Leadership Development

Leadership Development. Church members with leadership gifts are called, trained and nurtured in Anabaptist theology and practice in order to fulfill the church’s missional vocation. (Exodus 18:13-23; Ephesians 4:7-16; Article 15, Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective

Terry Shue, Kidron, Ohio., as the director of leadership development works to coordinate all of the efforts of the Leadership Development Team. He is one of the denominational ministers, along with Nancy Kauffmann, who relate directly to area conferences. Terry connects with Central Plains, Franconia, Franklin, Gulf States, North Central, New York, Ohio, Pacific Southwest, South Central and Western District. He also works with the Mennonite Education Agency promoting leadership development in the church in a broad way. He relates to Youth Ministry Leadership Team and with ministerial issues such as salary guidelines, ministerial polity and misconduct issues.

Nancy Kauffmann, Goshen, Ind., serves as a denominational minister. She relates to six area conferences: Alleghany, Atlantic, Central District, Eastern District, Illinois, Indiana/Michigan, Mountain States, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast. She also manages the call system for Mennonite Church USA, nurtures area conference ministers and serves as staff for the denomination’s Leadership Discernment Committee, which finds individuals to serve on boards and committees.

Kent Miller, Middlebury Ind., serves half time as denominational minister of youth and young adults, working out of the Elkhart office. In this role he will connect with Young Adult Fellowship, Mennonite Camping Association, Youth Ministry Council, College campus ministers and other initiatives as he networks resources and opportunities in the ever changing context of today. Kent brings a broad experience of work with youth and young adults in a congregational, camp and the Mennonite Mission Network setting. Most recently he was the executive director of Amigo Center where he served for five years. Kent and his family live in Middlebury and attend Yellow Creek Mennonite Church.

Ervin Stutzman connects with Lancaster and Virginia conferences.

Specialist denominational ministers and their areas of work include:

Mauricio Chenlo, Raleigh, N.C., denominational minister for church planting, relates to area conferences and leaders in initiating new churches. He is currently leading a church planting research project that will help the denomination to collaborate strategically on church planting and leadership development. He also partners with Iglesia Menonita Hispana in planting new churches. He encourages church planters, conference ministers and missional leaders to learn from each other and identify resources and practices that enhance the denomination’s capacity.

Kuaying Teng, St. Catherines, Ont., is denominational minister of Asian ministries. He builds relationships among and resources Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Indonesian, Lao, Korean, Indian and Vietnamese Mennonite churches in 13 U.S. states. Teng also travels twice each year to Southeast Asia to strengthen church planting there.