Posts by Jon Trotter
Transitions and Appreciations
Just like a congregation is not a building but the gathered body within, Virginia Mennonite Conference is a network of people who serve faithfully in so many ways. It is a living organism that changes over time, even as we remain rooted in God’s steadfast love and a common vision for mission. Change can be…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit Gives Gifts: Trissels Mennonite Church at 200
An address given to Virginia Mennonite Conference, July 15, 2022, under the oaks at Trissels Mennonite Church, using Acts 2:1-4; 14-21; Video of the address. The Holy Spirit empowers congregations for ministry, service, and witness. When the believers at Pentecost received the Spirit, they moved out from their Jerusalem home base. Spirit-empowered mission is my…
Read MoreDelegates Focus on (RE)PACKING at Summer Delegate Assembly
The past several years have been challenging for Virginia Mennonite Conference. Most obvious have been the extended difficulties of navigating COVID-19, but in the past year, VMC also had a crisis of leadership resulting in investigation and resignation of the Executive Conference Minister. Some congregations have left the Conference. The recent resolutions passed at…
Read MoreWatch: Members of the Interim Leadership Team Share Their Vision
The four ministerial and two staff members of the Virginia Mennonite Conference interim leadership team shared their vision for the team and VMC during Conference Delegate Assembly, July 16, 2022, at Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway, Va.
Read MoreBasil Marin, Pastor of New Song Anabaptist Fellowship, Dies at 62
Pastor Anastacio Basil Marin, 62, of Harrisonburg, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Sentara RMH Medical Center. He was born April 15, 1960, in Dangriga, Belize and was a son of Andrew Marin and Doris Ovado. Basil received his B.A. at Goshen College and his Masters of Divinity at EMU. He was the lead…
Read MorePastoral Sabbatical Brings Out Lynside Congregation’s Ministry Gifts
Back in 1954, a Mennonite church was founded in Lyndhurst, Virginia. Lynside Mennonite Church has grown, struggled, and remained faithful to God ever since its beginning. They have dealt with similar issues as other churches. Some they overcame, some they struggled with, but none of them were enough to close the church. One issue they…
Read MoreSt. Augustine: The Bellies Of The Poor Are Safer Storehouses Than Our Barns
In light of an ever more desperate refugee crisis, what does it mean to love God with everything we have and to love our world neighbors as we love and look after ourselves? Each year multiple donors make cash, check and credit card contributions for refugee relief at the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale‘s “Sharing Our…
Read MoreA Pastoral Reflection on the MC USA Special Delegate Session
In light of the recent votes at the Special Delegate Session of Mennonite Church USA, I’m writing with a pastoral word as I imagine the strong mix of emotions some of you may have on receiving news about the delegate assembly—the retiring of the membership guidelines, affirmation by a little over half of the delegates…
Read MoreConference Council Unanimously Approves Interim Conference Ministry Team
Virginia Mennonite Conference Council unanimously approved an interim conference ministry team at its monthly meeting on May 19—with enlarged roles for current staff members June Miller and Caleb Schrock-Hurst, along with four new team members at varying percentages of full-time equivalent (FTE). Conference Council’s approval entails appointment for two years, to be reviewed in one…
Read MoreDelegates to Represent VMC at Mennonite Church USA Special Session
Six delegates will represent Virginia Mennonite Conference at the Special Delegate Session of Mennonite Church USA, May 27-30, 2022. Marian Buckwalter, former Pastor, Crossroads Mennonite Church, Timberville, VA Andrew Cheung, Pastor, Washington Community Fellowship, Washington, DC Andrew Fairfield, Pastor, Christiansburg Mennonite Church, Christiansburg, VA MaryBeth Heatwole Moore, Member, Faith & Life Commission and the Leadership…
Read More