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Mountain States Mennonite Conference affirms conference minister

DENVER, Colo. (Mennonite Church USA) -- Mountain States Mennonite Conference recently confirmed Herm Weaver as its conference minister. Weaver will begin this ministry position Aug. 1.

Weaver and his family reside in Harrisonburg, Va., and attend Community Mennonite Church of Harrisonburg. They plan to move before he begins in August. Weaver’s educational background includes an associate of arts degree from Hesston College, a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern Mennonite University, a master’s degree in community counseling from the University of Akron and a PhD in psychology and peace studies from The Union Institute.

Weaver’s experience includes serving as professor of psychology at Eastern Mennonite University until last year. He also has led and facilitated a pastoral support network, led in congregational activities, served as an associate pastor and worked with youth in several settings. He currently is in a transitional period and is using his carpentry skills to do roofing work. Weaver said he entered this situation as a way to allow him to discern the path God might have for him in the next chapter of his life.

Mountain States Mennonite Conference’s Leadership Board met Jan. 21, 2006, to affirm Weaver’s appointment and recommend affirmation from the conference’s congregations. The Future Committee, which interviewed and recommended Weaver’s appointment, considers his call to conference ministry as an organizational and spiritual calling. The search process used to find and affirm Weaver was surrounded in prayer from conference leaders and congregations.

Jane and Merv Dick and Ed and Kathrine Rempel will provide interim conference minister services for Mountain States Mennonite Conference until Weaver begins. Ed and Kathrine Rempel also will continue to provide congregational administrator services until the conference minister is in place and the selection of a conference administrator has been considered.

Mountain States Mennonite Conference is the newest of Mennonite Church USA’s 21 area conferences. The denomination’s delegate assembly approved the request for the addition of Mountain States Mennonite Conference at Charlotte 2005.

Photo Release: Planning begins for San Jose 2007

The San Jose 2007 Assembly Planning Committee includes Ron Byler of Elkhart, Ind.; Roma J. Eicher of Albany, Ore.; Brian Fry of Peoria, Ariz.; Carol Grieser of Goshen, Ind.; Ammeral Johnson of Hampton, Va.; Bess Moser of Harrisonburg, Va.; Terry Rediger of Ritzville, Wash.; and David J. Stutzman of Salem, Ore. Members of the San Jose 2007 Youth Convention Planning Committee include Ellie Barnhart of Rickreall, Ore.; Shana Peachey Boshart of Parnell, Iowa; Joy Cotchen of Somerset, Pa.; Charlene Schrag of Estacada, Ore.; Aaron Shenk of Goshen, Ind.; Jeremy Shue of Orrville, Ohio; Victor A. Vargas of Keizer, Ore.; and Bob Yoder of Goshen, Ind. Mennonite Church USA staff working on the convention include Carol Epp, Ken Gingerich (not pictured), Scott Hartman, Jorge Vallejos and Cheryl Zehr Walker.

Training session to target interim pastors

The seminar is for transitional ministers, those who have served as interim pastors and those interested in or considering doing so. The training will help participants think more intentionally about how to use an interim position to benefit congregations. Experienced and trained interim pastors will share their experiences with those who attend in an effort to better equip them for interim ministry.

Registration cost is $100 and home-stay and hotel lodging will be available. Lunch will be served at Zion Mennonite Church each day, and additional meals will be in the home or local restaurants. Those interested in attending should contact Duncan Smith at Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference via e-mail at dsmith@pnmc.org or by phone at 971-570-4216. The deadline for registration is May 1.

Mennonite Publishing Network launches new curriculum

The Bible-based curriculum, which is set up for each group to study the same text on the same Sunday, offers sessions for all ages of children and youth, as well as a class for parents and caregivers of children, and a multiage option for kindergarten through sixth-grade students. The three foundational texts for the curriculum are Luke 10:27, Matthew 18:20, and Deuteronomy 6:4-9—the shema.

“Gather ’Round is a new curriculum that tells the old story in a new way,” said Eleanor Snyder, director of Faith & Life Resources for Mennonite Publishing Network. “The basic premise is that children come into the world with a relationship with God in accord with Anabaptist theology. Gather ’Round invites children to discover that wonderful relationship with God.”

Gather ’Round offers lessons for “Preschool” (ages 3 to 4, with tips for 2-year-olds); “Primary” (grades kindergarten through 2); “Middler” (grades 3 through 5); “Junior Youth” (grades 6 through 8); “Youth” (in a downloadable format for grades 9 through 12); “Multiage” (grades kindergarten through 6, with tips for older students); and “Parent/Caregiver” (for adults who care for children, suitable for group or individual study). New materials are produced quarterly each year for every age group.

The first quarter of the curriculum is scheduled to be used in congregations this fall.

For more information on Gather ’Round, contact Mennonite Publishing Network at 800-245-7894 or log onto www.gatherround.org to download free samples.