News
Reconciliation and Transformation
As followers of Jesus in the Anabaptist tradition, Northern District is working toward reconciliation with God, each other, and the world. We believe the Racial Justice Task Force is an important part of this work. Recently, Northern District funded a tour of the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Harrisonburg, VA. for District pastors and their…
Takeaways from My Sabbatical
In the final week of a three-month sabbatical, I was surprised how excited I was to return to the work of Virginia Mennonite Conference. Looking back to the beginning of the sabbatical, I realized the extent of my exhaustion and fatigue, and my somewhat fragile emotional state. The timing was perfect to undertake my sabbatical…
Sara Wenger Shenk to Begin as Moderator on November 1, Following Resignation of Richard Early
Sara Wenger Shenk will serve as the next Virginia Mennonite Conference Moderator, to begin November 1, 2021. She is transitioning to this role early in light of the resignation of current VMC Moderator Richard Early due to his increased family commitments, effective October 31. In acceptance of the new position Sara writes, “I have often…
Open Enrollment for The Corinthian Plan is Nov. 1 to Dec. 31
The Corinthian Plan has Open Enrollment From November 1 to December 31, 2021. Congregations participating with the Corinthian Plan through Virginia Mennonite Conference recently received their 2022 renewal packets in the mail. If your church participates, but has NOT received your packet, please contact Duncan Smith, Director, at (316) 400-9937 | [email protected] or James Miller,…
Delegate Resources Are Available for the May 2022 Special Session in Kansas City
Delegate Assembly Materials: Special Session May 2022, Kansas City Clarification on Mennonite Church USA Polity and the Role of the Membership Guidelines of Mennonite Church USA MC USA For Justice Resolution MC USA Accessibility Resolution A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation En español Clarificación de la organización política de MC USA y el rol de…
Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale Unmasks Generous Spirit
$355,000 for MCC MT. CRAWFORD, VA – Early summer pleasant temperatures and rainfall in the Shenandoah Valley, then nearly two months of dry conditions, evolved into warm fall weather just in time for the 55th annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale held Oct. 1-2 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. This year’s sale raised a preliminary figure…
VMC History Book Author Visits Meetinghouses in Three States
VMC History Book author Elwood Yoder spent four days in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, visiting the meetinghouses of the VMC Churches in those three states. He is working on a history chapter about the TCK District. One of the churches he visited in North Carolina is Mountain View Mennonite Church in Hickory. He interviewed…
Richard Early Resigns as VMC Moderator Effective October 31
It is with sadness that I inform you that Officers of Conference Council, Sara Wenger Shenk (moderator elect), Jim Hershberger (secretary) and I have received a letter of resignation from Richard Early, moderator, effective October 31, 2021. Richard’s resignation states: My circumstances have changed as a result of Covid-19’s impact on my wife’s catering business….
Mennonite Church USA Launches “Learn, Pray, Join: Cost of Poverty” Initiative
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has launched “Learn, Pray, Join: Cost of Poverty,” an initiative to raise awareness about the impact of the pandemic on poverty in the United States and how Jesus calls his followers to respond. During September and October, MC USA will seek to engage people in the initiative by offering resources,…
Virginia History Book Project Kicks Off Again as Groups Agree to New Parameters
From left: Gerald Brunk, Harold Huber, James Rush, Jim Hershberger, (standing) Simone Horst, and Elwood Yoder. Joining via Zoom are Tim Jost and Ken Seitz. Representatives from the Virginia Mennonite Conference Historical Committee and the History Book Committee met with the Shenandoah Valley Mennonite Historians at Eastern Mennonite University’s Sadie Hartzler Library on August 27…
Community and Collaboration for Youth Ministry
This blog is part of Mennonite Church USA’s Faith Formation Roundtables series. What an amazing time it is to be leading students! While it’s easy to identify the challenges that come with this new COVID-19 driven climate, it’s also rewarding to think about the possibilities that are before us to reach students, right where they…
Back to the Fairgrounds for the 2021 Relief Sale
The 2021 Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Relief Sale is scheduled for October 1 and 2. After the 2020 virtual Relief Sale, we are hoping to be back at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds this year. The extent the relief sale can be in-person will depend on safety guidelines at the time. We may, for example, have…