Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

MC USA

Summer Board and Delegate Conversations Shape Mosaic’s Future with MC USA

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Amid tension and trust, around 100 delegates and leaders from across Mosaic Mennonite Conference gathered in June and July for board and delegate conversations. With Mosaic’s relationship to Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) at a crossroads, these meetings served as a space for prayerful dialogue, two-way communication, and opportunities to give and receive counsel about next steps.  

A snapshot from one of the Zoom gatherings

The sessions focused on providing a historical overview of the communication between Mosaic Conference and MC USA and an invitation for feedback. The meetings opened with prayer and a devotional on Ephesians 4:1-6. Board members then provided, in most meetings, a summary chronology of communications over the last three years, including the letter to the MC USA Executive Board that Mosaic Conference moderators sent in 2022, expressing concerns that had arisen since the reconciliation of the Franconia and Eastern District conferences in 2019 as well as more recent concerns about the MC USA special delegate session in 2022. The letter announced the start of the two-year Pathway Process, affirmed at the November 2022 Mosaic Delegate Assembly.  

For two nearly two years, the Pathway Steering Team listened to the depth and breadth of Conference members and partners, discerned, and worked to develop a five-year strategic plan for Mosaic Conference. In August 2024, the Pathway Steering Team made their recommendation of “a pathway forward of partnership (rather than membership) and collaboration” with MC USA, which received 71% affirmation by the delegates at the 2024 Mosaic Delegate Assembly.  

In 2025, the board has been tasked with carrying out this recommendation with MC USA. In February, the Mosaic board proposed that Mosaic Conference become a program entity of MC USA (a designation already in MC USA’s bylaws) to facilitate ministry partnership. At MC USA’s request, the Mosaic board responded to four questions in writing in April, which directly name the challenges that Mosaic Conference has faced with MC USA. 

In May, MC USA’s executive board unanimously voted to deny Mosaic’s proposal to become a program entity of MC USA, and later that month, the Mosaic board declined the board-to-board mediation process offered by MC USA at this time.  

Following this update, most meetings included a time of silence, prayer, and agreement to respectful communication guidelines. Participants were invited to ask questions, and then to share counsel with the board. 

“In our delegate listening sessions, I deeply valued the time to grieve and be frustrated together around difficulties with MC USA while simultaneously being grateful for the meaningful relationships within Mosaic and excitement for our witness together in the future,” shared Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “We are listening more deeply to one another, seeking understanding rather than uniformity, and trusting God to direct our path.” 

Amongst the four June/July board and delegate conversations offered in three languages, the questions and the counsel were varied. Here are some examples, which include both direct quotes and summaries of questions and themes that emerged from the counsel:  

  • Affirmation for Mosaic’s leadership, and sorrow for the pain caused by this process. 
  • A call to ensure that Mosaic’s vision, mission, and priorities remain central and are not diminished by devoting extensive energy to this process. One participant cautioned: “Don’t allow “Mosaic’s wings to get clipped.”
  • Recognition that the unanimous vote to reject Mosaic’s proposal feels significant.  
  • A question of whether “there is any space with MC USA for mutual, respectful conversation about the ‘rules of engagement’?”
  • Noted parallels between some Mosaic congregations seeking structural change for the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons, and Mosaic’s desire for structural change within MC USA. 
  • Acknowledgment that theological differences—particularly around the welcome of LGBTQ persons—must be addressed in environments of high trust, empathy, and care. 
  • Expressions of deep frustration and alienation from MC USA among some participants, along with a desire to disengage. 
  • Immigrant congregations noting that we do not have the same privileges as other congregations that have already left Mosaic due to frustrations with MC USA. 
  • A belief that outside of MC USA, Mosaic will attract more congregations and be better positioned as a partner. 
  • A suggestion to slow the process with a “holy pause” to allow for additional discernment. 
  • A request for the Delegate Assembly to offer more time for discernment earlier in the day. 
  • Questions about how Mosaic leaders can be better supported in advocating for structural change within MC USA. 
  • A desire for clearer communication of the process’s complexity, with an emphasis on increasing understanding and capacity for ambiguity among congregants. 
  • Curiosity about what would be required to pursue mediation as a future option. 

The meetings closed with a request of prayer for the board as they discern the next faithful steps for Mosaic Mennonite Conference. The next Mosaic board meeting will take place on August 2, and the Fall Delegate Assembly will take place on November 1.  

“We appreciate the investment by our delegates in Mosaic and concerns, though varied, about our relationship with Mennonite Church USA,” shared Executive Minister Stephen Kriss. “The board will need to continue to work diligently to discern what recommendations and postures the delegates will discuss in November.”  

Kriss continued, “What is increasingly important to me within Mosaic is that we hear the variety of concerns, and that we maintain our clarity of focus on our own vision and mission while responding empathetically to one another. I am drawn back to the idea of extending Chesed, which we considered in 2022 at our first in-person gathering.  While the Spirit holds our diversity together with the tensions that emerge from within and beyond us, we remain people committed to extending God’s grace, justice and peace.” 

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.         

Mosaic Conference Board Responds to MC USA’s Denial of Ministry Partnership Proposal 

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From May 16-18, 2025, the Mosaic Conference Board held its annual in-person retreat in  Homestead, FL. Meeting six times a year, the Conference Board, supervises the business of the conference and conference committees, and ensures that Mosaic remains aligned with its vision and attentive to the Spirit’s guidance in areas of growth and transformation.

In addition to times of prayer, worship, and deepening relationships, Executive Committee member Maati Yvonne led the group on Saturday morning in a time of learning about and practicing circle process.

Circle process led by Maati Yvonne.

“I love how circles bring people together, deepen relationships, and increase understanding,” reflected Maati Yvonne. “Amidst all that the board needed to discern, it was essential to pause and use the circle to reflect on how we were each feeling and being impacted. My hope is that we take the time to use circle process more and more to resolve issues and allow the Holy Spirit to bring restoration, in our families and youth groups, our communities and congregations, and at the conference level.” 

The board retreat opened with a devotional on Acts 1:8. Board members shared testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s activity and the reconciling love of Jesus.  

Strategic Plan Updates and Reflections on Spring Assembly 

The board reviewed progress on the five pillars of Mosaic’s strategic plan: Clarity/Identity, Communication, Leadership Development, Reconciliation, and Relationship-Building. They also reflected on how the recent Spring Assembly equipping sessions connected with these pillars. Feedback on Spring Assembly highlighted a desire for clear, more tangible teaching on Centered-Set church concepts, and for more images and fewer words in Mosaic’s equipping sessions to accommodate various learning styles and cultures.  

Other strategic plan updates included the launch of the Learning/Living Mosaic podcast, the first Vibrant Mosaic cohort, and 14 youth participating in the summer 2025 Ambassadors leadership development. The board had the chance to meet one of the incoming Ambassadors, Hensley, from Homestead Mennonite.  

The board meets one of the 2025 Ambassadors from Homestead (FL) Mennonite. 

Additional Board Business and Learning 

The board acknowledged receipt of a letter from Spruce Lake Mennonite Camp (Canadensis, PA) indicating its decision to remove itself as a Conference-Related Ministry. 

Plans and themes for the November Delegate Assembly were discussed.  

Glenn Nemath, Director of Real Estate for FMC Properties, shared updates on Conference properties. 

On Sunday morning, Joe Manickam, currently serving as a consultant with Mosaic Conference, shared on clarifying healthy structures and relationships.   

Responding to MC USA’s Denial of Ministry Partnership 

The Board reflected on the process around its proposal to the Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA (MC USA), requesting to formalize a ministry partnership by becoming a Program Entity (a designation already existing in MC USA’s bylaws). This proposal followed a delegate action in November 2024, which called for Mosaic to redefine its relationship with MC USA as a healthy ministry partnership.  

The proposal included services Mosaic would offer to MC USA at no cost, in youth formation, church planting accompaniment, and intercultural leadership development. It also proposed possible ways to manage credentials within this new framework.    

Throughout the process over the past year, Board members expressed frustration that their voices and concerns felt minimized. These long-standing issues were articulated in a formal written response to MC USA, submitted at MC USA’s request earlier this spring. 

On May 8, MC USA’s executive board unanimously voted to deny Mosaic’s proposal to become a Program Entity of MC USA. They proposed a “mediated conversation between the full (MC USA) Executive Board and Mosaic Board.” 

While Mosaic leadership has previously expressed openness to third-party mediation with MC USA, the Board shared several concerns about entering mediation at this point in the process: 

  • Mediation tends to emphasize interpersonal dynamics. While the Board values healed relationships, it also seeks organizational transformation to address deeper systemic issues.
  • Leaders of color across Mosaic have contributed substantial effort and emotional labor to this process. Many feel unheard and dismissed by MC USA. Entering mediation now would require some of them to revisit these experiences and continue retelling their stories in a context marked by power imbalances, both historic and ongoing.
  • The Board emphasized the need to prioritize living into Mosaic’s vision and mission and discern the Spirit’s leading, rather than rush into a mediation process before there has been an acknowledgement of the existing difficulties within the MC USA structure.
  • The proposal process required significant time and energy from both Mosaic board members and staff. With the rejection of this proposal by MC USA, the Board must now redirect its focus toward discerning next steps and clarifying ministry partnerships to the delegates prior to the November Assembly. 

After prayerful discernment, the board acted to: Decline the board-to-board mediation process offered by MC USA executive board at this time. 

“We remain saddened and disappointed by the structures within MC USA that are rigid and painful for many of us,” said Conference Moderator Angela Moyer Walter. “Our world and nation are changing rapidly, and so the church must adapt to the shifting realities in our communities and congregations. The inflexible response to the perspectives of Mosaic congregations has been disheartening, especially given that relationships with sibling conferences are mutual and supportive.” 

“Despite this disappointment, I find joy and hope when we gather to listen and share together. The reconciling love of Jesus is at work amongst us, and I look forward to us living in to our vision together.”

Next Steps

The Mosaic Executive Committee will meet in June, followed by a full Mosaic board meeting in August. In line with the charge given at last year’s assembly, the Board will develop and present recommended bylaw amendments for delegate discernment at the 2025 Mosaic Delegate Assembly. 

Mosaic remains committed to nurturing healthy partnerships with sibling Mennonite conferences and other Anabaptist communities. 

In June, the Mosaic Board will host four sessions for conversation and two-way communication for the future trajectory of partnership conversations with MC USA. Three of these sessions will be on Zoom, and one will be held at the Mosaic Conference offices (Lansdale, PA), with options in Spanish, Indonesian, and English. Dates and times for these conversations will be available next week.  

In the meantime, Mosaic Conference credentialed leaders and delegates are encouraged to reach out to their Leadership Minister with questions and to follow updates through Mosaic News. 

** The most recent print edition of Anabaptist World includes a reporting error about this process. The online version is correct. 

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.

MC USA Executive Board rejects Mosaic proposal

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by Paul Shrag, Anabaptist World

Originally published on May 13, 2025, in Anabaptist World, and reprinted with permission.    

A Mosaic Mennonite Conference proposal to redefine its relationship to the denomination won’t work, the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board decided May 8. 

Mosaic, one of MC USA’s largest conferences, had proposed to become a program entity — an organization that provides services to meet churchwide goals. 

But the Executive Board, meeting concurrently with the Constituency Leaders Council in Wichita, Kan., passed a motion saying the idea “is not viable within our structure.” 

A Pennsylvania-based conference that has expanded nationwide, Mosaic is evaluating its affiliation — seeking a partnership with MC USA rather than membership — and may decide the relationship’s future in November. 

The Executive Board proposed a mediated conversation with the Mosaic board to seek “reconciliation for broken relationships.” 

Mosaic moderators Angela Moyer Walter (left) and Roy Williams (right) at the CLC meeting. Photo by Paul Schrag/AW.

Mosaic moderator Angela Moyer Walter and executive minister Stephen Kriss said the Mosaic board would consider the request. 

Moyer Walter said Mosaic leaders didn’t have other partnership ideas to propose. 

Explaining the Executive Board’s action to the CLC, MC USA moderator Jon Carlson cited “the strangeness of the relationship” that would result from redefining Mosaic as something other than an area conference. 

“We recognize the complexity of a body that continues to act in many ways as an area conference but is not treated as an area conference within our system,” he said. 

He noted that MC USA’s two current program entities — Everence, a financial organization, and Mennonite Health Services Association — do not have member congregations. 

Mosaic has about 7,500 members in 60 congregations. Based in Lansdale, Pa., it was formed in 2019, uniting Franconia and Eastern District conferences. 

During a May 9 joint session of the Executive Board and the CLC — an advisory group of conference and constituency group leaders — Moyer Walter said it was “sad and painful” to hear the Executive Board’s decision. 

“We were hopeful of trying something new that would work for both MC USA and Mosaic, as the status quo was not healthy for us to remain a member conference,” she said. 

“Our churches are doing creative things. . . . It is hard as a conference leader when the things our congregations are bringing to us aren’t always prioritized at the MC USA level. . .  

“We welcome continued conversations. . . . Even when our structures don’t hold, we still care deeply about the church. We are still the same people in ministry. We still want to partner in ways that feel healthy and mutual together.” 

Mosaic is in its third year of discernment about affiliation. Last November, delegates voted to “establish a robust partnership” with MC USA without defining how this would differ from the current relationship. They directed a team to bring proposals for bylaw changes to their 2025 assembly Nov. 1. 

After last year’s assembly, two Mosaic congregations that wanted to disaffiliate from MC USA withdrew from the conference: Vincent in Spring City, Pa., and Salem in Quakertown, Pa. 

After Moyer Walter and Carlson addressed the joint session, Heidi Regier Kreider, conference minister of Western District Conference, said she hoped Mosaic would stay with MC USA and added that some Western District congregations “feel affinity” with Mosaic congregations. 

“We find Mosaic’s presence in MC USA strengthens all of us,” she said. “There is theological diversity, and that does not prevent us from working together.” 

Also at the meeting, the Executive Board recommended resolutions and bylaw changes to delegates at the MC USA biennial convention July 8-12 in Greensboro, N.C. 

One would reaffirm and update a “Churchwide Statement on Immigration” first approved in 2003 and reaffirmed in 2014. 

Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, denominational minister for peace and justice, said the resolution would add new resources and action steps at a time of fear for immigrant communities. 

“This is a critical time for us to acknowledge policies that are impacting our immigrant and asylum-seeking communities and strengthen our commitment to action on behalf of those who are threatened and feeling fearful for their lives here,” she said. 

A second resolution proposes to require all conferences and congregations to use the same set of abuse response and prevention policies for pastors and ministerial leaders. Current policies are voluntary, leading to inconsistent application. 

“Consistency across the system will lead to safer congregations for minors and vulnerable adults,” according to the resolution’s introduction. 

The board and CLC members acknowledged that some might be wary of a mandate from the denominational board. 

Chris Nord, moderator of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, said: “Mennonites are suspicious of top-down polity, so I think it’s important to show how this proposal actually, even though it does impose a denominational [mandate], is to remediate against power hoarding and abuse of power.” 

A new Prevention and Accountability Resource will replace the current Ministerial Sexual Misconduct and Policy and Procedure Document and be available to all, regardless of whether delegates decide to require all to use it. 

Proposed bylaw changes include revisions related to the integration of Mennonite Education Agency into the Executive Board’s operations — a structural change the Executive Board and MEA board have already approved. MEA has seen its governance role over higher-education institutions greatly diminish over the past 20 years. By Aug. 1, MEA will cease to exist, and its functions will be moved into the work of denominational staff. 

Another proposed bylaw change would give the Executive Board the ability to recommend the removal of an agency’s executive director. The agency’s board would still have the final say. 

Paul Shrag

Paul Schrag is editor of Anabaptist World. He lives in Newton, Kan., attends First Mennonite Church of Newton and is married to Wendy. They have two adult daughters, Abby Koch and Becca Schrag. He was on the staff of Mennonite World Review for 32 years, serving as editor since 1996.

Justice, Mercy, Humility

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(Reprinted with permission from TheMennonite.org)

by Joy Sutter

At the end of service on the Dock Mennonite Academy Board of Trustees, each departing trustee receives a fraktur with a favorite Bible verse. Following my term, I was asked which verse I wanted on my fraktur, and I requested Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Leadership requires much ongoing personal development, and Mennonite values of justice, mercy and humility are ones to incorporate into daily life. Authentic servanthood leadership is something to aspire to, but it takes perseverance, practice and resilience.

As the new moderator of Mennonite Church USA, I am looking forward to learning and growing as I serve in the church. I want to act justly, love mercifully and walk humbly with my God over the next two years. This is easier said than done, and all leaders in the church need grace for when they fail. Sometimes people with the best leadership potential say no to church leadership positions, afraid of failure and ultimately of criticism. We are missing out on the sharing of significant leadership gifts in the church.

Tom Yoder Neufeld, our speaker for the Bible studies during the Delegate Assembly at MennoCon19, proclaimed that “the church is a mess,” to which we replied, “Thanks be to God.” Messiness is part of any leadership journey and has the wonderful possibility to lead to new beginnings.

Even in the midst of our church messiness, I believe there is hope for the future. If we practice listening more than talking, if we continue to mentor our youth into leadership roles, and if we lead with a transparent spirit, our beloved Mennonite church will grow and thrive. Our words and actions as leaders matter a whole lot. Please provide prayerful and other kinds of support to our MC USA Executive Board staff, conference and constituency leaders, pastors and others who provide important leadership to our denomination.

My hope for the church is that the Spirit of God will continue to move in our midst as we all lead, grow and pray together. Practice listening more than talking. Practice being in difficult conversations with others. Practice hospitality and practice washing or spraying each other’s feet. Together our leadership can make a difference in MC USA.

Joy Sutter is moderator of Mennonite Church USA and a member of Salford congregation

There is Always Hope in God

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by Wendy Wong, Souderton congregation 

Sue Park-Hur, denominational minister for leadership development, introduces the cross of reconciliation during Wednesday worship. Photo courtesy of MC USA.

This was my first experience attending Mennonite Convention.  3000 attendees were among us.  I attended all the worship services and I was very impressed by the energy the worship leaders had and the amazing resonance from the attendees.  I loved the inspirational songs and the fact that the leaders were ethnically diverse.  The emerging intergenerational worship created an atmosphere of joy & unity.  The unique stories from each speaker touched the audience’s heart.  Pastor Sue Park-Hur talked about how they reached out to North Koreans, a country that many might consider to be like Nineveh back in Jonah’s time.

I loved the teaching from Tom Yoder Neufeld.  He said, “Church is a mess;” we responded, “Thanks be to God!” He taught that “unity doesn’t mean harmony.”  He showed a picture of a drawing of Jesus who gathers our diversity (physical and mental) into His womb to create new human beings.  Churches should have vision, be open, pray for each other, show hospitality, and be transformed.  Forbearance means long-suffering and forgiveness and always watching the horizon like the father of the prodigal son.  There is always hope in God.

Wendy’s table group. Photo courtesy of Wendy Wong.

It is an excellent idea to have youth delegates and I am absolutely confident of what they can do for the kingdom of God.  Nowadays youth are a lot smarter than my generation. In my opinion, a youth board member and a youth in the pastoral search team may not be a bad idea. 

I totally agree on the resolution against the abuse of child migrants on the border.  Churches should be loving our neighbor through lobbying for family unification and policy change, sending members to witness the conditions of migrants and sending immigration detention kits, and even sending concern letters to the Southern Baptists so they can raise the concern to the president of the United States.

Wendy joins in the conga line during delegate worship. Photo courtesy of MC USA.

At my table, I heard that delegates were still very bothered by issues like LGBTQ and women in leadership roles, and some were not sure they will come next time.  I like the delegates from my table, however, and it felt like a family reunion.  We had Russian, German, Swiss, and Chinese Mennonites at our table. We prayed for each other and shared each other’s burden in just a few days of knowing each other.

Without coming to this convention, I would never have known how much we can be the light of the world for Jesus as an individual church or conference because we are a part of MC USA.  Sue Park-Hur challenged us to go wherever the Spirit leads us with the Spirit’s peace.  Leonard Dow challenged us to receive the Spirit and follow His guidance to overcome the challenges in our life.  Glen Guyton challenged us to humbly serve the body of Christ and to go, disarmed, to witness to the world.

The Unfathomable Movement of the Spirit

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by Justin Burkholder, South Philly summer intern

Mennonite Convention 2019 was a fresh experience providing fruitful conversations, an open space to connect with God, and learning from one another about how God is moving, particularly through the Mennonite churches in this country.

Delegate sessions were fulfilling because of the unique opportunity to unite in Kansas City as brothers and sisters of various ages across the country. Conversations circled around shortcomings, mountain-top experiences, future challenges, and the unity of the Spirit laid out in Ephesians. Through three sessions on Ephesians, delegates were equipped with the charge of living cohesively amidst the reality that the church is messy; both locally and globally. The church was reinvigorated to praise God instead of allowing the differences to divide or define us. Tension or chaffing can be helpful because uniformity does not allow the space for challenging one another. In a world stained by sin, complete uniformity is not an option. Living together in harmony is encouraged, however, as Paul heavily emphasizes in Romans 12:18. The call to the church in Ephesus to “maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:3) has powerful relevance to the church in the twenty-first century.

Meghan Good teaches on the breath of the Spirit. Photo courtesy of Mennonite Church USA.

A speaker I thoroughly enjoyed was Meghan Good. Her sermon was titled He Breathed on Them. One story she highlighted was the unexpected call from God in her life. It was an ordinary afternoon when she felt an unquestionable revelation from God asking her to show up in a room for an unknown purpose. Waiting for her were two friends who were eager to pray for her life and calling. She felt the Spirit pour over her and comfort her in unfamiliar ways. It was a moment she felt renewed by God and credits it to the breath God breathed in her.

Meghan emphasized that much of our church has been running on empty, not seeking the source of our energy, our breath, our ruach. In scripture, God’s Spirit is also translated as wind, breath, energy. Meghan highlighted Genesis 2:7 which describes God breathing life into Adam. This is the original design and source of energy for humankind who believe in God as the creator. She gave the analogy of a hot air balloon because the balloon must be fueled by a consistent release of air or it will crash. Running through life without this source is exhausting and frustrating, but I—we—have learned to adopt the routine of faking it until it becomes too difficult on our own. God did not intend it to be this way.

Tom Yoder Neufeld led equipping times for the delegates on Ephesians. Photo by Vada Snider.

I believe our church must do a better job of accountability and vulnerability, because we have mastered and become comfortable with going through the motions. These motions are built to eventually return emotions of guilt, shame, and loneliness. God instead demands freedom. As Leonard Dow taught, the chains suddently fell off for Paul and Silas in prison when the wind-energy was released through the space (Acts 16:25-27). I believe God intends to release that energy through the church today so that we all witness and experience the power of God’s Spirit working through us. God is waiting with his arms wide open, ready for us to receive him. When we take one step towards him, he runs, eager to embrace us (Luke 15).

I was encouraged at convention to seek him directly. I do not want to run on my own and grow weary. We are not asked to go through any religious hoops to access him. Thanks be to God for the gift of his church and his Spirit.

              

              

Transformative Experiences at MC USA Convention 2019

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by Justin Burkholder, South Philly summer intern

Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) held their biennial convention July 2-6 in Kansas City, Missouri. Three thousand energetic youth, children, and adults assembled for a week of learning, worship, serving, fellowship, and fun. The convention aims to build the vision and mission of MC USA as the church together embarks on God’s mission in the world.

Adult delegates met to discern the vision of the church together and for times of equipping.  Youth groups shared worship time with the adults and attended seminars during delegate sessions. Servant projects were also available each day for those who chose to join the efforts in the local community. The worship band was led by Seth Crissman (Walking Roots Band) and included various instruments, which created magnificent harmonies.

Youth worship in front of the stage at #MennoCon19. Photo courtesy of Mennonite Church USA.

Chuck Tirtasaputra was a youth attendee from Philadelphia Praise Center and found the worship especially meaningful. “There is something about a group of people singing together to worship God that moves me,” he reflected.  Youth crowded in front of the stage each worship session to gain the full experience of worshiping side by side with believers from all over the country. Mike Spinelli, pastor of Perkiomenville (PA) congregation, appreciated the passion of his church’s youth group: “The worship was a breath of fresh air as the youth enthusiastically moved to the front of the stage and full-on sang and jumped to the rhythms of grace.”

Beny Krisbianto (Nations Worship Center, Philadelphia, PA) in table discussions during #MennoCon19 delegate sessions. Photo by MC USA.

Worship also included a speaker each session who captivated the audience with an appealing story or message of God’s moving in their life. Speakers Dustin Galyon, Hesston College basketball coach, and Meghan Good, teaching pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church (Glendale, Arizona), were inspiring to Kyle Rodgers, youth pastor of Franconia (PA) congregation. Galyon emphasized that fear hates community, while Good highlighted that the breath of God is required to sustain our lives, in contrast to our own breath or the breath of others.

Delegate sessions were introduced on Wednesday morning with the formation of table groups. Tom Yoder Neufeld, professor emeritus at Conrad Grebel University, led three sessions from Ephesians titled Gathered as One on the unity of the Spirit. There was time for table discussions and eventually question and answer following each teaching session.

Justin Burkholder and Graciella Odelia become Franconia Conference’s first voting youth delegates. They were attending #MennoCon19 through the Step Up program. Photo by Emily Ralph Servant.

In the afternoon delegate sessions, table discussions centered around the Journey Forward, a conversation continued from convention in 2017. One discussion prompt read, “Identify one part of our shared peace witness we should work on together for the next biennium.” A variety of perspectives were discussed, including shared belief that our church must care for the migrants at the Mexico-United States border who are experiencing inhumane treatment. This focus was reflected in the passage of a resolution that condemned “the treatment of immigrants families and children at the border, as well as around the nation, [as] a horrific violation of the Image of God and God-given human rights.”

Another resolution that passed was the opportunity for congregations, churchwide agencies, and conferences to send additional voting youth delegates (age 16-21) to future conventions.

The next convention will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the summer of 2021. As attendees reflect on lessons to share and ways to integrate what we experienced with our congregations and communities, the divisiveness in relationships remains an area for which the church yearns for God’s healing. Franconia Conference board member Yvonne Platts of Nueva Vida Norristown (PA) New Life echoed this thought as a significant take away from convention. She voiced that our churches and relationships are broken due to decisions and splits.  Tom Yoder Neufeld called this “checking the horizons” and still seeing the hope that is there. May we, as one body, look upon the horizons and see Jesus calling us closer to him despite our shortcomings.

Read further reflections on #MennoCon19 from Justin Burkholder and Wendy Wong (Souderton congregation):

Representing Conference in National Conversations

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by Mary Nitzsche, Associate Executive Minister

Angela Moyer, assistant moderator, Danilo Sanchez, Youth Formation Pastor, and I represented Franconia Mennonite Conference at the biannual Constituency Leadership Council (CLC) February 28-March 2. Others attending from Franconia Conference included Joy Sutter, Moderator Elect of Mennonite Church USA, and Buddy Hannanto, representing the Indonesian Mennonite Association.

(L to R) Buddy Hannanto, Mary Nitzsche, Danilo Sanchez, Joy Sutter and Angela Moyer.

The CLC is comprised of representatives from each area conference, churchwide program agency, and constituent group. While not a decision-making body, CLC serves as a forum for discernment, conversation, and networking. This group of 50-60 persons function as denominational elders offering counsel to the Executive Board on issues of faith, life and churchwide statements. Glen Guyton, Executive Director of MC USA, emphasized CLC’s importance, acknowledging that our “concerns are heard and taken seriously.”

An emphasis of CLC is building relationships of trust among executive board representatives, conferences, racial/ethnic groups, and churchwide program agency leaders. Sitting around tables, sharing personal and ministry stories, worshipping and sharing communion, eating meals together, discussing important matters of our common life, and playing group games remind us of the covenant we hold—to be the presence of Christ and share in Christ’s reconciling mission with each other and in our communities and places of ministry.

Angela Moyer commented that, “attending CLC helped me learn to know our new denominational leaders. God has given us a gift in these leaders, who have passion for God and the church, and a vision for our denomination.”

Lively, yet respectful, conversations centered around two key issues: a review of the MC USA membership guidelines and an update of the potential merger of The Mennonite and Mennonite World Review (a decision delayed last fall to process the concerns raised by CLC).

Barth Hague, chair of The Mennonite’s board, gave a brief update to inform CLC of the recent decision to resume the merger process.

The membership guidelines, which were implemented in 2001 and reviewed in 2013 and 2015, are once again an issue for the MC USA delegate body to consider at MennoCon19 in Kansas City this summer. Eight recommendations for the Executive Board’s consideration were discerned around eight table groups utilizing the “Six Thinking Hats” approach to decision-making. This approach provided opportunity to depart from a predictable pattern of debate. Instead, the guidelines were processed from six different perspectives: neutral, optimistic, critical, emotional, innovative, and process oriented. I found this process helpful since everyone at the table was speaking from the same perspective for an allotted time, allowing us to shape a unified recommendation. In Danilo’s words, “Even though there were disagreements around the table, everyone was respected and valued.”

Angela, Danilo, and I were honored to serve as Franconia Conference representatives at CLC. Danilo summarized our shared experience and reflections well, “Throughout our meetings, it was evident that every pastor and leader who attended CLC loves the church and loves Jesus. Through CLC, I gained a trust and confidence in our denominational leadership. I believe their desire is for MC USA to be faithful followers of Jesus and to be an Anabaptist witness to the world.”