Lead/Follow: Inspiration for Today’s Pastors. A podcast from MC USA. Episode 2: Jeanette Lahm and Corbin Graber This season of Lead/Follow is funded by the Schowalter Foundation. https://mennoniteusa.org
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When sorting through a donation to the MC USA Archives last summer, Olivia Krall came across the story of WWI conscientious objector Guy O. Graber. She shares some of her findings here. Olivia Krall is the archives coordinator for MC USA. She strives to use the powerful history of the church to engage and inspire people. She graduated from Goshen College in 2023, with a Bachelor of Arts in history. Prior to joining the MC USA Executive Board staff, Olivia worked at the Elkhart County (Indiana) Historical Museum. Olivia grew up attending First Mennonite Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, a congregation within... read more →
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What Is Conscientious Objection? For many Christians, the call to follow Christ includes a commitment to peace, compassion and the sanctity of life. Conscientious Objection is an expression of this faith – choosing not to participate in military service as it conflicts with the teachings of Jesus, such as loving one’s enemies. Rooted in biblical principles and guided by the Holy Spirit, this conviction allows believers to serve their communities in ways that reflect Christ’s example of offering assistance, healing and hope without taking part in acts of war. Conscientious Objection (CO) allows believers to serve their communities... read more →
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H.A. Penner shares about why he chooses to pay for peace, not war, as a conscientious objector and war tax redirector — and encourages others to do the same. Harold A. (“H.A.”) Penner is a conscientious objector to war and lifetime war tax resister/redirector. A graduate of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, he served as Church World Service’s representative in Central America, the U.S. Program Director for Mennonite Central Committee, the treasurer/business manager of the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Theological Seminary and the executive director of the Nazareth Project, Inc., that continues to provide medical and educational resources in the Middle East. In 2001, Penner... read more →
Nationally recognized comedian Mike Goodwin shared his “secret sauce” for transforming communications through humor in a Tuesday morning seminar at MC USA’s Follow Jesus ’25 national convention. He provided practical tips and insights to an overflow crowd of intergenerational attendees on how humor can bridge connections, reduce tension and enhance group dynamics. Goodwin explained that humor is a communications tool that needs to be applied with care, especially in the beginning of a relationship with individuals or an audience. “Humor is neutral,” he explained. “You can use it to... read more →
In a new letter released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, more than 140 Bishops and executive leaders from churches, denominations, and church-based organizations in the US and around the world call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urge the US and other world powers to halt additional arms sales to Israel, and make clear that Israel, the US, and all countries must abide by Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The letters’ signers include a U.S. Catholic Bishop, a Catholic Cardinal, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the presiding bishop... read more →
ELKHART, Indiana (Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU.): La Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU. (MC USA por sus siglas en inglés), firmó una carta dirigida al Congreso, junto a 62 organizaciones basadas en la fe, solicitando mayor fortalecimiento de la financiación de donaciones del Acta para víctimas de crímenes, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. (VOCA por sus siglas en inglés). Dichas donaciones son la fuente principal de financiación federal para servicios para víctimas, incluyendo programas de apoyo a víctimas y sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica, asalto sexual, abuso de niños y niñas, acoso, tráfico de seres humanos, abuso de personas mayores,... read more →
ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has signed a letter to Congress, along with 62 faith-based organizations, asking for strengthened funding for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. VOCA grants are the primary source of federal funding for victim services, including programs supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse, community violence, homicide and other crimes. The letter was written by the Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, an organization convened by Jewish Women International that works to advocate for national legislation and public policies that... read more →
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H.A Penner explains the benefits of the Mennonite Church USA Church Peace Tax Fund, which offers an opportunity for Mennonites to redirect the portion of their taxes that would have otherwise supported war efforts toward peacebuilding efforts. Harold A. (“H.A.”) Penner is a native of Beatrice, Nebraska, and currently resides in Akron, Pennsylvania, where he is a member of the Akron Mennonite Church. He has been war tax resister/redirector for the entirety of his professional life. He served as the Mennonite Church USA representative on the board of the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund from 2009-2016 and convenes the 1040... read more →
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Katie Graber, Anneli Loep Thiessen and Sarah Kathleen Johnson share a glimpse into the new resource, Guide to Voices Together Songs and Resources with Connections to Indigenous Communities in Canada and the United States, which was recently released by the Voices Together team. This article is part of our series on Voices Together, the worship and song collection from MennoMedia, in partnership with Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada. Katie Graber is an ethnomusicologist who studies race and ethnicity in a variety of contexts, including Mennonite music, American music and European opera. She teaches classes on Western music history... read more →
Escrito por Jessica Griggs para la Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU. ELKHART, Indiana (Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU.) — Luego de más de dos años de preparativos, La Posada Immigrant Aid, (Asistencia al inmigrante La Posada), un nuevo centro de asistencia legal al inmigrante basado en la fe, ubicado en Sunnyside Mennonite Church en Elkhart, Indiana, ha abierto sus puertas para la atención al público, en gran medida gracias al apoyo y la colaboración de varias iglesias, conferencias, escuelas, organizaciones e individuos afiliados a la Iglesia Menonita de EE. UU. (MC USA pos sus siglas en inglés). Naun Cerrato, el... read more →
By Jessica Griggs for Mennonite Church USA ELKHART, Indiana (Mennonite Church USA) — After more than two years of preparation, La Posada Immigrant Aid, a new faith-based immigrant legal aid center located in Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana, is open for business, largely due to the support and collaboration of several Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) affiliated churches, conferences, schools, organizations and individuals. Naun Cerrato, founder and co-pastor of Piedra Viva Mennonite Church... read more →
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Clara Weybright is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she studied environmental science. She is currently a Juris Doctor (J.D.) candidate at Temple Law School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon receiving her J.D., Weybright intends to focus her legal practice on justice work. Previously, Weybright was a climate futures fellow at the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions and worked with the MCC National Peace & Justice Ministries in Washington, D.C. With these organizations, she researched and wrote climate policy through a peace and justice lens. She was also a member of the Mennonites against Militarism council, and... read more →
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Katie Graber is an ethnomusicologist, who studies race and ethnicity in a variety of contexts, including Mennonite music, American music and European opera. She has taught classes on Western music history and world music, and she accompanies Suzuki recitals and school choirs. She leads singing Columbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church, and chairs the Intercultural Worship committee for the Voices Together project. _____________________________________________________________________________ As a song leader, worship planner, and Together in Worship leadership team member, I have been enthusiastically waiting for the release of the new documentary “A Creative God: The Visual Arts in Worship.” You can read more about the... read more →