News & Events
Conference terminates Yoder’s credentials
Based on the findings of the Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) Investigation Team regarding Duane Yoder, the previous pastor of Lindale Mennonite Church, Linville, Va., and on Yoder’s decision not to contest those findings by declining to participate further in this process, Conference leadership acted to terminate Duane Yoder’s ministerial credentials for further ministry within Virginia…
Read MoreConference Council approves Gordon Zook as interim Conference Minister during Kratz’s sabbatical
News release September 27, 2017 The September meeting of Conference Council, Virginia Mennonite Conference’s governing body, launched a temporary time of transition. Effective October 1, Executive Conference Minister Clyde G. Kratz begins a three-month sabbatical. Conference Council hired Gordon Zook, former Oversight Leader for VMC’s Leadership/Administration Cluster, to serve as a part-time interim Conference Minister.…
Read MoreAcross boundaries and divisions, being “Neighbors: Strangers No More”
I bind my soul this day to the neighbor far away, to the stranger near at hand in this town and in this land. (Verse 2 of I Bind My Heart This Tide) In a landscape of walls and fences, of separation and alienation because others may look, sound, and act different from us, delegates…
Read MoreNews release: VMC actions since DSA report
Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) is actively pursuing the recommendations that were presented to us by Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) based on the D. Stafford & Associates report (DSA). The DSA report, received January 2017, contains the findings from the investigation associated with VMC leadership responses to the knowledge of Luke Hartman’s inappropriate activities. The…
Read More“Neighbors: Strangers No More” at Conference Assembly
Register for Conference Assembly by July 3.
Read MoreHelping pastors develop intercultural competence
The term “white privilege” was not in my vocabulary or understanding while living in a neighborhood for 18 years, where whites were in the minority. In my faith community as a child, my Sunday School teacher and classmates were non-white. It wasn’t until I thought about attending Hesston College that I recognized it was more…
Read MoreRegister for the pre-Assembly Pastor’s Summit
Virginia Mennonite Conference will again host a Pastoral Summit on Thursday, July 20, at Shady Oak (Weavers Mennonite Church) before Conference Assembly begins. This resourcing event is for all credentialed leaders in VMC. The theme, presented by Lonnie Yoder, is “Challenging/Difficult People in Congregational Life…including Ourselves.” Every congregation includes individuals or groups who, from a…
Read MoreLeaders gather for Celebrating Congregational Life Seminar
Lay leaders and pastors gathered for a one-day seminar on April 22, 2017, to be better equipped for the missional impulses that nurture congregational life and the mission of the church. Celebrating Congregational Life was a resource event about disciple-making, the mission of God and the mission of the church. Speakers and workshops gave tips…
Read MoreCredentialed leaders to engage “Developing Intercultural Competence” at Consultation, May 5 & 6
Join an experienced team of facilitators for a day long engagement of sharing ideas, relevant information and practical applications that will be helpful in your every day ministry and understanding of intercultural intelligence.
Read MoreTheme announced for Assembly 2017
Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly will focus on the theme “Neighbors: Strangers No More” at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va., from July 20 to 22, 2017. Plan to join a time of meaningful worship, deliberation, learning, and fellowship. More information will be coming soon.
Read More