Mennonite Church USA

Recently I participated in a discussion on leadership with other CEOs of nonprofit organizations. Those at my table group talked about the challenges leaders face. They mentioned the recent economic crisis and the shortage of resources; the social, economic and political challenges facing institutions; the loneliness experienced by leaders; and the need to make difficult decisions while not being able to provide all the reasons because of confidentiality and/or appropriateness.

I could relate. In my 25-plus years in denominational leadership, I’ve experienced many such challenges. But there is a flip side to this discussion. Despite the challenges, leaders can be grateful to be part of an organization committed to making a difference—and for church-related organizations, to be part of an institution created in response to God’s call.

While serving at Mennonite Education Agency for the last decade, I’ve worked closely with many of our educational institutions and have experienced firsthand the critical issues they face. A current trend of college students staying closer to home has ramifications for our Mennonite colleges in regard to where Mennonite population centers are located now and where growth may happen in the future.

Other significant challenges are the cost of education vs. what students actually pay, the need to keep up with new technology, and responding to the impact of technology on how education is done. In addition, our educational institutions today are working in a culture of decreased denominational loyalty, decreased trust of institutions, and great uncertainty about the long-term impact of these challenges.

Still, I remain hopeful and thankful for our schools, colleges/universities and seminaries and for their impact on the church and the world in the past and in the present.

I am thankful for Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., and Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va., and their commitment to help train pastors and theological leaders. They are responding to the church’s need for new ways of education with innovative programs such as webinars, conferences, short courses, summer institutes and partnerships with area conferences to offer gateway courses.

I am thankful for Bethel College, North Newton, Kan.; Bluffton (Ohio) University, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va.; Goshen (Ind.) College and Hesston (Kan.) College, which are committed to academic excellence and to providing a setting for students’ individual transformation. The education at these colleges has Jesus as its foundation while engaging students’ minds and hearts from an Anabaptist perspective.

I am thankful for the member schools of the Mennonite Schools Council and for the five distinctives that make up their mission and focus: challenging youth to educational excellence, nurturing a Christ-centered vision within them, building a community, promoting opportunities and calling students to a life of peace and service. May I suggest that we claim these values for ourselves as we respond to God’s missional call?

I am thankful for the Mennonite Early Childhood Network, which was created to provide information and support for parents and educators of children from birth through kindergarten. MECN maintains an interactive website; offers information and support to parents, caregivers, teachers and church leaders; sends email alerts that highlight available resources and relevant news items and encourages networking among its members.

I am thankful for the office of Hispanic Pastoral and Leadership Education. Its programs include Instituto Bíblico Anabautista and Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano, which promote theological and biblical training of Spanish-speaking leaders who will serve Mennonite Church USA. I am also thankful for the Lark Leadership Scholarship, a program of the African-American Menno­nite Association that provides financial assistance to students in AAMA-related churches, and the Native Education and Training program, which is associated with Native Mennonite Ministries and offers scholarships to Native Americans relating to Mennonite Church USA congregations.

Some people are naturally inclined to focus on challenges. I encourage us to focus on the things for which to be thankful. Our educational institutions and programs are making a difference and should have our support. As I have said many times, Mennonite education is such a valuable gift; why would we not want to share it with the world?

Carlos Romero, Goshen, Ind.,is executive director of Mennonite Education Agency.