News
Two reflections from the SENT 2019 Conference
Reflection by Clyde G. Kratz I had the privilege of traveling to Denver with a number of church planters in Virginia Mennonite Conference, April 26-28, 2019. Mennonite Mission Network planned and hosted the event for church planters at the Beloved Community Mennonite Church, an intercultural church plant in Mountain States Mennonite Conference. Because Virginia Mennonite…
Putting hands and feet to what we believe through MDS
Springdale Mennonite Church “strives to be a growing community of believers that inspires engagement by all, cultivates discipleship, and shares God’s reconciling love and healing with our neighbors and our world.” This is our vision statement that we adopted in 2016. We are attempting to put our words into action through involvement with Mennonite Disaster…
Pastors and leaders to focus on loving neighbors in tense times
ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — How can church leaders and congregations respond to hate, intolerance and systemic racism in their communities in productive and transformative ways? What does the gospel of Jesus Christ call Christ-followers to do in situations like these? Participants in Pastors and Leaders 2019 — an annual leadership conference formerly…
Meet Michael Danner, Mennonite Church USA Associate Executive Director for Church Vitality and Engagement
About Michael Married to wife Melissa for 28 years Has three adult children, Julia, 27, Nicholas, 23, and Isabelle, 21 Has a BA in Speech Communications from University of Illinois, Urbana; a Masters in Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; a DMin in Contextual Theology from Northern Seminary Pastored at Metamora Mennonite Church, Metamora, Ill.,…
Considering moral distress in the church
What it is and how we can address it Following a recent conversation on moral distress with the Faith and Life Commission, I have been reflecting on ways in which VMC has been impacted by this phenomenon over the past several years. I am convinced that paying attention to the way in which moral distress…
Updating VMC’s understanding of accountability
During the summer delegate session at Conference Assembly, I reported on Conference Council’s commitment to become more transparent and accountable in the work of Conference. This means that we’re committed to providing more opportunities for folks in our churches to share their stories about how they are joining the Holy Spirit’s work on behalf of…
The 3D experience and beyond
Reflections on the Conference Assembly theme and experience If you found yourself wondering what “the 3D experience” means, or are thinking, I get the out part but what’s up? What’s in? And what do 3D glasses have to do with the conference, my congregation or me?— you’re probably not alone! This language might be new…
Being a follower of Jesus has three dimensions
Virginia Mennonite Conference held our Assembly at C3 Hampton (Hampton, Va.) with the theme God’s Kingdom: The 3D Experience. This theme emerged as our Assembly Vision Team sought to bring a new lens to the multi-dimensional nature of being a disciple of Jesus in our time. Our encounter with God through Jesus Each person experienced…
Hope in a time of change
Virginia Mennonite Conference is a network of congregations and organizations seeking to live out God’s mission in the world. Our congregations are located in rural and urban settings. Our membership holds diverse views on a range of theological issues and concerns about society. While we are historically a peace church, we have not always known…
Walking with USA Ministries: How to recover from an aversion to evangelism
“My name is Skip. I am here because I want to recover from an aversion to evangelism.” This wasn’t just a catchy line to begin a workshop entitled “Evangelism Aversion Recovery.” It was an admission that during this last season of life as VMMissions staff persons, both of us have had to work hard at…
Journey Forward and MC USA Sexual Abuse Panel results reported to Constituency Leadership Council
The Constituency Leadership Council, together with Executive Board of MC USA, met at Dock Mennonite Academy in Lansdale, Pa., April 12-14. A highlight for me was worship time each morning, and in particular, worship with Dock Mennonite Academy students during their chapel service. These students, leaders of the future for many denominations, shared ways God…
Kratz updates Conference Council on MC USA issues and conversations
Executive Conference Minister Clyde G. Kratz updated Conference Council members on his recent activities at their May 26 meeting. He attended a meeting with other Conference Ministers from across Mennonite Church USA to talk about “how we are going to function in the future and what are some of our basic assumptions.” “In this context,…