Close to Home pamphlets meeting needs across North America

GOSHEN, Indiana — Registration for the 2009 Education Leaders Gathering (ELG) began online October 10 at www.MennoniteEducation.org/ELG2009. Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) invites administrators and board members of Mennonite elementary and secondary schools and Mennonite higher education institutions, and conference and churchwide leaders to register for the 2009 ELG that will be held at The Hilton Pittsburgh (Pa.), January 30 to February 1, 2009. The cost of registration is $115 ($122 CND). Conference lodging rates at The Hilton of $89 plus tax are available to participants.

NEWTON, Kan. — On Sept. 28, Mennonite Men representatives Lyle Troyer, Lorain, Ohio, from Ohio Conference, and Joe Graber, Berne Ind., a Mennonite Men board member, presented a $35,000 Join Hands grant to JubileeMennonite Church, Bellefontaine, Ohio.

GOSHEN, Ind. — The fourth Mennonite University Faculty Conference, funded by The Marpeck Fund and Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), was held August 7-9, 2008, at Eastern Mennonite University. The keynote addresses and faculty presentations on the Mennonite University Faculty Conference’s theme, “Creation, Christ and the Classroom,” can now be accessed online at www.MennoniteEducation.org/2008MUFC. Presentations are available in PDF version and WMA audio streaming.

NEWTON, Kan. — The Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 is far removed from when Jesus breathed his Spirit on the first disciples. But the planning committees for Mennonite Church USA’s convention next July are risking the theme on the belief he’ll do it again with huge crowds of Mennonites.

NEWTON, Kan. — Mennonite Church USA and other historic peace churches are inviting U.S. Christian leaders to participate in Heeding God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace, Jan. 13 to 17 in Philadelphia, Pa.

NEWTON, Kan. — Results of an online survey completed by individuals representing Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada congregations indicate that many congregations may be ready for a new printed hymnal in 10 to 15 years.

NEWTON, Kan. — Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership and Western District Conference (WDC) together announce a ministry transition for Gilberto Flores, director of Denominational Ministry and Missional Church for Executive Leadership. Beginning in February 2009, Flores will leave his post with Executive Leadership to pick up ministry with WDC as associate conference minister for Texas.

NEWTON, Kansas — El Liderazgo Ejecutivo de la Iglesia Menonita USA y la Conferencia del Distrito del Oeste (WDC, por sus siglas en inglés) anuncian conjuntamente el cambio de ministerio de Gilberto Flores, director del Ministerio Denominacional y de la Iglesia Misional para el Liderazgo Ejecutivo. A partir de febrero de 2009, Flores dejará su puesto en el Liderazgo Ejecutivo para sumarse al ministerio de la WDC como ministro de conferencia adjunto para Texas.

GOSHEN, Ind. — Mennonite Education Agency executive director, Carlos Romero, announced that Timothy J. Burkholder of Goshen, Ind., will join MEA as the associate director with a focus on church relations and development. Burkholder, with over 25 years of experience working in this area in a variety of churchwide ministries, will begin working half-time at the Goshen office on October 1, increasing to full-time on January 1, 2009.

GOSHEN, Ind. — Mutual aid emerged as a theme of the winning entries in this year’s John Horsch Mennonite Historical Essay Contest, sponsored by the Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee.

NEWTON, Kan. — When Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) integrated its congregational worship resources and Gather ’Round Sunday school materials around a unified theme this past summer, Bonita Howard knew they were an answer to her prayers for connecting the generations.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — In approaching Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, Kan., one sees members tending flower beds in front of their recently-purchased building — a former Odd Fellows Lodge nestled into just under an acre of quiet green space.

WATERLOO, Ont. — When the United States government recently refused to give a visa for Rev. Benjamin Mubenga to visit the United States, Mennonite Church USA leaders decided to go to him instead. Mubenga, president of the Evangelical Mennonite Church in Congo (CEM), was in Canada to meet with Mennonite Church Canada pastors and congregations.