(Mennonite Church USA/Mennonite Education Agency)—More than one year ago, Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board appointed a task group to address concerns about the Hopi Mission School (HMS) — a K–8 school in Kykotsmovi, Arizona, affiliated with Mennonite Education Agency. On Sept. 14, 2015, a lawyer retained by that task group on behalf of Mennonite Church USA filed a complaint to recover the land on which HMS has been operating. In the complaint, Mennonite Church USA requested that the court order the current HMS board and administration to vacate the property and return it to Mennonite Church USA. The task group... read more →
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If you are not happy with the results below please do another search [Español] (Mennonite Church USA)—For the third time this year, Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board (EB) gathered in Kansas City, Missouri. On the agenda for the Sept. 17–19 meeting were discussions of the implications of decisions made by the Delegate Assembly at the Mennonite Church USA convention in Kansas City this summer (June 30–July... read more →
(Mennonite Church USA/Mennonite Education Agency) — A task group convened to address concerns about the Hopi Mission School (HMS) — a K-8 school in Kykotsmovi, Arizona, affiliated with Mennonite Education Agency — continues to work alongside key stakeholders to plan for the school’s future structure. The task group is also gathering names and stories from past volunteers to plan ways to continue HMS’s work into the future by building on positive relationships with past volunteers, the Hopi people and Mennonite Church USA. The task group was convened in June 2014 to address the administration and financial activities of HMS. In... read more →
Jon is lead pastor of and a member of Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pa., Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference. Stan Shantz, chairperson of the Leadership Discernment Committee, described Carlson as having a firm focus on the vision, mission and goals of the denomination, as well as the gifts needed to lead in this role. “There’s a graciousness about the way Jon leads,” said Shantz. “He does well at inviting others’ perspectives into the discussion. Jon builds bridges between people.” Shantz also said that Carlson offers a fresh perspective that “will be healthy and bring a sense of hope to... read more →
By Meg Short KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (Mennonite Church USA) — Delegates unanimously approved two new resolutions during the final delegate session on July 4. The resolutions were brought forward on site and scheduled to be heard the last day during the time allotted for unfinished business. A Statement of Support for Israeli and Palestinian Partners in Peacemaking, proposed by the Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network (MennoPIN), was drafted in response to the tabling of the Resolution on Israel-Palestine on July 1. It laid... read more →
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By Brianna R. Lugibihl Mennonites crowded Kansas City streets for a prayer walk as part of the convention’s opening night festivities. Participants prayed for reconciliation among faith communities and for those impacted by racism, in addition to petitions for environmental justice and peacemaking throughout the world. Participants traveled a mile-long loop from Jefferson to Washington Street and paused and prayed at five locations throughout Kansas City: the Golden Dome of Immaculate Conception, the statue of Lewis... read more →
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Sarah Ann Bixler deeply loves Mennonite Church USA and its commitment to God’s healing and hope. She has served throughout Mennonite Church USA in education, youth ministry, curriculum writing and conference leadership. Sarah is currently a Master of Divinity student at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband, Benjamin, and their three children. A few weeks ago, as part of a visioning process for the future of the Women in Leadership Project, Sarah was asked this question: How can you imagine the church transformed through the work of the Women in Leadership Project? Her response... read more →
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Mariah Martin is currently a junior at Eastern Mennonite University where she studies nursing and plays field hockey. Though her home base is Greencastle, Pennsylvania, she spent the last semester traveling through Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Greece and Italy through Eastern Mennonite University's cross cultural program. She enjoys long talks, writing, rock climbing and anything outdoors. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career as a nurse midwife and eventually work overseas. In the past semester I did enough to fill a typical bucket list. I rode a camel through the Negev desert. I planted olive trees on a farm in Palestine.... read more →
Six-week spiritual discernment preparation guide available online for delegates (Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board staff has released a six-week study guide designed to help delegates prepare spiritually for the Delegate Assembly at the denomination’s upcoming biennial convention, to be held June 30–July 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. The preparation guide, which starts May 19, draws on Luke 24 — the convention’s theme Scripture text — as well as selected psalms to... read more →
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Alyssa Rodriguez attends First Mennonite Church in Iowa City, Iowa and works as a Family Support Worker for marginalized populations while also learning the ins-and-outs of motherhood with her beloved daughter, Zulema. As I reflect on celebrating my first Mother’s Day as a mom soon, I must make one hard admission. I did not always celebrate earning the title, “mother.” I imagined carrying that title ... years from now. And there was so much to do before that moment. While I was making baby registries, occasionally browsing baby name apps on my smartphone and avoiding the pink aisle as I... read more →
(Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board (EB) is presenting a resolution on the status of Mennonite Church USA’s Membership Guidelines for consideration by the Delegate Assembly at convention in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 30 to July 5. In the background to the resolution, the board wrote, “Our interactions show that the church is divided on understandings of human sexuality and same-sex marriage. That is why we also support the resolution calling for grace, love and forbearance in the midst of our differences. We think it best to restate our commitment to the agreements made by delegates in 2001,... read more →
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Sarah Augustine is the co-director of Suriname Indigenous Health Fund, a private international charity, and Professor of Sociology at Heritage University where she is also the Director of Student Spirituality. Over the next several months she’ll be writing a special blog series on the Doctrine of Discovery. Last week, my local newspaper published a special edition to the Sunday paper entitled, “Stories from our Families.” It included several dozen stories recounted by my neighbors in the small farming community where I live with my husband and son. Many told of the proud legacies of families who settled this valley more than 150... read more →
[Español] (Mennonite Church USA)—Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board (EB) met April 6–8 in Kansas City, Mo., to prepare agenda for delegates to process at this summer’s Delegate Assembly in Kansas City (June 30–July 5), update the goals in the Purposeful Plan, and discuss the possibility of having fraternal or associate relationships within Mennonite Church USA in the future. Gathered in a room with a large picture window, board members watched signs of spring breaking forth outside that echoed their sense that God is bringing new life in and through Mennonite Church USA. “I saw so many signs of hope,” said... read more →
Linda Dalke, Patrick Ressler and Jeremy Kempf awarded first place for individual compositions By Janie Beck Kreider (Mennonite Church USA)—Mountain States Mennonite Conference (MSMC) has awarded composers Linda Dalke of Dallas, Ore., Patrick Ressler of Philadelphia, Pa., and Jeremy Kempf of Glendale, Ariz., first place in the Anabaptist Songwriting Challenge (ASC). Seven more were honored in the top 10 list. The jury met Feb. 14 to choose the winners. MSMC leaders created the songwriting challenge “to promote the musical arts among Mennonite Church USA constituents and to broaden the musical spectrum of Mennonite congregational/communal music,” according to the ASC website. In... read more →
Español Mennonite Church USA’s Churchwide Immigration Statement has been revised after receiving feedback from delegates at Phoenix 2013, the Constituency Leaders Council in October, and congregations in November/December. We invite each congregation to engage in at least one of the five activities below between 2014 and 2016. Each action is illustrated by an example of ministry already happening in Mennonite Church USA. Which actions make sense in your context? My hope is that as a community of faith, you will delve into the statement and discern how God is calling you to respond. —Iris de León-Hartshorn, director of transformative peacemaking... read more →