News
MEDITATION ON ISAIAH 61:1-3 – What If We Are The Losers?
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day…
Delegates Approve Nominees for Leadership Positions at Summer Conference Assembly
Sara Wenger Shenk CONFERENCE MODERATOR-ELECT “I would love for the conference to be known for our open-hearted hospitality, trustworthy communication and non-anxious, courageous faith,” Sara Wenger Shenk writes. She is currently retired after serving in theological education as teacher and administrator, most recently as president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, 2010-2019 and earlier…
Called to Serve
Without congregations, Virginia Mennonite Conference cannot exist. Our bottom line is serving the church. In a strategic planning meeting last fall, I was working with Clyde and Jon to understand who and what we are. One of the duties of Conference Council (by-law Article IV, 3.3) is to project vision, define direction, and promote unity….
Delegates Approve Three Departures and Welcome New Congregation at Conference Assembly
Virginia Mennonite Conference said goodbye to three congregations at its annual Conference Assembly held virtually on June 12, 2021, and welcomed a new congregation into full membership. Delegates also approved the nomination of Sara Wenger Shenk as Moderator Elect, beginning September 1, and several other leadership roles. The congregations choosing to leave Virginia Mennonite Conference…
Pleasant View’s June 50th Anniversary Activity: 50 Miles for 50 Years
Join Pleasant View, Inc. in the month of June for Pleasant View’s 50 Miles for 50 years activities. Pleasant View’s 50th Anniversary Committee invites individuals we support, staff members, friends, family and community members to participate in our June 50th Anniversary Activity: 50 Miles for 50 Years. Help us keep the 50th Anniversary celebration going…
Sara Wenger Shenk Nominated as Virginia Mennonite Conference Moderator-Elect
Sara Wenger Shenk has been nominated to be the next Virginia Mennonite Conference Moderator. She is currently retired after serving in theological education as teacher and administrator, most recently as president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, 2010-2019 and earlier at Eastern Mennonite Seminary as Associate Professor of Christian Practices and Associate Dean from…
Virginia Mennonite Conference Hires Caleb Schrock-Hurst as Racial Justice and Equity Leader
Caleb Schrock-Hurst has been hired as the Virginia Mennonite Conference Racial Justice and Equity Leader, a new quarter-time position. In this role, Caleb will support the work of the Racial Justice Task Force as they facilitate the Conference’s anti-racism mandates: to equip members, to learn about existing racism, to develop leadership strategies, and to equip…
After 33 Years, Elwood Yoder Is Ready to “Re-Wire”
After 33 years of teaching history and Bible classes at Eastern Mennonite School, Elwood Yoder is ready to “re-wire” — not retire — for a new chapter of history making. In this chapter, Yoder will focus full time on his loves of research, writing, and church history. He will partner with historian Steve Nolt…
Do You Understand the MC USA Resolution Process?
There is often a lot of anxiety when it comes to preparing for our biennial Delegate Assembly. Of course, this anxiety is related to the potential resolutions. And yes, our processes have not always been easy to follow nor our leadership transparent, but we hope to journey forward better. The general sense is that the…
Mennonite Church USA Updates Ministerial Misconduct File Sharing Protocols
Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) has updated its ministerial misconduct file sharing protocols to allow MC USA agencies and related entities to inquire about past misconduct of credentialed leaders, according to Michael Danner, Mennonite Church USA Associate Executive Director of Church Vitality. The previous MC USA policy, introduced in 2017, allowed denominational staff to share…
Online Pastors and Leaders Event at AMBS Explores How to Thrive in the Pandemic
(Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — A year after the COVID-19 virus reached the shores of North America, leaders of churches and church institutions continue to imagine new ways of ministering amidst the difficulties and demands of living through a pandemic. Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, sought to give these leaders an…
Ted Talks: Cultivating Creativity Amid the Coronavirus
No one likes to be upstaged, no matter how well-meaning and worthwhile the activity that is being outdone. This feeling especially rings true for veteran actor and playwright Ted K. Swartz of Harrisonburg, who has dealt with frequent unexpected script changes in his 34-year career. In 1987, Ted, then a student at Eastern Mennonite University,…