for the growth of God’s kingdom.

MARTA CASTILLO

The board also accepted Amahoro International as a new Conference Related Ministry (CRM).  Amahoro, led by George and Mukarabe Makinto (part of the pastoral team of Faith Chapel, Los Angeles), is a humanitarian organization that provides hope and community for Burundian refugees in Uganda. The conference CRM committee is looking forward to partnering with Amahoro moving forward, said Margaret Zook, Mosaic’s Director of Collaborative Ministries. “The mission of Amahoro, as agents of peace and reconciliation, is living out the Good News of Jesus and resounds with Mosaic’s mission and vision.”  

Mosaic delegates will vote to affirm the acceptance of these two new communities at the November 5 Assembly.  

Affirming Recommendations

The Board received and affirmed the recommendations of the Listening Task Force, which was formed in July to listen to each Mosaic community and ministry and to provide direction for further discernment at Assembly on November 5.  The task force shared an overview of what they heard in their conversations with Mosaic congregations and CRMs and provided guidance for the Board in designing a path forward.  The executive committee of the Board is finalizing a proposed action for delegate discernment in November.  This action, along with the full recommendation of the Listening Task Force, will be released in a special edition of Mosaic News next week. 

The Board’s next meeting will be on November 21. 


Emily Ralph Servant

Emily Ralph Servant is the Leadership Minister for Formation and Communication for Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Emily has served in pastoral roles at Swamp and Indonesian Light congregations and graduated from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Conference Assembly 2022, Conference Board, Listening Task Force

Just Put One Foot in Front of the Other

January 27, 2021 by Cindy Angela

Reflections from the Mosaic Conference Board

To say we have experienced change in the past year is a tremendous understatement. It was a year that brought change globally, nationally, locally, and personally. Some changes were welcomed and celebrated; others were lamented. Whether positive or negative, change is disorienting and often requires adjustments.

Take, for example, a scene from the movie, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. In the movie, a character known as the Winter Warlock is transformed by a gesture of love from Kris Kringle. The Warlock’s frozen demeanor is melted away into a gentle, loving grandfather-figure who asks to be called, “Winter.” 

Winter Warlock and Kris Kringle from Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Bass, J. & Rankin, A. (directors), 1970). No copyright infringement is intended.

After experiencing change, and, in this case, a really positive one, “Winter” wonders how to navigate forward. Kris Kringle simply responds, “Just put one foot in front of the other.” Though disoriented by the change, “Winter” learns to walk in this new identity, stumbling a little at first, but moving forward nonetheless. 

I was reminded of the words of the psalmist, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the ones who delight in him; though we may stumble, we will not fall, for the Lord upholds us with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV). This seems like a helpful posture for us all as we consider the changes we have experienced and what it means to move forward together. 

We had many changes in the creation of our new Mosaic Conference. This was a positive change worth celebrating to be sure, yet it will still create some aspects of change that may be disorienting. 

As a Board we recently wrestled through one of these changes. We considered what Conference Assemblies will look like moving forward. What is the best way to meet as a conference with members so geographically dispersed? What role does technology play? At what level can technology assist in providing meaningful, sustainable, and cost-effective gatherings? 

These are not questions that will be answered overnight. In fact, they are more likely to be discovered as we keep our focus where it belongs: delighting together in Christ, focusing our eyes on Him, and then placing one foot in front of the other. We are sure to stumble from time to time but when we do, the LORD will uphold us with his hand and keep us moving forward.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Conference Board, Kris Wint

Dancing Together with God

August 27, 2020 by Conference Office

by Ken Burkholder, Conference moderator

As an Anglo Mennonite, who grew up in Lancaster County, PA, dancing was not a big part of my upbringing.  In junior high, my parents did not allow me to attend dances at my public school.  In high school, I went to a few dances. I bopped around to songs from Huey Lewis and Survivor, with an occasional slow dance to a Lionel Richie ballad.  In recent years, it’s been fun to have a few more opportunities to attempt dancing at wedding celebrations of family and friends. 

The Mosaic Conference Board gathered on August 17-18 to work, while socially-distanced, on vision and mission statements for delegate consideration at this fall’s conference assembly. 

On August 17-18, the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board met at Pinebrook Retreat Center, a Spruce Lake facility, in East Stroudsburg, PA for a two-day retreat. Our meeting times were outdoors, with masks, and physically-distanced from each other. Pinebrook Retreat Center did a great job in making it possible to have a safe, in-person retreat during a pandemic.  

During our retreat, “dance” came up several times in our conversations, as a metaphor for us stepping into God’s desired future for the conference.  Hopefully, our forebears, who forbade dancing, weren’t turning over in their graves!  

It was noted that each and every person, congregation, and conference constituency group is needed “on the dance floor,” actively participating in the mission God’s collectively calling us to.  Furthermore, it’s vital that we all remain “in step” with Christ, our leader, while also being flexible to the various “rhythms” among us.  We may need to learn some “new moves,” as we seek to live out our deeply-rooted Anabaptist Christian values in fresh, creative ways in this ever-changing culture. No doubt, there will surely be challenges along the way that test our commitment to remain “dance partners” with one another.

Calenthia Dowdy (left), retreat facilitator, listens as conference moderator, Ken Burkholder (right), speaks at the conference board retreat last week at Pinebrook.

I was delighted that we had all twelve conference board members participate in the retreat, along with Steve Kriss and Mary Nitzsche, conference staff. (Gwen Groff, pastor of Bethany (VT) congregation and at-large conference board member, joined us by Zoom from Vermont due to a travel ban).  I am grateful for the guidance of our excellent facilitator, Calenthia Dowdy.  I thank God for the array of gifts and personalities among our board, the rich wisdom, the spirit of collaboration, and the desire to follow Christ’s leading.

Despite meeting outside and with masks on, we still had many opportunities for meaningful conversation, dreaming, and prayer at Pinebrook Retreat.  This resulted in us crafting a vision and mission statement, which you’ll be hearing more about this fall.  

The Board retreat was a meaningful time of team-building and looking to the future, as we anticipate Mosaic Mennonite Conference living into the vision and mission God’s calling us to.  I am infused with energy to actively engage in the “dance” of God’s movement among us.  I hope you’ll join us, as we learn to dance together with God.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: Calenthia Dowdy, Conference Board, Ken Burkholder, Pinebrook Retreat Center

Up For The Task

September 20, 2018 by Conference Office

When current Franconia Conference Board member Jim King invited him over for dinner, the idea of filling a seat on the Board was not on Kiron Mateti’s radar in the least bit.  Being new to the Conference, it wasn’t a proposition he was expecting or a position that he was seeking out. With a life journey that started – figuratively speaking – quite far from Anabaptism, Kiron brings a perspective and insight that will be a welcomed addition to Conference leadership should he be affirmed as a board member. Kiron Mateti is being presented to the delegates at the fall Assembly as a nominee by the Conference Board for affirmation to join them as a first term Conference Board Member-at-Large.

Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Kiron’s early faith life was shaped by varying degrees of Hindu belief and practice by his parents, who immigrated from India.  However, through the influence of Christian neighbors and a job in a Presbyterian church nursery, Kiron’s mother learned about the Christian faith, cleared the house of Hindu statues and began to talk to her sons about Jesus.  As a result, Kiron and his brother felt caught in the middle between their parents. 

“My brother and my dad had a pretty terrible relationship, and [my brother] got into drugs and alcohol really early on in life, and then I followed in his footsteps.” The brothers were able to sustain that lifestyle and still do well in high school and college, but eventually, tragically, the substance abuse caught up with them.  “In my 2nd semester (of grad school at Penn State), my brother died drinking and driving. That was a turning point in my life,” Kiron says. He took a semester off, returned home to Ohio … and for some reason, picked up a nice, leather-bound Bible from his mom’s shelf.  “I started reading the New Testament, and read it rather quickly.  I had so many questions.” 

When the day came to empty out his brother’s apartment, Kiron was expecting a group of his mom’s church friends to come help out. “I show up and it was just me and another guy!”, Kiron laughs. “I think he planned it, because he and I talked the whole day!  He was really strong in his faith, and we went through Genesis to Revelation.  I asked him all kinds of questions.” 

With the planted seeds of faith taking root, Kiron returned to Penn State, sought out a friend who was a Christian, and began tagging along to the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) gatherings, various campus ministry functions and to Sunday church services.  On his first day visiting Christ Community Church in State College, he caught the eye of a fellow Indian man.  “He was really easy to talk to, and wanted to know more about me,” Kiron recalls.  “We met up, and then we started meeting up weekly and doing one-on-one Bible studies.” Kiron remembers this as an intense time of formation and growth in his faith. “It was just me and him, and we were going through some of the same tough questions, and we’d dig in.  We’d have four- or five-hour Bible studies!” Eventually friends started coming along, and by the time Kiron left Penn State, there were around 40 people attending!

Kiron’s involvement with CSF introduced him to more than just Jesus; one of the first people he met at a CSF gathering was his future wife, Rachel, originally from the Reading, PA. area.  After getting married, they began attending University Mennonite Church, where various Anabaptist values resonated with Kiron.  “I saw a contrast … it’s not ‘American Christianity’; it’s just following Jesus, it’s outside of nationalities or allegiance to a country.  That is something that I respected.”

In 2016, Kiron and Rachel committed to moving their family closer to Rachel’s extended family, and Kiron took a position at JBT Automated Guided Vehicles in Chalfont, PA., as a Research and Development Engineer.  Settling in Telford, they visited most of the area Mennonite churches, but were invited to Plains Mennonite Church by Anya Williamson, a friend from Penn State. Kiron’s mom, who now lived with them, immediately connected with the Thalathodi and Rampogu families, who also spoke her native Telugu language.  Kiron and Rachel also made connections, particularly with other families with small children, and got involved with the worship team, teaching Sunday School and leading adult classes.

As an unofficial mentor to Kiron and Rachel, Jim King connected with them through Sunday School, men’s breakfasts, and together spearheading an intercultural, multi-church picnic this past Fourth of July, and saw something in Kiron that he felt would be an asset to the Board, and approached him with the idea. “Kiron’s presence radiates joy, curiosity and openness wherever I have been with him,” Jim says. “I just have to smile when I think of how the rest of the board will receive him.”  

Those who know him tend to agree. “Kiron is a thoughtful, independent thinker with a deep commitment to the church, his family, and the way of Jesus,” says Plains’ Pastor Mike Derstine.  “While new to our congregation and conference, he is eager to learn, meet new people, and further the mission of God in our community and world.”  Executive Minister Steve Kriss also anticipates the contributions Kiron will bring. “He’s bright, engaged, will ask good questions and help us find our way into new spaces, places, possibilities,” says Steve.

Kiron feels up for the task.  He anticipates hard work, a lot of listening and learning, and hopefully the ability to contribute as one who didn’t grow up in the church. “I feel empathetic towards people who are ‘different’,” he says. “Maybe that can provide a perspective that’s needed on the board.” 

Kiron and his wife Rachel (Zimmerman) are the parents of 5-year-old Asha and almost-3-year-old Jaya, and as a family, they enjoy music, the beach, camping and are a self-proclaimed “nerdy family” who like to visit libraries when they travel. 

Filed Under: Articles, News Tagged With: Conference Board, Conference News, Jim King, Kiron Mateti, Mike Derstine, Plains Mennonite Church, Steve Kriss

Angela Moyer Named Interim Assistant Moderator

July 25, 2018 by Conference Office

On July 16, the Franconia Conference Board appointed Angela Moyer as interim assistant moderator. This position is interim pending affirmation by the Conference delegates at the November 2-3 assembly. With this new role Angela will sit on the Conference Board Executive Committee as vice-chair and be vice-chair of the Conference Board.

Angela grew up in Franconia Conference and served as youth pastor at Rockhill Mennonite Church from 2005 to 2011. During that time, she sensed God calling her deeper into ministry and enrolled at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS), Lancaster, PA to pursue her Master of Divinity which she acquired in 2012.  Angela then went on to serve at Ripple in Allentown where she is currently one of five co-pastors. Throughout her career she has been bi-vocational, working as pastor and also as an occupational therapist. Currently, while serving the Ripple community she also works in Early Intervention at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation.

“Franconia Conference shaped me significantly as a child and youth at Penn View, Christopher Dock, and Rockhill Mennonite Church,” Angela said. “Then the Conference invested in me further when I attended seminary at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and through mentoring when I was a new pastor. I am humbled to be invited to share my gifts through this role. I serve with gratitude for the encouragement and nurture that the Conference has offered to me throughout my life.  I am encouraged by the ways in which the Conference continues to bear witness to the upside down kingdom of God as taught to us by Jesus.”  

Conference moderator John Goshow noted Angela’s involvement and outstanding service as a member of the Conference board since 2015 and on the executive minister search committee in 2016.

“Angela is deeply rooted in our Conference community with broad relationships in our urban and historic congregations.  She knows our story, our ministries and our global partners.  She’s a measured and thoughtful next generation leader who will bring wisdom, insight and hope to our work and witness together,” said Executive Minister, Steve Kriss.

Executive committee member, Jim King added, “Angela has a keen awareness and passion for the margins in our faith communities.  She holds her core values with the ability to communicate across generational and ethnic lines.  I think she will do well in facilitating our group process.”

With her roots in Telford and as an urban and bi-vocational pastor, her gifts and background are well-suited for this new role on the board.  For more about Angela, check out the article that welcomed her to the board in 2015.

 

Filed Under: Articles, News Tagged With: Angela Moyer, Conference Board, Conference News, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Executive Committee, Jim King, Josh Goshow, Ripple, Rockhill Mennonite Church, Steve Kriss

New Members Join the Conference Team

March 22, 2018 by Conference Office

As 1 Corinthians 12:14 states, “For the body is not one member, but many,” and as it is said in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” So too, is it with Franconia Conference. Each member of the Franconia Conference team being a vital piece, bringing their gifts and talents to further the work of the Lord. This month Franconia Conference welcomed several new members to the team including two new board members and new staff.

At the March 19 Conference Board Meeting, Yvonne Platts of Nueva Vida Norristown New Life and Cory Longacre of Souderton Mennonite Church were welcomed as new board members. Yvonne was affirmed by board vote. Cory was affirmed by the board to replace the assembly-appointed board member Smita Singh who resigned this past fall. He will therefore be on the ballot at the fall 2018 Assembly for delegate affirmation. Both Yvonne and Cory bring long-standing Anabaptist roots within Franconia Conference and deep connections to their local communities.

Yvonne Platts was baptized at an early age in the Mennonite church and has grown up at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life. Yvonne serves within her congregation on the Enlarging Our Place in Gods World Leadership Team. Her primary work is with Family Services of Montgomery County as a Community Outreach Worker with the Norristown Violence Prevention Initiative, from whom she received the Outstanding Service Award in November 2017.  She is also a member of Roots of Justice Inc. which addresses issues of racism and other oppressions, creating awareness, understanding and knowledge toward building a just society for people groups in churches, organizations, and community. Currently, she is actively working within the Norristown School District to train Circle Keepers for Restorative Justice Peace Circles. Training and equipping community members to become Circle Keepers is a deep passion of Yvonne’s, as she hopes for the establishment of community based alternatives to juvenile detention.

Yvonne is a graduate of The Center for Urban Theological Studies and holds a Master of Science in Restorative Practices and Youth and Family Counseling from The International Institute of Restorative Practices. There is no doubt that Yvonne Platts has a deep drive for peace and justice and will bring her dedication to social justice to her work with Franconia Conference.

Pastor Angela Moyer of Ripple in Allentown and a member of the Conference Board stated that she has volumes of admiration and respect for the work Yvonne does in the community. Executive Minister Steve Kriss says, “Yvonne is well equipped to think and respond in the best interest of the whole of the Conference with her long history at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life.”

Cory Longacre comes to the Conference Board recently finishing his third-and-final three year term on the Souderton Mennonite Church Board where he spent the last three years as chair. Cory grew up at Swamp Mennonite Church,  settling in after college at Souderton with his wife Linda. He first accepted Jesus at Spruce Lake Camp around the age of 13 and was then baptized at age 15 at Swamp. He is a graduate of Dock Mennonite Academy, both the former Penn View Christian School and Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. He also received his Bachelors in Business Management from Eastern Mennonite University where he met his wife Linda, whom he married in 1993. They have 3 children: Olyvia, age 19, Davry, age 15, and Zeke, age 11.

Cory currently co-owns TNC Self Storage and is Fleet Operations Manager at Perkiomen Tours. Previously he spent 20 years with Farm & Home Oil Company where he started in sales, then after 4 years transitioned to management, moving his way to Vice President where he spent several years before ending his time with the company.

“Cory brings a wealth of experience as both a community and business leader. He is both reflective and entrepreneurial — assets for our Conference,” said Steve Kriss.

Cory is grateful for the opportunity to serve.  “I look forward to joining Franconia Conference Board,” he says, “to help guide and discern as our conference continues to grow and evolve while maintaining our Anabaptist values.”

Joining the Franconia Conference in staff roles, are Jeff Wright as a LEADership Minister, Chantelle Todman Moore as Intercultural Leadership Coach, and current LEADership Minister Marta Castillo, who is increasing her time with the Conference and becoming the LEADership Minister of Intercultural Formation.

Jeff Wright will serve as a LEADership Minister, specifically working with Franconia Conference’s three congregations in Southern California: Indonesian Community Christian Fellowship, International Worship Church, and Jemaat Kristen Indonesia Anugerah (JKIA or Grace Indonesian Christian Fellowship). Jeff has served in a dual role as pastor of Madison Street Church, a Brethren-in-Christ congregation in Riverside, California and as president of viaShalom, a small not-for-profit, since 2009. viaShalom is a missional resource agency that currently operates three ministries: commonGood, a local, asset-based community development effort; viaGLobal, which support St. Francis Primary School located in Morsul, Rajshahi in Bangladesh serving approximately 80 Christian families belonging to the Santal minority; and Urban Expression North America, “a consultancy specializing in creating and sustaining urban incarnational experiments, and affiliated with similar ministries across Europe.” Bike and Sol, run by Pastor Scott Roth of Perkiomenville Mennonite Church, is a project of Urban Expression and has worked closely with Jeff. Jeff has also done consultancy work with various congregations both in Franconia and Eastern District Conferences.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tabor College, a Master’s of Divinity from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and earned his Masters of Business Administration with a focus in church management from the Graduate Theological Foundation. In addition, he has a Post-graduate Diploma in Applied Theology from Spurgeon’s College in London. He lives in Riverside, California with his best friend/wife Debbie. They have two adult children who he said also married their best friends. Jeff enjoys time with three grandchildren and the “church mascot/beagle-terrier puppy, Madison”, who lives with them and constantly digs up their backyard!

Steve Kriss says, “Jeff has long term relationship working as a Mennonite Church USA Conference leader. His experience and commitment to California and his capacity at developing new leaders will be a gift to our Conference, as we live into our bi-coastal reality.”

Jeff says, “I’m very excited to be part of a larger and diverse team that works collaboratively toward a common vision of being the church. It is a unique privilege to work with Franconia Conference among the new member Indonesian churches in Southern California.”

Chantelle Todman Moore comes to Franconia Conference as Intercultural Leadership Coach, where she will focus her work with our 15 urban congregations, looking at cultivating next generation leaders, focusing on persons age 15-35. She has also been tasked to think about what it takes for persons of color in ministry leadership to flourish and how that can be cultivated within Franconia congregations.

In addition to taking on this role with Franconia Conference, Chantelle is the co-founder of unlock Ngenuity a consulting, coaching and therapy business. She previously served as the Philadelphia Program Coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and as a Program Director at both Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association and Eastern University. Chantelle holds a Bachelors of Arts in International Community Development from Oral Roberts University, a Masters of Business Administration in International Economic Development from Eastern University, and is a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

She says she is “passionate about embracing diversity and difference as a gift, seeking justice as a mandate and being moved to act by love.” Chantelle lives in Philadelphia with her spouse, Sam, and their three daughters.

Pastor Aldo Siahaan of Philadelphia Praise Center and a member of the Conference LEADership Minister team was on the board of MCC East Coast at the time of Chantelle’s employment there. He says, “Chantelle is a hard worker, full of creativity and always mixes her work with laughter.”

When asked about bringing Chantelle on in this new role for Franconia Conference, Steve Kriss stated, “Our Conference has become increasingly urban and intercultural over the last decade. Chantelle’s experience in working with urban leaders and congregations will strengthen our capacities in cultivating and accompanying current and emerging leaders. Her energy, honesty, commitment to the church, and willingness to ask hard questions are traits I appreciate about her and look forward to her bringing to her work with Franconia.”

Marta Castillo is not new to the Franconia team, but will be increasing her time. After serving almost five years on the Conference Board, Marta joined Franconia Conference as a LEADership Minister in in 2016, while simultaneously serving as co-pastor at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life.  She stepped away from the position at Nueva Vida in December, as she felt the Spirit leading her elsewhere.  At the time she did not know that “elsewhere” would include increased time with Franconia Conference. The Conference is grateful to have Marta move into the role of LEADership Minister of Intercultural Formation. The daughter of Franconia Conference-rooted mission workers, she has been shaped by all four of the linguistic cultures in Franconia Conference, growing up in both Vietnam and Indonesia. While being a primary English speaker, she lives in a bilingual family and community of English/Spanish speakers.

Marta is committed to prayer, along with active engagement of diverse neighborhoods with the message of Christ’s Good News. She is passionate about the intercultural work of unity in cultural diversity, antiracism, and racial reconciliation. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite College with a major in Elementary Education and is currently taking classes at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Marta lives in Norristown, PA, with her husband, Julio and two teenage children, Andres and Daniel.

“Marta’s flexibility and linguistic capacity, her depth of spiritual practice and her experience working with pastoral teams combine to make her a uniquely gifted leader in our Conference,” said Steve Kriss.  You can read more about Marta here.

The staff and board of Franconia Conference are well-equipped to continue to lead the Conference into whatever God has in store. As Executive Minister, Steve Kriss stated, “these additions complement an already strongly gifted staff and strengthen our capacity to serve our growing Conference.”

Filed Under: Articles, News Tagged With: Chantelle Todman Moore, Conference Board, Conference News, Cory Longacre, Jeff Wright, Marta Castillo, Steve Kriss, Yvonne Platts

Board Welcomes Smita Singh

May 11, 2017 by Conference Office

By Angela Moyer, co-pastor at Ripple and Conference Board Member

Smita Singh was appointed to the Franconia Conference Board by delegate affirmation at the Fall 2016 Assembly, beginning her first term with the Board in January, 2017. Smita is a member at Whitehall Mennonite Church in the Lehigh Valley since 2000, when she immigrated to the United Stated with her husband Naveen and son Ronak.

Growing up in Nagpur, India, Smita was raised in a Christian home with church and faith as an integral part of her upbringing. She was actively involved with her church youth group, Youth for Christ (YFC), Evangelical Students Union (EU), children’s ministry, National Council of Church’s in India (NCCI) and Maharashtra Village Ministries (MVM). She has led women’s groups and youth groups through BSF International (Bible Study Fellowship), and as a member of Whitehall, Smita has worked in children’s ministry, helped with fundraisers and served on the budget committee and worship planning committee.

She graduated from Nagpur University with a Bachelors in Computer Science. She then received her Master’s Degrees in Business Administration specializing in finance and marketing. Smita has experience as a Google Quality Rating Consultant and also owns an Etsy business, “Rosmina Collections.” Recently, she began working in the Customer Service Department at Nestle.

Janet Byler, Smita Singh, and Ron Bender finished out a long line of blessings and anointing for Pastor Rose Bender at her ordination in 2012.

Initially, Smita was not interested in being on the Board at Franconia Conference, but after prayer, both she and Naveen sensed that this was a call to move out of her comfort zone, especially after having an encouraging conversation with Steve Kriss, then the Director of Leadership Development.  Now, she is looking forward to discovering how she can use her gifts and experience to serve in this role and hopes to fulfill God’s calling.

Her favorite passage of Scripture is Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” She says she connects to God best by having her quiet time praying and seeking His word for discernment.

Smita describes Whitehall Mennonite as an eclectic group of people filled with hospitality, diverse in speech and culture, with a common goal to serve the Lord and care for each other. Something she has learned at Whitehall is that God is faithful and always provides in unexpected ways. Transformation happens one person at a time and many times the transformation takes place years after the seed was planted.

Rose Bender, Pastor at Whitehall Mennonite Church says, “Folks at Whitehall appreciate Smita’s creativity, generosity, and delicious cooking!  Because of her life experience and background, Smita often has a different perspective to add to the conversation – a part of the rich fabric of diversity at Whitehall Mennonite Church. She is a joy to pastor and work alongside in ministry.”

Smita lives in Breinigsville, PA with her husband, and now 14-year-old son.  In her free time, she enjoys making cards, helping her son with his school projects, volunteering at church, and as a volunteer coach for Springhouse Middle School Science Olympiad Team.

 

Filed Under: Articles, News Tagged With: Angela Moyer, Conference Board, Conference News, intercultural, Rose Bender, Smita Singh, Steve Kriss, Whitehall Mennonite Church

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