Conference News

Global Missional Blessings

December 17, 2015 by Conference Office

by Charles A. Ness

The email read, “There is a young man from our church who would like to live in the United States for several months to sharpen his English. He is also a good piano player and willing to assist in ministry. His father is an elder in our church. Would Perk be interested in hosting him?” The email was from Bob Stevenson who is credentialed through Franconia Conference, and is pastor of the Monte Maria Church in Mexico City with whom Perkiomenville Mennonite Church has had a long relationship.

We were excited about the possibility of having a young adult from the Monte Maria church be part of our worship ministry and so, after discussion with the elder team, we gave an enthusiastic “Yes!”

There were various logistics that needed to be worked out, such as housing and finances, but we were confident that they could be addressed. Initially, a local business offered full-time employment, but because the young man did not have a work visa, we had to look for other means of support.

Tony Reyes arrived from Mexico City at the end of May in 2015 and we quickly learned to appreciate his musical talents and passion for the Lord. He plays keyboard and writes music for several groups in Mexico, so we planned a fundraising concert. Tony enlisted the help of his friends, the Linker Sanchez family (who are church planters in Maryland from Monte Maria Church). We had a great night of Spanish and English praise and worship with a combined worship team made up of Tony, plus members of Perkiomenville and the Sanchez family. The funds raised helped support Tony during his stay in the United States.

Our LEAD Minister, Noel Santiago, also suggested applying for a Franconia Conference Mission Operational Grant, and we are thankful it was approved. The partnership of the conference in this way was a very important contribution to Tony’s support.

Tony lived with Charlie Ness, pastor at Perkiomenville, and his wife Janet while searching for long-term housing arrangements. Tony’s housing need was met when Pastor Scott Roth of Perkiomenville Mennonite Church began a discipleship house in Pennsburg and had a room available. Scott was able to benefit from Tony’s assistance with the discipleship house known as The Gathering Place, a ministry to youth in the Perkiomenville area.

From June to November, Tony lived in Pennsburg assisting the community-based ministry there and playing regularly on the Perkiomenville worship team. His presence brought a spiritual and cultural diversity that was a blessing.

This unique, enriching ministry was made possible because of the global relationship we have with the church in Mexico. For years, members of Perkiomenville have gone to the Monte Maria Church for teaching and construction-related ministry opportunities. This was the first time someone from Monte Maria came here for an extended time of ministry. It is a great example of the value of cross-cultural partnering in mission relationships. These relationships are encouraging to all who are involved.

In reflecting on his experience Tony wrote the following: My name is Tony Reyes. There are no words to describe how thankful I am with the Lord, with Pastor Charlie Ness, with his beautiful church, and with all of you at the Franconia Conference. You all have given me a lot of support and you have been a blessing in my life.

There are many things that I would like to share with you about the wonderful experience that the Lord gave me with all of these amazing people in the Perkiomenville Church, but I will share them with you in the next few sentences.

First of all, I did not know what to expect when I first arrived to Perkiomenville, but I was trusting the Lord and the purpose for which He was sending me to that unknown place. He took me little by little, and showed me many things as the time went by. From the time I integrated to the worship team and played the piano, to time I spent working with Pastor Scott Roth in the different activities in the church and in the community of Perkiomenville, and to the time I spent remodeling the house I was staying at, I could only see God’s love and grace pour out in life. I learned many things from my brothers and sisters, and from Pastor Charlie and all the people I met, who allowed me to become a part of their life. I keep everyone in my heart and prayers, and I hope in the Lord I will see you soon.

May the Lord bless you in every area of your life.

Kind regards,
Tony Reyes

Additional partner-in-mission relationships are possible with the Monte Maria Church. Contact Pastor Charlie Ness at charlie@perkmc.com for more information.

Built by God to Build God’s Kingdom

November 19, 2015 by Conference Office

Conferences Gather for Worship and Discernment

by Barbie Fischer

On November 13^th and 14^th over 300 people from Franconia and Eastern District Conferences joined together for the fall joint assembly at Penn View Christian School in Souderton, PA. The two conference enjoy joint worship together on Friday evening and Saturday morning followed by separate business meetings. It is a time to see God’s work among both conferences. This year was a time of celebration, deep discernment, and a call to be the kingdom of God. Throughout the weekend there were reminders that God is building each person to be a part of the body of Christ and as the body of Christ to build God’s kingdom here on earth.

The diversity within Franconia Conference was evident in Friday night worship including a children’s choir of 38 kids from across conference congregations and a choir of Karen people from Whitehall Mennonite Church who have settled in Allentown after being displaced from their homes in Burma/Myanmar due to ongoing conflict.

Ministry moments were offered by Andrew Huth, a youth leader at Ambler Mennonite, Jessica Hedrick, Children’s Pastor at Souderton Mennonite, and Scott Roth, Associate Pastor at Perkiomenville Mennonite.

Andrew shared of his experiences as a documentary photographer in Palestine and asked the assembly, “What does it take for us to care about our neighbors?”

Jessica Hedrick, spoke from her experience as part of the millennial generation often noted for their absence in the church. Hedrick said millennials are looking for the good news, for the church to show they care about the world again. She said, “Sometimes I think it would be so much easier to walk away, but I stay. I stay because I believe God can redeem anything, even the church, and because I have this crazy dream that the Church can be a beacon of light in the dark world again… As the church it is our job to be concerned about our neighbor, our friend and our enemy. It is our job to be concerned about the world.” She reminded the assembly that “we are a family and we need each other. It is time for us to stop spending so much time arguing over who is in and who is out and just get out there and be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is time for us to stop whining and start shining.”

Scott Roth, Associate Pastor at Perkiomenville Mennonite shared about dreaming with God and shared of the work God is doing in Perkiomenville, through Project Haven. He reminded all that “God is moving when you follow.”

On Saturday morning in the joint worship time, Mim Book and Jim Lapp, current interim pastors at Zion Mennonite Church, offered a moment of silence to stand in solidarity and pray for the people of the world brought to a high level of fear in response to the acts of violence in Paris the night before. As delegates prepared to enter their business sessions, Mim and Jim reminded them that, “We are built to build across language and cultural divides that too often separate rather than unit us. We are built to build a new kind of temple and dwelling place of God and may we be reminded this is happening as we go to our jobs, go to the classrooms, the banks and businesses where we are employed. Yes it is happening, yet there is so much more to build. Structures of love and forgiveness that serve needs greater than any buildings we might erect with bricks and mortar.”

Celebration of God’s work among his people continued on Saturday morning as Franconia Conference recognized six newly licensed ministers and seven ordinations that have taken place in the last year. This included recognition of the youngest person credentialed by Franconia Conference, Jessica Hedirck, Children’s Pastor at Souderton Mennonite, the first woman of color credentialed by the conference, Leticia Cortes of Centro de Alabanza de Filadelfia, and the first ordination of a millennial, Josh Meyer, Associate Pastor at Franconia Mennonite Church.

In the Franconia Conference business session, Steve Kriss, Director of Leadership Cultivation and Congregational Resourcing announced that after a year of formal exploration with Centro de Alabanza de Filadelfia and Indonesian Light Church, both located in South Philadelphia, the congregations still wished to join Franconia Conference. Steve said to the delegates, “What I want to note is that ; new leaders, new congregation, thanks be to God. What I want to note today is that both of these congregations walk to us through Aldo’s work… the actions that we do today have consequences; sometimes those consequences are good, amazing, beautiful, and unexpected.”

Aldo Siahaan, Franconia Conference LEADership Minister and pastor at Philadelphia Praise Center, shared that “in Acts 2, ‘they follow a daily devotion of worship in the temple with meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful. As they praise God, people liked what they saw and everyday their numbers grew as God added to their numbers those who were saved.’ Celebration, meal, worship, and joyful, that’s every time you go to Centro de Alabanza and Indonesian Light Church, meal, worship, celebration, and joyful. Glory to God we have these two new members of Franconia Conference.” Both congregations moved to join the conference through relationships with Philadelphia Praise Center.

The conference also celebrated with Nations Worship Center as they received a check from Mennonite Men for the purchase of a new building. Don Yoder of Mennonite Men presented the congregation with a check and shared about how God is growing that congregation.

The assembly was able to hear how God is moving and building through a conference missional operations grant (MOG) received by Salem Mennonite Church in Quakertown. Pastor Bruce Eglinton-Woods shared how God had been working through the church in Quakertown to rebuild a skate park and provide a positive environment for the youth of the community, which has led to the bureau requesting help with maintaining a cemetery. The MOG allowed the church to assist with the groundskeeping of the cemetery which has now led to the bureau requesting assistance from the church in the building and development of a youth center. MOG’s are an ongoing resource fund available for congregational initiatives in Franconia Conference.

The first urban mission of Franconia Conference, Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Mennonite Church, will celebrate its centennial, and a new book is out regarding the history of this mission and its continued growth. John Ruth shared the history with the delegates and photographs of how the diversity and congregation have grown over the years. The book A Mennonite Church in Norristown by Beverly Benner Miller can be purchased at the Mennonite Heritage Center; check their website (www.mhep.org) for more information or visit their shop at 565 Yoder Road, Harleysville, PA.

In the midst of the celebration, the Franconia delegates spent time conferring around three Church Together Statements. The conference leadership had requested the congregations put forward statements that:

Support the conference’s mission of equipping leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission.
Propose ways in which to apply the Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA) Kansas City resolutions to the Franconia Conference context.
Propose ways for Franconia Conference pastors and congregations to continue to deepen relationships in 2016.

Nine Statements were received by the Church Together Statements Committee. Some were combined together to form new statements. In the end, five statements remained. Two statements dealing with resolutions passed at the MCUSA convention in Kansas City were approved by the board for implementation. The statement, Israel/Palestine, calls for the formation of a task force to continue education within the conference on the conflict in the middle east. The second, Addressing Abuse Within our Midst, calls for the formation of a task force to implement training, education, and support groups around addressing abuse.

The remaining three statements were presented to the delegates for discernment. The co-chairs of the Church Together Statements Committees, Angela Moyer, Pastor at Ripple, and Joe Hackman, Lead Pastor at Salford, presented each of the statements and clearly identified the meaning of a yes and no vote. Joe stated, “This delegate body, according to our by-laws is the decision making body of the conference. The staff, board, and congregation need direction from this delegate body in order to move forward. This is most commonly done through voting… Voting yes or no might sound divisive, but the larger purpose of voting on these statements is to give the board, staff, and congregation immediate understanding of the priorities and desires of the congregations in our conference.”

All three statements were affirmed by the delegate body. One was a vision statement, the other dealing with human sexuality, and the third dealt with a call to reestablish the Faith and Life Commission for pastors to come together to discern biblical and theological questions.

The Going to the Margins Statement was affirmed by 87% of the delegates present (10% not affirming, and 3% abstaining). Noted by the delegates who affirmed and those who did not was the lack of the mention of LGBTQ people and women in the list of those marginalized. With the affirmation of the Going to the Margins statement, the conference board and staff will take this statement into consideration as they begin strategic planning in the coming year.

The Grace and Truth Statement, while affirmed by 73% (18% not affirming, and 9% abstaining), many delegates noted that they agreed with the statement except for the items within the statement holding that credentialed leaders may not perform same-sex covenanted ceremonies, the conference may not credential those in same-sex covenant relationships, and calling on congregations to not hire persons living in same-sex relationships to serve in pastoral leadership were points of contention. With the affirmation of the Grace and Truth statement, the delegates have affirmed the conference’s existing position on human sexuality at this time.

The Faith and Life Statement calling for the reestablishment of the Faith and Life Commission was affirmed by 71% of the delegates present (22% not affirming, and 7% abstaining). The comments from the delegates included needing clarity on what it means to “offer pastoral care to LGBTQ individuals and their families…”

At the end of the day, delegates were given an opportunity to speak about the process. One delegate stated, “I was prepared for a little more lively discussion and maybe some contentiousness today but it felt very calm and we had really good discussion around our tables. I give credit to the worship time and the songs that you had us sing throughout the day.”

Pastor Michael Meneses, of Wellspring Church of Skippack, stated that he and his table group felt the process was, “delightful, hopeful, and significant. It felt meaningful to be here in real conversation. This is getting deeper.” He spoke of how being able to dialogue without expectation allowed for truly meaningful conversation.

Mark Michalovic, a delegate from West Philadelphia congregation, said, “the one word I used to describe our conversation, the word that came to me was ‘welcome’. Because when I first spoke I was nervous and apprehensive because I was about to say things and I didn’t know how well they would be received and I had a good feeling that a lot of people might strongly disagree with me. At our table we did have a lot of disagreements, but everybody made each other feel welcome and we all listened to each other respectfully and all feel like we can keep discussing things even when we disagree.”

The day closed with remarks from conference Executive Minister, Ertell M. Whigham, who acknowledged the conference staff and their behind-the-scenes work. He added, “This meeting for me has been one in which Jesus through his spirit has promised to be present where two or more are gathered and he has been faithful to that.”

John Goshow, conference Moderator, acknowledged that he felt guilt for worrying about today’s meeting. He said of the delegates’ interaction with one another that it was “demonstrating the finest way of church that I have experienced in a long time.”

The day concluded with Nancy Kauffman, MCUSA Denominational Minister, offering her observations and a blessing for the delegates. In her observations she noted that “you have celebrated what God is doing among you. Thinking about where God is at work and not allowing that to be buried under your disagreements.”

It is clear that the building of God’s people is not finished. Yet, the delegates of Franconia Conference have indicated that within their diversity and differences they will continue to work to be built by God to build God’s Kingdom.

All conference assembly materials can be accessed on the Franconia Conference website. For podcasts, click here and pictures, click here.

Built to Build: Conference Assembly 2015

November 16, 2015 by Conference Office

Conference Welcomes Angela Moyer to the Board

November 5, 2015 by Conference Office

by Lisa Rand

God is at work in Allentown, and pastor Angela Moyer witnesses God’s movement in the lives of her friends and neighbors. Angela is one of five co-pastors at Ripple, where her ministry focuses on serving children and women. Franconia Conference welcomed Angela to the board at the August 2015 board meeting. In her new role as board member, Angela will help communicate the perspectives and needs of Lehigh Valley congregations as they continue to grow. As an urban and bi-vocational pastor with roots in Telford, Angela’s gifts and background are well-suited for this role as a conference board member.

Angela also is an occupational therapist for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation. She worked as an occupational therapist after graduating from Elizabethtown College, when she accepted a post at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Through this role, Angela was exposed to city life and city concerns. She recognized the opportunity for the church to help ease the challenges facing families in crisis. During this time Angela felt a draw and pull to youth ministry, and began working with the youth at her home church, Rockhill Mennonite, eventually serving as youth pastor.

Angela also began taking classes at Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Pennsylvania campus. “Tentatively and very hesitantly, I took a few classes. I just had a few questions.” One semester led to another, and in 2012 she completed her studies. While at seminary Angela met Tom & Carolyn Albright and learned about the ministry happening through Ripple. Sensing that this was a place where her gifts could be used, Angela completed an internship in Allentown where Ripple is located and got to know the community, which she describes as open, welcoming, and multiethnic.

In Allentown Angela lives in the intentional community Zumé, in a neighborhood full of people from varied backgrounds and experiences. Asked to describe the work of Ripple she said, “Ripple is Christ-centered and Community-Focused. We are at a place where we are learning the depth of patience and trust in God that’s required when working for transformation, justice and dignity for all people. We are learning to support one another in this walk, in the long, hard work of walking alongside people through hard times expectantly awaiting new life and resurrection.”

Angela is an avid Phillies fan and for relaxation she enjoys trying new restaurants and traveling.

Tending Intentionally to Congregations in Transition

November 5, 2015 by Conference Office

Tending Intentionally to Congregations in Transition: Intentional Interim Pastor Training

by Noel Santiago

“Intentional Interim Training is a specialized ministry intended to help congregations take fuller advantage of the time between long term pastors.”

Thus begun our orientation to this training event held at the Towamencin Mennonite Church on October 26-30, 2015.

With a dozen participants from varied Anabaptist Conferences from the east coast plus one Canadian Pastor, we engaged with each other around the material, stories, resources and toolkit that would equip us for Intentional Interim work.

We learned there are five developmental tasks of this work which really focus on five points:

“The real work of the intentional interim minister is to facilitate and coach, guide and support the members and leaders of the congregation as they engage in the focus points.” (John Keydel)

“But a second task for interims today is a new one. It is to help congregations understand the seismic shifts in American culture that I and others describe as ‘the ending of North American Christendom’ and ‘the waning of modernity.” (Anthony B. Robinson)

Such were the realities we delved into during our week together. Looking at case studies provided us the opportunity to practice thinking about what we were learning. How should you address a situation where a long term pastor who has retired or stepped down from their role but wants to remain in the congregation? What happens if people still want their former pastor to do a wedding, funeral or baptism? What if there is a family or a person in the congregation that is holding all the power where no decision can be implemented unless they approve? What if there has been a wounded history of pain that no one really talks about but continues to affect our interactions together? How does one address these dynamics in ways that are healthy even if difficult? These and many other scenarios were presented for engagement.

Intentional Interim training is offered bi-annually and is jointly sponsored by Franconia, EDC, ACC and Lancaster Conferences. One of the strengths of this training is the variety of trainers. Topics are presented by seasoned Intentional Interim Ministers and Conference Ministers who offer keen insights, share from their experiences, and offer practical ideas and resources.

At the end of our time together there was a time of certification and prayer over each of those who had finished the training. We were sent forth into God’s mission as temporary shepherds over a given congregation with a renewed sense of empowerment and hope that with God, all things are possible!

Conference and Living Hope Farm Share Faith through Relationships

October 22, 2015 by Conference Office

by Colin Ingram

Franconia Mennonite Conference is known for working with ministries and churches “in engaging the world through witness and relationships” with “Christ as the center of shared and individual vision.” One of the ministries the conference does this with is Living Hope Farm (LHF), a tenant of the conference for the past six years.

The conference acquired the land known as Indian Creek Road Farm in 1955 with the vision of utilizing it for mission work in the community. In the early 2000s, the conference was faced with the possibility of selling the land to housing developers, but instead sought out a tenant that would use the land for ministry and connect to the conference mission of “equipping leaders, to empower others, to embrace God’s mission.”

Henry Rosenberger, board chair of Living Hope Farm (LHF), says, “Living Hope Farm grew out of a renewed sense that the ‘earth is the Lord’s.”

Living Hope Farm is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm in Harleysville located off Indian Creek Road. Beyond growing food, the farm seeks community between farmers, CSA members, market buyers, foodbanks, and the underserved. By growing food organically and inviting members to participate, LHF is engaging the world through relationship.

According to Sheldon Good, writer of an Intersections article about the newly launched LHF in 2010, the farm is “a chance to rediscover values of corporate faith, local food, and loving community.”

LHF also impartially connects with persons of various financial situations and abilities with its mission to serve the disadvantaged. Donating the first and best of the crops to food banks and low-income programs may not be a face-to-face way to build relationships, but it connects with the conference’s mission of witness by relationship.

Franconia Conference and LHF meet on mission, sprouting with food as the platform, and reaping loving community where people are empowered to follow God.

Stop by the Living Hope Farm Indoor Market on Tuesdays and Friday between 2:00 and 7:00 pm or pick up some Fall Ornamentals available daily at the roadside stand from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Pastors Gather to Confer and Offer Counsel

October 22, 2015 by Conference Office

On October 15, 2015, over 50 Franconia Conference pastors joined the conference board and staff at Towamencin Mennonite Church to confer around the Church Together Statements and offer counsel to the Church Together Statements Committee.

This summer the board of Franconia Conference announced that they would be accepting Church Together Statements from the conference members and conference-related ministries that would facilitate discernment, educate the conference, build unity, provide the conference understanding while acknowledging dissenting voices, and provide a foundation for member advocacy/witness to government and society. The board formed the Church Together Statements Committee that included a cross section of individuals from
around the conference to oversee this process.

In mid-September, the committee had received nine Church Together Statements that ranged in focus. Four addressed the topic of how to live out forbearance within the conference context. The committee requested some revisions and that a few statements be combined with others that were similar. What remained were six Church Together Statements that were brought before the pastors, board, and staff on October 15^th.

The time was divided into two discussion periods. The first period was spent discussing four of the six statements, including a statement on Israel Palestine, one addressing abuse, one on going to the margins, and one on kingdom missional strategy. The pastors were then encouraged to fill out comment cards for each of the statements.

The second discussion period was spent on two statements addressing forbearance. After time in table group discussion, there was a time for open mic comments where it was noted that there were similar themes in both statements, and that people found things they could appreciate in both even if they did not entirely agree with them.

Before the meeting closed, John Ruth, a former conference overseer and local conference historian, offered insight to the history of conferring within the conference. He noted the importance of pastors meeting together and engaging in dialogue about issues of the day.

Comment cards on all six statements were collected and compiled for the Church Together Statements Committee to consider. There was a clear sense that the conference remains divided on the issue of forbearance and human sexuality, yet there is a desire to stay united where possible. There was also a call to more often study scripture together.

After meeting earlier this week, the committee has put forward a recommendation to the board that includes which statements they believe should go before the delegates at conference assembly and which should be voted on. The board will be meeting this evening (October 22, 2015) to make the final determination.

As discernment begins this weekend at conference assembly scattered meetings, this year’s assembly is not to be missed. If you have not yet done so, be sure to register for conference assembly HERE.

Relationships at the Forefront

October 7, 2015 by Conference Office

by Naveen Singh, Whitehall Mennonite Church

I vividly remember when we as a congregation met Samantha for the first time. After having enjoyed a nice potluck meal, we spent an evening together in the church fellowship hall. This was a time to get to know her, so we all took turns asking questions (silly and also important ones). This journey started back in 2010, along the way meaningful relationships developed as we fellowshipped, learned, served and struggled together.

On September 13, 2015 we gathered around Samantha for a significant milestone, to give her charge and to present her to be set apart for ministry in God’s beloved community.

Growing up in India in a very small church, I wasn’t exposed to big words like commissioning or ordaining someone in the church. Besides, when I think about a person being set apart for serving/leading and taking care of God’s flock – the thought is quite overwhelming. It was only after moving to the United States that I started to realize that these were essential processes that are required in a church, but I saw it as a formality that the conference leaders had to come and perform. In recent years I have found this process more meaningful as I have witnessed the commissioning and ordaining of friends that I have come to know personally.

Being at Samantha’s ordination service was especially humbling – to be able to see so many faithful and committed friends come by her side as a community to encourage, support and bless her. It was visibly evident that community and relationships were at the center as Samantha was being ordained. God has made us for relationship and it always excites me when I see relationships at the forefront of mission. The beauty there is that the body of Christ was reflected in so many ways throughout the ordination service – each person coming and offering words of encouragement and reminders of what to carry with her into the good work that lies ahead, each were uniquely personal and richly diverse. The singing, the message and prayers were all weaved into a beautiful and meaningful time of worshipping God. The children’s time led by Angela Moyer, a pastor at Ripple, was another element that was particularly memorable from my perspective. The beautiful sight of children sitting around Samantha, laying their hands on her as they prayed. Formation takes place at every stage of life; encouraging participation of our children in these essential elements of our faith, is an important step towards keeping them engaged.

Samantha’s interest in stories of people young and old, near and far, especially stories of people who have been unjustly hurt, her interest in understanding the bigger picture of how injustice has entangled many in hopeless situations and her willingness to give them voice and be an advocate for them is a powerful testimony of God’s ongoing healing and restoration work through her. Living more simply and having more time for relationships is something I have learned from her. Samantha became a part of us (the Whitehall Mennonite Church community) in a very short time and I am very hopeful for the future, having experienced the fresh energy which she brings as a part of this new generation of leadership.

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