News
iCLT News: Called to Equip
“11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” Ephesians 4:11-12 Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) has been buffeted by the departure of our Executive Conference Minister and significant theological tension over…
DAWG report & upcoming Zoom
Denominational Work Group Report Zoom Meeting, November 27, 2023, 7PM Join the Conversation. Register Here Background The why The Denominational Affiliation Work Group (DAWG) was created by Conference Council at their April 20, 2023 meeting. The members appointed were: Beth Good as co-chair, Craig Maven as co-chair, Pearl Hartman, Aaron Kauffman, Zach Dey, Juan Carlos…
Ervin Stutzman appointed chair of Faith and Life Commission
For Immediate Release On Thursday, November 9, the members of the Faith and Life Commission (FLC) of Virginia Conference affirmed Ervin R. Stutzman as chair. Ervin brings extensive experience in leadership to FLC and Virginia Conference. Please pray for Ervin and the members of FLC as they take up the important task of walking with pastors, churches, and the credentialed…
Compassion’s Harvest
COMPASSION’S HARVEST “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38 I…
iCLT News: Too Late? Too Soon? Just the right time?
Too Late? Too Soon? Just the right time? “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” Matthew 5:9 As the interim conference leadership team is in the middle of things, a little over halfway through our two-year term, I have been reflecting on the question “What is it too soon…
iCLT News: Hope
Hope Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope…
iCLT News Stacking and Layering
Stacking and Layering Trust, a verb. “to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of: Believe” “to place confidence in: rely on” “to hope or expect confidently” Mirriam-Webster I can’t say that I disagree with Mirriam-Webster, but the definition is ambiguous. If trust is a verb, what does it look like in progress? How is trust…
iCLT News: The Best View
The Best View Summer…. vacations…family reunions…picnics…For many, summer is the season of relaxing, resting and disconnecting from the regular rhythms. Growing up in Germany this was a given whether you were in your first year with a company on your 25th year. Even Jesus sought to get away from it all at times, sending the…
Sharing our Surplus
In early 2017 some of us proposed setting up a special giving table at the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale as a way of adding to the total revenue generated for Mennonite Central Committee through this fall auction and craft and food sales. With the approval of the Sale’s executive committee a Sharing Our Surplus (SOS)…
Post Summer Assembly Thoughts
POST SUMMER ASSEMBLY THOUGHTS I know I can speak for all of iCLT when I write that all of us took a deep breath and exhaled following our 2023 Summer Assembly. Perhaps many of you did as well. When asked how the assembly went, I answered that our worship was great, the mission stories were…
Two of Three Resolutions pass
Two of Three Resolutions pass at Virginia Mennonite Conference 2023 Summer Delegate Assembly July 21, 2023 | June Miller | Virginia Mennonite Conference Harrisonburg, VA – On the final day of the assembly Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) delegates passed two of the three resolutions. “Year of Worship, Healing, Reflection and Renewal” passed with 91% approval….
iCLT News Rivers of Hope
Rivers of Hope Everywhere the river flows (Clap), everything will live (Clap). Everywhere the river flows (Clap), everything will live (Clap). This chant of hope from Ezekiel 47:9 with its catchy, rhythmic cadence was introduced to me by J.D. Walt in Seedbed Text. Say it out loud. Repeat it often. Turn it into a cheer,…