Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Faith and Life Gathering

Following Jesus Means Becoming Intercultural

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by Sharon K. Williams

Editor’s Note: Faith and Life Gatherings are designated meetings for credentialed and retired leaders in Mosaic Mennonite Conference to study scripture together and build relationships across the conference. The next Faith and Life Gathering will take place on September 25 and will focus on another of Mosaic’s priorities.  

Mosaic Conference’s Faith & Life team recently invited credentialed pastors and leaders to reflect on our intercultural priority (Mosaic’s two other priorities are being formational and missional).  

We reflected on Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician mother (Matthew 15:21–28). We noted Jesus’ willingness to playfully engage with this Gentile woman who stood strong in her faith—that she and her people could access the same blessings from God as the Jewish believers. Jesus even affirmed her in flipping the script with her bold sassiness! We marveled at the transformation that happened for them both because of their willingness to stay engaged with each other.   

We also reflected on Paul’s teaching that “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives richly to all who call on him” (Romans 10:12). This biblical affirmation is well known, but what challenges does it hold for us today?   

As we examined the scriptures, reflected on our ministry experiences, and prayed together, we noted the following: 

  • Culture is a way of life shared by a group of people who are bound together by ethnicity, food, values, religion or theology, politics, and many other aspects. A deeper dive into a perceived culture often reveals diversity within a culture.   
  • In the past, as Franconia Conference and Eastern District embraced their missional calling, we had to start learning how to minister across cultures.  
  • Being intercultural is different from being multicultural. We need to be aware of and respect the values that people of other cultures hold. We can recognize our culture and others’ cultures without judgment, by giving and receiving, and experiencing mutual transformation.  
  • God works through intercultural encounters to shape us and our communities. An important part of intercultural ministry and relationships is to not minimize differences between cultures but to curiously embrace the differences and be open to the transformation that can happen. 
  • Being intercultural takes work. We must seek ways to develop curiosity about other cultures as we build relationships. Then we will recognize the image of God in ourselves and others.  
  • Being intercultural includes doing the long-term, hard work of being antiracist. We must learn to recognize systemic racism and its dynamics and work together to create different ways of ministering together and respecting others. It requires commitment to stay in the struggle. 
  • Being intercultural requires the daily practice of empathy, humility, and flexibility. 

The group curiously raised these questions: What is the vision for the conference’s intercultural priority? What are our expectations? How can this priority strengthen our conference and beyond? 

Love like Jesus, preach the character of Jesus—and be transformed. 

What can we do? Loving like Jesus transforms our relationships with him and others. Preaching the character of Jesus can help us move beyond our propensity to be difficult or stuck in our ways. Like the Syrophoenician mother, people are looking for authentic transformation and healing and will cross cultural boundaries when they find it.  

We need to lean into the character of Jesus, set aside our norms, and look for the transformation. Sometimes we miss it because we operate by our blind spots. What draws our attention and what might we be missing? We must preach Jesus and be as caring and loving as him so we can recognize what is happening. We must be willing to hear and acknowledge each other and their truth.  

Intercultural transformation is a mystery, and it is beautiful! Let us press forward to learn together and receive what God has for us. 

Recommended resource

The New Testament in Color: A Multiethic Bible Commentary, edited by Amy L. B. Peeler, et al, InterVarsity Press, 2024.  

Sharon K. Williams

Sharon K. Williams serves as the minister of worship with the Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life Mennonite congregation. 

Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact the author(s) of this article, please email communication@mosaicmennonites.org.

Small Gathering, Big Ideas

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by Mike Spinelli

A youth pastor once told me he looked forward to youth meetings no matter how many kids showed up. “When you throw a party, you dance with those who come!” 

A group of three gathered at West Swamp Mennonite (Quakertown, PA) for the in-person Faith and Life gathering in December. We missed having others, but our time together was full as we learned more about one another and how we each heard the message of Acts 15. 

The passage describes a vigorous debate on the issue of circumcision and its relationship to the gospel. We could sense how this issue could derail the church and needed to be worked out. We shared some common questions: What was true of those believers that allowed them to have a spirited conversation? What did those of the circumcision group do in light of the outcome? Could we see ourselves coming together for such a debate?   

This pointed out a clear growth area for us. Our tendency as Mennonites is to avoid or mute conflicts. It seemed to us that it is easier to value the appearance of peace rather than learn to “fight fair” with one another. This made me think of how my wife and I keep learning to “fight fair,” a skill that takes time to develop.   

While the church’s debate led to a helpful outcome, the chapter ends with Paul and Barnabas deciding to go separate ways after a similarly vigorous discussion.  Both had an impulse to build up others; Paul wanted to build up the churches while Barnabas saw the need to build up John Mark. We never sense that Paul or Barnabas avoid or vilify each other in this process. They still parted in the end. 

This had us thinking, again, that we should not be conflict-avoidant, even if the outcome is uncertain. Working through conflict is what leads to true peace. I certainly wish Paul and Barnabas could have worked it out, but they did work at it. 

We also saw that good conflict can be aided by good discernment. What beliefs can we hold lightly, and which ones define where we draw the line? It appears that Paul and Barnabas had different priorities, which each owned. Their points of view were also true to their nature–Paul the evangelist and Barnabas the encourager.   

I concluded that issues do not complicate conflicts as much as personal perspectives and the willingness to engage with others. It takes trust to share one’s point of view and humility to hold it loosely alongside competing ideas. As we reflected on the needed combination of trust and humility, I wondered what more can be done to build the necessary trust to “fight fair?” 

I trust those gathered that day left with similar (or better) insights that will help them in their ministry and relationships. It might have been a small group, but it yielded some big ideas for our shared future. 

Mike Spinelli

Mike Spinelli is pastor of Perkiomenville (PA) Mennonite. When not engaged in pastoral duties, Mike likes to read, hike, and enjoy the outdoors.  A native of California, he can root for the Philly sports teams as long as they are not playing the 49ers or baseball Giants.

August 2024 Faith and Life Gathering

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by Andrew Zetts

The Faith and Life Commission of Mosaic Conference provides space for pastors and credentialed leaders to build ties of friendship and support. We convene quarterly to discuss scripture and listen to how we might interpret and apply those scriptures. We pray for each other and our congregations in light of our reflections. We seek to develop relationships of mutual trust and accountability, deepening our convictions and  involvement in the congregations we lead. 

It is common for congregants and community members to ask questions of pastors. So, what happens when pastors get together? Who asks the questions? It turns out, they all do.  

At the most recent in-person Faith and Life Gathering that was hosted on August 28 at Swamp (Quakertown, PA) Mennonite, seven Mosaic pastors from different ministry contexts gathered to be formed by scripture and community with each other. The discussion centered around Matthew 16:13-20 and the foundations of the Church.  

While the discussion and interpretation moved in a variety of directions, it was rooted in an important revelation in the text: Jesus is the Son of Man, God among us. 

In a room of well-trained, highly experienced pastors, there was an air of humility and openness at our gathering. Pastors are famous for being verbose and ready to engage an audience. This wasn’t that kind of meeting.  

Rather, it was a room full of questions, curiosity, and vulnerability. Throughout our hour and a half together, I heard things like: “I don’t know, what do you think?”, “What’s it like for you and your congregation?”, “I used to think about it this way, but my years of ministry have led me to think differently…”, and “I’m not really sure, how has your church handled it?”  

At first, I was hesitant to attend. Life in ministry is busy, and the gathering was one of many color-coded rectangles on my Outlook calendar. I confess, I even arrived late.   

But I left the gathering refreshed and renewed. Something transformative happens when we are in each other’s company, open ourselves up to the Spirit and each other, and prepare to be moved. My peers’ posture toward questions rather than certitude made mutual transformation even more likely.  

In divisive times, gathering is essential. One of the participants reflected at the end of our meeting, “I’m glad I came today; this was a really humanizing experience.”  

I’m grateful that Mosaic makes these Faith and Life gatherings possible, and I hope to do my own part in supporting the effort. I hope to be at the next one on November 6 in person or November 7, 2024, on Zoom. See you there! 

Andrew Zetts

Andrew Zetts is Associate Pastor at Salford Mennonite (Harleysville, PA).

May 2024 Faith and Life Gathering: The Foundation of the Church 

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by Charlene Smalls, Noel Santiago and Hendy Matahelemual

The Faith and Life Commission of Mosaic Conference provides space for pastors and credentialed leaders to build ties of friendship and support. We convene quarterly to discuss scripture and listen to how we might interpret and apply those scriptures. We pray for each other and our congregations in light of our reflections. We seek to develop relationships of mutual trust and accountability, deepening our convictions and the involvement we have in the congregations we lead. (based on the reflections of Lindy Backues [Philadelphia Praise Center]) 

Captions: Participants gather virtually for the May Faith and Life Gathering. Photo by Hendy Matahelemual.
Participants gather at Wellspring Church of Skippack (PA). Photo by Noel Santiago. 

Gathering online one day and in person the next, credentialed leaders from around Mosaic gathered to read, reflect, share, and pray for each other during the May 2024 Faith and Life Gathering.  

The theme for this gathering’s focus was the Foundation of the Church. Using 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, three questions opened the conversation: 

  1. Building is a process. Building communities, relationships, and the Kingdom of God here on earth requires work. What can we hold on to and what can we release so that together we strengthen the foundation? (One waters, one plants, God gives the increase). 
  2. How are we building the church or laying the foundation in the context of our priorities – Formational, Missional, and Intercultural? 
  3. What partnering has helped deepen and strengthened you and your ministry? 

A sampling of what participants shared included: 

  • How do we move on and make peace with the people that have not returned to our congregations, after attempts to reach out and embrace what is new?  
  • A recognition that if we cannot talk to one another, how can we talk to or share Good News with others? 
  • Always bring the process of building back to Jesus. 
  • How well do we understand one another’s context, recognizing the differences within the Mosaic Conference? 
  • Having a clear articulation of who we are and not allowing our political views to interfere with Kingdom work, which can pose a danger to the strength of the building.  
  • The importance of being rooted in our gifts and learning from each other, staying humble despite our differences, and remaining open to transformation. 
  • Heartfelt, deep sharing and praying 

While those gathered were small in numbers, the wisdom, care, sharing, and prayers abounded. May God continue to help us build the church on the foundation of Jesus! 

Charlene Smalls

Charlene Smalls is co-pastor of Ripple in Allentown, PA.

Noel Santiago

Noel Santiago is the Leadership Minister for Missional Transformation for Mosaic Conference.

Hendy Matahelemual

Hendy Matahelemual is the Associate Minister for Community Engagement for Mosaic Conference.

Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit

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FAITH AND LIFE GATHERING REPORT

by KrisAnne Swartley

As we gathered on the morning of February 8 at Perkasie (PA) Mennonite Church around tables to read scripture, share, and pray, I was struck by the humanness in the room: some expectant mothers or new parents, some approaching retirement age, some in mid-life juggling the needs of multiple generations as well as congregations. Our humanness means vulnerability.

The table group I participated in brought that vulnerability to the text of Ephesians 4. Whether gifted as apostles or prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, we acknowledged our limitations to exercise these gifts perfectly. There are times when some of these gifts have not been well-cultivated in historically Mennonite churches. We also recognized the limitations of our conferences or denomination to welcome and bless the diversity of these gifts. 

At the same time, we were also able to celebrate that faithful people exercise these gifts, often in positions not formally recognized by church bodies. In doing so, they have built up the church and equipped believers in powerful ways. Sunday school teachers, youth group volunteers, and kitchen and janitorial volunteers sometimes act as evangelists and pastors to people in surprising and faithful ways. 

In this complexity and diversity, there is unity. Right now, unity is a complex word for Mosaic Conference. Perhaps it always has been, but this feels like a unique and difficult moment for us. Our table noted that there is a difference between unity and uniformity. Unity can exist amidst differences in perspective and practice. Uniformity demands same-ness. We did not come up with any easy answers for living with diversity in unity without uniformity, but as we talked honestly from our different stages of life and ministry context, there was clear humility and a desire for loving conversation. In our human limitation, perhaps that is miracle enough. 

Photo from Unsplash

Paul talks of loving conversation as “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).  Someone around the table remarked how that phrase can be used as a weapon instead of cultivating a spirit of humility as Paul meant here. I wondered aloud, if we don’t have love, are we really speaking truth? If God is love and we recognize God as our source of truth, is it even possible to speak truth without love? We probably could have spent the rest of the day wrestling with our definitions of both love and truth! 

Most powerful for me during the morning was our time of prayer. Each of us prayed for someone else around the table and asked God’s blessing on our sister or brother. We had all briefly shared our hopes, fears, and challenges in life and ministry. The genuine prayers for God’s presence and power in the midst of our vulnerability were tender and faith-filled. The morning was a breath of fresh air in the middle of the demands of the week. We left there, still human, but blessed. 

KrisAnne Swartley

KrisAnne Swartley currently serves as Pastor of Worship and Administration at Doylestown (PA) Mennonite Church. She has served there in various roles since 2011. KrisAnne and her husband, Jon, have two children, Heidi and Ben. She enjoys being out in nature, coloring books, a strong cup of coffee, and hanging out with her cat and dog.

Listening to Wisdom’s Call

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Faith and Life Gathering Reflection

by Charlene Smalls

The August 17 Faith and Life Gathering gave me the opportunity to be the voice of wisdom.  Following introductions, we prayed for the leading of the Holy Spirit to be with us, as we discerned what wisdom had to say. The people at my table asked me to read the scripture, so that we might hear wisdom from a woman’s voice, as personified in Proverbs 8:1-5 (NIRV).

1Doesn’t wisdom call out? 
    Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? 
2 At the highest point along the way, 
    she takes her place where the paths meet. 
3 Beside the gate leading into the city, 
    she cries out at the entrance. She says, 
4 “People, I call out to you. 
    I raise my voice to all human beings. 
5 You who are childish, get some good sense. 
    You who are foolish, set your hearts on getting it. 

As a woman, I was captivated. I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking, saying that wisdom calls and she is like a mother who meets her children at all points. No matter where they are, she is there, beckoning them to safety and assurance. She is bold in her efforts to make sure they receive all that she has to offer, and when they veer off the path, she stands tall like a willow tree blocking their path to destruction. When they call, she answers. 

Does wisdom not point us to a loving God, the one who answers when we call, giving direction? But we don’t always like the answer, so we ignore wisdom’s nudge to turn to God and away from destruction.  

After reading Proverbs 8, we discussed four questions. Below are the questions and a summary of our responses:  

What are the characteristics of wisdom described in this passage?

Some of wisdom’s characteristics are slow, but powerful, and attainable. Wisdom is knowledge and experience correctly applied. Wisdom is the ability to discern what is right and what is wrong. 

What is wisdom’s call or counsel and to whom?

Wisdom’s call and counsel is to all humankind. It calls us to live and share a life centered in Christ, a life lived in light and not darkness. Wisdom invites us to live life at its best.  

How are we to access the needed wisdom to help us know how to proceed?  

To access this wisdom, we need to create safe spaces where we can listen, yield, and be open to receiving wisdom. “Wisdom creates a safe space to share our deepest and hardest questions through a spirit of love that frees us from fear,” said Noel Santiago. 

How can we support one another as we pursue wisdom in our different ministry contexts?  

We need to make ourselves available to one another outside of meetings, conferences, and other formal settings. We must respect our differences and seek understanding of those differences. We need to listen so that we hear in different contexts and pray for a non-anxious spirit as we guide our congregations. We also need to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance on how deep to go into the issues being addressed at this fall’s Assembly. 

It is our prayer that these conversations will help us to speak clearly and truthfully, lead justly and diligently, and to pursue wisdom before riches, power, status, or anything else.

Charlene Smalls

Charlene Smalls is co-pastor of Ripple in Allentown, PA.